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 three companies of Georgians and a 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.

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 revise the Gulistan Treaty in favor of Persia, and 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 cliff, 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 repelled. 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.

The situation in the East on the eve of the war

In the 16th century, Georgia broke up into several small feudal states that were constantly at war with Muslim empires: Turkey and Iran. In 1558, the first diplomatic relations between Moscow and Kakheti began, and in 1589 the Russian Tsar Fyodor I Ioannovich offered his protection to the kingdom. Russia was far away, and it was not possible to provide effective assistance. In the 18th century, Russia regained interest in the Transcaucasus. During the Persian campaign, he made an alliance with King Vakhtang VI, but there were no successful military operations. Russian troops retreated to the north, Vakhtang was forced to flee to Russia, where he died.

Ekaterina II rendered all possible assistance to the king of Kartli-Kakheti, Heraclius II, who sent insignificant military forces to Georgia. In 1783, Heraclius signed the Treaty of Georgievsk with Russia, which established a Russian protectorate in exchange for military protection.

In 1801, Paul I signed a decree on the annexation of the Eastern Caucasus to Russia, and in the same year, his son Alexander I created the Georgian province on the territory of the Kartli-Kakheti Khanate. With the annexation of Megrelia to Russia in 1803, the borders reached the territory of modern Azerbaijan, and there the interests of the Persian Empire already began.

On January 3, 1804, the Russian army launched an assault on the Ganja fortress, which greatly violated the plans of Persia. The capture of Ganja ensured the security of the eastern borders of Georgia, which were constantly attacked by the Ganja Khanate. Persia began to look for allies for the war with Russia. England became such an ally, which was by no means interested in strengthening Russia's position in this region. London gave guarantees of support, and on June 10, 1804, the Sheikh of Persia declared war on Russia. The war lasted nine years. Another ally of Persia was Turkey, which constantly waged wars against Russia.

Causes of the war

Historians are inclined to believe that the main causes of the war should be considered:

Expansion of the territory of Russia at the expense of Georgian lands, strengthening the influence of Russians in this region;

Persia's desire to gain a foothold in Transcaucasia;

The unwillingness of the UK to allow a new player into the region, and even more so Russia;

Assistance to Persia from Turkey, which tried to take revenge from Russia for the lost wars at the end of the 18th century.

An alliance was formed against Russia between Persia, the Ottoman Empire and the Ganja Khanate, with Great Britain helping them. Russia had no allies in this war.

The course of hostilities

	Battle of Erivan. The defeat of the Russian allied forces.
	The Russians completely surrounded the Erivan fortress.
	The Russians lifted the siege of the Erivan fortress.
January 1805	The Russians occupied the Shuragel Sultanate and annexed it to the Russian Empire.
	The Kurekchay Treaty was signed between Russia and the Karabakh Khanate.
	A similar agreement was concluded with the Sheki Khanate.
	Agreement on the transfer of the Shirvan Khanate to Russian citizenship.
	The siege of Baku by the Caspian flotilla.
Summer 1806	The defeat of Abbas-Mirza at Karakapet (Karabakh) and the conquest of the Derbent, Baku (Baku) and Quba khanates.
November 1806	The beginning of the Russian-Turkish war. Uzun-Kilis truce with the Persians.
	Resumption of hostilities.
October 1808	Russian troops defeated Abbas-Mirza at Karababe (south of Lake Sevan) and occupied Nakhichevan.
	A.P. Tormasov repelled the offensive of the army led by Feth Ali Shah in the Gumra-Artik region and thwarted Abbas-Mirza's attempt to capture Ganja.
May 1810	The army of Abbas-Mirza invaded Karabakh, was defeated by the detachment of P. S. Kotlyarevsky near the fortress of Migri.
July 1810	The defeat of the Persian troops on the Araks River.
September 1810	The defeat of the Persian troops near Akhalkalaki and the prevention of their connection with the Turkish troops.
January 1812	Russian-Turkish peace treaty. Persia is also ready to conclude a peace treaty. But Napoleon's entry into Moscow complicated the situation.
August 1812	Capture of Lankaran by the Persians.
	The Russians, having crossed the Araks, defeated the Persians at the Aslanduz ford.
December 1812	The Russians entered the territory of the Talysh Khanate.
	The Russians took Lankaran by storm. Peace negotiations began.
	Gulistan world. Russia received Eastern Georgia, the northern part of modern Azerbaijan, Imeretia, Guria, Megrelia and Abkhazia, as well as the right to have a navy in the Caspian Sea.

The results of the war

With the signing of the Treaty of Gulistan on October 12 (24), 1813, Persia recognized the entry of Eastern Georgia and the northern part of modern Azerbaijan, as well as Imeretia, Guria, Megrelia and Abkhazia into the Russian Empire. Russia also received the exclusive right to maintain a navy in the Caspian Sea. Russia's victory in this war intensified the confrontation between the British and Russian empires in Asia.

Russian-Iranian war of 1826-1828

Situation before the war

Unfortunately, the hostilities did not end there. In Persia, they constantly thought about revenge and revision of the peace treaty concluded in Gulistan. The Persian Shah Feth Ali declared that the Gulistan treaty was invalid, and began to prepare for a new war. Once again, Great Britain became the main instigator of Persia. She provided financial and military support to the Shah of Iran. The reason for the start of hostilities were rumors about the St. Petersburg uprising (Decembrists) and the interregnum. The Persian troops were led by Crown Prince Abbas Mirza.

The course of hostilities

June 1826	Iranian troops crossed the border in two places. The southern regions of Transcaucasia were captured.
	The first blow to the Russian troops. Running fight.
July 1826	The 40,000-strong army of Abbas-Mirza crossed the Araks.
July - August 1826	Defense of Shushi by Russian troops.
	Shamkhor battle. The defeat of the 18,000th vanguard of the Persian army.
	Liberation of Elizavetpol by Russian troops. The siege of Shusha was lifted.
	The defeat of the 35,000th Persian army near Elizavetpol.
	General Yermolov replaced by General Paskevich.
	Capitulation of the Persian fortress of Abbas-Abad.
	Russian troops took Erivan and entered Persian Azerbaijan.
	Russian troops captured Tabriz.
	The Turkmanchay peace treaty was signed.

The results of the war

The end of the war and the conclusion of the Turkmanchay peace treaty confirmed all the conditions of the Gulistan peace treaty of 1813. Under the agreement, the transition to Russia of part of the Caspian coast to the Astara River was recognized. The Araks became the border between the two states.

At the same time, the Shah of Persia had to pay an indemnity of 20 million rubles. After the Shah pays an indemnity, Russia undertakes to withdraw its troops from the territories controlled by Iran. The Persian Shah promised to grant an amnesty to all residents who collaborated with the Russian troops.

The "Eastern Question" for the Russian Empire has always remained an acute problem. The emperors sought to strengthen their interests in the East, which often led to military conflicts. One of the countries with which interests clashed was Iran.

The second war between Russia and the Persian Empire began in 1826 and lasted almost two years. In February 1828, the Turkmanchay Peace Treaty was concluded between the parties, which put an end to relations between the empires. But the conditions of peace became very difficult for Iran, which subsequently led to the country's economic and political crisis.

Russia's previous war with Iran ended with the signing of the Gulistan Peace Treaty. According to the latter, Northern Azerbaijan and Dagestan departed to the Russian Empire.

In addition, many eastern countries voluntarily applied for Russian protection. This state of affairs did not suit Iran, which strove for independence. In addition, Great Britain intervened in the affairs of countries.

Causes of the conflict

In Iran, in the spring of 1826, an aggressive government headed by Abbas Mirza, supported by Great Britain and the Shah's court, came to power. The Russian Empire did not support the new ruler.

After that, open propaganda of a new war with Russia began. Nicholas I hastened to resolve the conflict peacefully and sent a peace delegation headed by A. Menshikov for negotiations. But the Iranian side refused to receive the ambassadors, and the delegation returned without results.

After that, with the permission of the religious elite of the Khanate, hostilities began against Russia.

The reasons for starting the war were:

• revenge for the Russian-Iranian war of 1804-1813;
• return of the lost territories according to the Gulistan peace;
• the desire to weaken the influence of the Russian Empire on the world stage;
• the desire of England to stop the trade of Russian merchants in the East.

The course of hostilities

Russia did not expect the beginning of an open armed attack and initially was not ready for worthy resistance. In addition, the Persian troops were supported by England. In the first months, the Russian army was forced to retreat.

Aspect ratio and command

Side Plans

Main events

Stage I: July 1826 - September 1826

During the offensive, Abbas-Mirza counted on the help of Armenians and Azerbaijanis living in Russia. But the hopes were not justified, small nations sought to get rid of the oppression of the Iranian khans and shahs. For this reason, Russian troops were actively supported.

On July 16, Khan of Erivan Hussein Khan Qajar attacks the Russian border territories near Mirak. Here was a small Russian army, which was forced to retreat and leave the territories of the Shirvan and Sheki khanates;

Russian units retreated to Karkalis. The defense of the latter, the Russian troops held together with a detachment of Armenians and the Tatar cavalry.

in mid-July, Abbas-Mirza laid siege to the fortress of Shusha.

The Shah's army numbered about 40 thousand people. There were much fewer Russians, the number of the garrison was 1300 people. Commander of the Russian troops in Karabakh I.A. Reut sent reinforcements to the fortress, but not all reached, 1/3 was killed in local battles. The peoples of Karabakh, loyal to Russia, hid behind the walls. The commander managed to equip another 1500 Armenians. But the army did not have enough food, so they had to rely on the products of civilians.

Abbas Mirza promised to fight only against the Russians, so part of the Armenians and Azerbaijanis nevertheless joined the Iranians.

The defense of the fortress lasted 47 days. The Iranian command used various tactics: even to bring discord between the peoples of the East and the Russians. By order of Abbas Mirza, several Aryamen families were executed in front of the walls of the fortress, and the Russians were accused. But it failed to create discord.

As a result, the siege of Shusha was lifted and the Iranian troops withdrew to Elizavetopol, intending to attack Tiflis from there.

• in August, near Tiflis, on the orders of Yermolov, Russian troops began to gather. A detachment of Madatov, numbering 1800 people, was sent towards Abbas-Mirza to contain the Iranian army.

Stage II September 1826 - February 1828 counteroffensive of the Russian army

• September 3 - Battle of Shakhmor. The small detachment of Madatov was able to defeat the 18,000-strong enemy army on the way to Tiflis. Thus the commander accomplished his task;
• September 13 battle near Elizavetpol. Cossacks under the command of General I.F. Paskichev was defeated by 35,000 Iranians. The Russian army at the same time consisted of a little more than 10 thousand people and 24 guns. After a crushing defeat, the enemy army retreated to Arkas.

March 16, 1827 - Paskevich is appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian army in the Caucasus instead of Yermolov.

in early August, the army of Abbas-Mirza leaves for the Erivan Khanate;

On August 15, the Iranian army, together with Hussein Khan, laid siege to Etchmiadzin, which was defended by 500 people of the Sevastopol infantry regiment and 100 volunteers of the Armenian cavalry.

August 16 Battle of Oshakan. By order of the command, the army of A.I. was sent to help Echmiadzin. Krasovsky in 3000 people. But on the way to the fortress, the army was attacked by the enemy army, the number of which was about 30,000 people. The Russians suffered heavy losses during the battle (1154 people were killed, wounded and missing). But despite this, Krasovsky's army managed to break through to the fortress. As a result, the siege of Etchmiadzan was lifted.

On October 1, the Russian army under the command of Paskevich captured Erivan, after which they entered the territory of Iranian Azerbaijan;

Turkmenchay peace treaty

After a series of crushing defeats, the Persian Empire agreed to peace negotiations with Russia. By February 1928, an agreement had been reached.

On February 10, a peace treaty was signed between the Russian and Persian empires, which went down in history as the Turkmanchay. The well-known Russian writer Alexander Griboyedov participated in the development of the main points of the agreement.

According to the terms of the world:

• all the conditions of the Gulistan peace were confirmed;
• Russia received Eastern Armenia, the Erivan and Nakhichevan khanates;
• Persia took an obligation not to interfere with the voluntary resettlement of the Armenian population;
• the losing party must pay an indemnity in the amount of 20 million rubles in silver;
• Russia recognized Abbas Mirza as heir to the throne.

In addition to territorial and political decisions, trade decisions were made.

A treaty was concluded, according to which Russian merchants had the right to trade in Iran. Merchant ships were allowed to move freely in the Caspian Sea. All these changes seriously affected trade between Iran and Great Britain. The interests of the latter were strongly affected.

Historical meaning

The Russian-Iranian war and the Turkmenchay peace had a negative impact on the development of Iran. Historians emphasize that the terms of the peace treaty seriously undermined the economic and political health of the state.

Russian-Iranian relations on the terms of the concluded peace were maintained until the October Revolution.

Russian empire Persia Commanders A. P. Ermolov
V. G. Madatov
I. F. Paskevich Feth Ali Shah
Abbas Mirza Side forces 8 thousand 35 thousand

Russo-Persian Wars

Previous events

The tense international situation in 1825 and the Decembrist uprising were perceived in Persia as the most favorable moment for speaking out against Russia. The heir to the throne and ruler of Iranian Azerbaijan, Abbas-Mirza, who created a new army with the help of European instructors and considered himself capable of returning the lands lost in 1813, decided to take advantage of such an opportunity as it seemed to him.

The commander-in-chief of the Russian troops in the Caucasus, General A.P. Yermolov, warned Emperor Nicholas Ithat Persia was openly preparing for war. In view of the escalating conflict with Turkey, Nicholas I was ready to cede the southern part of the Talysh Khanate to Persia for the neutrality of Persia. 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

The main task of the Iranian command was to capture the Transcaucasus, capture Tiflis and push back the Russian troops beyond the Terek. The main forces were therefore sent from Tabriz to the Kura region, and the auxiliary forces were sent to the Mugan steppe in order to block the exits from Dagestan. 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 had no 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 in Shusha and hold it until the Iranian troops approached.

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 - again declared himself Khan and promised to generously reward everyone who joins 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 to Elizavetpol (modern Ganja) in order 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), who launched an offensive on Elizavetpol in order to stop the advance of the Persian forces to Tiflis and lift the siege from Shushi.

Counteroffensive of Russian troops

On September 3 (15), 1826, the Battle of Shamkhor took place. The Russian detachment under the command of V. G. Madatov defeated the 18,000th vanguard of the Iranian army, heading for Tiflis.

On September 5 (17), Madatov's detachment liberated Yelizavetpol. Abbas-Mirza was forced to lift the siege from Shusha and move towards the Russian troops.

On October 1 (13), Paskevich took Erivan and entered Iranian Azerbaijan; On October 14 (26), a detachment of K. E. Eristov captured Tabriz.

Peace treaty

Military failures forced the Persians to go to peace negotiations. On February 10 (22), 1828, the Turkmanchay peace treaty was signed (in the village of Turkmanchay near Tabriz), concluded between the Russian Empire and Persia, according to which Persia confirmed all the conditions of the Gulistan peace (1813), recognized the transition to Russia of part of the Caspian coast to the river . Astra, Eastern Armenia (On the territory of Eastern Armenia, a special administrative entity was created - the Armenian region, with the resettlement of Armenians from Iran there.). The Araks became the border between the states.

In addition, the Shah of Persia was obliged to pay Russia an indemnity (10 tuman kururs - 20 million rubles). As for Iranian Azerbaijan, Russia undertook to withdraw troops from it on payment of indemnity. The Persian Shah also undertook to grant amnesty to all residents of Iranian Azerbaijan who collaborated with the Russian troops.

see also

Notes

1. Modern Iran (handbook). M., Main edition of oriental literature of the Nauka publishing house, 1975, p. 136.
2. Zakharevich A. V. Don Cossacks and the Armenian population in the defense of Russian borders from Persian troops in the initial period of the campaign of 1826. Center for Pontic-Caucasian Studies. Krasnodar, 1995
3. V. A. Potto in his book “The Caucasian War” described the region in which hostilities unfolded and the disposition of Russian troops as follows:

   The Russian border from the side of the Erivan Khanate before the war, in the twenties of our century, passed only a hundred and fifty 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 the 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, covering 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 wanderings, the posts were removed, because in winter, due to deep snow, the paths became insurmountable there. 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 (V. A. Potto, “Caucasian War”, vol. 3. Persian War of 1826-1828).

4. Kersnovsky A. A. Chapter 8. The Conquest of the Caucasus // History of the Russian Army // in 4 volumes / ed. Kuptsova V. - Moscow: Voice, 1993. - T. 2. - S. 99. - 336 p. - 100,000 copies. - ISBN 5-7055-0864-6
5. Shishkevich M.I. Chapter 7 - The Persian War of 1826. Yermolov and Paskevich (Essay on the General Staff of Major General Shishkevich M.I.) // History of the Russian Army and Navy / ed. Grishinsky A.S. and Nikolsky V.P. - Moscow: Education, 1911. - V. 6 - Conquest of the Caucasus. Persian and Caucasian wars. - S. 66-67. - 197 p.
6. Grigoryan Z. T. Chapter 3 // Accession of Eastern Armenia to Russia in the beginning. XIX century / ed. Lazarevich L .. - Moscow: Sotsekgiz, 1959. - S. 111-112. - 187 p. - 8000 copies.
7. Nersisyan M. G.