A Truthful History

The events at Shushi developed like this: No gates were being opened. The fortress and its people remained besieged by the army mobs. Abbas Mirzapersisted and called them to surrender the fortress, but in vain. The inhabitants suffereda great deal and became weak because of lack of food and other supplies. There was a rumorthat the Commander-in-Chief had ordered the Russians to leave the country [of Karabagh]. (130a) Therefore, Qizilbashs sent Bejan Khan to the fortress to meet Colonel Reut to solvethe problem in peaceful way.

The people of the fortress, due to colonel's command, covered upkhan's eyes and led him into the fortress to the colonel. They had a talk and agreedto give the fortress commandant Major Cheliaev and Captain Mirza Adigiozal as hostages andconclude a fortnight truce. At the meantime a representative of each side would go toTiflis to meet with Ermolov and bring his orders. Thus Major Kliugenau (Funklughin) fromthe Russian side and a yasavul from its rival side were sent to Tiflis. There theydescribed the situation and asked him whether he allows them to surrender the fortress ornot. Sardar's answer was the following: "There isn't a word"capitulation" in Russian". The meaning of this foreign word is "tosurrender".

At that time, General Madatov had returned from the [mineral] warmwaters to Tiflis. When the yasavul appeared, the latter grew angry with him:

-Why have you come to me with a stick?

Then he threatened him:

-I'll beat Abbas Mirza with the same wooden stick.

The Crown prince hoped that the people of Shushi would submit to himand surrender the fortress, so that he could take possession of its whole wealth and nothis warriors. Meanwhile the others wished to capture the fortress by force so thateveryone would get his share of the booty.

Once Abbas Mirza (130b) said to his servants:

-All of you are expecting me to take the fortress of Shushi by force, so that you could plunder its wealth. But I'll go on besieging it until itsinhabitants and surrender their fortress. Then, whoever possesses Father Shah'streasures and wealth I'll seize them.

Although things about Shushi were not still completed, and the fortresswas not taken, they had already decided who would own the possessions of its wealthy men. Abbas Mirza intended to seize the wealth of Zohrab Tarumian (Sohrab Aqa Tarimov) andSheikhiovs', and Mahdi-qoli Khan - Agha Baba Hakhumian's (Mughdusi BabaHakhimov) and Khandamirovs'.

Dear God! Don't cross the bridges before you come to them!

Amir Khan Sardar persisted more than anyone in attacking andcapturing the fortress by force. He gave no rest to Abbas Mirza. Therefore, Abbas Mirza sent him to Ganje with his son Muhammad Mirza.

Abbas Mirza realized that the affairs at Shushi were long drawnout with useless negotiations. Therefore he started sending secret messengers from hispeople to the fortress walls with the aim of enticing the Armenians to his side andconvincing them of the need of stopping to defend the fortress and assist the Russians. Still, all was in vain.

Once he sent Sarukhan Yuzbashi, an Armenian village elder to thefortress to advise the people and impel then to submit to Iran. After reporting hismessage, Yuzbashi said in Armenian, "My sons, hold firmly, because they areweakening".

A Karabagh Turk, who knew Armenian, denounced this to Mahdi-qoli Khan. The latter grew angry with Yuzbashi and ordered to cut his tongue. Yet, anotherbeg, who was on friendly terms with Yuzbashi, mediated and saved him from losinghis tongue.

Mahdi-qolu Khan went to the foot of the fortress with other Qizilbashkhans and called Aqabeg Kalantarov, a respectable man in the fortress. At first Aqabegrefused to come, since having once been one of the khans close retainers he feared frombeing upbraided. Finally, however by Colonel's command, he went to meet Mahdi-qoliKhan and Qizilbash khans with two officers knowing Turkish and dressed in the clothes of aservant. After greeting Mahdi-qoli Khan asked him, "Aqabeg, aren't you ashamedof being ungrateful and fire on me?"

Kalantarov answered:

-I never forget your grace and I don't fire on you. If you come tous, all of us will go barefooted to the Emperor and beg Him to pardon your sins. But youshould be ashamed of leading here your old enemy, who has a blood lust for seizing ourwealth, wives and lives in revenge.

(131b) Mahdi Khan was impressed and touched with the words. When he wasback, he persisted no more on capturing the fortress. Hence, Abbas Mirza didn'ttake him into consideration and consulted every problem with Haji Aqalar.

The officials of the Russian State had prudently collected the armsfrom Moslem inhabitants [of Shushi]. But the Armenian part was always with Russians anddevotedly served them. Especially, the Armenians of Shushikend and Karintak(Dash-alti-lu), who with their chief Safar Yuzbashi had fortified against Qizilbash troopsin Khaznadarasi ravine, not far from the fortress, troubled them non-stop. This filledAbbas Mirza with such fury with the Armenians, that he issued a decree: whoeverbrought a head of an Armenian, he would be recompensed with ten ashrafis.

In consequence, great number of Armenians were captured and killed. Inthe end Abbas Mirza attacked the fortress several times and fought heavy battlesincurring much losses and damages to his troops. They stayed there for a month andbesieged it until Abbas Mirza received the news about General Madatov's arrivaland his battle against Qizilbash troops at Shamkhor and the defeat of Amir Khan Sardar. With this news he moved to Ganje. The events went as follows:

"A month had passed since the siege of Shushi. Amir Khan Sardar continued persisting that the fortress (132a) had to be conquered by attack and afight. Therefore, Abbas Mirza appointed him to go with the Chaharduli and othercavalry troops of 4000 warriors and settle together with Oghurlu Khan Ziadoghli in Ganjefortress. Whenever an army arrived from Tiflis they had to defend themselves and send thenews to Him.

As Amir Khan Sardar was old and often pondered with muchhesitation, Abbas Mirza made Muhammad Mirza, his eldest son his companion, toprevent him for being late and irresolute.

Amir Khan Sardar advanced towards Ganje with Muhammad Mirza andthe army at their disposal. Oghurlu Khan, who had been sent earlier, joined them on theway. When they reached the river Kurak, they caught a messenger who carried a letter fromTiflis. It was General Madatov's address to Karabagh inhabitants with the intentionto quieten them. Here is the copy of that letter.

The copy of Madatov's letter to the people of karabagh written inturkish

(132b) Everywhere the letter stirred up great fear among Qizilbashs. The name of Madatov was enough to frighten the Qizilbash troops.

[Amir Khan and his troops] moved making stops and finally arrived inGanje. Its inhabitants went out into the gardens below the city to welcome prince MuhammadMirza and the Sardar and to swear an oath of loyalty. Oghurlu Khan went and settledin the citadel of Ganje. [He] quieted its people and reassured them. The army of theprince and Sardar stopped on the bank of the river and began settling the mattersin the city and its vicinity. The leaders of all Airumlu and Shamshaddinlu tribes, thehigh officials submitted and started serving to them. As the tribes of Ganje had a Qajarorigin, they called Amir Khan and Muhammad Mirza "Uncle" and were on kindredterms with them. The Armenians of the Kilisakend district of Ganje also submitted andserved to them. Amir Khan Sardar (133a) sent his nephew Muhammad Zaman Khan with athousand Chaharduli cavalrymen as a guardian regiment to the Hasan-su and Zagam rivers, being a boundary between Ganje and Tiflis. They had to stay there and get news about theevents and affairs of Tiflis.

Two weeks later, suddenly, news came, that General Madatov had comefrom Tiflis to Akhstafa and was making military preparations in the army, artillery, andarms. Amir Khan Sardar informed Abbas Mirza about that and asked him:

" During the engagement at Shushi I volunteered to take the ruleof the army and conquer the fortress, You refused to agree. My request again is that youcould give me five or six sarbaz regiments and five cannons so that I could fight againstMadatov. If I defeat him I'll march to Tiflis, otherwise I'll be murdered ".

Abbas Mirza didn't accept his appeal because he was given tounderstand that Madatov's army wasn't numerous. So, whenever he gave the sarbaz troops and cannons to Amir Khan Sardar, he would shatter Madatov and march untilTiflis and conquer it. At that time his name will be praised before shah.

Abbas Mirza was deceived with those words and refused to send theinfantry and cannons, answering:

" I haven't sent you to fight against Madatov. You justsettle in the fortress and fortify yourself there for defence. Take all cannons of theRussians left there, into the fortress, prepare bullets and gunpowder. (133b) WheneverMadatov arrives, sit there and defend it. I'll come and give Madatov the answer ".

Then he wrote:

" Send some cavalry groups of your army to plunder the horsesand the cannons of Madatov ".

After receiving the commands, Amir Khan rejected to obey AbbasMirza and to enter the citadel [of Ganje]. He wrote without concealing:

-I'm a sardar and my duty is to go and fight against theenemy, not sit in the fortress like a woman to let others come and block it up, theneither imprison or kill me. I'll never go to the fortress.

Muhammad Mirza wrote to his father and described him the situation indetail, telling about Sardar's refuse to enter the fortress. Abbas Mirzagot very excited with Sardar's disobedience. [He] wrote a letter bitter thanthe juice of aloe to his heir prince Muhammad Mirza, where he noted:

Besides, he wrote an upbraiding letter bearing the stamped with sarkhatt (134a) to Amir Khan, which goes like this:

" Amir Khan, I swear on shah's honor, I'll expose youto the fate of Amir Khan Jahanbeglu. Hey Man, Petros Beg is Madatov's uncle and youare mine. See how he, with the Armenians, defends the Shushi fortress, whereas you withsuch an army and artillery, don't protect [Ganje]. Hey man, its unworthy to run awaybecause of a villager from Avetaranots. If you are afraid that your children will stayhungry after your death, don't worry. I'll not leave them hungry. If you fearfrom being captured, be quiet, I'll sell an earring of my wife and ransom you. Thinkof all this, be diligent and stay in peace. "

The words made no impression on Amir Khan. On the contrary, theyprovoked his indignation. He stayed in the vicinity of the fortress until Nazar AliKhan of Marand arrived with sarbaz infantry and settled there.

At that time a messenger came from Muhammad Zaman Khan. He wrote, thaton the previous night General Madatov attacked him with his army. They fought and beingunable to resist he fled away and took refuge in woody impenetrable places. He spent thenight there. The next day he withdrew down to a manzel distance from Madatov. Therehe stopped, with the intentions to advance further.

Amir Khan took counsel with his officials and Qizilbash chiefs, becausehe considered Madatov to be a celebrated general known with the Russians for courage. Whenever he gave a battle with his Russian troops, they were unable to win with theirsmall army and cavalry.

Some of his officials told:

-The Russians are like a locust. (134b) We may seek asylum on amountain, defend ourselves there until Abbas Mirza comes with his infantry sarbaz and cavalry troops and gives an answering attack to him.

Others offered:

-Let's go to the bank of the Kur and stay in its bushes.

A few persons counseled to yield, the rest - to advance. HoweverMuhammad Mirza said:

-I haven't yet seen how the Russians fight and I wish to see howthey do that. Let's advance and give a battle. Whenever they win we can return to theGanje fortress.

Amir Khan told:

-This is the war with the Russians, but not a game or a joke. When theywin, they'll stop no more until they bring things to an end.

At that time, a detachment of four thousand janbazs of Araq andfour cannons sent by Abbas Mirza were received. This encouraged them a little. [They] wrote a letter to Hoseyn Khan Sardar of Erevan, who at that time was atGiokcha near to Ganje:

-We intend to fight against Madatov. You, too, take your army andhasten here from beyond the mountain to assist us, since we could attack him from bothsides.

Hoseyn Khan wrote in answer:

-I also face a strong enemy, a celebrated commander like the prince[Sevarzamidze]. That is why I can't come.

Amir Khan Sardar summoned the author of this book, who was aclerk in his divan then and asked:

-You know better the number of the winner and the loser. Who will gainvictory, Madatov or me?

The obedient servant told:

-The first name of Madatov is Rostam. This name is more outstandingthan that of Abbas, Hoseyn, Ibrahim, etc. Your first name is Amir, which is equal tohis name. So, if you attack him (135a) you'll win, if he attacks you, then he'llbe the winner.

After this council Amir Khan took his troops and artillery and set outfrom Ganje to Shamkhor with great fear and doubts. Nazar Ali Khan was suggested totake another two sarbaz regiments and join them with the purpose of advancing andfighting against Madatov. If they won, so much the better, and if not, they'd returnwith the same sarbaz troops to Ganje to defend the fortress.

Nazar Ali Khan refused to give the sarbaz troopsanswering, "I am here to protect the fortress, not to support you with my forces, which would weaken me and make me unable to counteract in case of need".

Amir Khan and Muhammad Mirza moved with the same cavalry, janbaz troops, and four cannons, stopped at the bank of the Shamkhor River. A night later the news wasreceived about Madatov's arrival with his army. In the second night Amir Khan senthis transport to Ganje, whereas he stayed with his army and artillery on this side of theShamkhor. In the morning of the third day Muhammad Zaman fled to Amir Khan's campwith his guardian regiment. Soon afterwards, Madatov and his Russian forces turned up frombehind the minaret on the other side of the river. The rivals were getting ready to fight. Sardar's topchi asked, who was the first to start - the enemy or they?

Sardar said: "Let's wait for the enemy to be thefirst".

At that time a Russian cannon fired, and, from the opposite, anothercannon shot in answer to them (135b). Gradually the fire of the Russians increased toeighteen cannons at a time and, thus, the Qizilbashs were at a loss. The most astonishingwas the fact that Qizilbashs had sent their transport to Ganje the previous night, whereasthe Russians were both fighting and putting up their tents.

Amir Khan Sardar had dismounted by the river and watched theRussian army and its battle with a spyglass. Muhammad Mirza also stood on the bank at aplace higher than the battlefield and gazed at it. However, General Madatov whirled in hisarmy on horseback and guided the fight.

When the Russian cannon bullets flew over Qizilbash troops and fell onit, killing many of the warriors, its rear-guard troops started yielding. Russian Cossacksand the cavalry began crossing the river from its shallow areas.

Sardar's ishikaqasi came and said:

-Why are you sitting, when the whole army is fleeing?

He answered:

-Where shall I go. I cannot look into Abbas Mirza's eyes anymore. I'd rather be imprisoned or killed by the Russians than be alive and beashamed.

Then he ordered to bring his horse. Sardar mounted it andordered to ride and save the life of Muhammad Mirza saying, "If something happenswith him we can't have an escape from 'Abbas Mirza".

[Amir Khan] himself went to prevent the Russian troops to seize thecannons. At that time his nephew Muhammad Zaman Khan came with two hundred cavalrymen, whereas the Cossack regiment crossed the river and arrived from another side. Still theQizilbashs lost the battle. Sardar (136a) was wounded by a Cossack's bullet, fell from the horse and died. The same Cossack took his arms. When General Madatov learntthat it was Sardar, he was sorry, not have him alive. He took Sardar's horse and pocket Quran. As Madatov and Amir Khan Sardar were on friendly termspreviously, General found it necessary to render homage to honorable men. He ordered tojoin his body with his head and bury him there at the edge of the road due to Moslemlaws.

Amir Khan was a fat, thickset man. He was the son of Shah-qoli AqaQajar, the brother of Jan Muhammad Khan, from the sub-tribe of Yukhari-bash. Qajar shahsare from the sub-tribe of Ashaghe-bash. When Muhammad Hasan Khan Qajar ascended thethrone, disturbances occurred between the Qajars: they were divided into two groups, killing and imprisoning many people from each other. At last, with the aim of settling thedisagreements and establishing blood relationship, the daughter of the same Shah-qoli, thebrother of Jan Muhammad Khan, who was one of the respectable nobles of the QajarYukhari-bash tribe was given in marriage to Baba Khan, known as Fath Ali Shah. Shegave birth to Abbas Mirza and thus Amir Khan became his uncle. He was fiftyyears old when he was murdered. He was shooting quite well.

On the whole, the Russians pursued the army of Muhammad Mirza up toGanje, murdered a great number of soldiers. The vast field was covered with dead bodies, which formed knolls lying one on the other. Many prisoners and war spoils fell in thehands [of the Russians]. The vanguard of the fleeing troops reached their transport, andall of them escaped from Ganje to Karabagh. During the flight they hurried so much, thatthe panic-stricken people (136b) set a lot of camels and mules free and ran away alone. Sobig were the wealth, plunder, and booty left in the field that the plain turned into ahill . and there was no place to step on.

During the night flight, after passing by Ganje, Muhammad Mirza orderedto trumpet for stopping at several places, but nobody stopped from fear. Everyone tried tobe the first to flee away. In short, the whole night until sunrise they fled leaving theirthings. From the fear they did not dare to stop at any place until at sunrise they got tothe Tartar River, where they came to a stop and had a rest. They had passed twenty farsakhs in a night.

Nazar Ali Khan stayed in the fortress of Ganje until midnight, then being unable to overcome the boundless fear, left it and fled to Karabagh with sarbazs. He joined the army of Muhammad Mirza by Tartar River.

Muhammad Mirza wrote about the events and described the situation tohis father the Crown prince Abbas Mirza. Thus, the latter was forced to give incapturing the fortress of Shushi and set out for Ganje empty-handed.