TREATY BETWEEN THE KHAN OF QARABAGH
AND THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE
ON TRANSFER OF THE QARABAGH KHANATE TO RUSSIA
May 14, 1805

Introduction

Over the last decade the Armenians all over the world have made their utmost to spread the stereotype about Nagorno-Karabakh (Qarabagh) being a "historically Armenian land". Armenia has launched an open war upon her neighbor, Azerbaijan, and occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani territory. Armenians justified their aggressive intentions by arguing that Qarabagh had always been Armenian. However, the historical facts represent the incontrovertible evidence of the contrary.

The Gulistan Treaty of October 12, 1813, and the Turkmenchay Treaty of February 10, 1828, signed between Russia and Iran as well as the Treaty of May 14, 1805, signed between Ibrahim Khan of Qarabagh and the Russian General Tsitsianov on the transfer of the Khanate under Russia's dominion vividly demonstrate that the empire was gaining exclusively the Azerbaijani lands. None of these documents contains any mentioning of Armenians or Armenian estates in the region.

Taking into account the factual value of the Treaty of 1805 for the confirmation of the inalienable rights for their primordial lands, we publish its original copy which is kept in the Central Historical Archive of the Azerbaijan Republic (File 130, list 1, folder 4, pp.245-248). The Treaty was published in "The Acts of the Caucasian Archaeographic Commission" in Tiflis (Tbilisi) in 1868 (Volume 2, p.705).

We think that the publication of this document will prove a good answer to the Armenian "historians" and their paid advocates.

IN THE NAME OF GOD ALMIGHTY,

We, Ibrahim Khan of Shusha and Qarabagh and the General of Infantry of All Russia’s Troops, Caucasian Inspection on Infantry and others, Prince Pavel Tsitsianov with the full power given to me by His Emperor’s Highness The Dearest and Greatest Sir Emperor Alexander Pavlovich took up with the help of God the matter of granting everlasting citizenship of All-Russian Empire to Ibrahim Khan of Shusha and Qarabagh with all family, posterity and possessions of his.

The Treaty was concluded, confirmed and signed with the following articles.

Article 1

I, i.e. Ibrahim Khan of Shusha on my behalf, on behalf of my heirs, successor abdicate any vassalage and whichever title it might be any dependence from Persia or any other state and in this way I declare the fact to the whole world that I do not consider myself and the successors of mine of having any power. The only power we recognize is the Supreme Power of His Emperor’s Highness All Russia’s Great Emperor and his greatest heirs and successors of All Russia’s Emperor Throne. I promise to keep faithfulness to the throne like faithful slave and to which I have to swear on Quran in accordance with the custom.

Article 2

His Emperor’s Highness on behalf of his openhearted promise he gives his word of honor and reassures with His Emperor’s word of honor for himself and for his successors that favor and care towards Ibrahim Khan of Shusha and Qarabagh and will never cease to exist. To prove this fact, His Emperor’s Highness gives the guarantee to keep the whole possessions and successors intact. 

Article 3

To repay the openheartedness of Ibrahim Khan of Shusha and Qarabagh to recognize the supreme and sole power of All Russia’s Emperor over himself and his successors, this article states that he, the Khan and later his elder son and each elder successor when accepting the Khanate has the right to receive the Emperor’s confirmation on the Khanate from the Governor of Georgia.

It consists of the deed, official state seal. While receiving it, the new Khan is to take the oath to be faithful to the Russian Empire and to recognize the supreme and sole power of the Russian Emperor over himself and his successors. The form of the oath is attached to this Treaty. The present Ibrahim Khan of Shusha and Qarabagh took the oath in presence of the Governor of Georgia and General of Infantry Prince Tsitsianov.

Article 4

I, i.e. Ibrahim Khan of Shusha and Qarabagh, to prove that my intentions towards my and my successors’ faithfulness to the All-Russian Empire and recognition of the Supreme and sole power of the highest possessors of the Empire, promise not to have any relations with neighboring possessors without preliminary consent of the Governor of Georgia. And when the envoys from them come or the letters are sent, I promise to send the most important ones to the Governor and demand the solving of the issues from him and the ones with less importance to be reported and discussed with the person representing the Governor at my place.

Article 5

His Emperor’s Highness accepts the recognition of his supreme and sole power over the possessions of Ibrahim Khan of Shusha and Qarabagh with good will and promises: 1) to treat the people of these possessions with the same honor as his own faithful citizens without sorting them out from those inhabiting the vast Russian Empire; 2) to preserve continuously the honor of Ibrahim Khan, his house, heirs and posterity in the area of Shusha Khanate; 3) to give all power of internal governing, court and persecution, income and its possession to Ibrahim Khan; 4) in order to guard Ibrahim Khan, his house and his possessions, I promise to send troops (500 persons) with cannons, headquarters and officers and in case of greater defense the Governor of Georgia will have to increase the number of troops due to circumstances to defend militarily the possessions of All Russia’s Empire.

Article 6

I, i.e. Ibrahim Khan of Shusha and Qarabagh, in response of my faithful diligence make commitment: 1) at the beginning and later on to store up the necessary amount of wheat and corn by reasonable price determined by the Chief Governor because its supply from Elisavetpol is rather difficult or even must be stated as impossible; 2) the above mentioned troops should be provided with houses to stay in the Fortress of Shusha. They should be selected by the will of the Commander. They should be supplied with reasonable amount of firewoods; 3) to make the Elisavetpol bound entrance into the Fortress of Shusha comfortable and to build the rod suitable for arba passing; 4) it would be convenient for the government to build up a road from the Fortress of Shusha in the direction of Jevad. The workmen must be paid the salary determined by the government.

Article 7

His Emperor’s Highness showing his goodwill and kindness to his Majesty Ibrahim Khan, kindly presents his banner with the state Emblem of the Russian Empire which is to be kept with him as a symbol of the Khanate and power. Nobody except the Khan has the right to carry it to war as it was presented by His Emperor’s Highness.

Article 8

I, i.e. Ibrahim Khan of Shusha and Qarabagh, having His Emperor’s Highness permission to spend my usual income make the commitment to pay contribution into the exchequer treasury of His Emperor’s Highness in Tiflis 8.000 chervonets a year, to pay it in two halves. The first half on February 1 and the second half on September 1 beginning with the first payment of 4.000 chervonets. Confirming the conclusion of this Treaty by His Emperor’s Highness and according to Asian tradition, besides the oath to faithfulness I pawn my elder son’s Mamed-Hassanaga’s son of the second Shukur-Ullah to stay forever in Tiflis.

Article 9

His Emperor’s Highness kindly expressing his mercy as a taken of faithfulness guarantees His Majesty Khan’s grandson 10 rubles of Russian money a day.

Article 10

The Treaty is concluded for ever and it is not to be subjected to any changes from now to forever.

Article 11

The confirmation of this Treaty by His Emperor’s Highness with the state sealed deed must be presented within six months after its signing or sooner if possible.

In confirmation of that the undersigned parties signed these articles in the camp of the Elisavetpol region near the Kura River in summer of 1805 AD (Muhammedadn 1220) on May 14.