Talish (region)
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Tālīsh (; ; ) is a region in the southwestern coast of the
Caspian Sea The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, described as the List of lakes by area, world's largest lake and usually referred to as a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia: east of the Caucasus, ...
. It is a homeland of the
indigenous Indigenous may refer to: *Indigenous peoples *Indigenous (ecology) In biogeography, a native species is indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only local natural evolution (though often populari ...
Talysh people The Talysh people (, ) or Talyshis, Talyshes, Talyshs, Talishis, Talishes, Talishs, Talesh are an Iranian ethnic group, with the majority residing in Azerbaijan and a minority in Iran. They are the indigenous people of the Talish, a region ...
, who inhabit the region and speak the
Talysh language Talysh (, , ) is a Northwestern Iranian languages, Northwestern Iranian language spoken in the northern regions of the Iranian provinces of Gilan Province, Gilan and Ardabil Province, Ardabil and the southern regions of the Republic of Azerbaij ...
. The territory and the language set apart Talish from its neighbors. Talish is now divided between
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...
and
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
. It stretches north from the
Sefīd-Rūd The Sepid-Rud (, ) (also known as Sefid-Rud) is a river, approximately long, rising in the Alborz mountain range of northwestern Iran and flowing generally northeast to empty into the Caspian Sea at Rasht. Names Other names and transcription ...
river, which cuts through the
Alborz The Alborz ( ) range, also spelled as Alburz, Elburz or Elborz, is a mountain range in northern Iran that stretches from the border of Azerbaijan along the western and entire southern coast of the Caspian Sea and finally runs northeast and merge ...
mountains in Iran's
Gilan province Gilan Province () is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, in the northwest of the country and southwest of the Caspian Sea. Its capital is the city of Rasht. The province lies along the Caspian Sea, in Iran's Regions of Iran, Region 3, west of ...
, to the Aras river in the south of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The main city of the region and its Talysh people is
Lankaran Lankaran (, ) or Lánkon () is a city in Azerbaijan, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, near the southern border with Iran. As of 2021, the city had a population of 89,300. It is next to, but independent of, Lankaran District. The city forms a disti ...
(), the majority of the population of which is ethnically Talysh.


Names and etymology

The name is first found in the Armenian translation of the '' Alexander Romance'' as "Tʿalis̲h̲". The Persian pronunciation of the name in plural form was "Talishan" (). The region is also known as ''Talyshistan'' and ''Talyshstan''.


History

In the Ilkhanate times, the
Ispahbads of Gilan Ispahbads of Gīlān () or Esfahbad of Gīlān was a small principality in Iran. In the 14th century, Āstārā became the seat of the principality. History According to Minorsky, no detailed record seems to be extant of a principality which ...
have had a
principality A principality (or sometimes princedom) is a type of monarchy, monarchical state or feudalism, feudal territory ruled by a prince or princess. It can be either a sovereign state or a constituent part of a larger political entity. The term "prin ...
on the borders of Gilan and
Mughan Mughan plain (, مغان دوزو; ) is a plain stretching from northwestern Iran to the southern part of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The highest density of irrigation canals is in the section of the Mughan plain which lies in the Republic of Aze ...
, with a fortress and villages. In later times, a local
Khan Khan may refer to: * Khan (surname), including a list of people with the name * Khan (title), a royal title for a ruler in Mongol and Turkic languages and used by various ethnicities Art and entertainment * Khan (band), an English progressiv ...
had his seat at
Lankaran Lankaran (, ) or Lánkon () is a city in Azerbaijan, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, near the southern border with Iran. As of 2021, the city had a population of 89,300. It is next to, but independent of, Lankaran District. The city forms a disti ...
and was subject to the Persian monarchs.
Peter the Great Peter I (, ; – ), better known as Peter the Great, was the Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Prince of all Russia, Tsar of all Russia from 1682 and the first Emperor of Russia, Emperor of all Russia from 1721 until his death in 1725. He reigned j ...
(),
Emperor of Russia The emperor and autocrat of all Russia (, ), also translated as emperor and autocrat of all the Russias, was the official title of the List of Russian monarchs, Russian monarch from 1721 to 1917. The title originated in connection with Russia's ...
, first occupied the region during 1722–1732 and then it was returned to
Safavid Persia The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the beg ...
. It was again occupied by
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
in 1796 and during the
Russo-Persian War (1804–1813) The Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813 was one of the many wars between the Persian Empire and Imperial Russia, and, like many of their other conflicts, began as a territorial dispute. The new Persian king, Fath Ali Shah Qajar, wanted to co ...
. In 1813 after the Storming of Lankaran most parts of the region were
annexed Annexation, in international law, is the forcible acquisition and assertion of legal title over one state's territory by another state, usually following military occupation of the territory. In current international law, it is generally held to ...
by Russia and a smaller part remained within
Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
. The
Treaty of Gulistan The Treaty of Gulistan (also spelled Golestan: ; ) was a peace treaty concluded between the Russian Empire and Qajar Iran on 24 October 1813 in the village of Gülüstan, Goranboy, Gulistan (now in Goranboy District, the Goranboy District of Azerb ...
of 24 October 1813, awarded to Russia the greater part of Talish, the part north of the Astara river. In the aftermath of the war, in order to weaken the power of Mir Mostafa Khan, Fath 'Ali Shah divided Persian Talish among 5 local families ( Karganrud, Asalem, Talish-Dulab, Shandarmin,
Masal Masal () is a city in the Central District of Masal County, in northwestern Iran's Gilan province. The city serves as capital of both the county and the district. Demographics Language The population consists of Talysh people whose langu ...
) and created the Khamsa of Talish.


Antiquity

The earliest evidence of human presence in the region dates back to the Middle Paleolithic period, with findings near Masouleh and Buzeyir Cave. These include stone tools, such as Levallois cores, likely made by Neanderthals over 40,000 years ago. The
Cadusii The Cadusii (also called Cadusians; , ''Kadoúsioi''; Latin: ''Cadusii,'' Arabic:''Qādūsīān'') were an ancient Iranian tribe that lived in the mountains between Media and the shore of the Caspian Sea, an area bordering that of the Anariacae ...
, an Iranian tribe, are generally assumed to settled the entire Talish region. On the territory of Talish, especially its northern (Soviet) part, graves dating back to the second millennium BC were found.


Middle Ages

In medieval Arab historiography, the Talysh country was called al-Tailasan – the Arabic correspondence to the Persian "Talishan". Muhammad at-Tabari writes about the Talysh (calling them "Tailasan"): "In the mountains surrounding Aturpatakan there lived such peoples as the
Gelae ''Gelae'' () is a genus of round fungus beetles belonging to the family Leiodidae. The beetles are found in different parts of Central America, Central and North America. They are small and rounded, feeding on slime moulds. They were originally ...
nd
Talysh Talysh may refer to: *Talysh people, an ethnic group of Iran and Azerbaijan **Talysh language, the West Iranian language of these people ** Talysh, a historical region on the southwestern coast of the Caspian Sea, inhabited by the Talysh people *T ...
, who did not obey the
Arabs Arabs (,  , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of yea ...
and retained their freedom and independence." According to the medieval Persian author Hamdalla Qazvini, the Tavalish region was located between the cities of Sultaniye and Ardabil (the name is the Arabic plural form of the word "Talish"). Although in the Middle Ages and Modern Times most of the people from Talish wrote in Persian, there is a whole group of poets who wrote in Talysh and the Gilani dialect close to it. The earliest Talysh poets include Seiyed Sharafshah Dulai, who lived in the 15th century.


Early modern period

Talish has traditionally been associated with either Gilan or
Mughan Mughan plain (, مغان دوزو; ) is a plain stretching from northwestern Iran to the southern part of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The highest density of irrigation canals is in the section of the Mughan plain which lies in the Republic of Aze ...
, especially with
Ardabil Ardabil (, ) is a city in northwestern Iran. It is in the Central District (Ardabil County), Central District of Ardabil County, Ardabil province, Ardabil province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. The ...
, the center of the latter, which appears to have shared a similar linguistic and ethnic bond with Talish prior to the Turkicization of
Iranian Azerbaijan Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan (, , ), also known as Iranian Azerbaijan, is a historical region in northwestern Iran that borders Iraq and Turkey to the west and Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijani exclave of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republ ...
. This connection was still apparent during the time of the early
Safavids The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the begi ...
, who were descended from
Kurdish Kurdish may refer to: *Kurds or Kurdish people *Kurdish language ** Northern Kurdish (Kurmanji) **Central Kurdish (Sorani) **Southern Kurdish ** Laki Kurdish *Kurdish alphabets *Kurdistan, the land of the Kurdish people which includes: **Southern ...
mystic
Safi-ad-Din Ardabili Safi-ad-Din Ardabili ( ''Ṣāfī ad-Dīn Isḥāq Ardabīlī''; 1252/3 – 1334) was a poet, Mysticism, mystic, teacher and Sufism, Sufi master. He was the son-in-law and spiritual heir of the Sufi master Zahed Gilani, whose order—the Zahediye ...
(died 1334), a disciple of
Zahed Gilani Taj Al-Din Ebrahim ibn Rushan Amir Al-Kurdi Al-Sanjani (or Sinjani; Persian:تاج الدين ابراهيم كردی سنجانی)‎ (1218 – 1301), titled Sheikh Zahed (or Zahid) Gilani (Persian: شیخ زاهد گیلانی), was an Irani ...
(died 1301), who was of probable Talysh descent. Two out of the four Sufi teachers of the first Safavid monarch
Shah Ismail I Ismail I (; 17 July 1487 – 23 May 1524) was the founder and first shah of Safavid Iran, ruling from 1501 until his death in 1524. His reign is one of the most vital in the history of Iran, and the Safavid period is often considered the beginn ...
() carried the epithet "Talishi". Other figures with the same epithet served as governmental officials under the Safavids and their successors. Several Talysh chieftains were one of the first supporters of the Safavids, who gave them the governorship of Astara, which was part of the province of
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...
. The governor of Astara was also known as the ''hakem'' (governor) of Talish, which indicates that Astara was the capital of the district. From 1539 and onwards the governorship of Astara was held hereditarily by the family of Bayandor Khan Talesh. Talish was composed of various fiefs which would sometimes be granted to other emirs than the governor of Talish. For instance, Mohammad Khan Torkman was given control over a number of fiefs in Talish and Mughan in 1586. Later in 1684, Safiqoli Khan was one of the officers in control of
Lankaran Lankaran (, ) or Lánkon () is a city in Azerbaijan, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, near the southern border with Iran. As of 2021, the city had a population of 89,300. It is next to, but independent of, Lankaran District. The city forms a disti ...
, and Hoseyn was another. Meanwhile, the unnamed governor of Talish lived in Ardabil. The Safavid ''
shah Shāh (; ) is a royal title meaning "king" in the Persian language.Yarshater, Ehsa, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII, no. 1 (1989) Though chiefly associated with the monarchs of Iran, it was also used to refer to the leaders of numerous Per ...
s'' (kings) of Iran attempted to control local Talysh chiefs by subordinating them to obedient officials. Nevertheless, despite their centralization strategy, the Safavid administration was unable to terminate the local autonomy in the
South Caucasus The South Caucasus, also known as Transcaucasia or the Transcaucasus, is a geographical region on the border of Eastern Europe and West Asia, straddling the southern Caucasus Mountains. The South Caucasus roughly corresponds to modern Armenia, ...
. Officially, the local chiefs were not hereditary lords, but officials whose rank were acknowledged by a royal ''
farman Farman Aviation Works () was a French aircraft company founded and run by the brothers Richard, Henri, and Maurice Farman. They designed and constructed aircraft and engines from 1908 until 1936; during the French nationalization and rational ...
'' (edict) which in reality was an acceptance of their local autonomy. The familial succession of the chiefs gave rise to dynasties that dominated local affairs and sought to consolidate their influence whenever the national government weakened. During the decline of Safavid rule in the early 18th-century, Talysh leaders attempted to establish autonomous principalities. During the Russian invasion of Iran, the people of Talish volunteered to fight for the Safavid monarch
Tahmasp II Tahmasp II (; 1704? – 11 February 1740) was the penultimate Safavid shah of Iran, ruling from 1722 to 1732. Name ''Tahmasp'' () is a New Persian name, ultimately derived from Old Iranian ''*'', meaning "having valiant horses." The name is on ...
(). The latter was unable to provide them with military or material support; all he could do was give them an ineffective permit that allowed them to collect the taxes of
Rasht Rasht (; ) is a city in the Central District (Rasht County), Central District of Rasht County, Gilan province, Gilan province, Iran, serving as the capital of the province, the county, and the district. The city is also known as the "City of ...
. In 1723, Russians and Ottomans agreed to divide northern and western Iran between themselves. While the Caspian provinces were under Russian control, one of the local leaders Mir-Abbas Beg, who claimed to be a ''
seyyed ''Sayyid'' is an honorific title of Hasanid and Husaynid lineage, recognized as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and Ali's sons Hasan and Husayn. The title may also refer to the descendants of the fa ...
'' (descendant of the Islamic prophet
Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...
), worked together with the Russian commander
Mikhail Matyushkin Mikhail Athanas'evich Matyushkin (; 1676-1737) was a general of the Russian Empire during the reign of Peter the Great who held pivotal status in the Caucasus and Central Asian conquests. He is noted amongst others for his participation in the R ...
. By the end of 1735, the reconquest of northern and western Iran was completed, being led by the Iranian military leader Nader. It was also during this period that he set his sights on the throne, as he believed his campaigns had stabilised the country and brought him enough fame. On 8 March 1736, he was crowned the new ''shah'' of Iran, marking the start of the
Afsharid dynasty The Afsharid dynasty () was an Iran, Iranian dynasty founded by Nader Shah () of the Qirqlu clan of the Turkoman (ethnonym), Turkoman Afshar people, Afshar tribe, ruling over the Afsharid Empire. List of Afsharid monarchs Family tree ...
.


Revolt of 1629

In 1629, the Talysh peasants and the urban poor opposed Iranian rule and local feudal lords. The uprising, which began in the summer of 1629, soon spread to the surrounding area. About 30,000 people took part in the uprising. The Safavid ruler Shah Sefi sent troops against the rebels under the command of the ruler of Astara, Saru Khan of Talysh. In one battle, about 7,000 rebels were killed. The Talysh uprising, one of the strongest uprisings of the masses against the ruling class, was mercilessly suppressed.


Revolts in Gilan (1744–1747)

In 1744–1747, many uprisings broke out in Gilan. In 1744, uprisings began among the Talysh. Discontent was caused by the policy of Nadir Shah and the goal was to overthrow him. The movements began in the region of Astara and later covered the whole of Gilan. To extinguish the uprising of the Talysh, troops were sent to the region, which destroyed many of the rebellious villages and captured the instigators. But the rebels did not pacify and the unrest continued until 1746. The Talysh were not satisfied with the tax policy that robbed the population. At the head of the uprising was Kalb Hussein-bek, who declared disobedience to the supreme authority, who was supported and helped by the Talysh. To pacify Kalb Hussein-bek, Nadir Shah sends troops numbering 1.5 thousand soldiers, but the troops do not reach defeat. Further, Nadir Shah sends 3,000 Afghans against the rebels, but the Afghans cannot pacify the rebellion either. Then the military leaders try to promise forgiveness to the Talysh if they pacify.''Арунова М.Р., Ашрафян К.З.'
Государство Надир-шаха Афшара. Очерки общественных отношений в Иране 30-40-x годов XVIII века
/ Отв. ред. Рейснер И. М.. – Москва: Восточная литература (издательство), 1958. – С. 177-178. – 284 с.
The policy of negotiations played a decisive role in pacifying the uprising, when the tribal elite went over to the side of the Shah. They helped the Shah's troops to decapitate the uprising by catching the Talysh village elders and punishing them. The headless movement died down and the uprisings ceased.


Talysh Khanate

In the second half of the 18th to early 19th, the
Talysh Khanate The Talysh Khanate or Talish Khanate (, ) was an Iranian khanate of Talysh origin that was established in Afsharid Persia and existed from the middle of the 18th century till the beginning of the 19th century, located in the south-west coast of ...
existed in the region. During the Russian-Persian war, the Talysh khan Mir Mustafa Khan took the side of Russia. In 1809, the Talysh Khanate became a Russian protectorate. In early August 1812, a 20,000-strong Persian army blockaded Lankaran and on August 9 captured the fortress. By the end of December, a Russian detachment under the command of General
Pyotr Kotlyarevsky Pyotr Stepanovich Kotlyarevsky (23 June 1782 – 2 November 1852) was a Russian military officer of Ukrainian origin. He was known for his service in the Russo-Persian War (1804–1813), where he won many battles against Qajar Iran, Iran. Biogra ...
approached Lankaran, and on the night of January 1, 1813 began an assault on the fortress, which ended with the fall of the citadel. According to the
treaty of Gulistan The Treaty of Gulistan (also spelled Golestan: ; ) was a peace treaty concluded between the Russian Empire and Qajar Iran on 24 October 1813 in the village of Gülüstan, Goranboy, Gulistan (now in Goranboy District, the Goranboy District of Azerb ...
, such places as Kargara, Namin and Zuvand passed from the Talysh Khanate to Persia. However, the Persian court did not accept the loss of
Transcaucasia The South Caucasus, also known as Transcaucasia or the Transcaucasus, is a geographical region on the border of Eastern Europe and West Asia, straddling the southern Caucasus Mountains. The South Caucasus roughly corresponds to modern Armenia, ...
and insistently demanded a revision of the borders. First of all, this concerned the border in Talysh, which was not defined at all in the Gulistan Treaty.


Partition of Talysh

In 1828, the Turkmanchay peace treaty was signed between Russia and Persia, which ended the next Russian-Persian war, according to which part of Zuvant was annexed to Talish, and most of Ujarri and part of the Astara magal (from the Astara River to Chilivan) went to Persia. In accordance with the order of General
Ivan Paskevich Count Ivan Fyodorovich Paskevich-Erevansky, Serene Prince of Warsaw ( – ) was a Russian military leader who was the ''namiestnik'' of Poland. Paskevich is known for leading Russian forces in Poland during the November Uprising and for a s ...
, the chief governor of Georgia, dated May 2, 1828, the “Provisional Talysh administration” was established under the leadership of a chairman (manager) appointed from Russian military ranks. "Provisional Talysh gowerment" began to function on July 26, 1828. Until 1831 inclusive, it was directly subordinate to the chief governor in Georgia. But after the suppression of the uprising in March 1831 by the adherents of Mir-Hasan Khan, this "rule" was transferred to the jurisdiction of the military district chief of the Muslim provinces of the Transcaucasus in the city of Shusha (the so-called Administrator of Muslim provinces and the Talysh Khanate). And on the basis of the "Institution for the administration of the Transcaucasian region" dated April 10, 1840, the "Provisional Talysh government" was abolished. In the same period, the Caspian region was formed on the territory of Transcaucasia, which consisted of 7 counties, one of which was Talyshinsky county. Finally, in 1846, on the basis of the “Regulations on the Division of the Transcaucasian Territory” dated December 14, 1845, the Talyshinsky district was renamed into Lenkoransky and became part of the newly formed Shemakha (from 1859 – Baku) province of the Russian Empire. At the turn of the 20th century, there lived a famous Talysh poet – Safibaba Roshan-dehi. Обозрение российских владений за Кавказом в статистическом, этнографическом, топографическом и финансовом отношениях. — Санкт-Петербург, 1836. — Т. 3. — С. 175—176.


Northern Talysh under Russian, Soviet and Azerbaijani rule


Russian revolution

In 1918, in the Talysh-Mugan region with its local Muslim and Russian population refused to submit to the newly formed Azerbaijan Republic. On August 4, 1918, the Provisional Military Dictatorship of Mughan was created, initially recognizing the authority of the Rostov government of General Denikin, then (at the end of the year) submitting to the "Caucasian-Caspian government" of the military foreman Bicherakhov in Petrovsk (Makhachkala). On December 28, 1918, in Lankaran, the local Russian and Muslim population made a decision on the autonomy of the Mugan Territory within Russia with the parliament (Regional Council) and the government (Regional Administration). On April 24, the "white" government was overthrown and Soviet power was established, after which on May 15–18, 1919, at the congress of revolutionary Mugan in Lenkoran, the Mugan Soviet Republic was proclaimed as part of the RSFSR. On May 18, 1919, the Congress elected the Mugan Regional Council of Workers 'and Peasants' Deputies, who in turn elected the Regional Executive Committee (executive committee) headed by the Bolsheviks. One of the active leaders of the partisan movement in Mugan, a prominent participant in the revolutionary uprising of Lankaran, David Danilovich Chirkin, was elected chairman of the Regional Council; the congress approved one of the workers of the Lenkoran branch of the cooperative society "Samopomich" – Shirali Akhundov from the Talysh village of Khavzava The Revolutionary Military Council was also elected, headed by the political commissar (I. Talikhadze) and the executive committee, headed by the pre-executive committee (N. Tutyshkin). On July 23–25, 1919, Lankaran was taken by Azerbaijani troops, and the Mugan Soviet Republic was liquidated. From that moment on, Lankaran was part of Azerbaijan.


Soviet period

In the 1920–1930s Talysh was taught in elementary schools, books were published in Talysh and there was a newspaper called "Red Talysh". The most prominent Talysh figure of that era was the poet and educator Zolfaghar Ahmedzadeh, the author, in addition to the original Talysh poetry, Talysh textbooks and translations into the Talysh language of Russian classics. In total, about 500 titles of books have been published in the Talysh language. However, in 1937 Zulfigar Akhmedzade was arrested, and the study of the Talysh language and publications in it were completely curtailed. The language was studied only in an academic environment and functioned at the everyday level. From then until the end of the Soviet period, Talysh identity was brutally suppressed. From 1959 to 1989, the Talysh were not included in any censuses as a separate ethnic group, but were considered part of the Azerbaijani Turks, although the
Talysh language Talysh (, , ) is a Northwestern Iranian languages, Northwestern Iranian language spoken in the northern regions of the Iranian provinces of Gilan Province, Gilan and Ardabil Province, Ardabil and the southern regions of the Republic of Azerbaij ...
belongs to the
Indo-European language family The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the northern Indian subcontinent, most of Europe, and the Iranian plateau with additional native branches found in regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, parts of Central Asia (e. ...
. Throughout the 65 years of the existence of the Azerbaijan SSR, the Talysh population felt itself the object of various restrictions on the part of the local authorities. who deliberately pursued a policy of assimilation of the Talysh region, and at the same time artificially limited its economic development.
Kurds Kurds (), or the Kurdish people, are an Iranian peoples, Iranic ethnic group from West Asia. They are indigenous to Kurdistan, which is a geographic region spanning southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Iraq, and northeastern Syri ...
and
Talysh Talysh may refer to: *Talysh people, an ethnic group of Iran and Azerbaijan **Talysh language, the West Iranian language of these people ** Talysh, a historical region on the southwestern coast of the Caspian Sea, inhabited by the Talysh people *T ...
were recorded as Azerbaijanis in their passports, and before independence, the country was not considered as separate nationalities when conducting population censuses in Azerbaijan.


Talysh-Mugan Autonomous Republic

Already in the late 1980s. a Talysh organization called the "Party of Talysh National Revival" was founded. In June 1992, the first official congress of the party took place, which took the name of the
Talysh People's Party The Talysh People's Party (, ) —political party of the Talysh people, founded in 1991 in Azerbaijan. Formation The Talysh People's Party (TPP) was created on the basis of the "Party of Talysh National Revival", created in 1989. The goal of th ...
. The strategic goal of the party was declared the autonomy of the Talysh within Azerbaijan. Since they refused to register the party under this name, it was renamed the “Party of Equality of the Peoples of Azerbaijan”. On June 21, 1993, in Lankaran, a group of Talysh officers led by Colonel
Alikram Hummatov Alikram Hummatov or Ali Akram Hummatzade (also spelled as Alakram Hummatov, 28 October 1948 – 22 December 2022) was an Azerbaijani Talysh military commander and political activist. He was the president of the self-proclaimed Talysh-Mughan Aut ...
proclaimed the Talysh-Mugan Autonomous Republic. The uprising coincided with a large-scale offensive by Armenian troops on the Karabakh front and the capture of several regions in western Azerbaijan.The offensive caused a mutiny by Suret Huseynov and a general crisis of power in Azerbaijan, which resulted in the uprising of Talysh officers in Lankaran. Local authorities were formed and a constituent assembly called the National Mejlis. At the meeting of the Milli Mejlis, Alikram Hummatov was elected president of the autonomous republic, he met twice with the new head of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, but neither the first agreed to give up autonomy, nor the second, to recognize it. Two months later (23 August) the republic fell. Alikram Hummatov fled, but Azerbaijani loyalists handed him over to the law enforcement agencies of the
Republic of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russi ...
. The court sentenced Alikram Hummatov to death and after 10 years in prison, in 2004 he emigrated to
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
. Under the pretext of containing anti-constitutional goals in the program, the "Party of Equality of the Peoples of Azerbaijan" was banned, although it actually continued to exist.


Talysh national movement

After the release of Alikram Hummatov, an organization was created under the official name "Talysh National Movement". The headquarters of this organization is considered to be The Hague, where Hummatov lives; Alikram Hummatov himself is its head. The Talysh national movement is held under the slogan of national autonomy and demands change of the political regime, granting autonomy to all peoples of Azerbaijan, equal relations with all other countries, including the United States. In July 2018, Fakhraddin Aboszoda was detained by the Russian authorities and at the beginning of 2019 extradited to Azerbaijan, where he was brought to trial for anti-state activities. On July 15, 2018, a group of young activists, together with Alikram Hummatov, formed the government of the Talysh-Mugan Autonomous Republic in exile. The government sends letters and statements to international organizations, states and world human rights organizations to reflect the position of the Talysh in the country. Calls on the Azerbaijani government to end discrimination against Talysh, demands that the Talysh language be taught in schools and that Talysh people can earn their living in their own country, and not be forced to go abroad. All government ministers of the Talysh-Mugan Autonomous Republic live in exile, in countries such as the Netherlands.


Geography

Talish is located in the southwest of the
Caspian Sea The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, described as the List of lakes by area, world's largest lake and usually referred to as a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia: east of the Caucasus, ...
and stretches to the north for more than 150 kilometers. Talish consisted of the
Talysh Mountains Talysh Mountains (, , ) is a mountain range in far southeastern Azerbaijan and far northwestern Iran within Ardabil Province and Gilan Province. Geography The Talysh Mountains extend southeastward from the Lankaran Lowland in southeastern Azer ...
and supplemented by a narrow coastal strip. High rainfall, dozens of narrow valleys, discharging into the
Caspian Sea The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, described as the List of lakes by area, world's largest lake and usually referred to as a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia: east of the Caucasus, ...
, or into the Anzali Lagoon, fertile soil and dense vegetation ( home of the extinct
Caspian tiger The Caspian tiger was a '' Panthera tigris tigris'' population native to eastern Turkey, northern Iran, Mesopotamia, the Caucasus around the Caspian Sea, Central Asia to northern Afghanistan and the Xinjiang region in western China. Until the Midd ...
) are some geographical features of this land. In the north, Talish merges into the
Mugan plain Mughan plain (, مغان دوزو; ) is a plain stretching from northwestern Iran to the southern part of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The highest density of irrigation canals is in the section of the Mughan plain which lies in the Republic of Aze ...
. This territory shapes the historical habitat of Talysh people who have lived a nomadic life, moving along the mountainous streams. Northern part of the Talish includes the districts of Astara,
Lankaran Lankaran (, ) or Lánkon () is a city in Azerbaijan, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, near the southern border with Iran. As of 2021, the city had a population of 89,300. It is next to, but independent of, Lankaran District. The city forms a disti ...
, Lerik, Yardymli, Masally, and Jalilabad, with the exception of the small sub-district of Anbaran located on the western side of the mountain chain in the Ardabil province. The botanical diversity of the region is considerable, comprising over 4500 species of vascular plants. Notably, the Talysh area in southeastern Azerbaijan stands out for its exceptional biodiversity. Within this locale, the arboreal vegetation is particularly diverse, representing the most abundant assortment in the Caucasus region and harboring numerous endemic species. These endemic species, some of which are relicts from the
Tertiary Tertiary (from Latin, meaning 'third' or 'of the third degree/order..') may refer to: * Tertiary period, an obsolete geologic period spanning from 66 to 2.6 million years ago * Tertiary (chemistry), a term describing bonding patterns in organic ch ...
epoch, are continuations of the affluent Hyrcanian flora of Iran. Noteworthy examples include Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica), Persian pink siris (Albizzia julibrissin), chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia), Hirkan zelkova (Zelkova hyrkana), Oriental persimmon (Diospyros lotus), Hirkan butcher's broom (Ruscus hyrkanus), Alexandrian laurel (Danae racemosa), Hirkan box-tree (Buxus hyrkana), Caspian honey-locust (Gleditsia caspica), Hirkan fig (Ficus carica), and Hirkan maple (Acer hyrcana). Hirkan National Park (with a total area of 21 435 ha) was established in Talysh, conserving a plethora of relict and endemic plant species from the Tertiary era. These forests are among the most ancient forests in western Eurasia. Among the approximately 1200 plant species documented within the confines of the park, around 100 are recognized as endemic to the region.


Demography

Most of the Talyshis are
Shiite Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...
Muslims Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
.


See also

* Talish-Mughan culture


Footnotes


Notes


References


Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Further reading

*
TALYSH MUHAN REPUBLIC

AZERBAIJAN AUTHORITIES MUST RELEASE TALYSH ACTIVISTS
* ''James B. Minahan.'' Encyclopedia of Stateless Nations: Ethnic and National Groups around the world. – Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2016. – p. 409. – . * The government in exile supports the struggle in Azerbaijan = Regering in ballingschap ondersteunt strijd in Azerbeidzjan. // Vluchtelingen Dag krant. – Netherlands, 20.06.2019. – p. 4. * Victor Schnirelmann. Wars of memory: myths, identity and politics in Transcaucasia / Reviewer: L.B. Alaev. – M .: Akademkniga, 2003 – p. 118 – . * ''Привольный А. А.'' Над Муганью зарево Октября. – Азернешр. – Баку, 1967. – С. 92–93.— С. 199. * Талыши//Талышские народные предания и сказки. Ереван, Кавказский центр иранистики, 2005, стр. 3–6 * ''Исмаилов Э. Э.'' Генеалогия Талышинских-Талышхановых. – Б., 2001. – С. 10. – 82 с. – . * Обозрение российских владений за Кавказом в статистическом, этнографическом, топографическом и финансовом отношениях. – СПб., 1836. – Т. 3. – С. 175–176.

{{coord missing, Iran Geography of Azerbaijan Geography of the Caucasus Iranian plateau Regions of Iran *