Qakh (city)

"Qax" redirects here. For the fictional species, see Qax (species).

Qakh Qax
Official seal of Qakh Seal
Qakh
Coordinates:
Country	Azerbaijan
Rayon	Qakh
Established	1967
Elevation	596 m (1,955 ft)
Population (2013)
• Total	13,800
Time zone	AZT (UTC+4)
• Summer (DST)	AZT (UTC+5)
Area code(s)	+994 144

Qakh (Azerbaijani: Qax; Georgian: კახი), is the capital of the Qakh Rayon in the north of Azerbaijan, near the Russian border.

History

File:Streetview in Qax, Azerbaijan.jpg

A main street in Qax.

The Qakh region of Azerbaijan has a long history dating back to ancient times. Archeological excavations the area had been populated during Eneolithic, Bronze and early Iron Ages. What remains of these early inhabitants' activities indicates they engaged largely in sedentary cultivation, animal-breeding and art. According to historians, the territory of Qakh was a part of the Scythian Kingdom in the 7th century B.C.

With the spread of Christianity throughout the region during the existence of Caucasian Albania, some Christian temples were built in the Qakh district. In the 8th century A.D., Qakh fell under Arab occupation. Starting from the 11th century first Oghuz Turks and later Qipchaq Turks inhabited the area, the region was incorporated into Great Seljuq Empire. Qakh was later a part of Atabeg and Shirvanshah states. With invasion of Hulaguids in Azerbaijan in the 13th century, Mongolian nomadic tribes populated the region. In 1562, by the order of the Safavid Shah Tahmasp I, Ilisu Sultanate was established in Qakh. In the 18th century, Ilisu Sultanate became so powerful that, the Ottoman Emperor conferred its ruler Ali Sultan Bey the highest title of Pasha recognizing him as the Beylerbey of Shaki.

In 1803 the sultanate of Ilisu was annexed to the Russian empire. The ruler of the sultanate, Daniyal, inspired the people to rise against Russian rule in 1844, due to a disagreement between him and the government of Russia. Sultan Daniyel was defeated near the village of İlisu and continued his struggle against Russians along with the leader of the national freedom movement, Imam Shamil. Russians burnt Ilisu and divided the territory of the sultanate into mahals (territorial units) and annexed them to the Jar-Balaken daire (territorial unit) converting it into a colony of tsarist Russia. With proclamation of independence of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in May 1918, Qakh was retained within Azerbaijan. During the Soviet rule, Qakh was established as raion of Azerbaijan SSR in 1930.

Geography

The area of the region occupies 1,494 km² (577 sq mi) and borders Russia on the north, Georgia on the west. It also shares the internal boundaries with Zaqatala Rayon in the northwest, Yevlakh and Samukh regions in the south and Shaki region in the east.

File:Sumuq Tower.jpg

Ilisu, Gakh

Demographics Economy

The majority population of Qakh city are Azerbaijani people. But the town and all the region are multicultural. Here also live Avar and Georgian (Ingiloy) inhabitant minorities.

Transport

All road transport is available in the city. Roads to the some inner villages are not available without offroad cars.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Qakh is twinned with the following cities:

Bormio, Italy, (since 2014)

External Links

• Qakh (as Qax) at GEOnet Names Server
• World Gazetteer: Azerbaijan – World-Gazetteer.com