Russian-Iranian wars. Russo-Persian wars Russo-Iranian war 1826 1828 battles

AT 1814 Persia signed an agreement withGreat Britain , according to which she undertook not to let troops of any power through her territory into India. Great Britain, for its part, agreed to seek a revision of the Gulistan Treaty in favor of Persia, and in the event of war, Great Britain undertook to provide the shah with financial assistance in the amount of 200 thousand fogs a year or to help Persia with troops and weapons. British diplomats, seeking an end to the Persian-Turkish war that began in1821 year, pushed the shah and the heir to the throneAbbas Mirza to oppose Russia.

Tense international situation1825 and Decembrist revolt were perceived in Persia as the most favorable moment for speaking out against Russia. heir to the throne and rulerIranian Azerbaijan Abbas Mirza , who created a new army with the help of European instructors and considered himself capable of returning those lost in1813 land, decided to take advantage of what seemed to him an opportunity.

In the summer of 1826, all these border regions with Persia, open from the flank, in the west, to Turkey, were guarded by only two Russian battalions. In Gumry, the main village of Shuragel, there were two companies of the Tiflis regiment with two guns, and a company of carabinieri, which sent posts from itself to Bekant andAmamli , where there was also one gun each.
In the Big Karaklis, the most important point of the Bombak province, there were three companies of the Tiflis regiment, with three guns. From here, two strong posts advanced to the Lori steppe: one, with a gun, to cover the crossing over the Kamennaya River near Jalal-Ogly, the other to the Bezobdal Pass, and the third was already in Bombaki itself, on the Gamzachevanka River, about eighteen versts from Karaklis, where the regimental herd of the Tiflis regiment grazed. A married company guarded the Gergers behind Bezobdal. The Don Cossacks of Andreev were still scattered in small units throughout Bombak and Shuragel.
Finally, advanced detachments were advanced to the very border: to Mirak, which lay on the eastern slopes of Alagez, two companies of Tiflis and a company of carabinieri with two guns; in Balyk-chai, which covered the only pack road to Erivan from the Kazakh distance, along the Delizhan Gorge along the Akstafa River - a company of Tiflis, with a force of three hundred bayonets and also with two guns. Both Mirak and Balyk-chai were engaged in Russian troops only in the summer, in order to prevent Persian gangs from entering Russian borders and to keep the Kazakh and Shamshadil Tatars roaming near these places in obedience.
In the autumn, when the Tatars returned from their wanderings, the posts were removed, because in winter, due to deep snows, the paths there became insurmountable. Thus, the total number of troops guarding the entire region consisted of a Cossack regiment, with a strength of about five hundred horses, two battalions of the Tiflis regiment (its third battalion was on the Caucasian line) and two companies of carabinieri temporarily moved here from Manglis - a total of about three thousand bayonets, with twelve guns of a light company of the Caucasian Grenadier Artillery Brigade

NicholasI

A.P. Ermolov

Commander-in-Chief of Russian troops in the Caucasus, GeneralA. P. Ermolov warned the emperorNicholas I that Persia is openly preparing for war. Nicholas I, in view of the escalating conflict with Turkey, was ready to cede the southern part to Persia for the neutrality of PersiaTalysh Khanate . However, Prince A. S. Menshikov, whom Nicholas I sent to Tehran with instructions to ensure peace at any cost, could not achieve anything and left the Iranian capital.

Start of hostilities

July 16 1826 the Persian army, without declaring war, crossed the borders in the Mirak region and invaded the territory of TranscaucasiaKarabakh and Talysh khanates . The bulk of the frontier "zemstvo guards", consisting of armed horse and foot Azerbaijani peasants, with rare exceptions, surrendered their positions to the invading Persian troops without much resistance or even joined them.

The main task of the Iranian command was to capture the Transcaucasus, to seizeTiflis and throw back the Russian troops behindTerek . The main forces were therefore directed fromTabriz to the district chickens , and auxiliary - inMugan steppe to block exits fromDagestan . The Iranians also counted on the blow of the Caucasian highlanders from the rear against the Russian troops, who were stretched out in a narrow strip along the border and did not have reserves. The help of the Iranian army was promised by the Karabakh beks and many influential people in neighboring provinces, who maintained constant contacts with the Persian government and even offered to cut the Russians inShusha and hold it until the approach of Iranian troops.

Transcaucasian region at the time of the start of the war (the borders are indicated according to the Gulistan Treaty andBucharest peace )

AT Karabakh province Russian troops were commanded by Major General PrinceV. G. Madatov , by origin Karabakh Armenian.

V.G. Madatov

At the time of the attack, he was replaced by Colonel I. A. Reut, commander of the 42nd Jaeger Regiment, stationed in the area of ​​​​the Shushi fortress.Ermolov demanded that he hold Shusha with all his might and transfer all the families of influential beks here - thereby it was supposed to ensure the safety of those who supported the Russian side, and those who were hostile to be used as hostages.

First hit July 16 a 16,000-strong group inflicted on Russian territoryErivan sardara, reinforced Kurdish cavalry (up to 12 thousand). Russian troops on the border of Georgia, in everythingBombake(Pambak) and Shurageli (Shirak) numbered approx. 3 thousand people and 12 guns -Don Cossack regiment under Andreev (about 500 Cossacks scattered in small groups throughout the territory), two battalions of the Tiflis infantry regiment and two companies of carabinieri. The head of the border line was the commander of the Tiflis regiment, Colonel PrinceL. Ya. Sevarsemidze .

Russian units were forced to retreat in battle toKaraklis(modern Vanadzor ). Gumry and Karaklis were soon surrounded. The defense of Greater Karaklis, together with the Russian troops, was held by two detachments of the Armenian (100 people) and TatarBorchaly (50 people) cavalry. Strong Persian detachments also headed for Balyk-chai, sweeping away small scattered Russian posts on their way.

At the same time Hassan-aga, brother of the Erivan sardar, from 5 thousand. cavalry detachmentKurds and karapapahs crossed into Russian territory between the mountainAlagoz (Aragats) and the Turkish border, plundering and burning Armenian villages on the way to Gumry, capturing cattle and horses, exterminating the resisting local Armenian residents. Having destroyed the Armenian village of Lesser Karaklis, the Kurds began methodical attacks on the defenders in Greater Karaklis.

July 18 40 thousand army Abbas Mirza crossed overAraks at Khudoperinsky bridge . Having received news of this, Colonel I.A. Reut ordered that all troops in the Karabakh province be withdrawn to the fortressShusha . At the same time, three companies of the 42nd regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Nazimka and a hundred Cossacks who joined them failed to break through to Shusha fromGeryusov where they were stationed. The Iranians and the rebellious Azerbaijanis overtook them, and during the stubborn battle, half of the personnel died, after which the rest, by order of the commander, laid down their arms

Shusha fortress.

The garrison of the Shushi fortress was 1300 people. (6 companies of the 42nd Jaeger Regiment and Cossacks from the Molchanov 2nd Regiment). A few days before the complete blockade of the fortress, the Cossacks drove the families of all the local Muslim nobility behind its walls as hostages. The Azerbaijanis were disarmed, and the khans and the most honored beks were taken into custody. The inhabitants of the Armenian villages of Karabakh and the Azerbaijanis, who remained loyal to Russia, also took refuge in the fortress. With their help, dilapidated fortifications were restored. Colonel Reut armed 1.5 thousand Armenians to strengthen the defense, who, along with Russian soldiers and Cossacks, were on the front line. A certain number of Azerbaijanis also participated in the defense, declaring their loyalty to Russia. However, the fortress did not have stocks of food and ammunition, so the grain and livestock of the Armenian peasants who had taken refuge in the fortress had to be used for the meager food of the soldiers.

Meanwhile, the local Muslim population, for the most part, joined the Iranians, and the Armenians, who did not have time to hide in Shusha, fled to mountainous places. Mekhti Kuli Khan, the former ruler of Karabakh, declared himself Khan again and promised to generously reward all who join him. Abbas Mirza, for his part, said that he was fighting only against the Russians, and not against the locals. Foreign officers who were in the service of Abbas Mirza took part in the siege. In order to destroy the walls of the fortress, according to their instructions, mines were brought under the fortress towers. Continuous fire was fired at the fortress from two artillery batteries, but at night the defenders managed to restore the destroyed areas. To create a split among the defenders of the fortress - Russians and Armenians - Abbas Mirza ordered several hundred local Armenian families to be driven under the walls of the fortress and threatened to execute them if the fortress was not surrendered - however, this plan was not successful either.

The defense of Shushi lasted 47 days and was of great importance for the course of hostilities. Desperate to capture the fortress, Abbas-Mirza eventually separated 18 thousand people from the main forces and sent them toelizavetpole (modern Ganja) to strike at Tiflis from the east.

Having received information that the main Persian forces were pinned down by the siege of Shusha, General Yermolov abandoned the original plan to withdraw all forces deep into the Caucasus. By this time, he managed to concentrate up to 8 thousand people in Tiflis. Of these, a detachment was formed under the command of Major General Prince V. G. Madatov (4.3 thousand people), which led the attack onelizavetpol to stop the advance of the Persian forces towards Tiflis and lift the siege from Shushi.

Meanwhile in Bombak province Russian units that repulsed the raids of the Kurdish cavalry on Big Karaklis,August 9 started moving northBezobdal, and to 12th of August concentrated in the campJalal-Ogly . Meanwhile, the Kurdish detachments spread like a wide avalanche over the nearest area, destroying the villages and massacring the Armenian population.August 14 they attacked the german colonyYekaterinfeld , just 60 km from Tiflis, after a long battle they burned it and massacred almost all the inhabitants.

After a few weeks of silence,September 2 , the 3,000-strong Kurdish detachment of Gassan-aga crossed the Dzhilga River 10 km above Jalal-Ogly (modernStepanavan ) and attacked Armenian villages, destroying them and stealing cattle. Despite the intervention of Russian units and significant losses, the Kurds managed to steal 1,000 heads of cattle.

Subsequent attacks were carried out only by small detachments. By early September, the situation had changed in favor of Russia.

Counteroffensive of Russian troops

On September 3 (15), 1826, theShamkhor battle . Russian detachment under the commandV. G. Madatova defeated the 18,000th vanguard of the Iranian army, heading for Tiflis.

After the invasion of Karabakh in mid-July 1826, the 40,000-strong Iranian army of Abbas Mirza was detained by the siege of the Shusha fortress. The detachment of Madatov sent to meet the enemy (a combined detachment of Russian troops (4.3 thousand people, 12 guns) and local militia (2 thousand people)) met at dawn on September 3 (15) near Shamkhor a 20 thousandth Persian detachment, which fortified on right bank of Shamkhorka.

The battle order of the Iranian troops was built in the form of a crescent, curved towards the enemy, in the center of it was the infantry, and on the flanks - the irregular cavalry (ghulams).

G ulyam

Behind were guns and falconets. Madatov, despite the great superiority of the enemy in forces, attacked his positions on the move. With the support of artillery, the cavalry started a fight on the flanks, and the infantry with a bayonet attack broke through the center of the Iranian troops. The defeat of the confused enemy was completed by a cavalry attack of the Georgian and Tatar (Azerbaijani) militias. The Iranians lost 2 thousand killed, Madatov's detachment - 27 people.

The battle of Shamkhor did not last long and was not difficult. It ended in one swift blow. The resistance of the enemy was so weak that a brilliant victory, the defeat of five times the strongest enemy, cost the Russian troops only twenty-seven people who were out of order, while the losses of the enemy were enormous. According to the consciousness of the Persians themselves, they lost on this fatal day for them over two thousand people killed alone. The Shah's guard, who participated in the case, no longer existed - it almost completely fell under the blows of the Russian cavalry. The space from Shamkhor to Elizavetpol, for more than thirty miles, was strewn with enemy corpses. This was evidenced, by the way, by Paskevich himself, who, eight days later, was driving through the battlefield, and Paskevich cannot in any way be suspected of being addicted to Madatov or of wanting to exaggerate the significance of the Shamkhor victory.
The trophies of the battle were: one piece of English artillery, eleven falconets along with camels, and seventy-five prisoners.

On September 5 (15 (17) September Madatov's detachment liberated Elizavetpol. Abbas-Mirza was forced to lift the siege from Shusha and move towards the Russian troops.
On September 13 (25), the Separate Caucasian Corps under the command of General I.F. Paskevich under Elizavetpol defeated 50 thousand. Iranian army, having only 8 thousand soldiers and 24 guns.

After the defeat inShamkhor battle , the Persian detachments hastily retreated to Elisavetpol.Abbas Mirza, lifting the siege from Shushi , led his army to Elisavetpol.10 September a detachment arrived to help General MadatovPaskevich , who took command of the 8,000th Russian united detachment.

At dawn September 13 Russian troops, leaving the camp under the protection of two companies of the Kherson Grenadier Regiment, moved towards the Persians.

Russian troops were located in two lines. In the first line: on the right flank there were two semi-battalions of the 41st Jaeger Regiment, in the center - 12 guns of the Caucasian Grenadier Brigade, on the left flank - two semi-battalions of the Shirvan Regiment. The right flank was covered by the Cossacks, and the left - by the Georgian and Tatar (Azerbaijani) cavalry. The second line consisted of: on the right flank - two semi-battalions of the 7th Carabinieri Regiment, in the center - a square of two carabinieri companies with two guns on the left - three semi-battalions of the Georgian Grenadier Regiment.

Abbas Mirza placed 18 guns in the center of the Persian troops. They were followed by three infantry lines (including fugitive lower ranks of the Russian army). On the flanks, 6 infantry battalions with cavalry.

At the beginning of the battle, an artillery duel ensued. The Persian infantry battalions, under the cover of artillery, stepped forward and, approaching the Russian troops, opened fire on two companies of the Georgian grenadier regiment. The Cossacks and Tatar (Azerbaijani) militias who were nearby were forced to retreat under enemy fire. However, on the way, the Persian infantry stumbled upon a ravine and was forced to stop, having also come under fire from the Russian infantry. Paskevich brought into battle a battalion of the Kherson Grenadier Regiment and the 2nd and 3rd squadrons of the Nizhny Novgorod dragoons. Soon, a fierce battle broke out on the left flank for the Persian flag, which was captured by the Russians during the battle. The Persians were forced to retreat, under the onslaught of Russian infantry battalions. On the right flank, the Persian cavalry tried to enter the rear of the Russian troops. Together with 6 infantry battalions, the Persian cavalry attacked the companies of the Kherson regiment and the Nizhny Novgorod dragoons. However, the Russians, supported by the 7th Carabinieri Regiment, attacked and the Persians retreated to the old fortifications. By evening, the field and nearby fortifications were completely taken by Russian troops. Russian losses were 46 killed and 249 wounded. 4 banners, a cannon and about 1 thousand prisoners were captured.

Russo-Persian War 1804-1813 ended with the complete victory of Russia and the signing of the Gulistan Peace Treaty in 1813. The Persian state was forced to recognize the accession to the Russian Empire of Dagestan, the Georgian regions - Kartli, Kakheti, Megrelia, Imeretia, Guria, Abkhazia. Russia received a part of modern Azerbaijan, Baku, Karabakh, Ganja, Shirvan, Sheki, Derbent and Quba khanates. Part of the Talysh Khanate also went to Russian Transcaucasia. Petersburg received the exclusive right to have its own navy on the Caspian Sea.

However, the Persian state did not accept defeat. In addition, it was supported by the powerful British Empire, which did not want to allow Russia to break through to the shores of the Persian Gulf and the Russians to enter India. In 1814, Persia signed an agreement with England, according to which the Persians pledged not to let the Russians and troops of any state pass to India. The British, for their part, promised to help in the revision of the Gulistan Treaty in favor of Persia, and to provide financial, military and material assistance to the Persians in the event of a war with Russia. British diplomats put pressure on Turkey and Persia, who went to war with each other in 1821, wanting them to go to war with Russia.

The Persian government considered the international situation in 1825 and the uprising of the "Decembrists" in Russia as favorable circumstances for starting a war with the Russians. In addition, the heir to the throne and ruler of Iranian Azerbaijan, Abbas Mirza, who led the Persian troops during the Russian-Persian war of 1804-1813, continued the reorganization of the army with the help of English and French instructors and believed that the armed forces of Persia were now ready to return the lost lands .

Persia in every possible way delayed the issue of delimitation of border lands in the area of ​​Lake Sevan (Gokcha), not wanting to cede even a small part of the Armenian lands to the Russians. The commander-in-chief of the Russian troops in the Caucasus, General Alexei Yermolov, warned Emperor Nicholas I that the Persians were almost openly preparing for war. The Russian government, due to the escalating conflict with the Ottoman Empire, was ready to cede the southern part of the Talish Khanate to Persia for the neutrality of Persia. Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich, in order to prevent a conflict, sent a diplomatic mission to Shah Feth Ali, headed by Prince Alexander Menshikov. Russia needed peace in the South Caucasus and was ready to make significant concessions.

But the arrival of the Russian mission was perceived by the Persian elite as a sign of Russia's weakness. The embassy of Prince A. S. Menshikov in Tehran could not succeed. Moreover, the Persians intercepted all the letters of the Russian ambassador to the Caucasian commander Yermolov. At this time, the Persian commander-in-chief Abbas-Mirza was gathering troops to the borders of Karabakh. The reserve Persian army was concentrated in Agar. Sardar Erivan received an order to start hostilities. Sardars in Iran, Afghanistan and Turkey were called large dignitaries, heads of tribes or military leaders.

Transcaucasian region at the time of the start of the war (the borders are indicated according to the Gulistan Treaty and the Bucharest Peace).

Start of hostilities

By the beginning of hostilities, the Persian state was able to form a large army trained by English instructors. The number of regular infantry was increased to 38.5 thousand people, the irregular numbered 5 thousand soldiers. The cavalry was still the most numerous part of the Persian army - up to 95 thousand horsemen, plus a separate security detachment of the heir to the throne himself. The artillery park of the army consisted of 42 field guns with 900 gunners. Feth Ali Shah was able to create an army that far outnumbered the Russian troops in Transcaucasia. At the same time, the Persian infantry was trained by Western instructors and equipped in a European way. England generously financed Russia's eastern adversary, although after the start of the war she refused to go to war with Russia, as she promised Tehran, explaining that the Persians were the first to start the war.

Persian commander-in-chief Abbas Mirza, with 60 thousand. army and numerous irregular cavalry, planned to quickly invade Transcaucasia, capture Karabakh, Tiflis, oust the Russians from Georgia and Armenia, and push them back beyond the Terek. The main Persian forces were moved from Tabriz to the Kura region, and auxiliary forces were moved to the Mugan steppe in order to block the exits from Dagestan. In addition, the Persian command counted on the attack of the Caucasian highlanders from the rear against the Russian troops, who were stretched in a narrow strip along the border with Persia and Turkey and had no reserves. The Persians also hoped for the help of the separatists, the Karabakh beks and many influential people in neighboring provinces, who were irritated by the loss of most of their power over the local population, maintained contacts with Tehran and promised to raise an uprising. The plans of the Persian command could be called a gamble, if not for the extreme small number of Russian troops in such a vast theater of operations.

It should be noted that a huge mass of regular and irregular enemy troops opposed only 10,000. A separate Caucasian Corps, whose forces were scattered over a vast territory to the borders with the Persian state and the Ottoman Empire. On the day of the attack by the Persian army, there were about 3 thousand people directly on the border area with 12 guns scattered over outposts and on fortifications at a great distance from each other. The Persians were opposed by two battalions of the Tiflis infantry regiment and two companies of carabinieri, the Don Cossack regiment of Lieutenant Colonel Andreev (about 500 Cossacks). The head of the border line was the commander of the Tiflis regiment, Colonel Prince L. Ya. Sevarsemidze. In Karabakh, the Russian forces were commanded by Major General Prince V. G. Madatov, and in his absence, Colonel I. A. Reut, commander of the 42nd Jaeger Regiment, located in the Chinakhchi and Shushi region. One battalion of the 42nd regiment was scattered across the Shirvan and Nukhin provinces. Long before the start of the war, Yermolov asked for reinforcements, but they had not yet been sent by the start of the war.

On July 16, 1826, a 16,000-strong group of a relative of the Persian ruling family, the Erivan serdar Hussein Khan Qajar, reinforced by 12,000 Kurdish cavalry, without declaring war, crossed the Russian border in the Mirak region. Persian troops invaded the territory of Karabakh and the Talysh Khanate. The border "zemstvo guards", which consisted of local Muslims, with rare exceptions, did not offer resistance, retreating or going over to the side of the enemy.

Yermolov ordered Reut to hold Shusha with all his might and transfer the families of noble beks to the fortress, thereby ensuring the safety of those who supported the Russians, and those who were hostile to Russia, used as hostages, and deprived them of the opportunity to go over to the side of the enemy, organize an uprising in the Russian rear. Yermolov also ordered to leave Bombak and Shuragel.

The beginning of the war was difficult for the few Russian troops. The Russians were forced to retreat to Karaklis. Gumry and Karaklis were soon blocked by Persian troops. The Persians were moving towards Balyk-chai, knocking down Russian posts. Brother of the Erivan Sardar, Gassan-aga from 5 thousand. detachment of irregular cavalry invaded Russian territory between Mount Alagyoz (Aragats) and the border with Turkey. Kurds and Karapapahis (“black hats”, a Turkic ethnic group) plundered and burned Armenian villages on the way to Gumry, capturing herds of cattle and herds of horses. They destroyed the Armenian village of Lesser Karaklis and began to attack the defenders in Greater Karaklis.

Heroic defense of Shushi

July 18-19, 1826 40 thousand. The Persian army under the command of Abbas-Mirza crossed the Araks at the Khudoperinsky bridge, invading Russia from the Erivan Khanate. Colonel Iosif Antonovich Reut, having received news of the invasion of the Persian army, withdrew the forces in the Karabakh region to the Shusha fortress. The garrison of the fortress consisted of 1300 people - 6 companies of the 42nd Jaeger regiment and Cossacks from the Molchanov 2nd regiment with 4 guns. Three companies of the 42nd regiment and a hundred Cossacks under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Nazimka could not break through to Shusha from Geryus, where they were located. First, they were attacked by cavalry units of local Muslims (they were called Tatars), then the Persian troops arrived. The rangers and Cossacks fought furiously, desperately trying to break through to the crossing over the Ah-Kara-chai, but it was already in the hands of the enemy. Almost the entire detachment fell in battle, only 8 soldiers managed to escape. The Persians and local Muslims inflated this success to such an extent that rumors about it reached Tiflis.

It must be said that although Shusha had natural protection - it was located on a high rock, being the stronghold of Karabakh for a long time, the fortress was not initially prepared for defense. It was possible to attack the fortress only from the northeast, and even here the terrain was very conducive to the defenders. With the help of local residents, they tried to put the fortifications of the fortress in order. Before the siege of Shusha, they did not manage to collect militia formations from the local population. The way to Elisavetpol was cut off. Colonel Reut armed 1.5 thousand Armenian volunteers to strengthen the garrison, who, together with Russian soldiers and Cossacks, took an active part in the defense of the fortress. A certain number of Muslims who remained faithful to Russia also took part in the defense. There were no pre-prepared food supplies in the fortress, as it was proposed to defend Chinchi. For the minimum security of the soldiers, they had to use the grain and livestock of the Armenian peasants who had taken refuge in the fortress. But the main problem was the lack of water. The Russian garrison and the population of Shushi, together with the inhabitants of the surrounding area, found themselves in a difficult situation, but they did not even think of giving up.

On July 24, Reut received news of the defeat of Nazimka's detachment. On July 25, the advanced units of the Persian army appeared. On July 27, Abbas Mirza offered to surrender, but the Russians refused. The Persians installed batteries and began bombarding the fortress. The Muslim population of the region, for the most part, joined the Persians. The Armenians, who did not have time to hide in the fortress, fled to the mountains, their villages were destroyed. The former ruler of Karabakh, Mehdi Kuli Khan, again declared himself a khan and promised a generous reward to those who would go over to his side. Prince Abbas Mirza said that he was only fighting against the Russians, not the locals, trying to win them over to his side.

Foreign officers who were in the service of the Persian prince took part in the siege of Shusha. At their suggestion, they tried to bring mines to the walls. Two artillery batteries fired at the fortress. But at night the garrison diligently closed the gaps. Trying to put psychological pressure on the garrison and the townspeople, to push the Russians against the Armenians, Abbas-Mirza ordered to drive several hundred Christians to the fortress, promising to execute them if Shusha was not surrendered. However, this plan was not successful either.

The defense of the Shushi fortress lasted 47 days. The garrison of the fortress defended itself with great courage. Persian troops made several assaults, but they were all repulsed. After the failure of the attacking actions, Abbas-Mirza agreed to a 9-day truce. The Persians sent two noble hostages to the fortress. Major Chelyayaev arrived in the Persian camp, he remained in enemy captivity until the end of the war. Franz von Klugenau (Klugenau), a Bohemian in the Russian service, was sent to Yermolov. It is not known how long the Shushi garrison would have held out if the Russian troops had not defeated the army of the son of Abbas-Mirza, Mamed-Mirza and the Erivan sardar on September 3 in the Battle of Shamkhor. Abbas Mirza lifted the siege from Shushi and led the army to Elisavetpol.

The brave garrison of Shushi lost only 32 people killed, wounded and missing during the 47-day siege. The 42nd Jaeger Regiment was granted by Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich St. George's banner with the inscription: "For the defense of Shushi against the Persians in 1826." Colonel Iosif Antonovich Reut (Reutt) was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd degree. The leaders of the Armenian population, who participated in the defense of the fortress and supplied the garrison with food, were promoted to warrant officers by Rostom Tarkhanov and granted a life pension, and the family of his brother Safar, who died shortly after the lifting of the siege of Shushi, was granted a pension from the state treasury.

The long-term defense of Shushi had significant strategic implications. Abbas Mirza, not thinking that the siege would drag on, delayed the main forces of his army near the fortress, although initially he wanted to make a quick rush to Tiflis. Only having despaired of capturing the fortress, the Persian prince eventually separated 18,000 soldiers from the main army forces. corps and sent them to Elizavetpol (Ganja) to strike at Tiflis from the east. Commander-in-Chief Yermolov, having received information that the main forces of the Persian army were stuck near Shusha, abandoned the original plan to withdraw all available forces deep into the Caucasus. Russian troops managed to take a breath, regroup. 8 thousand grouping was concentrated in Tiflis. From its composition was formed 4 thousand. a detachment under the command of Major General Prince V. G. Madatov, who launched an offensive against Elizavetpol to stop the movement of Persian troops to Tiflis and lift the siege from Shusha. Persian and Kurdish detachments during July-August brought a lot of grief to the Transcaucasian villages, destroying the villages, massacring the Christian population and stealing cattle. In particular, on August 14, the settlement of German colonists - Ekaterinfeld, 60 km from Tiflis, was cut out. But the strategic initiative had already been lost by the Persian command, the situation had changed in favor of the Russian troops, who at the beginning of September launched a counteroffensive.

In the twenties of our century, it passed only some one and a half miles from Tiflis. From the northern end of Lake Gokchi (Sevan), it stretched westward in a broken line along the Bombak mountain range and then, deviating from it, through Mount Alagyoz (Aragats), rested at a right angle on the Turkish border, which went along the Arpachay (Akhuryan) river directly to the north , to the Triolet mountains.
In this space, for eighty miles in length and deepening inland, to Tiflis, for fifty miles, lay two border Russian provinces: Shuragel and Bombak. The country is filled with ramifications of those huge heights, located in the depths of Asiatic Turkey, which give rise to significant rivers: the Euphrates, the Araks and others. One of these branches, the Bombak ridge, descending to the southwest, towards the side of Arpachay, forms an inclined plain, broken only on the border with Persia by Mount Alagez. Here lies Shuragel with the main city of Gumry. To the northeast of it is the Bombak province, in a valley delineated by two high and steep ridges Bombaksky and Bezobdal. In the center of the country, the Bombak Range, descending ten versts to the north, meets the slopes of Bezobdal, again raising the surface of the earth to transcendental limits. The distance between the ridges does not exceed twenty miles. The valley gradually narrows to the east, as it approaches Greater Karaklis, where its width is already only two versts, and another five versts further - the gorge begins. The river Bombak flows through this valley, which, having connected with Stone  (Jalal-Oglu-chay), receives the name Borchaly and flows, at the confluence with the Temple, into the Kura. To the east of Bombak, behind the Allaverdy ridge, lies the Kazakh distance.
To the north, behind the silvery, cloudy Bezobdal, the luxurious Lori steppe spreads, bordered in the distance by the gloomy, bare Akzabiyuk mountains. Behind those mountains lies already Iberia.
A free, beautiful place is this Lori steppe, surrounded on all sides by forest, outlined by high mountains: Bezobdal - in the south, Akzabiyuk with its branches - in the north, east and west. Those mountains that separate the steppe from Shuragel are called the Wet Mountains, and the shortest road from Gumr to Bashkechet and on to Tiflis passes through them. In the east, the Allaverdy Ridge closes it, and the steppe ends where the Stone River flows into Borchala ...
The Lori steppe was administratively subordinate to the Bombak province; but that was already part of ancient Georgia, and one of the Tatar distances - Borchalinskaya - is located on it. When Shuragel and Bombaki belonged to Persia, the Lori steppe was a place where Georgia put up barriers to enemy invasions. Gergers and Jalal-Ogly, who defended the entrance to it, therefore became important strategic points.
In the summer of 1826, all these border regions with Persia, open from the flank, in the west, to Turkey, were guarded by only two Russian battalions. In Gumry, the main village of Shuragel, there were two companies of the Tiflis regiment with two guns, and a company of carabinieri, which sent posts from itself to Bekant and Amamly, where they also had one gun each.
In the Big Karaklis, the most important point of the Bombak province, there were three companies of the Tiflis regiment, with three guns. From here, two strong posts advanced to the Lori steppe: one, with a gun, to cover the crossing over the Kamennaya River near Jalal-Ogly, the other to the Bezobdal Pass, and the third was already in Bombaki itself, on the Gamzachevanka River, about eighteen versts from Karaklis, where the regimental herd of the Tiflis regiment grazed. A married company guarded the Gergers behind Bezobdal. The Don Cossacks of Andreev were still scattered in small units throughout Bombak and Shuragel.
Finally, advanced detachments were advanced to the very border: to Mirak, which lay on the eastern slopes of Alagez, two companies of Tiflis and a company of carabinieri with two guns; in Balyk-chai, which covered the only pack road to Erivan from the Kazakh distance, along the Delizhan Gorge along the Akstafa River - a company of Tiflis, with a force of three hundred bayonets and also with two guns. Both Mirak and Balyk-chai were engaged in Russian troops only in the summer, in order to prevent Persian gangs from entering Russian borders and to keep the Kazakh and Shamshadil Tatars roaming near these places in obedience.
In the autumn, when the Tatars returned from their wanderings, the posts were removed, because in winter, due to deep snows, the paths there became insurmountable. Thus, the total number of troops guarding the entire region consisted of a Cossack regiment, with a strength of about five hundred horses, two battalions of the Tiflis regiment (its third battalion was on the Caucasian line) and two companies of carabinieri temporarily moved here from Manglis - a total of about three thousand bayonets, with twelve guns of a light company of the Caucasian Grenadier Artillery Brigade (

Russia's victory in the second war with Persia put an end to Tehran's claims to supremacy in the affairs of the Caucasus. The defeat of the Persian troops in the two battles that will be discussed predetermined the entire course of the war.
The campaign of 1826 began on July 16, when the enemy crossed the borders of Russia in the Mirak region. Two days later, a 25,000-strong Persian army led by Abbas Mirza crossed the Araks River and invaded the Karabakh province. The Persians sought to occupy Elisavetpol, realizing how important it could be both from a political point of view and from a military point of view, the capture of this fortified city. To prevent the plans of the enemy, Alexey Petrovich Ermolov sends his best battalions to Karabag, and the command of the troops is entrusted to General Madatov V.G. 1)

August 22 Madatov, having received a report that on one of the tributaries of the river. Tausa, a 3,000-strong Persian detachment under the command of Zurab Khan, who also had a contender for the Georgian throne, Tsarevich Alexander, was located, raised troops in alarm and moved towards the enemy. When crossing the Tausa River, the Cossacks encountered a Persian patrol and put it to flight, and approaching the enemy camp, they found out that it was empty; the Persians abandoned it and fortified themselves on one of the peaks. Madatov decided to attack them and, sending mounted Georgians to cut off the enemy's possible escape route, opened fire from guns. The Russian infantry rushed forward fearlessly. The Persians could not stand the bayonet attack and rushed to Elisavetpol, pursued by the cavalry. Part of the detachment was destroyed, and the Shamshadil Tatars, who were in its composition, dispersed to their villages. Yermolov, having learned about the success of Madatov, sent a battalion of the Kherson Grenadier Regiment to reinforce him and ordered him to occupy Yelisavetpol.

On August 25, Prince Madatov became aware of the arrival of the Persian army in Karabakh under the command of Abbas-Mirza, and he, leaving on the river. Akstafa post to communicate with Tiflis, quickly marched to Elisavetpol. His detachment included five companies of the Georgian regiment, a battalion of the Kherson grenadier regiment, three companies of rangers of the 41st regiment, Cossacks and police, in addition, there were 12 guns.
The Persians were in the area of ​​Elisavetpol earlier, and Mamed-mirza, the son of Abbas-mirza, knowing about the approach of Madatov, decided to go further, forward, to the village of Shamkhor. With him there were 10,000 people, 4 guns and 20 falconets, and on September 1, the Erivan sardari joined him with 4,000 people and 6 guns. But already on September 3, when the Cossacks, with the support of the Kazakh Tatars, attacked the enemy's vanguard, the Persian troops were forced to retreat beyond Shamkhor, where they lined up in battle order. Selected infantry and artillery were in the center, cavalry occupied the flanks. Thus, by deploying troops behind a fortified line more than two miles long, the enemy was able to fire on the only road along which the Russians advanced.
Madatov's detachment approached this huge crowd in three small columns with Cossacks and police on the flanks and immediately went on the offensive. Artillery opened accurate and frequent fire, mounted Georgians and Tatars attacked the enemy's right flank, infantry crossed the Shamkhor River and hit with bayonets. The Persians could not stand such pressure and ran. Russian cavalry, covering the road with the corpses of enemies, drove them almost to Elisavetpol. The most surprising thing is that the Russian losses in this fleeting battle amounted to only 27 people. The battalion of Nazar-Ali-khan, who occupied Elisavetpol, also took off running, and the next day the Armenian population of the city joyfully greeted the Shamkhor hero. The victory made it possible to partially liberate Karabakh from the invaders and made it possible for the inhabitants to some extent avoid forced resettlement in Persia.
The Shamkhor defeat forced Abbas Mirza to lift the siege of Shusha and lead the army to Elisavetpol. He was determined to beat Madatov. Meanwhile, on September 10, a detachment sent by Yermolov to reinforce Madatov arrived in Yelisavetpol. They were led by Adjutant General Ivan Fedorovich Paskevich, who took command of all the combined forces. The total number of troops now amounted to 8000 people, but these were the best parts of the Caucasian Corps. However, Paskevich did not believe in their capabilities and offered to act on the defensive, waiting for the Persians outside the fortress walls. This was stubbornly opposed by experienced Caucasian veterans - generals Madatov and Velyaminov.
The forward detachments of the Persians were discovered by the Cossacks the next day, but they did not accept the battle with the three companies of the Georgians and the battalion of the 7th Carabinieri, sent forward, and withdrew.
At dawn on September 13, the huge Persian camp began to move. This whole armada, more than 35,000 people with 25 guns, moved to Elisavetpol in the hope of crushing a handful of Russian troops. In response, Paskevich built troops for battle. Time passed, but the enemy did not appear. Then, at 7.00, the commander gave the order to leave the camp under the protection of two companies of the Kherson Grenadier Regiment and go towards the enemy.

"At about 10 o'clock in the morning, on September 13, the enemy began to appear from the Kurakchay postal station; all his movements across the plain were clearly visible; in front, the Tatars of the Kazakh Shamshadil distances, who had joined the Persians, were horse-riding ... At about noon, Abbas Mirza began to approach our positions with banners unfurled and drumming, following the high road to Elisavetpol with regular troops, who, not reaching 2 miles from our position, began to line up to the right and left ... meanwhile, the reserve, consisting of 6 regular battalions of the Shah's guards, under the command of the youngest son of Abbas Mirza Ishmael, had not yet come out of Kurak-chai. When the Persian army had about 20 guns, well arranged according to the European model, and a lot of zemburekchi or light artillery on camels. " 5)

Location of Russian troops
1st line: right flank - two semi-battalions of the 41st Jaeger Regiment (later the 16th Mingrelian Grenadier); in the center - 12 guns of the Caucasian Grenadier Brigade (1st company); left flank - two semi-battalions of the Shirvan regiment. The first line sent shooters, the Cossacks covered the right flank, the Georgian and Tatar cavalry covered the left flank. 2nd line (located 200 steps from the first): behind the rangers - two semi-battalions of the 7th Carabinieri Regiment; to the right - a square of two carabinieri companies with two guns; behind the Shirvans in the same order are three semi-battalions of the Georgian Grenadier Regiment. Major General Prince Madatov commanded both lines. The intervals between the troops of the first line were covered by the Nizhny Novgorod dragoons built in three columns.

The formation of the Persian troops
The composition of the Persian army: 15,000 regular infantry, 20,000 cavalry and irregular infantry and 24 guns.
Center - 18 guns, followed by three infantry lines, in particular, a battalion consisting of fugitive lower ranks of the Russian army; on the flanks - 6 infantry battalions, cavalry and artillery. Behind the infantry of the center and the cavalry of the right flank are falconets on camels. The Persian battle line was so stretched and concave that the extremities of its flanks were almost in the rear of the Russian troops.
After standing for about an hour, Paskevich, under pressure from his generals, launched an attack on the enemy, and an artillery duel immediately ensued. True, in a report to Emperor Alexander I, he reports that he “decided to go forward and attack him on the move,” that is, as if he himself took the initiative, but meanwhile he did not trust the troops entrusted to him at all. Count Simonich, a witness to the events, recalled how, before the battle, Paskevich turned to him with the question: "Are you sure of victory?" To which he replied: "Yes, I'm sure, and now my comrade Grekov is also responsible with his head for success." Subsequently, one of the participants in the battle wrote: “Paskevich, having examined the area, stopped his detachment, got off his horse, ordered the drum to be sent to the front and sat down in deep thought. , Yermolov. Even then distrust of the "Yermolovskys" crept into Paskevich, - he called the associates of this glorious general ... ".

Actions on the left flank and in the center of the Russian troops
18 enemy infantry battalions, under the cover of powder smoke, approached the front and left flank. "The Persian regular infantry stopped and opened battle fire, supported by artillery placed in the intervals between the battalions; at the same time, part of the infantry and a crowd of cavalry rushed to our left flank. Fortunately, in front of this flank there was a small but rather steep ravine, which could not be noticed by the enemy, meanwhile, this circumstance had an important influence on the fate of the battle. 6)
The first to take the blow of the Persian armada were two companies of the Georgian Grenadier Regiment, which stood in a square in the gap between the 1st and 2nd lines. There were also Cossacks and Tatar militias, but they could not resist the onslaught and began to roll back. We must pay tribute to General Paskevich, without bowing to the bullets, he went to this irregular cavalry and began to put it in order. Meanwhile, a ravine turned out to be on the enemy’s path, it just delayed the enemy, who came under fire from the Georgians, and was soon attacked by cavalry. Paskevich brought into battle a battalion of the Kherson Grenadier Regiment and the 2nd and 3rd squadrons of the Nizhny Novgorod dragoons. Non-commissioned officer Zhilin, the orderly of the Nizhny Novgorod commander, Colonel Shabelsky, hacked to death the enemy standard-bearer, but immediately fell, struck down by a bullet. A hand-to-hand fight ensued. To the credit of the Persians, they fought desperately. In this battle, the commander of the 3rd squadron, staff captain Shanshiev, lieutenant Zarembsky and warrant officer Prince Yazon Chavchavadze were injured. An attempt by the enemy to carry away the banner was futile. The decisive actions of the ensign Borovitinov, the volunteer brothers Dolinsky and the private (from the demoted) Grachev made it possible to defend the coveted trophy. Subsequently, the Russian counterattack developed so rapidly that the Persians mixed up and rushed to flee.
By order of General Velyaminov, a 12-gun battery opened fire. Colonel Avernaus led the troops of the 1st line to attack, the columns of the 2nd line entered the intervals of the 1st, and this whole unstoppable avalanche fell on the Persians. The enemy fire was fierce, but despite this, the battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Count Simonich (Georgian Grenadier Regiment) and the battalion of the Shirvan Regiment of Lieutenant Colonel Grekov bravely attacked the enemy. Lieutenant Colonel Simonich was wounded in the leg, and Lieutenant Colonel Grekov fell on the battlefield. However, the soldiers of his battalion did not weaken the onslaught, Major Yudin became ahead of the ranks. The actions of the Shirvans and Georgians were supported by the 41st Jaeger Regiment. In the center, the enemy also began to retreat, the soldiers of the Shirvan regiment captured one gun.

Action on the right flank
Here the situation was serious, the Persian cavalry tried to bypass this flank and go to the rear of the Russian troops. She, with the assistance of 6 infantry battalions, shot down the Cossacks and attacked the square of the Kherson regiment and Nizhny Novgorod. The blow was taken by two companies of the Kherson Grenadier Regiment and the 1st Battalion of the Nizhny Novgorod Dragoons. Noticing this, Colonel Shebalsky turned to the right the square of the 1st semi-battalion of the 7th Carabinieri regiment with five guns (in a number of documents it is noted that they were sent by Paskevich). Major Kluki-von-Klugenau, who commanded the Carabinieri, carried out a swift counterattack, the 1st and 2nd dragoon squadrons, having galloped the Persian infantry, attacked its flank. A general flight of the enemy began, the Kherson grenadiers pursued him. Part of the Persians retreated to the old fortifications located on a steep hill: "Meanwhile, the day was leaning towards evening and the whole corps had long ago come to Kurak-chai, not finding a single Persian there ... Klugenau, out of patience, chose a small hill near the mound , on which, having ordered to drag two guns, opened fire on the rubble ... ". The carabinieri of captain Avramenko and staff captain Muzaiko attacked the Persians, who had settled in the fortifications, and after a short resistance they surrendered (819 soldiers and officers). Among the captured trophies, the carabinieri got two banners. Paskevich reported in a report: "Prince Madatov surrounded their infantry on the mound and, putting the guns in position, forced them to surrender with grapeshot ... ".
The creators of this victory were generously rewarded by the emperor, Adjutant General Paskevich was granted a sword with diamonds, Prince Madatov received the rank of lieutenant general. The Order of St. George was decorated with Major General Vilyaminov (3rd degree), Colonel Shabelsky and Major Kluki-von-Klugenau, Count Simonich, Major Yudin and cornet Eremkin (all 4th degree).
Officers who participated in the battle were awarded orders and promotions. Particularly distinguished lower ranks were awarded the insignia of the Military Order, among the awarded were non-commissioned officers of the 7th Carabinieri Regiment: Longin Zakharov (No. 45794) 11) and Gerasim Nikolaev (No. 45795), privates of the same regiment Naum Neglyadov (No. 45796), Kharlam Egorov (No. 45797) and Ivan Shvetsov (No. 4 5798). The lower ranks of the Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon Regiment received 30 insignia of the Military Order.
Surprisingly, there were few trophies: three guns, one zemburek, three banners and up to 1000 prisoners. Losses of Russian troops - 46 killed and 249 wounded.
Paskevich, in a letter to General Dibich dated September 14, 1826, gave a high assessment to the enemy: “... do not think that they fought completely badly - they came to the distance without a shot from the front, opened battle fire at least for the best infantry, but were dispersed by the true courage of the troops. I can assure you that the bad troops would be overthrown."
And lastly, although Paskevich was the commander of the detachment, in fact the troops were led by Yermolovsky generals and officers.
The victory near Elisavetpol made a huge impression not only on the local population, but also on the peoples of the Caucasus in general, in Persia they were waiting for the inevitable, as it seemed, invasion of the Russian troops. Wanting to end the war as soon as possible and following the instructions from St. Petersburg, Paskevich was ready to transfer the war to the territory of the enemy. Ermolov asked him to confine himself only to actions up to the river. Araks, realizing that the Persians would have time to prepare for the meeting, wrote to him on September 21, 1826: “The enemy, by haste of flight, has a lot of time ahead of you and can prepare means of defense. Having saved almost all his artillery, he cannot have infantry in such absent-mindedness, so that he does not retain quite significant forces ... ". It was also necessary to restore order in Karabakh. In addition, the Russians, having shifted their actions beyond the Araks, would have been left without supply bases on the land devastated by the war. Apparently, Yermolov's practical actions as a boss did not suit Paskevich, who was greedy for honors and awards, and only strengthened his intrigues, the end result of which was Yermolov's departure from the Caucasian scene.

Sources and notes:

1. Madatov Valeryan Grigorievich 1782-1829 In military service from the age of 15 (belt-ensign of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment). Member of the war with Turkey 1807-1812, the Patriotic War of 1812, foreign campaigns of 1813-1814, the Russian-Persian war of 1827-1828 and the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829. Order of St. George 4th class for the battle of Batin 1810. Order of St. George 3rd class for the battle of Kalisz 1812.
2. The most humble report of Adjutant General Paskevich on the battle of Elisavetpol. // Military collection. No. 9, 1907.
3. Bobrovsky P. O. The history of the 13th Life Grenadier Erivan Regiment of His Majesty for 250 years St. Petersburg. 1893 T. 4.
4. Kazbek G. Military history of the Georgian Grenadier Regiment. Tiflis, 1865.
5. Grezhegorsky I. Lieutenant General Kluki-von-Klugenau.//Essay on Military Events in the Caucasus 1818–1850// Russian antiquity. 1874. T. X1. Book. eleven.
6. Potto V. Abkhazia St. Petersburg.
7. Dubrovin N. History of war and domination of Russians in the Caucasus, St. Petersburg, 1888. T. 6.
8. Potto V. History of the 44th Dragoon Nizhny Novgorod His Imperial Majesty the Sovereign Heir to the Tsarevich Regiment St. Petersburg, 1894. T. 3.
9. Russian World. No. 11, 1873.
10. Numbers of insignia of the Military Order are given in brackets.

By the end of the 18th century Transcaucasia was divided between the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) and Safavid Iran: western Georgia and the main part of Armenia were under Turkish control, eastern Georgia (Kartli, Kakheti), eastern Armenia (Erivan Khanate) and Azerbaijan (Shirvan, Karabakh) were under Persian control. In the first quarter of the 18th century the strengthened Russian state, which owned lands north of the river. Terek, intensified its penetration into the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia. Its natural allies were the Christian peoples of the Caucasus (Georgians, Armenians).

First Persian Campaign 1722–1723.

The weakening of the Safavid state under Shah Sultan Hussein (1694-1722) created a threat of the capture of Eastern Transcaucasia by Turkey, one of the main opponents of Russia. After the Afghan invasion of Persia in January 1722, the Turks invaded Kartli, which was under Iranian protectorate. The successor of Sultan Hussein, the Persian Shah Tahmasp II, turned for help to Russia, which had just successfully completed the Northern War of 1700–1721. Peter I (1682-1725), seeking to ensure Russian trade interests in the Caspian Sea and not wanting the capture of Kartli by Turkey, decided on armed intervention in Caucasian affairs.

In July 1722 the Russian army led by the tsar set out from Astrakhan. Having crossed the border river Sulak, she subjugated Tarki (Primorsky Dagestan) and captured Derbent without a fight, but in the fall, due to illness and food shortages, she was forced to return to her homeland. In 1723 the Russians undertook a new campaign in Eastern Transcaucasia. They took Baku, landed troops in the Persian region of Gilan and occupied its administrative center Rasht. On September 12 (23), Persia concluded the Treaty of Petersburg with Russia, ceding to it its Caspian provinces of Gilan, Mazanderan and Astrabad (modern Gorgan) and agreeing to the transfer of the Derbent and Baku khanates under its rule. In 1724, Russian acquisitions in Transcaucasia were recognized by Turkey; in return, Peter I had to recognize the Turkish protectorate over Kartli, the Erivan Khanate and almost all of Azerbaijan.

However, in the 1730s, the government of Anna Ivanovna (1730–1740), seeking to win over Persia in the impending military conflict with Turkey, went to revise the Petersburg Treaty. Under the Resht Treaty of 1732, Gilan, Mazanderan and Astrabad were returned to Iran, and the Kura River became the border. Under the Ganja Treaty of 1735, Russia ceded Derbent and Baku to him and agreed to move the border to the Terek.

Second Persian campaign 1796.

During the reign of Catherine II (1762-1796), Russia, taking advantage of a long period of unrest in Persia, strengthened its position in the Caucasus. In 1783, Heraclius II, the ruler of the Kartli-Kakhetian kingdom (Tractate of St. George), passed into Russian citizenship; in 1786 Tarki was included in the empire; increased Russian influence in Dagestan. However, in the mid-1790s, Agha Mohammed Khan Qajar, having seized the Persian throne and put an end to civil strife, tried to regain control over Eastern Transcaucasia. In the summer of 1795 the Persians invaded Kartli. In response, in 1796 Catherine II sent a military expedition to Transcaucasia led by V.A. Zubov, who in a short time managed to occupy Derbent, Cuba, Baku, Shemakha and Ganja. But after the death of the Empress on November 6 (17), 1796, her successor Paul I (1796-1801) withdrew the troops to their homeland.

Russo-Persian War 1804–1813.

At the turn of the 18-19 centuries. Russia stepped up its penetration into the Transcaucasus. In September 1801, Alexander I (1801-1825) announced the accession to the empire of the Kartli-Kakheti kingdom. In November 1803 - January 1804, the Ganja Khanate was conquered. In May 1804, the Persian Shah Feth-Ali (1797–1834), who entered into an alliance with Great Britain, demanded that Russia withdraw its troops from Transcaucasia. In early June, the Persians (Tsarevich Abbas-Mirza) invaded the Erivan Khanate, but, having been defeated by the troops of P.D. Kalagiri, retreated beyond the Araks River. However, the Russians failed to take Erivan (modern Yerevan). In June 1805, Abbas-Mirza launched an offensive against Tiflis, but the heroic resistance of a small detachment of Karyagin on the Askeran River near the Karabakh Range allowed Tsitsianov to gather forces and at the end of July defeat the Persians on the Zagam River near Ganja. The power of Russia was recognized by the Karabakh and Shirvan khanates, as well as the Shuragel sultanate. In November 1805, Tsitsianov moved to Baku; On February 8 (20) he was killed during negotiations with the Baku Khan. In the summer of 1806, I.V. Gudovich, appointed instead of him, defeated Abbas-Mirza at Karakapet (Karabakh) and conquered the Sheki, Derbent, Baku and Quba khanates.

The Russian-Turkish war that began in November 1806 forced the Russian command to conclude the Uzun-Kilis truce with the Persians in the winter of 1806–1807. But in May 1807, Feth-Ali entered into an anti-Russian alliance with Napoleonic France, and in 1808 hostilities resumed. The Russians took Etchmiadzin, in October 1808 they defeated Abbas-Mirza at Karababe (south of Lake Sevan) and occupied Nakhichevan. After the unsuccessful siege of Erivan, Gudovich was replaced by A.P. Tormasov, who in 1809 repulsed the offensive of the army led by Feth-Ali in the Gumry-Artik region and thwarted Abbas-Mirza's attempt to capture Ganja. Persia broke the treaty with France and restored the alliance with Great Britain, which initiated the conclusion of the Persian-Turkish agreement on joint operations on the Caucasian front. In May 1810, Abbas-Mirza's army invaded Karabakh, but a small detachment of P.S. Kotlyarevsky defeated it near the Migri fortress (June) and on the Araks river (July). In September, Russian troops stopped the Persian offensive in the Akhalkalaki direction and prevented them from connecting with the Turks.

After the signing of the Russian-Turkish peace in January 1812, Persia began to lean towards reconciliation with Russia. But the news of Napoleon I's entry into Moscow strengthened the military party at the Shah's court; in southern Azerbaijan, a huge army was formed under the command of Abbas Mirza to attack Georgia. However, Kotlyarevsky, having crossed the Araks, on October 19-20 (October 31 - November 1) defeated the many times superior Persian forces at the Aslanduz ford and on January 1 (13) took Lenkoran. The Shah had to enter into peace negotiations. On October 12 (24), 1813, the Gulistan Peace was signed, according to which Persia recognized the inclusion of eastern Georgia and most of Azerbaijan into the Russian Empire; Russia received the exclusive right to maintain a navy in the Caspian Sea.

Russo-Persian War 1826–1828.

Persia did not accept the loss of most of the Eastern Transcaucasus. After the Peace of Gulistan, she became even closer to Great Britain (the union treaty of 1814) and launched anti-Russian agitation among the Dagestan and Azerbaijani rulers. However, in 1820 Russia finally subjugated the Shirvan Khanate, and by 1824 had completed the conquest of Dagestan. With the accession to the throne of Nicholas I (1825-1855), Russian policy in the Caucasus changed: in the context of the escalating conflict with Turkey, St. Petersburg was ready to cede the southern part of the Talysh Khanate to Persia for the neutrality. But under pressure from Abbas-Mirza, Feth-Ali rejected the Russian proposals (the mission of A.S. Menshikov). In July 1826, Persian troops crossed the border without declaring war, occupied Yelisavetpol (formerly Ganja) and laid siege to Shusha. On September 5 (17), a detachment of V. G. Madatov liberated Elisavetpol, and on September 13 (25) the Separate Caucasian Corps (I.F. Paskevich) defeated the main forces of the Persians (Abbas-Mirza) and by the end of October drove them back beyond the Araks. In June 1827, Paskevich moved to Erivan, on July 5 (17) he defeated Abbas-Mirza at the Jevan-Bulak stream, and on July 7 (19) he forced the Sardar-Abad fortress to surrender. In early August, Abbas-Mirza, trying to stop the further advance of the Russians, invaded the Erivan Khanate, on August 15 (27) laid siege to Etchmiadzin, but having suffered a defeat from A.I. Krasovsky near the village of Ushagan (Oshakan) on the Kasakh River, he retreated to Persia . On October 1 (13) Paskevich took Erivan and entered South Azerbaijan; On October 14 (26), the detachment of G.E. Eristov captured Tabriz (Tabriz). Military failures forced the Persians to go to peace negotiations. On February 10 (22), 1828, the Turkmanchay peace was signed (in the village of Turkmanchay near Tabriz), according to which Persia ceded eastern Armenia to Russia (the Erivan and Nakhichevan khanates).

As a result of the Russian-Persian wars, Eastern Transcaucasia became part of the Russian Empire, Russia became the mistress of the Caspian Sea, and favorable conditions were created for the spread of Russian influence in the Middle East. The Christian peoples of eastern Georgia and northeastern Armenia got rid of religious oppression and were able to preserve their ethno-cultural identity.

Ivan Krivushin