Some new considerations on the history and location of the city of Niyazabad

Abstract

We have many fortresses, settlements, and cities that had a special place in the economic and cultural life of Azerbaijan, mentioned in ancient and medieval sources, legends, and fairy tales, but of whic location and exact coordinates are still unknown. The cities of Yunan, Paytakaran, Shirvan, Sadun, Gushtasfi, and Mahmudabad, which are mentioned in many written sources, are some of these Azerbaijani cities. One of such historical addresses whose exact location is unknown is Niyazabad, which had a special place in the economic and cultural life of the country in the 16th–19th centuries, especially in international trade relations carried out through the Caspian Sea. For the time being, it is possible to make certain assumptions about Niyazabad only based on the travel notes of European travelers, the diaries compiled by diplomats and military figures in Russia, their correspondences with the Russian tsar, the Safavid ruler, and the officials of the Shamakhi Khanate. The first of the issues that remain unclear to our science regarding the history of Niyazabad is the determination of the location and exact geographical coordinates of this city. We believe that some landmarks known from written sources and historical and geographical toponyms existing in the area can be a clue for researchers in achieving this task. The initial information we have indicates that Niyazabad is located in the Muskur district, in the Altiağaj district – on the coast of the Caspian Sea. The village of Nizoba, which is included in the administrative territory of the Khachmaz region, is also located there. Therefore, the remains of the city of Niyazabad should be sought in the current village of Nizoba and the geography close to it. For this, it is imperative that archaeological searches be started in those areas as a first step.