Dilgam ismailov

Damascus twice (667, 670). The results of the negotiations 

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65 
were successful. The Caliphate didn’t touch Albania’s internal 
independence. Albania had reduced taxes by one-third collec-
ted from its people, on Javanshir’s request. One reason of 
Caliphate’s compromise was Albania’s strategic-geographic lo-
cation and rich resources. The second key factor was personal 
influence of the Albania’s ruler. It is noted in “the Albanian 
history” that "... The Caliphate gave him an elephant. He donated 
52 horses and the reign of the Syunik principality as well”. Ja-
vanshir saved his country from invasions of the Arabs, Greeks, 
Persians and Khazar tribes with his wit and far-sighted policy.
After the first Arab invasions the southern part of 
Azerbaijan – Aderbaygan completely lost its independence. 
The Caliphate began to be governed by successors. Albania 
was able to maintain its internal independence as a result of 
Javanshir’s successful policy. But as a vassal of the Caliphate, 
Albania became heavily dependent on only tax reimbursement 
condition. Javanshir was killed in 681 as a result of an 
assassination of the Byzantine-prone feudal lords across the 
country. On this occasion, the poet Devdek elegized his death. 
The Khazars attacked and robbed Albania with the aim of 
taking revenge on Javanshir’s murderers. The Arab armies 
came to Albania in 705. They took Javanshir’s last heir to 
Damascus and executed him. Thus the dominion of the 
Mehranis’ dynasty came to an end in Albania. Albania's 
internal independence was canceled. The Caliph’s successor 
was entrusted to manage Albania.
The attack of the Arabs to Azerbaijan happened after the 
Nahavand and Hamadan battles in 642. The Arabs caught Gum 
and Kashan. The Sassanid Empire collapsed completely. After 
that the Caliphate’s army invaded Azerbaijan. In 644 the suc-

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66 
cessor Isfandiyar Ibn Farrukhzad was defeated by the Arabs in 
the Ardabil battle. The Arabs concluded a treaty with Ardabil. 
According to the terms of the agreement the population of 
Azerbaijan had to pay jizye – a life tax. Women, children, the 
sick and poor exempted from jizye. The population had to obey 
the Arabs. The Arabs took the commitment not to interfere in 
their religion, traditions and domestic affairs. The Arabs also 
gave an opportunity to those who wanted to leave the country. 
The voluntary servants in the Arab army were released from 
taxes and obligations. When the Arab troops left Ardabil, the 
population rebelled again. They had rejected the terms of the 
agreement. New Arab troops came to Ardabil in 646. They 
broke the resistance of the people. A new contract was signed. 
The amount of taxes significantly increased than before.
The Arabs who assaulted the land of Albania faced serious 
resistance here. In the middle of the 40s (643) the Arab troops 
led by the commander Abdul Rahman came to Derbent. They 
began a battle with the Khazars near Ballenger to the north of 
Derbent. The Arabs were defeated in the battle. Their 
commander Abdul Rahman was killed. Thus, the Caliphate’s 
first attack from Derbent to North failed. After that, the more 
powerful army than ever led by Selman (Abdul Rakhman’s 
brother) was sent to Azerbaijan. In 653 the Arab troops began 
battles with the Khazars near Ballenger to the north of 
Derbent. The battle ended with the victory of the Khazars. The 
commander Selman was killed in the battle. The Arabs con-
cluded a treaty with cities of Azerbaijan: Barda, Nakhchivan, 
Beylagan, and Derbent. Under the terms of the treaty the 
population had to comply with the Arabs and pay taxes. In 730 
the Khazars triumphed over the Arabs in Savalan Mountain 

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67 
Battle (near Ardabil). Then the Khazars came near Lake Van 
and were defeated in the battle near the city Hilat. The Arabs 
pursued them. In the first half of the VIII century the