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here and came to Ghirdman province. Referring namely to these notes of
M.Kalankatuisky, F.C.Mammadova stated about locating of Ghirdman province on
the Kur river's right bank. And in reality the point is about passing of Cavanshir to
«other bank of the river, i.e. left bank, his battle with Khazars. In such case with
what logic one can think that Ghirdman province located on the Kur river's right
bank?
For localization of Ghirdman territories identification of Ghirdman fortress
place has principal importance. In this view an episode from prayer of Cavanshir at
a church built by him in Ghirdman fortress is interesting. The prayer tells: «Oh
God! Turn the church to house of prayers and requests for those who live at the
East Sea (the Caspian Sea - Q.C.) so that you would hear from the high heaven
those who worship you in this place and accept their prayers. Let's remind that
among medieval authors works of Balazuri, Tabari, Ibn Faghih, Khagani Shirvani
and Falaki Shirvani, as well as «Hududalalam give information about Ghirdman
fortress. According to Khagani Shirvani, Falaki Shirvani and «Hududalalam as
well, the fortress located on Shirvan territory. For example, due to Falaki Shirvani,
Shirvan-shah Manuchohr III built two new towns - Ghirdman and Sadun: «Damn
me, if someone of the world's padishahs ever built a town like Ghirdman or Sadun.
A note of M.Barkhudaryan, dating back to 1890, also gives information about
locating of Ghirdman fortress in west of Aghsu town ruins, on the Ghirdman river's
left bank.
One part of authors stating about Ghirdman's localization write that it
located in the Ghirdman river's basin. It's strange that some of them even state
about Ghirdman's being the Shamkirchay river's right branch. Though the sole
river known as Ghirdman on Azerbaijan territory namely locates on Shirvan
territory. The river originating from the Babadagh mountain range of the Major
Caucasus running through Ismayilly, Aghsu and Kurdamir districts, flow into the
Kur river. In relevant basin there exist numerous monuments and toponyms
directly connected with Mehranis - rulers of Ghirdman. For example, in north-east
of Aghsu town there was Cavanshir village having ancient history. In 70s of the
past century on its place there was built «Cavanshir water reservoir. A majestic
fortress locating near Talystan village of Ismayilly district and dating back to VII
century also bears name of Ghirdman ruler Cavanshir. Very probably, Vardanly
village of Oghuz district bears name of Brave Vardan - eminent representative of
Mehranis dynasty. It's supposed that an ancient town discovered in Bayimli village
of Aghsu district, left bank of the Ghirdmanchay river, and chronologically
belonging to VI-IX centuries is remnant of Mehravan town mentioned by
M.Kalankatuisky.
According to historical sources, in the Early Middle Ages Albanian
population mainly consisted of Albanians, Utis, Caspis, Ghirdmanians, Tsavdeis,
Legians, Ghels, Chilbs, Gargars etc. people and ethnical units. It's staled that
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Iranian-speaking population later settled down on the Caspian territories and
neighbour districts. According to M.Kalankatuisky, along with Uti, Tsvod and
Gargar principalities, Ghirdman population also comes from Aran kin. Referring to
this note of the Albanian historian, F.Mammadova asserts that from the very
beginning the local population of Ghirdman was autochtonous and that from V
century here had consolidated Iranian elements. Due to her, Mehranis, having lost
their Persianship after the second generation, gradually became Albanianized. And
according to V.V.Bartold, in Albania after the example of Mehranis «Albanian
dynasty of Persian origin was again reestablished.
Surely, we can't help to agree with judgements about gradual
Albanianization of Mehranis. But the fact mustn't be forgotten that this was gradual
and long process. For example, referring to medieval sources, academician
Z.M.Bunyadov wrote that in the early XIII century Iranian-speaking population
still made up majority among Shirvan population. Of course, we can't unqualifiedly
agree with the opinion about «majority of Iranian-speaking population in general
content of Shirvan population. To our mind, it's more correct to apply the opinion
not wholly to Shirvan, but exclusively to population which lived in seclusion far
from big towns and caravan routes, in muntain places and mainly dealed with
natural economy. Though researchers advancing judgements about Ghirdman
localization generally pointed out importance of ancient toponyms for territories,
towns and fortresses' localization, they themselves didn't fully comply the principle
at all. In this view it's proper to mention the below note of Mammadova: «Along
with autochtonous population, here also dwelled Saks who were kindred with
Iranian ethnosis and settled down in Sakasena and Mehranis who settled down in
Ghirdman, what was reflected in toponyms. But at the same time she hasn't shown
concrete example of the toponyms. And the reason is that in west or north-west of
Albania such toponyms are absent. And on Shirvan territory such toponyms are
numerous. Unfortunately, most authors dealing with localization of Ghirdman
territories didn't account for the factor. And the point is not about any small or
little-important object, but name of the Ghirdman river - the big river running both
through lowland, and mountain territories of Shirvan flowing to the Kur river, and
for centuries playing decisive role in natural-geographical and economic life of the
province. The fact should't also be forgotten that overwhelming majority of the
names of populated areas around Lahych has Iranian origin. And this all, surely, is
rather weighty argument for speaking more concretely and addressedly about
historical geography of Ghirdman province. I.e. since historically Iranian-speaking
population was resettled more namely to Shirvan and Ghirdman territories and
remnants of the population, some major components of its culture are still kept on
the territory, it's just illogical to search Ghirdman territories in west or north-west
of Albania.