Arran (Persian: آران), also known as Aran, Ardhan (in Parthian), Al-Ran (in Arabic)^[1][2], Aghvank and Alvank (in Armenian), Ran-i (in Georgian) or Caucasian Albania^[1] (in Latin), was a geographical name used in ancient and medieval times to signify the territory which lies within the triangle of land, lowland in the east and mountainous in the west, formed by the junction of Kura and Aras rivers,^[2] including the highland and lowland Karabakh^[2] (Artsakh^{[3][dubious – discuss]}), Mil plain and parts of the Mughan plain, and in the pre-Islamic times, corresponded roughly to the territory of modern-day Republic of Azerbaijan^[2]. The term is the Middle Persian^[4][5] equivalent to the Greco-Roman Albania. It was known as Aghvania, Alvan-k^[1] in Armenian, and Al-ran^[2][1] (Arabized form of Arran^[4]) in Arabic. The native name for the country is unknown.^[6] For the span of recorded history starting roughly 5,000-5,500 years ago, see Ancient history. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Farsi redirects here. ... The Iranian languages are a part of the Indo-European language family with estimated 150-200 million native speakers. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... Ancient countries of Caucasus: Armenia, Iberia, Colchis and Albania Caucasian Albania (or Aghbania) was an ancient kingdom that covered what is now southern Dagestan and most of present-day Azerbaijan. ... For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ... For the span of recorded history starting roughly 5,000-5,500 years ago, see Ancient history. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... A triangle. ... Kura (Georgian Mtkvari, Azerbaijani Kür) is a river in the Caucasus Mountains. ... Aras may refer to: ARAS, the Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism, [1] Aras Free Zone, an industrial Zone situated in north-west of Iran, adjacent to Autonomous Rep. ... The Karabakh horse has a reputation for its good temper, speed, elegance and intelligence. ... Artsakh (Armenian - Արցախ, Azeri - Ərsak Russian - Арцах) is a historical Armenian name of the province of ancient Greater Armenia, that covered what is now mostly Nagorno-Karabakh. ... Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan) is a country in the Caucasus, in the crossroads of Europe and Southwest Asia, with an east coast on the Caspian Sea. ... Pahlavi is a term that refers: (1) to a script used in Iran derived from the Aramaic script, and (2) more broadly, to Middle Persian, the Middle Iranian language written in this script. ... The Greco-Roman period of history refers to the culture of the peoples who were incorporated into the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ...

Today, the term Arran is mainly used in the Republic of Azerbaijan to indicate territories consisting of Mil and Mughan plains^{[citation needed]}(mostly, Beylaqan, Imishli, Saatli, Sabirabad provinces of the Republic of Azerbaijan)^{[citation needed]}. Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan) is a country in the Caucasus, in the crossroads of Europe and Southwest Asia, with an east coast on the Caspian Sea. ... Beylaqan is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Imisli is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Saatli is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Sabirabad is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan) is a country in the Caucasus, in the crossroads of Europe and Southwest Asia, with an east coast on the Caspian Sea. ...

Origins of the name

See also: List of geographic names of Iranian origin

According to some legends and ancient sources, such as Movses Kagankatvatsi, Arran or Arhan^[7] was the name of the legendary founder of Caucasian Albania, who in some versions was son of Noah's son Yafet (Japheth) and also, possibly the eponym of the ancient Caucasian Albanians (Aghvan),^[8] and/or the Iranic tribe known as Alans (Alani). The nearby Araks (Aras) river was known to Ancient Greek geographers as the Araxes, and has a source near from Mt. Ararat. Moreover, this region, long considered the earliest seat of the Zoroastrian faith, is traditionally (eg., in the Bundahish 29:12) considered a likely candidate to be the place referred to in the Zend Avesta as the "First land" (Airyana Vaego). According to C.E. Bosworth: This article is under construction. ... Movses Kagankatvatsi (Kalankatuatsi) (VII or X century) - Armenian historian, author or editor The History of the Country of Aluank – composition or, most likely, compilation, assigned to him or to Movses Daskhurantsi. ... Ancient countries of Caucasus: Armenia, Iberia, Colchis and Albania Caucasian Albania (or Aghbania) was an ancient kingdom that covered what is now southern Dagestan and most of present-day Azerbaijan. ... This article is about the biblical Noah. ... Japheth (Hebrew. ... Look up Alan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Aras (also known as Araks, Arax, Araxi, Araxes, Araz, or Yeraskh; Armenian: , Persian: , Turkish: , Azerbaijani: , Kurdish: ; Russian: ) is a river located in and along the countries of Turkey, Armenia, Iran, and Azerbaijan. ... The term ancient Greece refers to the periods of Greek history in Classical Antiquity, lasting ca. ... A geographer is a crazy psycho whose area of study is geocrap, the pseudoscientific study of Earths physical environment and human habitat and the study of boring students to death. ... For other meanings of Ararat, see Ararat (disambiguation) Mount Ararat (Turkish Ağrı; Armenian Արարատ; Persian آرارات; Hebrew אררט, Standard Hebrew Ararat, Tiberian Hebrew ʾĂrārāṭ), the tallest peak in modern Turkey, is a snow_capped dormant volcanic cone, located in the far northeast of Turkey, 16 km west of Iran and 32... Zoroastrianism was adapted from an earlier, polytheistic faith by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) in Persia very roughly around 1000 BC (although, in the absence of written records, some scholars estimates are as late as 600 BC). ... See Avesta Municipality for the Swedish town Yasna 28. ... The Airyanem Vaejah or Airyana Waejah (Aryan Expanse) was the legendary home of the Aryan (Indo-Iranian) people, as described in writings in the Avesta, the holy book of Zoroastrians. ... Clifford Edmund Bosworth (born December 29, 1928, Sheffield, United Kingdom) is a British historian and orientalist, specializing in Arabic studies. ...

Moreover in Kurdish language which is Median, Aran means lowland^{[citation needed]}. The Kurdish language (Kurdish: Kurdî or کوردی) is the language spoken by Kurds. ... The Median language was a Western Iranian language, classified as North-Western with Parthian, Baluchi, Kurdish and others. ... In physical geography, a lowland is any broad expanse of land with a general low level. ...

Boundaries

Main article: History of the name Azerbaijan

In pre-Islamic times, Caucasian Albania/Arran was a wider concept than that of post-Islamic Arran. Ancient Arran covered all eastern Transcaucasia, which included most of the territory of modern day Azerbaijan Republic and part of the territory of Dagestan. However in post-Islamic times the geographic notion of Arran reduced to the territory between the rivers of Kura and Araks.^[2] Azerbaijan is the name used by the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Iranian region of Azerbaijan. ... The Republic of Dagestan IPA: (Russian: ; Avar: , ), older spelling Daghestan, is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a republic). ...

In a medieval chronicle "Ajayib-ad-Dunia", written in the 13th century by an unknown author, Arran is said to have been 30 farsakhs (200 km) in width, and 40 farsakhs (270 km) in length. All the right bank of the Kura river until it joined with the Aras was attributed to Arran (the left bank of the Kura was known as Shirvan). The boundaries of Arran have shifted throughout history, sometimes encompassing the entire territory of the present day Republic of Azerbaijan, and at other times only parts of the South Caucasus. In some instances Arran was a part of Armenia^[9]. (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Mtkvari (Kura) River near Old Town, Tbilisi Kura (Georgian მტკვარი - Mtkvari, Azerbaijani Kür) is a river in the Caucasus Mountains. ... Shervan or Shirvan was a former Persian province in Caucasus, a state ruled by the Shervanshahs and the birthplace of the Persian poet Khaqani. ... South Caucasus: Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan South Caucasus (also referred sometimes as Transcaucasus) is a name to the transitional region between Europe and Asia extending from the Greater Caucasus to the Turkish and Iranian borders, between the Black and Caspian seas. ...

Medieval Islamic geographers gave descriptions of Arran in general, and of its towns, which included Barda, Beylagan, and Ganja, along with others. Islam (Arabic: ; ( ▶ (help· info)), the submission to God) is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Bärdä is a town in Barda District, Azerbaijan. ... Ganja (Azerbaijani Gəncə) is Azerbaijans second largest city. ...

History of Arran

History of Arran is summarized in History of Azerbaijan section, where you can refer for detailed description.

Azerbaijan or Azarbeijan (Azerbaijani: Azerbaycan, Azerbeycan) is historically and geographically Eurasian and stretches from the Caucasus region, which is adjacent to the Caspian Sea, to the Zagros in Iran. ...

Pre-Islamic

See main article: Caucasian Albania

Ancient countries of Caucasus: Armenia, Iberia, Colchis and Albania Caucasian Albania (or Aghbania) was an ancient kingdom that covered what is now southern Dagestan and most of present-day Azerbaijan. ...

Islamic

Following the Arab invasion of Iran, the Arabs invaded the Caucasus in the 8th century and most of the former territory of Caucasian Albania was included under the name of Arran. This region was at times part of the Abbasid province of Armenia based on numismatic and historical evidence. Dynasties of Parthian or Persian descent, such as the Mihranids had come to rule the territory during Sassanian times. Its kings were given title Arranshah, and after the Arab invasions, fought against the caliphate from the late 7th to middle 8th centuries. The Islamic conquest of Iran (637-651 CE) destroyed the Sassanid Empire and led to the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Iran. ... Ancient countries of Caucasus: Armenia, Iberia, Colchis and Albania Caucasian Albania (or Aghbania) was an ancient kingdom that covered what is now southern Dagestan and most of present-day Azerbaijan. ... Mashriq Dynasties  Maghrib Dynasties  The Abbasid Caliphate Abbasid (Arabic: , ) is the dynastic name generally given to the caliph of Baghdad, the second of the two great Sunni dynasties of the Arab Empire, that overthrew the Umayyad caliphs from all but Spain. ... Numismatics (ancient Greek: νομισματική) is the scientific study of money and its history in all its varied forms. ... Parthia at its greatest extent under Mithridates II (123–88 BC) Capital Ctesiphon, Ecbatana Government Monarchy [[Category:Former monarchies}}|Parthia, 247 BC]] History  - Established 247 BC  - Disestablished 220 AD Parthian votive relief. ... This article is about the Persian people, an ethnic group found mainly in Iran. ... The Mihranids were the ruling dynasty of Caucasian Albania. ... Head of king Shapur II (Sasanian dynasty A.D. 4th century). ... The 7th century is the period from 601 - 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... The 8th century is the period from 701 - 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ...

Early Muslim ruling dynasties of the time included Rawadids, Sajids, Salarids, Shaddadids, Shirvanshahs, and the Sheki and Tiflis emirates. The principal city of Arran in early medieval times was Barda (Partav). It reached prominence in the 10th century, and used was used to house a mint. Barda was sacked by the Rus and Norse several times in 10th century. There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Rawadid (also Rawwadid or Ravvadid), (955-1227), was a Kurdish principality ruling Azerbaijan from the 10th to the early 13th centuries, centered around Tabriz and Maragheh(Maragha). ... The Sajid dynasty was an Islamic dynasty that ruled Azerbaijan from 889-890 until 929. ... The Sallarid dynasty (also known as the Musafirids or Langarids) was an Islamic dynasty principally known for its rule of Iranian Azerbaijan and part of Armenia from 942 until 979. ... The Shaddadids were a Kurdish dynasty, who ruled in various parts of Armenia, including Arran from 951-1174 or 1199 A.D. They were established Dvin. ... // History The role of Shirvanshah (Shirvan) state in national development of Azerbaijan (especially of northern Azerbaijan) is hard to underestimate. ... Saki (or Sheki) is a city in North-west Azerbaijan. ... View of Tiflis from the Grounds of Saint David Church, ca. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... A mint is a facility which manufactures coins for currency. ... Rus’ (????, ) was a medieval East Slavic nation, which, according to the most popular (but by no means only) theory, may have taken its name from a ruling warrior class, possibly with Scandinavian roots. ... Norseman redirects here; for the town of the same name see Norseman, Western Australia. ...

The territory of Arran became a part of the Seljuk empire, followed by the Ildegizid state, and the Mongol Hulagu empire in the 13th century. Later it became a part of Chobanid, Jalayirid, Timurid, and Safavid states. The Seljuk coat of arms was a double headed eagle The Seljuk Turks (also Seldjuk, Seldjuq, Seljuq; in modern Turkish Selçuklular; in Persian سلجوقيان SaljÅ«qiyān; in Arabic سلجوق SaljÅ«q, or السلاجقة al-Salājiqa) were a major branch of the Oghuz Turks and a dynasty that ruled parts of... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... The Chupanids, also known as the Süldüz or the Chobanids (سلسله امرای چوپانی, Amir Chupani), were descendants of a Mongol family that came to prominence in 14th century Persia. ... The Jalayirids were a Mongol dynasty which ruled over Iraq and western Persia after the breakup of the Mongol Khanate of Persia (or Ilkhanate) in the 1330s. ... Timurid can refer to several entities, related to Timur: Timurid Dynasty Timurid Empire Timurid Emirates This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Safavids were a long-lasting Turkic-speaking Iranian dynasty that ruled from 1501 to 1736 and first established Shiite Islam as Persias official religion. ...

People

See main article: Caucasian Albanians

See also: Caucasian origin of the Azerbaijanis

Caucasian Albanians were the aboriginal inhabitants of Arran. Prior to the Islamicization of the region, the Albanians had mostly been Christians^[10]. Albanians adopted the Sunni branch of Islam, which was later largely replaced by the Shia branch. Muslim chronicles of the 10th century reported that the population of Arran spoke its own Arranian/Caucasian Albanian language, as well as Arabic and Persian languages^[11][12][13] The Caucasian origin of the Azerbaijanis defines a link between Azerbaijanis and their pre-Turkification Caucasian past and mostly applies to the Azeris of the Caucasus, most of whom are now inhabitants of the Republic of Azerbaijan. ... Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... Farsi redirects here. ...

After the Turkification of the region, the population became Turkic speaking, and thus referred to by Europeans, particularly the Russians, as Tartars. They were later called Azerbaijanis. The European peoples are the various nations and ethnic groups of Europe. ...

See also

• Caucasian Albania
• South Caucasus
• Transcaucasia
• Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
• Azerbaijan SSR

Ancient countries of Caucasus: Armenia, Iberia, Colchis and Albania Caucasian Albania (or Aghbania) was an ancient kingdom that covered what is now southern Dagestan and most of present-day Azerbaijan. ... South Caucasus: Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan South Caucasus (also referred sometimes as Transcaucasus) is a name to the transitional region between Europe and Asia extending from the Greater Caucasus to the Turkish and Iranian borders, between the Black and Caspian seas. ... Transcaucasia is the name given to a region south of the Caucasus Mountains that covers Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. ... Motto: None Anthem: Azərbaycan Respublikasının Dövlət Himni March of Azerbaijan Map of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic from 1919 to 1920. ... State motto: Бүтүн өлкәләрин пролетарлары, бирләшин! Workers of the world, unite! Official language None. ...

Sources

• Bashi, Munnjim, Duwal Al-Islam
• Minorsky, V., Studies in Caucasian History
• Volkmar Gantzhorn, Oriental Carpets

Vladimir Minorsky (1877-1966) was a famous Russian Iranologist. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} V. Minorsky. Caucasica IV. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Vol. 15, No. 3. (1953), p. 504
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Encyclopedia Iranica. C. E. Bosworth. Arran
3. ^ C. J. F. Dowsett. "The Albanian Chronicle of Mxit'ar Goš", Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Vol. 21, No. 1/3. (1958) p. 475: "In Albania, Xacen, part of the old province of Arcax, had preserved its independence, and we know that it was partly at the request of one of its rulers, Prince Vaxtang, that Mxit'ar composed his lawbook."
4. ^ ^{a b} Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. The Society, published 1902, page 64. Text states: "In Mustawfi's lists, however, the Arabic article has everywhere disappeared and we have Ray, Mawsil, etc.; while names such as Ar-Ran and Ar-Ras (spelt Al-Ran, Al-Ras in the Arabic writing), which in the older geographers had thus the false appearance of Arab names, in the pages of Mustawfi appear in plain Persian as Arran and Aras."
5. ^ Prasad, Ganga. The Fountain Head of Religion. Published by the Book Tree in 2000, page 46
6. ^ Robert H. Hewsen. Ethno-History and the Armenian Influence upon the Caucasian Albanians, in: Samuelian, Thomas J. (Hg.), Classical Armenian Culture. Influences and Creativity, Chico: 1982, 27-40.
7. ^ Kirakos' History of the Armenians
8. ^ Moses Kalankatuatsi. History of country of Aluank. Chapter IV.
9. ^ Abi Ali Ahmad ibn Umar ibn Rustah, al-A'laq Al-Nafisah, Tab'ah 1,Bayrut : Dar al-Kutub al-ʻIlmiyah, 1998, pg 96-98.
10. ^ C.E Bosworth. "Arran". Encyclopaedia Iranica
11. ^ In Russian, text states: Язык в Адербейджане, Армении и Арране персидский и арабский, исключая области города Дабиля: вокруг него говорят по-армянски: в стране Берда'а язык арранский.
12. ^ Al-Muqaddasi, 985
13. ^ Ibn-Hawqal, 978