“Eastern question" for Russian Empire has always remained an acute problem. The emperors sought to strengthen their interests in the East, which is why military conflicts often occurred. One of the countries with which the interests collided was Iran.

The second war between Russia and the Persian Empire began in 1826 and lasted almost two years. In February 1828, the Turkmanchay Peace Treaty was signed between the parties, which put an end to relations between the empires. But the conditions of peace became very difficult for Iran, which subsequently led to the country's economic and political crisis.

The previous war between Russia and Iran ended with the signing of the Gulistan Peace Treaty. According to the latter, Northern Azerbaijan and Dagestan departed to the Russian Empire.

In addition, many eastern countries voluntarily applied for the patronage of Russia. This state of affairs did not suit Iran, which was striving for independence. In addition, Great Britain intervened in the affairs of countries.

Causes of the conflict

In Iran, in the spring of 1826, an aggressive government headed by Abbas Mirza, supported by Great Britain and the Shah's court, came to power. The Russian Empire did not support the new ruler.

After that, open propaganda began. a new war with Russia. Nicholas I hastened to settle the conflict peacefully and sent a peace delegation headed by A. Menshikov for negotiations. But the Iranian side refused to accept the ambassadors, and the delegation returned without results.

After that, with the permission of the religious elite of the khanate began fighting against Russia.

The reasons for unleashing the war were:

• revenge for the Russian-Iranian war of 1804-1813;
• the return of the lost territories in the Gulistan peace;
• the desire to weaken the influence of the Russian Empire on the world stage;
• the desire of England to stop the trade of Russian merchants in the East.

The course of hostilities

Russia did not expect the start of an open armed attack and was initially unprepared for a worthy resistance. In addition, the Persian troops were supported by England. In the first months, the Russian army was forced to retreat.

Aspect ratio and command

Parties' plans

Main events

Stage I: July 1826 - September 1826

During the offensive, Abbas Mirza counted on the help of the Armenians and Azerbaijanis living in Russia. But hopes were not justified, small peoples tried to get rid of the oppression of the Iranian khans and shahs. For this reason, they actively supported the Russian troops.

On July 16, the Erivan Khan Hussein Khan Qajara attacks the Russian border territories near Mirak. There was a small Russian army, which was forced to retreat and leave the territories of the Shirvan and Sheki khanates;

Russian units retreated to Karkalis. The defense of the latter, the Russian troops held together with a detachment of Armenians and the Tatar cavalry.

in mid-July, Abbas Mirza laid siege to the Shusha fortress.

The Shah's army numbered about 40 thousand people. There were much fewer Russians, the number of the garrison was 1,300. The commander of the Russian troops in Karabakh I.A. Reut sent reinforcements to the fortress, but not all reached, 1/3 was killed in local battles. The peoples of Karabakh, loyal to Russia, took refuge behind the walls. The commander managed to equip another 1,500 Armenians. But the army did not have enough food, so they had to rely on the food of civilians.

Abbas Mirza promised to fight only against the Russians, so some of the Armenians and Azerbaijanis nevertheless joined the Iranians.

The defense of the fortress lasted 47 days. The Iranian command used various tactics: even to bring discord between the peoples of the East and the Russians. By order of Abbas Mirza, several Armenian families were executed in front of the walls of the fortress, and the Russians were accused. But it was not possible to bring about discord.

As a result, the siege of Shushi was lifted and the Iranian troops retreated to Elizabeth, intending to attack Tiflis from there.

• in August, near Tiflis, on the orders of Ermolov, Russian troops began to gather. To meet Abbas-Mirza, a detachment of Madatov, numbering 1,800 people, was sent to contain the Iranian army.

Stage II September 1826 - February 1828 counteroffensive of the Russian army

• September 3 - Shakhmor battle. Madatov's small detachment was able to defeat the enemy's 18,000-strong army on the way to Tiflis. Thus, the commander fulfilled his task;
• September 13 battle at Elizavetpol. Cossacks under the command of General I.F. Paskichev was defeated by 35 thousand Iranians. At the same time, the Russian army numbered a little more than 10 thousand people and 24 guns. After a crushing defeat, the enemy army retreated to Arkas.

March 16, 1827 - Paskevich was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian army in the Caucasus instead of Ermolov.

in early August, the army of Abbas Mirza is sent to the Erivan Khanate;

On August 15, the Iranian army together with Hussein Khan besieged Echmiadzin, which was defended by 500 people of the Sevastopol infantry regiment and 100 volunteers of the Armenian cavalry.

August 16 Oshakan battle. By order of the command, the army of A.I. Krasovsky in 3000 people. But on the way to the fortress, the army was attacked by the enemy army, the number of which was about 30,000 people. The Russians suffered heavy losses during the battle (1,154 people killed, wounded and missing). But despite this, Krasovsky's army managed to break through to the fortress. As a result, the siege of Echmiadzan was lifted.

On October 1, the Russian army under the command of Paskevich captured Erivan, after which they entered the territory of Iranian Azerbaijan;

Turkmanchay peace treaty

After a series of crushing defeats, the Persian Empire agreed to peace negotiations with Russia. By February 1928, an agreement was reached.

On February 10, a peace treaty was signed between the Russian and Persian empires, which went down in history as Turkmanchay. The famous Russian writer Alexander Griboyedov took part in the development of the main clauses of the agreement.

Under the terms of the world:

• all the conditions of the Gulistan peace were confirmed;
• Russia received Eastern Armenia, the Erivan and Nakhichevan khanates;
• Persia undertook an obligation not to hinder the voluntary resettlement of the Armenian population;
• the losing party must pay an indemnity in the amount of 20 million rubles in silver;
• Russia recognized Abbas-Mirza as the heir to the throne.

Apart from territorial and political decisions, trade decisions were made.

A treatise was concluded according to which Russian merchants had the right to trade in Iran. Merchant ships were allowed to move freely in the Caspian Sea. All of these changes have had a major impact on Iranian-British trade. The interests of the latter were greatly affected.

Historical meaning

The Russian-Iranian war and the Turkmanchay world had a negative impact on the development of Iran. Historians emphasize that the terms of the peace treaty seriously undermined the economic and political health of the state.

Russian-Iranian relations on the terms of the concluded peace were held until the October Revolution.

was caused by the desire of Persia (with the active support of Great Britain) to return the lands lost under the Gulistan peace treaty of 1813, and to restore its influence in the Transcaucasus. In 1826, the Persian army of the commander-in-chief Abbas Mirza invaded Karabakh and tried to break through to Tiflis in order to end Russian rule in Transcaucasia with one blow. However, the Russian troops under the command of General IF Paskevich not only stopped the Persian offensive, but in 1827 captured the fortress Erivan (Yerevan), Yuzh. Azerbaijan and Tabriz (possessions of Persia). The war ended with the signing of the Turkmanchay Peace Treaty of 1828.

Excellent definition

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Russian-Iranian war of 1826-1828

Iran was an important object of rivalry between the powers in the East. British diplomacy, seeking to expand its sphere of influence and weaken the position of Russia, immediately after the unsuccessful end of the Russian-Iranian war of 1804-1813 for Iran. began to push Shah Fatah-Ali to a new attack against Russia. In 1814, an Anglo-Iranian treaty was concluded on the provision of material assistance Iran in the event of a war "with one of the European states." British officers were invited to train Iranian troops and supervise the construction of military fortifications. With high hopes for English help, Iranian ruling circles decided to be the first to open military operations against Russia.

In July 1828, Iranian troops under the command of the heir to the throne Abbas Mirza suddenly invaded Karabakh and laid siege to Shusha. At the same time, some former Azerbaijani khans raised revolts against Russia in Shemakha, Ganja and other places. During July-August, Iranian troops occupied a significant part of the Eastern Transcaucasia and approached Baku.

The population of Karabakh, Shirak and other regions subjected to the invasion showed active resistance. Soon the Russian troops were brought up. In the battles near Shamkhor and near Ganja, the main forces of Abbas Mirza suffered heavy defeats. In 1827, Russian troops under the command of Paskevich occupied the Yerevan and Nakhchevan khanates. Together with the Russians military units Armenian militia took part in the campaign. After the capture of Tabriz by the Russian troops, the Shah's government entered into negotiations, which the British now began to insist on, fearing that the continuation of the war would lead to an even greater strengthening of Russia in the East.

On February 10, 1828, a peace treaty was signed in the village of Turkmanchay (near Tabriz). It marked the strengthening of Russia's influence and the strengthening of its positions in Iran and neighboring federal countries. The Shah recognized the annexation of the Yerevan and Nakhchevan Khanates to Russia. Under the terms of the treaty, only Russia could have a navy in the Caspian Sea. Iran paid Russia an indemnity of 20 million rubles in silver. According to the treaty on trade, Russia received privileges in Iran, corresponding to the capitulation regime, with the help of which it tried to seize the markets of northern Iran.

The annexation to Russia saved Eastern Armenia from the final ruin. V early XIX v. Armenian lands were in a state of complete decline. Agriculture with primitive tools of production and the utter arbitrariness of the Iranian feudal lords, it degraded. Labor productivity was extremely low. Large-scale industry was absent. Trade developed extremely slowly.

The Turkmanchay treatise completed the annexation of almost the entire territory of Georgia, Northern Azerbaijan, and Eastern Armenia to Russia.

Accession to Russia was a turning point in historical destinies Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples. Despite the colonial policy pursued by tsarism after the annexation of Transcaucasia, the inclusion of Transcaucasia into the Russian state was a historically progressive phenomenon. It liberated the Transcaucasian peoples from the threat of enslavement by the backward eastern despotism - Turkey and Iran, eliminated feudal fragmentation Transcaucasia, put an end to feudal strife, provided its population with personal and property security. Strengthening ties with the Russian people contributed to the growth of progressive forces among the peoples of the Transcaucasus and, over time, paved the way for a joint struggle against the tsarist autocracy. Advanced Russian culture has had a huge beneficial effect on further development ancient culture Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples.

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What is the reason for the Russian-Persian war?
The reason for the disagreements between the empires of Russia and Persia with 1826 on 1828 year, it became the desire of Persia to subjugate the Transcaucasia and the Caspian region. Persia could not measure up after losing most of the Eastern Transcaucasia.

How events developed.
The first war between Russia and Persia, which lasted from 1804 -1813 year is over. Persia's relations with Great Britain became closer. Agitation was carried out in the Dagestani and Azerbaijani lands against Russia. The article Vii The Gulistan Peace Treaty was a confirmation that Russia has the right to have warships in the Caspian Sea. These agreements were not directed against Iran, but against the efforts of France and England to use the Caspian Sea with the help of Iran as an opportunity to attack Russia. Great Britain and Persia signed an agreement in writing; Iran does not allow troops of other powers to pass through India. British politicians continued to incite Feth Ali Shah, as well as the heir Abbas Mirza, to oppose Russia. Great Britain did not want to lose power over this region and there is no way to openly fight with Russia, they were bound by an agreement from 4 .04.1826. The military conflict between Russia and Persia could weaken Russia and its desire to dominate the Persian Gulf.
The international situation in 1825 year was not stable, the reason for the revolt of the Decembrists in St. Petersburg. It seemed to Persia that this was the right moment for an offensive against Russia. Abbas-Mirzu, the ruler of Iranian Azerbaijan, thanks to European military consultants, created a new powerful army. He is confident that there is an opportunity to regain the territorial units that he lost in 1813 year under the Gulistan Treaty.
General A.P. Ermolov notified Emperor Nicholas I in the fact that Persia is not hiding, is preparing for war. It was in the interests of the Tsar of Russia to maintain neutrality with Persia because of the war with Turkey. Petersburg is ready to compromise and give up the Talysh Khanate. The Russian emperor sent A.S. Menshikov. The purpose of the trip was as follows, to maintain peaceful relations. The prince could not agree with the Shah of Persia Feth-Ali, due to pressure from Abbas-Mirza. The government of Persia rejected the offer of Russia, the prince left the capital of Iran.
16 july 1826 Years Persian troops crossed the border, occupied Elisavetpol. The Karabakh beks offered to kill the Russians in Shusha and hold it until the army of Persia arrives. Most of the border guards sided with the Persian army. The task was set for the army: the capture of Transcaucasia, take Tiflis,
Major General V.G. Madatov was in charge of the Karabakh outbacks. In the first decade september his units were freed by Elisavetpol. Shah Abbas-Mirza had no choice but to leave Shusha and head towards the Russian army. In the middle september building I.F. Paskevich smashed 35- a thousandth Persian army and threw them back to Araks at the end of October.
Russia continued its offensive. In August, Abbas-Mirza makes his last attempt, burst into the Yerevan Khanate. However, he was defeated and retreated to Iran. General Paskevich's army entered South Azerbaijan.
Turkmanchay agreements were concluded on 02/10/1828. Russia received eastern Armenia.

In the twenties of our century, it passed only a hundred and fifty miles from Tiflis. From the northern tip of Lake Gokchi (Sevan), it stretched to the west in a broken line along the Bombak mountain range and then, deviating from it, through Mount Alagez (Aragats), rested at right angles to the Turkish border, which ran along the Arpachay (Akhuryan) River directly to the north. , to the mountains of Triolet.
In this space, for eighty versts in length and going deeper inland, to Tiflis, fifty versts, lay two border Russian provinces: Shuragel and Bombak. The country is filled with ramifications of those huge heights located in the depths of Asian Turkey, which give rise to significant rivers: the Euphrates, Araks and others. One of these branches, the Bombak Ridge, descending to the south-west, towards the Arpachai side, forms an inclined plain, only on the border with Persia, disturbed by the Alagez mountain. Here Shuragel lies with the main city of Gumry. To the northeast of it lies the Bombak province, in a valley outlined by two high and steep ridges, Bombak and Bezobdal. In the center of the country, the Bombak Ridge, dropping ten versts to the north, meets the slopes of Bezobdal, again raising the surface of the earth beyond the clouds. The distance between the ridges does not go beyond twenty versts. The valley gradually narrows to the east, as it approaches Bolshoi Karaklis, where its width is already only two versts, and another five versts further - the gorge begins. The Bombak River flows through this valley, which, joining with Kamennaya (Jalal-Ogly-chai), receives the name Borchaly and flows into the Kura at the confluence with the Temple. To the east of Bombak, beyond the Allaverdynsky ridge, lies the Kazakh distance.
To the north, beyond the silvery, transcendental Bezobdal, lies the magnificent Lori steppe, bordered in the distance by the gloomy, bare Akzabiyuk mountains. Behind those mountains lies Iveria.
A free, beautiful place - this Lori steppe, surrounded on all sides by a forest, outlined high mountains: Bezobdal - in the south, Akzabiyuk with its branches - in the north, east and west. The mountains that separate the steppe from Shuragel are called the Wet Mountains, and the shortest road from Gumr to Bashkechet and further to Tiflis passes through them. In the east, the Allaverdynsky ridge closes it, and the steppe ends where the Kamennaya river flows into Borchala ...
The Lori steppe was administratively subordinate to the Bombak province; but that was already a part of ancient Georgia, and one of the Tatar distances - Borchalinskaya - is located on it. When Shuragel and Bombaki still belonged to Persia, the Lori steppe was a place where Georgia put obstacles to enemy invasions. Gerger and Jalal-Ogly, who defended the entrance to it, therefore became important strategic points.
In the summer of 1826, all these areas bordering with Persia, open from the flank to the west, to Turkey, were guarded by only two Russian battalions. In Gumry, the main village of Shuragel, there were two companies of the Tiflis regiment with two guns, and a company of carabinieri, which sent posts from themselves to Bekant and Amamly, where also one gun was stationed.
In Bolshoi Karaklis, the most important point of the Bombak province, there were three companies of the Tiflis regiment, with three guns. From here, two strong posts advanced to the Lori steppe: one, with a gun, to cover the crossing of the Kamennaya river near Dzhalal-Ogly, the other to the Bezobdal pass, and the third was already in the very Bombaki, on the Gamzachevanka river, eighteen versts from Karaklis, where the regimental herd of the Tiflis regiment grazed. A married company guarded Gergera beyond Bezobdal. Don Cossacks Andreeva, while small parts were scattered all over Bombak and Shuragel.
Finally, forward detachments were moved to the very border: to Mirak, which lay on eastern slopes Alageza, two companies of Tiflis and a company of carabinieri with two guns; to Balyk-chai, which covered the only pack road to Erivan from the Kazakh distance, along the Delizhan gorge along the Akstafa river - a company of Tiflis, with a force of three hundred bayonets and also with two guns. Both Mirak and Balyk-chai were engaged in Russian troops only in the summer, in order to prevent the Persian gangs from entering the Russian borders and to keep the Kazakh and Shamshadil Tatars roaming near these places in obedience.
In the fall, when the Tatars returned from their migrations, the posts were removed, since in winter, due to deep snows, the paths there became impassable. Thus, total number the troops guarding the entire region consisted of a Cossack regiment, with a force of about five hundred horses, two battalions of the Tiflis regiment (its third battalion was on the Caucasian line) and two companies of carabinieri temporarily moved here from Manglis - only about three thousand bayonets, with twelve guns light company of the Caucasian Grenadier Artillery Brigade (

V 1814 year Persia signed a treaty withGreat Britain , according to which it pledged not to let the troops of any power through its territory to India. Great Britain, for its part, agreed to seek a revision of the Gulistan Treaty in favor of Persia, and in case of war, Great Britain pledged to provide the Shah with monetary assistance in the amount of 200 thousand tumans a year or to help Persia with troops and weapons. British diplomats, seeking an end to the Persian-Turkish war, which began in1821 year, pushed the shah and the heir to the throneAbbas Mirzu to speak out against Russia.

The tense international situation1825 year and Decembrist revolt were perceived in Persia as the most favorable moment for opposing Russia. Heir to the throne and rulerIranian Azerbaijan Abbas Mirza created with the help of European instructors new army and who considered himself able to return the lost in1813 year land, decided to take advantage of such a convenient opportunity as it seemed to him.

In the summer of 1826, all these areas bordering with Persia, open from the flank to the west, to Turkey, were guarded by only two Russian battalions. In Gumry, the main village of Shuragel, there were two companies of the Tiflis regiment with two guns, and a company of carabinieri, sending posts from themselves to Bekant andAmamli , where there was also one gun.
In Bolshoi Karaklis, the most important point of the Bombak province, there were three companies of the Tiflis regiment, with three guns. From here, two strong posts advanced to the Lori steppe: one, with a gun, to cover the crossing of the Kamennaya river near Dzhalal-Ogly, the other to the Bezobdal pass, and the third was already in the very Bombaki, on the Gamzachevanka river, eighteen versts from Karaklis, where the regimental herd of the Tiflis regiment grazed. A married company guarded Gergera beyond Bezobdal. Andreev's Don Cossacks were still scattered in small parts all over Bombak and Shuragel.
Finally, forward detachments were moved to the very border: to Mirak, which lay on the eastern slopes of Alagez, two companies of Tiflis and a company of carabinieri with two guns; to Balyk-tea, which covered the only pack road to Erivan from the Kazakh distance, along the Delizhan gorge along the Akstafa river - a company of Tiflis, with a force of three hundred bayonets and also with two guns. Both Mirak and Balyk-chai were engaged in Russian troops only in the summer, in order to prevent the Persian gangs from entering the Russian borders and to keep the Kazakh and Shamshadil Tatars roaming near these places in obedience.
In the fall, when the Tatars returned from their migrations, the posts were removed, since in winter, due to deep snows, the paths there became impassable. Thus, the total number of troops guarding the entire region consisted of a Cossack regiment, with a force of about five hundred horses, two battalions of the Tiflis regiment (its third battalion was on the Caucasian line) and two companies of carabinieri temporarily moved here from Manglis - only about three thousand bayonets, with twelve guns of the light company of the Caucasian Grenadier Artillery Brigade

NikolayI

A.P. Ermolov

General Commander-in-Chief of the Russian troops in the CaucasusA. P. Ermolov warned the emperorNicholas I that Persia is openly preparing for war. Nicholas I, in view of the escalating conflict with Turkey, was ready to cede the southern part of Persia for the neutrality of Persia.Talysh Khanate ... However, Prince A.S. Menshikov, whom Nicholas I sent to Tehran with the order to ensure peace at any cost, could not achieve anything and left the Iranian capital.

The beginning of hostilities

July 16 1826 year the Persian army, without declaring war, crossed the borders in the Mirak region and invaded the Transcaucasus into the territoryKarabakh and Talysh khanates ... The bulk of the border "zemstvo guards", which consisted of armed Azerbaijani horse and foot peasants, with rare exceptions, surrendered their positions to the invading Persian troops without much resistance or even joined them.

The main task of the Iranian command was to seize the Transcaucasus, to seizeTiflis and push back the Russian troops forTerek ... The main forces were therefore directed fromTabriz to the area Chickens , and auxiliary - inMugan steppe to block exits fromDagestan ... The Iranians also counted on the blow of the Caucasian mountaineers from the rear against the Russian troops, which were stretched out in a narrow strip along the border and did not have reserves. Assistance to the Iranian army was promised by the Karabakh beks and many influential persons of the neighboring provinces, who maintained constant contacts with the Persian government and even offered to slaughter the Russians intoShushe and hold it until the Iranian troops approach.

Transcaucasian Territory at the time of the outbreak of the war (borders are indicated in accordance with the Gulistan Treaty andBucharest Peace )

V Karabakh province Russian troops were commanded by Major General PrinceV. G. Madatov , a Karabakh Armenian by origin.

V.G. Madatov

At the time of the attack, he was replaced by Colonel I.A.Reut, commander of the 42nd jaeger regiment stationed in the area of ​​the Shushi fortress.Ermolov demanded that he hold Shusha with all his might and transfer here all the families of influential beks - thereby it was supposed to ensure the safety of those who supported the Russian side and those who were hostile to be used as hostages.

First hit July 16 a 16-thousandth group inflicted on Russian territoryErivan sardara, backed up by Kurdish cavalry (up to 12 thousand). Russian troops on the border of Georgia, all overBombake(Pambak) and Shurageli (Shirak) numbered approx. 3 thousand people and 12 guns -Don Cossack regiment sub. Andreeva (about 500 Cossacks scattered in small groups throughout the territory), two battalions of the Tiflis infantry regiment and two companies of carabinieri. The head of the border line was the commander of the Tiflis regiment, Colonel PrinceL. Ya.Sevarsemidze .

Russian units were forced to retreat toKaraklis(modern Vanadzor ). Gumry and Karaklis were soon surrounded. The defense of Big Karaklis, together with the Russian troops, was held by two detachments of Armenian (100 people) and Tatarborchaly (50 people) cavalry. Strong Persian detachments also headed for Balyk-tea, sweeping away scattered small Russian posts on their way.

At the same time, Gassan-agha, brother of the Erivan sardar, from 5 thousand. horse detachmentKurds and Karapapakhs moved to Russian territory between the mountainAlagez (Aragats) and the Turkish border, plundering and burning Armenian villages on the way to Gumram, capturing cattle and horses, exterminating those who resisted local residents-Armenian. Having destroyed the Armenian village of Maly Karaklis, the Kurds began methodical attacks on the defenders in Big Karaklis.

July 18 40 thous. army Abbas Mirza crossed overAraks at Khudoperinsky bridge ... Having received news of this, Colonel I.A.Reut ordered to withdraw all the troops in the Karabakh province to the fortressShushu ... At the same time, three companies of the 42nd regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Nazimka and the hundreds of Cossacks who joined them did not manage to break through to Shusha fromGeryusov where they were stationed. The Iranians and the insurgent Azerbaijanis overtook them, and in the course of a stubborn battle, half of the personnel died, after which the rest, by order of the commander, laid down their arms

Shusha fortress.

The garrison of the Shushi fortress was 1300 people. (6th company of the 42nd Jaeger regiment and Cossacks from the Molchanov regiment of the 2nd). Cossacks a few days before complete blockade the fortress drove the families of the entire local Muslim nobility outside its walls as hostages. The Azerbaijanis were disarmed, and the khans and the most honorable beks were imprisoned. The residents of the Armenian villages of Karabakh and Azerbaijanis who remained loyal to Russia also took refuge in the fortress. With their help, dilapidated fortifications were restored. To strengthen the defense, Colonel Reut armed 1.5 thousand Armenians, who, together with Russian soldiers and Cossacks, were on the front line. A certain number of Azerbaijanis also took part in the defense, and declared their loyalty to Russia. However, the fortress did not have supplies of food and ammunition, therefore, for the meager nutrition of the soldiers, it was necessary to use the grain and cattle of the Armenian peasants who took refuge in the fortress.

Meanwhile, the local Muslim population for the most part joined the Iranians, and the Armenians, who did not have time to hide in Shusha, fled to mountainous places. Mekhti-Kuli-khan, the former ruler of Karabakh, again declared himself a khan and promised to generously reward all who join him. Abbas Mirza, for his part, said that he was fighting only against Russians, and not against local residents. The siege was attended by foreign officers who were in the service of Abbas Mirza. In order to destroy the walls of the fortress, according to their instructions, mines were laid under the fortress towers. Continuous fire was fired at the fortress from two artillery batteries, but at night the defenders managed to restore the destroyed areas. To create a split among the defenders of the fortress - Russians and Armenians - Abbas-Mirza ordered several hundred local Armenian families to be driven under the walls of the fortress and threatened to execute them if the fortress was not surrendered - however, this plan was not successful either.

The defense of Shushi lasted 47 days and had great importance for the course of hostilities. Desperate to take possession of the fortress, Abbas-Mirza eventually separated 18 thousand people from the main forces and sent them toElizavetpol (modern Ganja) to strike at Tiflis from the east.

After receiving information that the main Persian forces were shackled by the siege of Shushi, General Yermolov abandoned the original plan to withdraw all forces deep into the Caucasus. By this time he managed to concentrate up to 8 thousand people in Tiflis. Of these, a detachment was formed under the command of Major General Prince V.G. Madatov (4.3 thousand people), which led an offensive onElizavetpol to stop the advance of the Persian forces to Tiflis and lift the siege from Shushi.

Meanwhile in Bombak province Russian units repelling the Kurdish cavalry raids on Bolshoi Karaklis,9 august began to retreat north, beyondBezobdal, and to 12th of August concentrated in the camp atJalal-Ogly ... Meanwhile, Kurdish detachments spread in a wide avalanche over the immediate area, destroying villages and carving out the Armenian population.August 14 they attacked the German colonyYekaterinfeld , just 60 km from Tiflis, after a long battle they burned it down and massacred almost all the inhabitants.

After a few weeks of calmSeptember 2 , The 3-thousandth Kurdish detachment of Gassan-Agha crossed the Djilga River 10 km above Jalal-Ogly (modernStepanavan ) and attacked Armenian villages, destroying them and stealing cattle. Despite the intervention of Russian units and significant losses, the Kurds managed to steal 1,000 head of cattle.

Subsequently, attacks were carried out only by small detachments. By the beginning of September, the situation had changed in favor of Russia.

Russian counteroffensive

On September 3 (15), 1826, there wasShamkhor battle ... Russian detachment under the commandV. G. Madatova defeated the 18-thousandth vanguard of the Iranian army, heading for Tiflis.

After the invasion of Karabakh in mid-July 1826, the 40,000-strong Iranian army of Abbas Mirza was detained by the siege of the Shusha fortress. The detachment of Madatov sent to meet the enemy (a combined detachment of Russian troops (4.3 thousand people, 12 guns) and local militia (2 thousand people)) met at dawn on September 3 (15) near Shamkhor a 20-thousand-strong detachment of Persians, which fortified on the right bank of Shamkhorka.

The battle formation of the Iranian troops was built in the form of a crescent, curved towards the enemy, in the center of it was the infantry, and on the flanks - the irregular cavalry (gulyams).

G ulyam

The guns and falconets were located at the back. Madatov, despite the great superiority of the enemy in forces, attacked his positions on the move. With the support of artillery, the cavalry engaged in a battle on the flanks, and the infantry, with a bayonet strike, broke through the center of the Iranian troops. The defeat of the confused enemy was completed with a horse attack by the Georgian and Tatar (Azerbaijani) militias. The Iranians lost 2 thousand killed, Madatov's detachment - 27 people.

The Shamkhor battle did not last long and was not difficult. It ended with one swift blow. The enemy's resistance was so weak that the brilliant victory, the defeat of the most powerful enemy five times over, cost the Russian troops only twenty-seven people who were out of action, while the enemy's losses were enormous. In the consciousness of the Persians themselves, they lost more than two thousand people on this fatal day for them, just killed. The Shah's guard, which took part in the case, no longer existed - almost all of it fell under the blows of the Russian cavalry. The space from Shamkhor to Elizavetpol, for over thirty miles, was strewn with enemy corpses. This was evidenced, by the way, by Paskevich himself, who, eight days later, passed through the battlefield - and Paskevich can in no way be suspected of addiction to Madatov or a desire to exaggerate the significance of the Shamkhor victory.
The trophies of the battle were: one gun of the English artillery, eleven falconets with camels and seventy-five prisoners.

On September 5 (15 (17), Madatov's detachment liberated Elizavetpol. Abbas-Mirza was forced to lift the siege from Shushi and move towards the Russian troops.
On September 13 (25), a separate Caucasian corps under the command of General I.F. Paskevich under Elizavetpol defeated 50,000 Iranian army, with only 8 thousand soldiers and 24 guns.

After defeat inShamkhor battle , the Persian troops hastily retreated to Elisabethpol.Abbas Mirza, lifting the siege from Shushi , led his army to Elisavetpol.10 September a detachment arrived to help General MadatovPaskevich , who took command of the 8-thousandth Russian united detachment.

At dawn 13 september Russian troops, leaving the camp under the protection of two companies of the Kherson grenadier regiment, moved towards the Persians.

Russian troops were located in two lines. In the first line: on the right flank were two half-battalions of the 41st Jaeger Regiment, in the center - 12 guns of the Caucasian Grenadier Brigade, on the left flank - two half-battalions of the Shirvan Regiment. The right flank was covered by the Cossacks, and the left - by the Georgian and Tatar (Azerbaijani) cavalry. The second line consisted of: on the right flank - two half-battalions of the 7th Carabinieri Regiment, in the center - a square of two carabinier companies with two guns on the left - three half-battalions of the Georgian Grenadier Regiment.

Abbas Mirza placed 18 guns in the center of the Persian troops. Behind them were three infantry lines (including the fugitive lower ranks of the Russian army). On the flanks, 6 infantry battalions with cavalry.

At the beginning of the battle, an artillery duel ensued. The Persian infantry battalions, under the cover of artillery, advanced and, approaching the Russian troops, opened fire on two companies of the Georgian grenadier regiment. Nearby, Cossacks and Tatar (Azerbaijani) militias were forced to retreat under enemy fire. However, on the way, the Persian infantry stumbled upon a ravine and was forced to stop, also falling under the fire of the Russian infantry. Paskevich sent a battalion of the Kherson Grenadier Regiment and the 2nd and 3rd squadrons of the Nizhny Novgorod dragoons into battle. Soon, a tough battle broke out on the left flank for the Persian banner, which was captured by the Russians during the battle. The Persians were forced to retreat, under the onslaught of Russian infantry battalions. On the right flank, the Persian cavalry tried to enter the rear of the Russian troops. Together with 6 infantry battalions, the Persian cavalry attacked the companies of the Kherson regiment and the Nizhny Novgorod dragoons. However, the Russians, with the support of the 7th Carabinieri Regiment, attacked and the Persians retreated to the old fortifications. By evening, the field and the nearby fortifications were completely taken by Russian troops. Russian losses were 46 killed and 249 wounded. Were captured 4 banners, a cannon and about 1 thousand prisoners.