Shirvan
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''For the town in Iran see [[Shirvan (Iran)|Shirvan]]''
{{for|the place in Afghanistan|Shirvan, Afghanistan}}
'''Shirvan''' ({{lang-az|Şirvan}}, {{lang-fa|شروان}}), also spelled as '''Shervan''' or '''Shirwan''', is a historical region in the [[Caucasus]] and part of present-day [[Republic of Azerbaijan]]. The region stretches between the western shores of the [[Caspian Sea]] and the [[Kura River]].
==History==
The name is first attested during the [[Sassanian]] epoch, when it was used to denote the northern part of [[Caucasian Albania]], or [[Arran (Azerbaijan)|Arran]]. After the Islamic conquest, it became a hereditary possession of the [[Khalif]]'s governors.
Between 799 and 1538, the territory was ruled by the [[Shirvanshah]]s (a particular Persian title of the royal rank of [[Shah]]). It was there that the Persian poet [[Khaqani]] ([[Khaghani]]) was born. The capital of the Shirvanshahs was [[Shamakhi]].
In the 18th century, Shirvan was a [[khanate]] whose ruler paid homage to [[Persia]]. The Russians briefly overran it during the [[Russo-Persian War, 1722-1723]]. After the [[Treaty of Gulistan]] of [[1813]] the region was absorbed by [[Imperial Russia]].
The regions of Shirvan and [[Arran]] later formed the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Shirvan is known for the quality of its [[Oriental rug|rugs]].
==People==
{{Merge|Shirvanis|date=December 2007}}
{{see main|Shirvanis}}
Shirvan's population consisted of [[Lezgian language|Lezgian]], [[Avar language|Avar]], [[Udi language|Udi]], [[Kryz language|Kryz]] and Iranian languages speaking Tats. This population was slowly Turkisized since the 11th century onward, yet some speakers of the Caucasian languages still live in the distant villages of [[Shamakha]], [[Shaki]], [[Qabala]], and [[Oguz]].
==See also==
*[[Shirvanshah]]
*[[Arran (Azerbaijan)|Aran]]
*[[Shirvan Khanate]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Azerbaijan.html#Shmakha WorldStatesmen- Azerbaijan]
*[[Great Soviet Encyclopedia]], article on Shirvan
[[Category:Geography of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:History of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:History of Iran]]
[[Category:Caucasian Albania]]
{{Azerbaijan-geo-stub}}
[[de:Schirwan]]
[[fa:شیروان]]
[[ka:შირვანი]]
[[pl:Szyrwan]]
[[ro:Shirvan]]
[[ru:Ширван]]
[[tg:Шервон]]