Samad Bey Mehmandarov

Samad bey Sadykh bey oghlu Mehmandarov (, ; 16 October 1855 – 12 February 1931) was an Azerbaijani General of the Artillery in the Russian Imperial Army, a member of the Independence faction of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the Minister of Defense of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, and a military figure of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic and the Soviet Union.

A participant in the Russo-Japanese War, Mehmandarov commanded an artillery division in the defense of Port Arthur from 1904 to 1905. During World War I, he first led an infantry division and later commanded an army corps. For his service in the Tsarist army, he was awarded various orders and medals, including the 3rd and 4th degrees of the Order of Saint George and a Golden Weapon for Bravery. He was also honored with the Grand Cross of the British Order of St Michael and St George.

Following the declaration of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918, Mehmandarov was invited to serve in the Republic’s government. He held the position of Minister of Defense in the third, fourth, and fifth cabinets of the Azerbaijani government. After the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was occupied by Soviet Russia in 1920, Mehmandarov taught at military schools and worked as a special advisor in the People's Commissariat for Military and Naval Affairs of Azerbaijan. He retired in 1928.

Active duty

Early career

There are various theories regarding the origin of the Mehmandarov surname. One suggests that it comes from a military and administrative position within the governance structure of the Karabakh Khanate, known as a mehmandar (guest officer). The mehmandar was responsible for receiving and escorting honorary guests visiting the khanate. During the reign of Ibrahim Khalil Khan Javanshir (1762–1806), Mirza Ali Bey held the position of mehmandar. His descendants later adopted the surname Mehmandarov. One branch of the Mehmandarov family eventually settled in Lankaran. Mirza Sadig Bey Mehmandarov, born in Shusha, graduated from the Faculty of Law in Saint Petersburg, where he became acquainted with Haji Mir Abbas Bey Talishinski. Haji Mir Abbas invited him to Lankaran to serve as the chief legal officer of his estate, and later, Mirza Sadig Bey married into the Talishinski family.

Samad Bey Mehmandarov hailed from a prominent noble family in Karabakh. His father, Mirza Sadiq Bey Mehmandarov, moved from Shusha to Lankaran in the early 1840s due to his official duties. He served as the Mugan district police officer in the Lankaran Uyezd administration and held the rank of titular counselor. Born on October 16, 1855, in Lankaran, Mehmandarov received his primary education at the Baku Gymnasium. On September 1, 1873, he began his military service as a cadet at the 2nd Konstantinov Military School in Saint Petersburg.

After graduating in 1875, Mehmandarov was assigned to the 1st Turkestan Artillery Brigade with the rank of praporshchik. He commanded a mountain unit in the 3rd Battery and took part in the Kokand campaign from November 1875 to February 1876. He was awarded a medal for the conquest of the Khanate of Kokand. For his service during the campaign against the Matcha mountaineers, he was awarded the 3rd Class Order of Saint Stanislaus on October 12, 1876. In December of that year, he was promoted to podporuchik (second lieutenant) and further advanced to poruchik (lieutenant) in December 1877. In the fall of 1879, Mehmandarov was transferred to the 2nd Artillery Brigade in Saint Petersburg. On March 13, 1881, he was awarded the 3rd Class Order of Saint Anna. Later that year, on October 25, he was reassigned to the 2nd Artillery Brigade, and on November 29, 1882, he was promoted to staff captain. On June 17, 1885, he was transferred to the 38th Artillery Brigade in the Caucasus, where he served for the next nine years. From July 8 to November 8, 1887, he was a member of the Caucasus Military District Court. Beginning August 31, 1889, he served as the commander of the 2nd Half-Battery and administrative officer of the 4th Battery. On December 16, 1890, Mehmandarov was promoted to captain. He later received the 2nd Class Order of Saint Stanislaus on May 21, 1891.

On September 30, 1894, the 38th Artillery Brigade was transferred to the Warsaw Military District. Mehmandarov served as a member of the brigade court from November 12, 1894, to February 25, 1895, and as the chairman of the brigade court from February 25, 1895, to March 22, 1896. Between January 22 and June 1, 1896, he temporarily served as a member of the Warsaw Military District. On May 14, 1896, he was awarded the 2nd Class Order of Saint Anna. On July 22 of the same year, he was assigned to the 6th Battery "for his valuable service" and later transferred to the 3rd Battery on November 11, where he was appointed as the administrative officer of the battery. From April 22 to September 26, 1897, Mehmandarov temporarily commanded the 3rd Battery. On January 1, 1898, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and appointed commander of the 2nd Battery of the 3rd Rifle Artillery Division. Following the transfer of the 1st Battery to Transbaikal and its renaming to the 2nd Transbaikal Artillery Division, Mehmandarov was reassigned to this unit with his battery on April 17, 1898. On August 23, 1898, he arrived in Nerchinsk, the service location of the division in the Transbaikal region, along with his battery. On September 24, 1899, Mehmandarov was awarded the 4th Class Order of Saint Vladimir.

Boxer Rebellion in China (1900–1901)

From July 2, 1900, to March 26, 1901, Mehmandarov's battery was assigned to the Zabaykal Artillery Division, serving in a detachment commanded by Major General Paul von Rennenkampf. This deployment was part of the China Relief Expedition, a campaign aimed at suppressing the Boxer Rebellion. According to the memoirs of general Aliagha Shikhlinski, during this campaign, Rennenkampf ordered Mehmandarov to destroy the Chinese troops attempting to escape through the southern gates of the besieged city of Tsitsihar. However, the Chinese soldiers were unarmed as they emerged.

Columns of Chinese troops marched past Mehmandarov, but they were unarmed. When Rennenkampf ordered him to open fire, Mehmandarov refused, stating that he could not shoot at unarmed people. However, he received a follow-up order threatening him with a court-martial if he disobeyed. Mehmandarov fired several shots, but over the heads of the unarmed people. The Chinese immediately retreated back into the city.

For his distinction in the battles against the Chinese, Mehmandarov was promoted to the rank of colonel by the highest decree on January 31, 1901. On August 18 of the same year, under the orders of the commander of the Priamur Military District, he was sent to the city of Hulunbuir, where he assumed command of the units within the Zasunkaria Division. From May 14 to July 17, 1902, he temporarily commanded the Zabaykal Artillery Division. On February 1, 1903, he was appointed to the Officer Artillery School located in Tsarskoye Selo as part of the rotating contingent. During Mehmandarov's absence, Captain Aliagha Shikhlinski temporarily commanded his battery. Upon completing the Officer Artillery School with distinction, Mehmandarov returned to Zabaykalia on October 1, 1903, resuming his leadership of the 2nd Battery. On October 14 of the same year, he was awarded a Golden Weapon for Bravery for "distinction in battles against the Chinese."

Russo-Japanese War

In 1904, at the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, Samad bey Mehmandarov was forty-eight years old. On the night of January 26, the Japanese attacked the Russian squadron anchored at Port Arthur, setting ablaze the battleships Retvizan and Tsesarevich as well as the cruiser Pallada. The war had begun. The following morning, Samad bey Mehmandarov was appointed commander of the 7th Siberian Rifle Artillery Division by the commander of the ground forces, Major General Roman Kondratenko.

Following the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, on February 18, 1904, Mehmandarov was officially assigned as commander of the 7th Eastern Siberian Rifle Artillery Division by imperial decree. His biography prominently features the heroic defense of Port Arthur. During this operation, the land defense line was divided into three fronts. To enhance the management of artillery fire, artillery commanders were appointed to each front, and headquarters were established under their supervision. Colonel Mehmandarov was appointed artillery chief of the Eastern Front, actively participating in the frontlines throughout the defense of Port Arthur. This was considered the most crucial front in the defense, where the Japanese concentrated their strongest forces. The diary of Port Arthur Gazette (Novy Kray) correspondent P. N. Larenko provides insights:

Colonel Mehmandarov (commander of all artillery on the right flank) and Lieutenant Colonel Stolnikov displayed remarkable indifference to personal danger. During bombardments, they walked among the guns, seemingly oblivious to the exploding shells, thus inspiring others. The first, as a Caucasian, was naturally brave; the second, as a devout man, faced fate with calm and selfless acceptance.

On October 13, 1904, during another Japanese assault, Colonel Mehmandarov sustained a concussion while stationed at the Third Redoubt. Larenko’s diary further notes:

From conversations with wounded officers, I learned several details about Colonel Mehmandarov. He is a demanding, courageous man who is strict with his subordinates, insisting on setting a personal example of bravery. As a man of temperament, he expresses himself quite harshly. He values only those who are genuinely proud and capable of heroic deeds, while dismissing careerist officers whose primary concern is saving their own lives and securing undeserved decorations. He despises those who use Tolstoyan ideas of ‘non-resistance to evil’ and ‘do not kill’ to mask cowardice, and he strongly opposes such individuals entering military service.

Aliagha Shikhlinski, recounting Mehmandarov’s fearlessness, wrote:

On October 14, during the shelling of the fortress, Samad bey Mehmandarov came to my position. This position was under fire from Japanese guns ranging from 11-inch artillery to 37-millimeter small naval cannons, as well as rifle and machine gun fire. At that time, a six-inch shell exploded near Mehmandarov, and the black mud thrown into the air splattered onto him. Unfazed and uninjured, Mehmandarov calmly took out a white handkerchief and began wiping the mud off his new coat.

For his exemplary service against the Japanese, Mehmandarov was promoted to the rank of Major General on October 22, 1904. On October 24, 1904, he was awarded the Order of St. George (4th Class) for his valor and courage against the Japanese forces. In early December, the Japanese launched two significant offensives against the fortress. Despite the Russians' determined resistance, the Japanese managed to capture several key forts of the fortress. The second major blow occurred on December 2, when General Roman Kondratenko was killed. General Fok was appointed as his replacement. Sixteen days later, the Japanese captured Dragon Ridge Mountain, which determined the fate of the fortress. The commandant of Port Arthur, General Stessel, convened a military council to discuss surrendering the fortress to the enemy. Some commanders present at the council agreed with Stessel's proposal. However, Major General Mehmandarov, Colonel Semyonov, and a group of other officers vehemently opposed surrender, arguing that they still had the strength to repel the Japanese forces. Nevertheless, after the fortress's surrender on December 20, the entire Russian garrison was taken prisoner. The Japanese offered generals and officers the opportunity to return home on the condition that they refrain from further participation in the war. While many accepted this condition, a group of officers, including Samad bey Mehmandarov, refused, choosing instead to "share the fate of their soldiers". Larenko's diary recounts this moment:

Yesterday, the Japanese artillery commander visited the fortress along with his headquarters and met with Colonel Mehmandarov, who had been promoted to the rank of major general during the siege. They spoke highly of Mehmandarov, stating that the Japanese forces had suffered significant losses during the battles at Port Arthur—approximately 25,000 men—and had lost many weapons. They acknowledged that their success had only been facilitated by the shortage of ammunition on the Russian side. General Mehmandarov was taken into captivity; he was firmly opposed to surrendering and returning "home."

From December 23, 1904, to November 18, 1905, Mehmandarov was held captive in Nagoya. On January 4, 1905, he was awarded the 1st Class Order of Saint Stanislaus for his distinguished service during the battles against the Japanese. He returned from Japanese captivity to Vladivostok on November 20, 1905, aboard the steamboat Tambov. The period he spent in captivity was counted as part of his active service.

On December 13, 1905, Mehmandarov was appointed commander of the 75th Artillery Brigade and later of the 7th East Siberian Rifle Artillery Brigade. In February 1906, he was sent to Saint Petersburg to participate in the commission reviewing awards related to the defense of Port Arthur. From July 1906 to July 1907, he served as commander of the 7th East Siberian Infantry Division and as Chief of Artillery of the 3rd Siberian Army Corps. On July 15, 1907, he was officially confirmed as Chief of Artillery of the 3rd Siberian Army Corps.

During his six-month leave in Saint Petersburg starting in September 1907, Mehmandarov was instructed, by order of the Minister of War, to attend sessions of the Supreme Military-Criminal Court concerning the surrender of Port Arthur. On July 13, 1908, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general for his distinguished service and was officially confirmed in his position as Chief of Artillery for the 3rd Siberian Army Corps.

On May 24, 1910, he was appointed Inspector of Artillery for the 1st Caucasian Army Corps. Mehmandarov repeatedly served as acting corps commander during this period. On December 6, 1911, he was awarded the 1st Class Order of Saint Anna. Finally, on December 31, 1913, he was appointed commander of the 21st Infantry Division of the 3rd Caucasian Army Corps.

World War I

When the World War I began, General Mehmandarov was serving in the 3rd Caucasus Army Corps, which had been transferred from the Caucasus to the Warsaw Military District. The 21st Infantry Division under Mehmandarov's command had gained a reputation as one of the best units of the Russian army, with the 81st Infantry Absheron Regiment and the 83rd Infantry Samur Regiment standing out in particular. For his role in the battles of September 27–29, 1914, he was awarded the 3rd Class Order of St. George. The citation for the award stated:

During the battles of Kozienice, under intense enemy fire, with the 2nd Brigade of the division under his command, he crossed the Vistula River and held the left bank for three days, isolated from any support. He repelled multiple attacks by the German Guard Corps, and despite his brigade being subjected to relentless fire from all sides, he led his units in strong bayonet charges and launched an offensive himself.

On December 11, 1914, Lieutenant General Mehmandarov was appointed commander of the 2nd Caucasus Army Corps. In his final order to the 21st Infantry Division on December 10, he wrote:

Honorable 21st Division,

By order of the Supreme Commander, I have been appointed as the Commander of the 2nd Caucasus Army Corps.

With this appointment to such a high and responsible position, I must leave the ranks of your gallant division. As I bid farewell to you, honorable heroes, I address you with my parting words.

For 11 months, particularly during the last 5 months in combat, I have had the privilege of commanding you. During this time, especially in battle, I have come to know you closely.

Your service has been recognized on many occasions and is known throughout Russia. There is no corner of our vast country where our corps, and especially the 21st Division, are not known.

It has been an honor for me to command you, honorable heroes. I leave you with sadness, my dear comrades.

As I bid farewell, I sincerely thank the noble ranks of the division for their dedicated service.

During a German attack, the commander of the Russian Imperial Army's corps, worried about the fate of his units, called to inquire about the situation of Mehmandarov's division. Mehmandarov’s concise reply over the phone was: "The situation is difficult. I am attacking!". At a critical moment when two large army units were retreating, Mehmandarov’s division dealt a significant blow to the rapidly advancing German forces, forcing them to retreat. After three days of intense fighting, the division reached the outskirts of the city of Ivangorod and launched an assault. In the history of the First World War, Mehmandarov's successful operation thwarted German General Mackensen's plans for a rapid offensive. At the same time, Mehmandarov's successful assault saved two retreating Russian armies from the threat of encirclement. During this operation, General Aliagha Shikhlinski held the position of General for Special Assignments under the Chief Inspector of Field Artillery, as appointed by the Supreme Commander. Later, he wrote:

At that time, I was summoned to the Western Front to inspect the state of heavy field artillery, a new weapon in the Russian army, and to guide its operations. I visited seven corps and determined that only in Samed bey Mehmandarov's corps was the role of heavy artillery properly understood and the artillery deployed accordingly. This success was not due to the initiative of the corps artillery inspector, but rather the personal initiative of Mehmandarov himself, a skilled artilleryman.

On January 2, 1915, General Mehmandarov was awarded the 2nd Class Order of St. Vladimir with Swords. On February 14, 1915, he was conferred the Saint George Sword adorned with diamonds:

In the battles on October 9 and 10, 1914, while pursuing the German army, which had been routed near Ivangorod by the corps' troops, and encountering superior Austrian forces coming to their aid in the Polichno-Boguchinski Forest, Mehmandarov halted the enemy's attempt to outflank the corps' combat positions with several bayonet charges and decisive attacks. Personally participating on the front line of battle, he repeatedly risked his life, struck the enemy's flank, and forced them into retreat. On October 11, 12, and 13, 1914, he repelled numerous enemy assaults aimed at encircling their right flank and succeeded in compelling the enemy to retreat urgently across the entire front. On October 11, 1914, in a single day, they captured 1 staff officer, 16 junior officers, and 670 lower-ranked soldiers, as well as seizing one machine gun.

This decoration was extremely rare and, during World War I, was awarded to only eight individuals.

On March 22, 1915, Samad bey Mehmandarov was promoted to the rank of the General of the Artillery. His corps participated in the most intense battles against German forces, including those near Przasnysz, San, Kholm, and Vilnius, as well as in repelling the German offensive aimed at breaking through the front in the Švenčionys region. The 2nd Caucasus Army Corps was reinforced with two additional infantry divisions, forming a unit known as the "Mehmandarov Group." In one of his orders to the group’s troops, General Mehmandarov stated:

I demand steadfast will, courage, determination, flexibility, personal initiative, and thoughtful leadership from all commanding personnel.

All units of the group are instructed to defend their assigned positions to their full capacity and resist with all available means until exhaustion.

Responsibility is placed on unit and division commanders.

Special attention should be given to strengthening discipline and maintaining order within the units, as no success is possible without them. Regiment commanders are advised to stay close to their units and visit the trenches as often as possible.

If confusion arises during battle, division or brigade commanders must immediately intervene to restore order.

On April 9, 1915, Samad bey Mehmandarov was awarded the Order of the White Eagle with Swords, a prestigious Russian decoration. Among Azerbaijani individuals, this order was first conferred upon Vice Admiral Ibrahim bey Allahverdi bey oglu Aslanbeyov in 1888, followed by Full General of Cavalry Huseyn khan Kalbali khan oglu Nakhchivanski, and finally to Samad bey Sadig bey oglu Mehmandarov. Later that year, on October 15, he was further honored with the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky with Swords.

Throughout the war, Mehmandarov's corps never surrendered a single artillery piece to the enemy. He was also decorated with the highest military orders of the United Kingdom, France, and Romania.

Major Hajiaga Ibrahim beyli wrote about Mehmandarov’s participation in World War I:

General Mehmandarov gained great fame during World War I. His unparalleled composure and extraordinary bravery during the most perilous moments of combat were legendary within the Russian army. He naturally admired just, honorable, and straightforward individuals, offering them assistance, while being ruthless towards those who were dishonest. All those under his command both feared and respected him, yet they also loved and trusted him. A self-taught officer without formal military academy training, Mehmandarov achieved such high ranks purely due to his exceptional abilities, profound dedication to military service, unmatched courage and skill in battle, tireless commitment to his work, and impeccable character. Samad bey Mehmandarov was such an officer.

After the February Revolution, a rapid decline in the army began. Desertion sharply increased, and it became common for officers to be arbitrarily removed from their posts by soldiers' committees. On March 28, 1917, General of Artillery Mehmandarov was dismissed from his position as corps commander by the committee of officers and soldiers' representatives. On April 18, 1917, he was assigned to the reserve of officers under the jurisdiction of the Minsk Military District headquarters and, on August 7, 1917, was appointed a member of the Alexander Committee for the Wounded. That same year, Mehmandarov retired from military service and resided in Vladikavkaz at the mansion on Vorontsov Street belonging to his friend, Colonel Lieutenant Irzabay Akhundov (the grandson of Mirza Fatali Akhundov

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