Shaki, Azerbaijan
Şəki (Russian Шеки / Sheki; until 1968 Nuxa ) is a city in north-western Azerbaijan with the status of rayon. It is located 325 km from Baku on the river Kish, and has 63,000 inhabitants.
Origin of the name
The name of the town goes back to the Scythian tribe of the Saka who have lived in this area since the 7th century BC long. In the Middle Ages, the city had many names, such Sheke, Sheki, Shaka, Shakki, Shakne, Shaken, Shakkan and Shekin.
After a mud flood in 1772 the town was moved to its present location. In the following years, especially after the dissolution of the Khanate in 1819, the city was named after the nearby village Nuxa. In 1968, the renaming was reversed.
History
The oldest traces of settlement in Şəki are more than 2700 years old. The first settlement took place in the Late Bronze Age. In the 7th century BC the Saka migrated from the north in the area a. The region was named after them Sakasena.
In the 1st century Şəki was one of the largest cities Albanias. The main temple of the Albani was in town. As a result of the Arab invasion Şəki became a part of the Caliphate of the Abbasids. Later it belonged to the field of Shirvanshah and was independent from about 1500. In 1551 it was annexed by the Safavids. After 1747 it was the capital of an independent Khanate, the Khanate Sheki.
1805 this Khanate became part of the Russian Empire, which was confirmed in 1813 by the Treaty of Gulistan. 1819 Şəki was Nuxa as the capital of the district in the province Nuxa Şamaxı.
The city was often abandoned and destroyed, so the oldest historic buildings date from the 16th century in its history.
Attractions
Şəki is known for the Khan palace from the 18th century and caravanserais.
Economy
In Şəki there are silk production and food industry and agriculture. Is produced mainly tobacco, grapes, nuts, grains and milk. Also Halfa is prepared according to traditional recipes. Similarly, there are numerous mineral springs.
There used to be in the city also gold and silver Tress factories and tanneries.
Twin Cities
Famous people
- Fətəli Xan Xoyski (1875-1920), Azerbaijani politician, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Mirza Fatali Akhundov
- Jovdat Hajiyev
- Ashyg Molla Juma
- Rashidbey Efendiyev
- Salman Mumtaz
- Hajji Hasan Mollazadeh
- Bəxtiyar Vahabzadə, Azerbaijani writer
- Sabit Rahman
- Hikmet Ziya
- Abdulazzal Demirchizadeh
- Zulfugar Zulfugarov
- Shafiga Akhundova
- Mahmud Ismayilov
- Asker Eyyubov
- Alovsat Sadygov
- Shakili Alasgar
- Rasim Ojagov
- Lutfali Abdullayev
- Ismayil Osmanly
- Fatali Khan Khoyski
- Ahmediyya Jabrailov
Pictures of Shaki, Azerbaijan
