Redaksiya heyəti: Editorial staff

49

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Reports of the Gabala 

Archaeological Expedition

2005-2010

Qəbələ Arxeoloji 

Ekspedisiyasının Hesabatları 

2005-2010

4

th

 century BC

The city became a political, economical, cultural, art 

and trade centre.  

4

th

 century BC-late 1

st

 

century AD

The city was mainly covered about 50 hectares 

(Ancient township – Gullutala area, nearby the 

village of Chukhur Gabala). 

4

th

 century BC-5

th

 century 

AD

was the capital of Albania (900 years)

1

st

 century BC (in 60’s)

Reign of King Orois in Albania. 

1

st

 century BC (in 30’s)

Reign of King Sober in Albania.

2

nd

 half of the 1

st

 century 

The name of the city first appears in written sources 

as Kabalaka, a main (capital) city of Caucasian 

Albania, in Natural History by the Roman scientist 

Pliny the Elder. 

1

st

 century AD (in 70’s)

Albania was attacked by the Alans (Alani). 

Late 1

st

 century AD

By 11

th

 century AD

By 18

th

 century AD

The city was transferred to a 25 hectare area 

toward the north (Chukhur Gabala: from the ancient 

site – to Selbir (12 ha) and Gala (13 ha)). 

Settlement existed in Selbir. 

Settlement existed in Gala.

Late 1st century BC - 

early 1st century AD

The Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus (30 BC-

14 AD) in his memoirs, The Deeds of the Divine 

Augustus,  stated that the king of the Albanians 

(Albania) had sent ambassadors to Rome. This fact 

might be evidence of that Gabala, the capital of 

Albania, also took some position in international 

relations. 

3rd century AD (after 260)  Albania was in bondage to the Sassanid state. 

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50

SE

BA

Qəbələ şəhərinin 

tarixindən səhifələr 

Pages from the history 

of Gabala city

1st half of the 4th century 

Christianity became the official religion of 

Caucasian Albania. 

5th century AD (in 463)

The capital of Albania was transferred to Partav 

(Barda) and Gabala became a centre of the 

Sassanian vicegerency (the distance between 

Gabala and Barda cities is about 117 km). 

Early 6th century AD

The defensive walls in the Selbir-Gala sites and 

suburbs of Gabala (25ha) were fortified by order of 

the Sassanid ruler Gubad I (Kavad I) (488-531).

6th century AD (in 552)

10 thousand Sabir Turks (Khazars) were lodged 

to Gabala by Khosrau Anushiravan I and in the 

meantime, Gabala city was named as Khazar 

(according to the reference given by Al-Balazuri).

Early 7th century AD

The centre of the Sassanian vicegerency was 

transferred from Gabala to Barda.

7th century AD (in 629)

The Sassanids’ reign came to an end in Albania.

7th century AD (642-681)

Albania was ruled by Javanshir, the ruler of 

Girdiman  province.

Mid-7th century AD

The Arabian military leader Salman ibn Rabia 

signed a treaty with the Albanian ruler Javanshir (on 

tax etc.)

7th century AD (in 681)

was attacked by the Khazars from north. 

8th century AD (in 721)

The Arabian military leader al-Charrah ibn Abdullah 

lodged Khazars in this territory (in Gabala).

Early 8th century AD 

Albania was absorbed into the Arabian Caliphate 

and Islam expanded here. 

Late 9th century AD - 

early 10th century AD 

The Gabala feudal power was formed. And the first 

ruler was Enbasat al-Evar, whose nickname was 

either blind Enbas or a lion with one eye.  

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51

SE

BA

Reports of the Gabala 

Archaeological Expedition

2005-2010

Qəbələ Arxeoloji 

Ekspedisiyasının Hesabatları 

2005-2010

9th-10th centuries AD

The territories (Selbir-northern part, Gala-southern 

part) of the city was fortified with enormous 

defensive ramparts.

10th century AD (in 981) 

Shirvanshah Mahammad ibn Ahmad conquered 

Gabala and annexed it to the Shirvanshah state, but 

it did not last long. 

10th century AD (in 999)

Shirvanshah Yazid ibn Ahmad started war with the 

Gabala ruler Abd al-Barr again. 

11th century AD (in 1025) Gabala was in bondage to the Shirvanshahs. 

11th century AD (in 1054)

(in 1066)

South Azerbaijan and Aran were absorbed into the 

Seljuk state.  

Shirvan was absorbed into the Seljuk state.  

11th century AD (in 1068)

Shirvan’s ruler Feriburz I together with the Seljuk 

sultan Alp Arslan occupied Gabala and made it 

Shirvanshahs’ vassal again.  

12th century (in 1120) 

The Georgian King David IV conquered the city. 

13th century AD (in 1222) came under the Gypchaks’ attack 

13th century AD (in 1229)

Jalaladdin appointed Kharezmshah Safieddin as a 

ruler to Sheki and Gabala. 

13th century AD (in 1231-

1239)

came under the Mongols’ attack 

14th century AD (in 1386)

Shirvanshah Ibrahim I rescued Gabala from the 

attack of Amir Timur (Tamerlane) (1370-1405). 

15th century AD (in 1412)

Gabala district was in bondage to the Shirvanshah 

state by the order of Gara Yusif.

15th century AD (in 1497)

Sheki’s ruler Shah Husein together with Farrukh 

Yasar Sheikhshah (Shirvanshah Ibrahim II) invaded 

Gabala, however Shirvanshah Farrukh Yasar set 

Gabala free soon. 

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