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reality, resulted in appearing Armenianist conception in view of many principal
problems.
Since the middle past century there begins new stage peculiar by intensive
and productive activity of national specialists for Albanian studies. Later the
researches commenced by academician Z.M.Bunyadov were successfully
continued by eminent source scholars M.Kh.Sharifli, I.H.Aliyev, Y.A.Pakhomov,
N.M.Valikhanly, K.H.Aliyev, T.M.Mammadov, F.C.Mammadova, archaeologists
S.Khalilov,
R.B.Goyushov,
I.A.Babayev,
S.M.Qaziyev,
R.M.Vahidov,
O.Sh.Ismizade, Q.M.Aslanov, Q.M.Ahmadov, A.B.Nuriyev, F.L.Osmanov,
Q.I.Ione, Q.O.Qoshgarly etc. In their researches the early-medieval history of
Albania was studied on the basis of different written sources and archaeological
materials. And, surely, the authors, though generally, to this or other degree
touched upon history of administrative-political units, including Ghirdman
province.
Z.M.Bunyadov,
M.Kh.Sharifli,
I.H.Aliyev,
F.C.Mammadova,
G.A.Gheybullayev and F.L.Osmanov expressed their judgements about
localization of Ghirdman province. But generally history of Albanian
administrative-political units, including Ghirdman province, hasn't yet been
particular research topic either from archaeological, or source studies viewpoint.
Namely that's why even generalizing works about Azerbaijani history, which have
been lately published, don't give information about localization of Ghirdman
province, its natural-geographical conditions, towns, populated areas of urban type,
grave monuments, fortresses, settling dynamics, ethnical and social content,
religious views and cultural level of its population.
The work consists of introduction, 6 chapters, conclusion, list of the used
literature, album including map added to the text, photo and graphic illustrations.
Introduction of the work grounds topicality of the subject and reason of its
chronological covering namely IV-IX centuries, determines respective
methodological basis, aims and tasks, characterizes the source studies base and
study situation, shows the scientific novelty and practical value.
The work's chapter I deals with study situation of the topic, mentions data
of medieval sources about Ghirdman history. In this context there is stated attitude
to judgements of Strabonus, Clavdy Ptolemeum, Plinium Elder, Favstos Buzand,
Sebeos, Eghishe, Koriun, Movses Khorentsi about Albania, and «Albanian History
work of Albanian historian Moisey Kalankatuisky is presented as the most reliable
and complete source. There are mentioned and estimated notes of medieval
geographers-travellers Ibn Khordadbeh, Al-Balazuri, Al-Masudi, Al-Istakhri, Ibn
Havgal, Al-Mugaddas, Al-Idris, Ibn Al-Asr, Yagut Al-Hamavi about Ghirdman
history. For example, Ibn Khordadbeh mentions Lahych several times, states about
its locating in «Persian Shirvan and compact dwelling by Iranian-speaking
population. Al-Balazuri gives data about a defence wall from raw brick between
Shirvan and Allan gates, as well as erection of some fortresses and building of 360
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towns there. Among the fortresses there is mentioned Ghirdman Fortress.
According to Balazuri, troops headed by Arab military leader Habib seized some
places, including Shamakhy and Ghirdman, and concluded peace treaty with them.
Due to it, people, who performed divine services, paid land and soul taxes, were
promised inviolability. According to Al-Masudi, when building Derbent city and
the surrounding defence walls, Anushirvan «resettled here different people and
their rulers, gave them different ranks, distinguished them from each other by
special rank, specified certain boundary between them. The below his notes about
Lahych are of interest: «Near Qabh mountain another country borders upon
Shirvan land. The place is called Layzan. And its ruler is Layzan-shah. Now he
seized Shirvan. He also seized Mughaniyya country. Masudi also asserts that under
Mahammad bin Yazid Khurshan-shah and Zadan-shah's lands had been also
amiexed by Layzan-shah.
X century author Al-Istahri's notes also touch upon some problems about
Ghirdman. According to him, «At a distance of less than 1 farsakh from Barda
there is place called Al-Andarab having close relations with it. Here are abundant
gardens with different fruits. Their hazelnut is better than Samarkand's one, their
chestnut - better than Damask's one. Telling about Azerbaijan towns, Al-Istahri
divided them on two groups: major and minor towns. Let's remind that among
minor towns he also mentions Al-Abkhaz town and states that it locates at two-day
distance from Shirvan. Most researchers suppose Al-Abkhaz being Lahych. Due to
Ibn-Havgal, just like some other towns of Albania, Lahych is also peculiar by
productive territories, vast and suitable economic areas. Al-Mugaddasi, presenting
Lahych as «one of Barda towns, states that «it's situated in a nice place, just like all
other towns of the province. And the below data of Yagut Al-Hamavi are important
for studying history and aim of settling down Iranian-speaking population through
Ghirdman territories: «Due to importance of the country Sasanid shahs very much
took interest of it and fearing invasions of north tribes they attentively watched on
all affairs there. People, who were resettled here from some countries to defend the
places and whom shahs trusted, were appointed here as guards.
Pursuant to the Turkmanchay Treaty 1828, Azerbaijan was split between
Russia and Iran. Thus, North Azerbaijan history also fell to interest circle of
Russian historians. Researches of A.Yanovsky, I.Shaupen, B.Dorn and some other
authors about Albanian history, including the history of Ghirdman monuments,
which appeared in the middle XIX century, univocally must be evaluated as
political order of Tsarist Russia governmental circles. After the October
Revolution 1917 the situation didn't change. On the contrary, because of strong
positions of Armenians and Armenianist historians, which were impacted by them,
at the central scientific-research institutes of the USSR, investigation of some
prinsipal problems of Caucasian studies was namely trusted to them. And thus
there emerged opportunity for falsifying Albanian history in Armenians' favour.