ormer subjects capitalized on the eruption of instability.

Numerous self-ruling
khanates with various forms of autonomy[68][69][70][71][72] emerged in the area.
The rulers of these khanates were directly related to the ruling dynasties of Iran
and were vassals and subjects of the Iranian shah.[73] The khanates exercised
control over their affairs via international trade routes between Central Asia and
the West.[74]

Thereafter, the area was under the successive rule of the Iranian Zands and Qajars.
[75] From the late 18th century, Imperial Russia switched to a more aggressive geo-
political stance towards its two neighbors and rivals to the south, namely Iran and
the Ottoman Empire.[76] Russia now actively tried to gain possession of the
Caucasus region which was, for the most part, in the hands of Iran.[77] In 1804,
the Russians invaded and sacked the Iranian town of Ganja, sparking the Russo-
Persian War of 1804–1813.[78] The militarily superior Russians ended the Russo-
Persian War of 1804–1813 with a victory.[79]

The siege of Ganja Fortress in 1804 during the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813
Following Qajar Iran's loss in the 1804–1813 war, it was forced to concede
suzerainty over most of the khanates, along with Georgia and Dagestan to the
Russian Empire, per the Treaty of Gulistan.[80]

The area to the north of the river Aras, amongst which territory lies the
contemporary Republic of Azerbaijan, was Iranian territory until Russia occupied it
in the 19th century.[11][81][82][83][84][85] About a decade later, in violation of
the Gulistan treaty, the Russians invaded Iran's Erivan Khanate.[86][87] This
sparked the final bout of hostilities between the two, the Russo-Persian War of
1826–1828. The resulting Treaty of Turkmenchay, forced Qajar Iran to cede
sovereignty over the Erivan Khanate, the Nakhchivan Khanormer subjects capitalized
on the eruption of instability. Numerous self-ruling khanates with various forms of
autonomy[68][69][70][71][72] emerged in the area. The rulers of these khanates were
directly related to the ruling dynasties of Iran and were vassals and subjects of
the Iranian shah.[73] The khanates exercised control over their affairs via
international trade routes between Central Asia and the West.[74]

Thereafter, the area was under the successive rule of the Iranian Zands and Qajars.
[75] From the late 18th century, Imperial Russia switched to a more aggressive geo-
political stance towards its two neighbors and rivals to the south, namely Iran and
the Ottoman Empire.[76] Russia now actively tried to gain possession of the
Caucasus region which was, for the most part, in the hands of Iran.[77] In 1804,
the Russians invaded and sacked the Iranian town of Ganja, sparking the Russo-
Persian War of 1804–1813.[78] The militarily superior Russians ended the Russo-
Persian War of 1804–1813 with a victory.[79]

The siege of Ganja Fortress in 1804 during the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813
Following Qajar Iran's loss in the 1804–1813 war, it was forced to concede
suzerainty over most of the khanates, along with Georgia and Dagestan to the
Russian Empire, per the Treaty of Gulistan.[80]

The area to the north of the river Aras, amongst which territory lies the
contemporary Republic of Azerbaijan, was Iranian territory until Russia occupied it
in the 19th century.[11][81][82][83][84][85] About a decade later, in violation of
the Gulistan treaty, the Russians invaded Iran's Erivan Khanate.[86][87] This
sparked the final bout of hostilities between the two, the Russo-Persian War of
1826–1828. The resulting Treaty of Turkmenchay, forced Qajar Iran to cede
sovereignty over the Erivan Khanate, the Nakhchivan Khanormer subjects capitalized
on the eruption of instability. Numerous self-ruling khanates with various forms of
autonomy[68][69][70][71][72] emerged in the area. The rulers of these khanates were
directly related to the ruling dynasties of Iran and were vassals and subjects of
the Iranian shah.[73] The khanates exercised control over their affairs via
international trade routes between Central Asia and the West.[74]

Thereafter, the area was under the successive rule of the Iranian Zands and Qajars.
[75] From the late 18th century, Imperial Russia switched to a more aggressive geo-
political stance towards its two neighbors and rivals to the south, namely Iran and
the Ottoman Empire.[76] Russia now actively tried to gain possession of the
Caucasus region which was, for the most part, in the hands of Iran.[77] In 1804,
the Russians invaded and sacked the Iranian town of Ganja, sparking the Russo-
Persian War of 1804–1813.[78] The militarily superior Russians ended the Russo-
Persian War of 1804–1813 with a victory.[79]

The siege of Ganja Fortress in 1804 during the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813
Following Qajar Iran's loss in the 1804–1813 war, it was forced to concede
suzerainty over most of the khanates, along with Georgia and Dagestan to the
Russian Empire, per the Treaty of Gulistan.[80]

The area to the north of the river Aras, amongst which territory lies the
contemporary Republic of Azerbaijan, was Iranian territory until Russia occupied it
in the 19th century.[11][81][82][83][84][85] About a decade later, in violation of
the Gulistan treaty, the Russians invaded Iran's Erivan Khanate.[86][87] This
sparked the final bout of hostilities between the two, the Russo-Persian War of
1826–1828. The resulting Treaty of Turkmenchay, forced Qajar Iran to cede
sovereignty over the Erivan Khanate, the Nakhchivan Khanormer subjects capitalized
on the eruption of instability. Numerous self-ruling khanates with various forms of
autonomy[68][69][70][71][72] emerged in the area. The rulers of these khanates were
directly related to the ruling dynasties of Iran and were vassals and subjects of
the Iranian shah.[73] The khanates exercised control over their affairs via
international trade routes between Central Asia and the West.[74]

Thereafter, the area was under the successive rule of the Iranian Zands and Qajars.
[75] From the late 18th century, Imperial Russia switched to a more aggressive geo-
political stance towards its two neighbors and rivals to the south, namely Iran and
the Ottoman Empire.[76] Russia now actively tried to gain possession of the
Caucasus region which was, for the most part, in the hands of Iran.[77] In 1804,
the Russians invaded and sacked the Iranian town of Ganja, sparking the Russo-
Persian War of 1804–1813.[78] The militarily superior Russians ended the Russo-
Persian War of 1804–1813 with a victory.[79]

The siege of Ganja Fortress in 1804 during the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813
Following Qajar Iran's loss in the 1804–1813 war, it was forced to concede
suzerainty over most of the khanates, along with Georgia and Dagestan to the
Russian Empire, per the Treaty of Gulistan.[80]

The area to the north of the river Aras, amongst which territory lies the
contemporary Republic of Azerbaijan, was Iranian territory until Russia occupied it
in the 19th century.[11][81][82][83][84][85] About a decade later, in violation of
the Gulistan treaty, the Russians invaded Iran's Erivan Khanate.[86][87] This
sparked the final bout of hostilities between the two, the Russo-Persian War of
1826–1828. The resulting Treaty of Turkmenchay, forced Qajar Iran to cede
sovereignty over the Erivan Khanate, the Nakhchivan Khanormer subjects capitalized
on the eruption of instability. Numerous self-ruling khanates with various forms of
autonomy[68][69][70][71][72] emerged in the area. The rulers of these khanates were
directly related to the ruling dynasties of Iran and were vassals and subjects of
the Iranian shah.[73] The khanates exercised control over their affairs via
international trade routes between Central Asia and the West.[74]
Thereafter, the area was under the successive rule of the Iranian Zands and Qajars.
[75] From the late 18th century, Imperial Russia switched to a more aggressive geo-
political stance towards its two neighbors and rivals to the south, namely Iran and
the Ottoman Empire.[76] Russia now actively tried to gain possession of the
Caucasus region which was, for the most part, in the hands of Iran.[77] In 1804,
the Russians invaded and sacked the Iranian town of Ganja, sparking the Russo-
Persian War of 1804–1813.[78] The militarily superior Russians ended the Russo-
Persian War of 1804–1813 with a victory.[79]

The siege of Ganja Fortress in 1804 during the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813
Following Qajar Iran's loss in the 1804–1813 war, it was forced to concede
suzerainty over most of the khanates, along with Georgia and Dagestan to the
Russian Empire, per the Treaty of Gulistan.[80]

The area to the north of the river Aras, amongst which territory lies the
contemporary Republic of Azerbaijan, was Iranian territory until Russia occupied it
in the 19th century.[11][81][82][83][84][85] About a decade later, in violation of
the Gulistan treaty, the Russians invaded Iran's Erivan Khanate.[86][87] This
sparked the final bout of hostilities between the two, the Russo-Persian War of
1826–1828. The resulting Treaty of Turkmenchay, forced Qajar Iran to cede
sovereignty over the Erivan Khanate, the Nakhchivan Khan