Dilgam ismailov

VIII Theme: Azerbaijan in the II half of the XIV century 
and in the XV centuries
1.Attacks of Tokhtamysh and Amir Timur to Azerbaijan. 
Shirvanshahs state. 
2. Karakoyunlu and Agkoyunlu states 
3.Socio-economic and cultural development of Azerbaijan 
in XV century 
1.Attacks of Tokhtamysh and Amir Timur to Azerbaijan. 
Shirvanshahs state 
Establishment of Timurid Empire in the central Asia 
and their attacks to vicinity countries, as well as attacks of 
Golden Horde khan Tokhtamysh seriously affected to 
internal and external politics of Azerbaijan. In 1385 Timur 
arrived to Azerbaijan, but he came back due to incidents 
happened in the Central Asia. At the end of 1385 
Tokhtamysh entered from Darband to Shirvan and reached 
Tabriz. As surroundings of Moscow, he used cunning and 
moved his troops on the city in 1382. After Tabriz 
Tokhtamysh’s troops invaded Maragha. Marand and 
Nakhchevan were invaded, either.
In the spring of 1386 Azerbaijan lands were attacked by 
Timur. Tabriz was invaded in “ Triennial march”. Relating 
to Tokhtamysh’s assault to Bukhara and Samarkand, 
Timur left Azerbaijan in 1387. He charged his son 
Miranshah with ruling Azerbaijan. Sultan Ahmad, the head 
of Karakoyunlu state Kara Yusif, local amirs of Tabriz and 
Timurids had struggle over the power in Tabriz. In 1392 
Timur came to Azerbaijan the second time and entered to 

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Tabriz. Timur attacked to Alinja several times (1387, 1393, 
1397) and couldn’t be able to gain victory. Except Alinja to-
wer, whole Azerbaijan was invaded by Timurids. Hurufism 
had essential role in the struggle against Miranshah. In 1399 
Timur attacked the same direction the third time and came to 
Kharabakh. In 1400, as a result of internal conflicts, Alinja to-
wer which defended for 14 years, obeyed to Timur. After some 
period Timur came back to Samarkand and died in 1405. 
Azerbaijan was ruling by the Miranshah’s son Mirza Omar. 
Hurufism had special place in the XIV century 
literature. Hurufism was derived from the word "letter" (of 
the alphabet) and declared divinity of arabic letters and 
considered that one of the ways of manifestation of God 
was embodied in letters. Therefore, 28 letters of the arabic 
alphabet are holy and are the basis for love and beauty in 
the world. The founder of hurufism Fazlallah Naimi (1340-
1394) was remarkable figure and poet of that time. Author 
informed about theoretical basis of hurufism in his works 
“Javidan-namah”, 
“Mahabbat-namah”, 
“Arsh-namah”, 
“Nawm-namah” and his “Divan”. The other remarkable figure 
of hurufism Imadaddin Nasimi was born in Shamakhi in 1369 
and mastered several sciences. He wrote his first poems by his 
pen-name (or takhallus) “Huseini”. After joining hurufids 
he adopted the pen-name “Nasimi” for the honor of Naimi. 
Shirvan province which located in the north-east of 
Azerbaijan, west bank of Caspian sea, surround the areas 
from Kur river to the north borders of Darband region. At 
the begining of the XIII century Shirvanshah state was 
ruled by Gushtasb (1203-1225). Jebe and Subotai’s mongol 

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groups came to Shirvan first, during the dominion of 
Gushtasb. 
In 1225 Fariburz III (1225-1243) drove out his father 
Gushtasb from throne. Army and people defend power of 
Fariburz. In spite of Fariburz made contract with 
Jalaladdin and paid him tax (1225), he could be able to 
defend Shirvan. In 1231 mongols entered the territory of 
Shirvan. Shirvan and Darband was captured in 1239. 
Akhsitan II (1243-1260) was obliged to admit authorities of 
Hulagu. Shirvanshahs lost their independence gradually. In 
1367 Shaikh Uvais made Shirvan obedient to himself. 
Ruling of Shirvan commenced by Hushang (1372-1382), 
after his father Kavus death (1345-1372). Hushang was 
killed in 1382. Hushang was the last member of the 
Kasranid branch ruling in Shirvan during 1027-1382 years. 
Shaikh Ibrahim Darbandi (Ibrahim I) came to the throne in 
Shirvan (1382-1417). Once his grandfathers were ruler of 
Darband. For that reason, his successors was known as 
Darbandis (1382-1538). 
In 1386 while Timur was in Karabakh, Ibrahim came to 
Timur’s presence with expensive gifts. Timur gave ruling of 
Shirvan to him and admitted him ruler of Shirvan. 
Protection of the north borders was given to Ibrahim. 
Union with Timur rescued Shirvan from plundering and 
Ibrahim got powerful ally against Tokthamysh. By using 
contacts with Timur, Ibrahim could strengthen Shirvan 
both economically and military. In 1406-1410 years 
Azerbaijan became the struggle area of Timurids, Jalayirs 
and their ally Karakoyunlus. Shirvanshah Ibrahim’s 
politics was to combine Azerbaijan lands. Georgian czar, 

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Shaki, Ardabil rulers and Karamanli tribes entered into an 
alliance in order to struggle against Timurids. United forces 
defeated Timurid Omar’s troops on the bank of the Kur in 
summer 1405. At the same time revolt raised in Tabriz. 
Rebels appealed to Shirvanshah Ibrahim for hand. In may 
1406 Ibrahim entered to Tabriz. People acknowledged him 
as their ruler. Thus, Ibrahim could be able to unify 
Azerbaijan under his dominion for a short time. But after 
several time, Jalayirid sultan Ahmad and his ally Ka-
rakoyunlu Kara Yusif approached to the city. Ibrahim I left 
the city and went to Shirvan. In XIII-XIV centuries Shaki 
was added to the territory of Shrivanshah states. 30s of the 
XIV century at the declining period of Hulagu state, Shaki 
feudals got self-independence. Oyrat dynasty gained power. 
2.Karakoyunlu and Agkoyunlu states 
Karakoyunlus which were from an oghuz tribes ruled by 
baharlids. Karakoyunlus settled down in the south of Van 
lake had struggle with Agkoyunlu, Jalairids and Timurids. 
The founder of Karakoyunlu dysnaty was Bayram Khoja. 
His son Kara Muhammad (1380-1389) founded Karako-
yunlu tribal federation which centre is Van. In the spring of 
1387 Timur attacked on Karakoyunlus. Kara Muhammad 
defeated Timur’s forces in Chapakhchur. In 1392 Timurids 
captured Van city. After that defeat Kara Yusif started 
good relation with Jalayirids. Battle between Timurids and 
united forces of Karakoyunlu and Jalayirids in 1394 near 
the Baghdad, finished with the victory of Timurids. 
Karakoyunlu tribal federation collapsed in 1395. But it was 
restored soon by Kara Yusif. In order to establish union 

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against Timur, he went to Egypt with Jalayir Sultan 
Ahmad. Timur claimed Egypt ruler to arrest friends. 
Timur’s claim was rejected. His son Sultan Faraj (1399-
1412) arrested them in Damashk. But hearing Timur’s 
death he released them. 
In 1406 Sultan Ahmad and Kara Yusif captured Baghdad. 
At the end of the july 1406, they reached to Tabriz. 
Shirvanshah Ibrahim admitted Sultan Ahmad’s march from 
Irak to Azerbaijan as a coming of the king. “Landlord is 
coming, let’s go to home” he said and came back to Shirvan. 
As straightening in Tabriz, Sultan Ahmad ordered about resto-
ration of Alinja fortress. Sultan didn’t follow his promise to 
Tabriz population about reduction of taxes. For that reason 
when Timurid Abubakr Mirza troops approached to Tabriz, 
people didn’t help Sultan Ahmad and he escaped to Baghdad.
In the autumn of 1406 Karkoyunlu forces defeated 
Timurids in Shanbi-Ghazan near the Tabriz (Shanbi-
Ghazan battle I). The first victory over Abubakr made 
Kara Yusif prominent. On 21 april 1408 there was the second 
battle between Kara Yusif and Abubakr forces in Sardrud. 
This battle also ended with the victory of Karakoyunlu. 
Miranshah was killed, Timurids obeyed and driven out 
Azerbaijan. Kara Yusif’s success frightened Sultan Ahmad. In 
summer of 1410 Sultan Ahmad attacked Tabriz and 
captured the city. Kayumars the son of Shirvanshah 
Ibrahim I also helped him. 
The battle took place between Kara Yusif and Sultan 
Ahmad on 30 august 1410 in Shanbi-Ghazan near the 
Tabriz (Shanbi-Ghazan battle II). Jalayir forces were 
defeated. Sultan Ahmad was killed by Kara Yusif. 

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Jalayirids power in Azerbaijan was ended. Therefore, 
Karakoyunlu state was established in 1410. Except 
Shirvanshah state, all Azerbaijan lands, Eastern Anatolia,