Şamaxı
Şamaxı (Russian Шемаха / Schemacha ) is a town in Azerbaijan and the capital of the Rayon Şamaxı.
The city is located west of Baku on Pir- Sagat and has about 20,000 inhabitants, of which 75 % Azerbaijanis, otherwise mainly Armenians and Russians. Şamaxı is known for its traditional dance, the dance of Şamaxı, who also has similarities with Persian dances. Although Şamaxı was often damaged in earthquakes and battles, it is rich in historical and cultural treasures. Obtain particularly long is the Djuma Mosque, which was built in the 10th century.
History
Şamaxı was first mentioned as Kamachia of the Egyptian geographer Claudius Ptolemy at the turn from the first to second century.
In the Middle Ages, the city grew in importance and served the Shirvanshah from the eighth to the 15th century as the capital. In addition, she lay on the Silk Road. It was also the capital of the Khanate of Shirvan, which was also known as the Khanate of Shemakha. The Catholic missionary and explorer William of Rubruk was on his way back from the court of the Great Khan of the city. In the 16th century it became the seat of an English factory.
1723 it was briefly Russian, Ottoman again to 1735 and was subsequently destroyed in 1742 by Nadir Shah of Persia. Nadir Shah was a new city built ten kilometers to the west. Soon, however, the new city was abandoned and the old Şamaxı became the residence of the Khan of Shirvan. 1805, the Khanate and so also Şamaxı was annexed by the Russian Empire.
In this it was until 1847 part of the province Kaspien, which had been formed from the Persian province of Shirvan. From 1846 Şamaxı capital of the province Şamaxı, which consisted of five circles. At this time the city had 21,000 inhabitants, and possessed significant silk and cotton weaving mills and tanneries.
Until the earthquake of 1859, the city was the capital of the province Şamaxı, then this was Baku and the city fell more and more.
1918 Şamaxı was the scene of a massacre by Armenian fighters Dashnagzoutiun, who acted as representatives of the newly established Soviet power, to the Azerbaijani population. Approximately 8000 people were killed.
Earthquake
Twin Cities
- Turkey Iğdır, Turkey since 2006
Personalities
The Azerbaijani poet İmadəddin Nəsimi was born in the city.