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Revision as of 23:15, 5 July 2007
Arran, Aran, or Ardhan (in Parthian), 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,[1] including the highland and lowland Karabakh, 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[1]. The term is the Middle Persian equivalent to the Greco-Roman Albania. It was known by its natives as Aghvania, Alvan-k in Armenian language[2], and Al-ran[2][1] (Arabized form of Arran) in Arabic
Origins of the name
According to some legends and ancient sources, such as Movses Kagankatvatsi, 'Arran' or 'Arhan'[3] 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),[4] and/or the Iranic tribe known as Alans (Alani). The nearby Araks (Aras) river was known to Ancient Greek geographers as Araxes, and has a source not far 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 Bosworth: Greeks knew the people as Albanoi, and the Georgians knew them as Rani, a form taken over in an arabized form for the early Islamic geographical term al-Rān (pronounced ar-Rān).
Boundaries
In a medieval chronicle “Ajayib-ad-Dunia”, written in 13th century by an unknown author, Arran is said to have approximately 30 farsakhs (200 km) width, and 40 farsakhs (270 km) length. All the right bank of the Kura until it joined with the Araks was attributed to Arran (the left bank of the Kura was known as Shirvan). The boundaries of Arran are not clearly defined and are covered in the article History of the name Azerbaijan.
Medieval Islamic geographers gave descriptions of Arran in general, and of its towns (Barda, Beylagan, Ganja etc.) in particular, describing their agricultural fertility and their importance for commerce across the Caucasus.
Today, the term Arran is mainly used in the Azerbaijan Republic to indicate territories consisting of Mil and Mughan plains (mostly, Beylaqan, Imishli, Saatli, Sabirabad provinces of the Azerbaijan Republic).
History of Arran
- History of Arran is summarized in History of Azerbaijan section, where you can refer for detailed description.
The first mention of Arran as a geographical entity can be found in Arab sources of the 8th century. Following the Arab invasion of present-day Azerbaijan in the 8th century, 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 Arminiyya based on numismatic and historical evidence. Albanian princes of Parthian descent such as Javanshir, who called themselves Arran-shah's, fought against the Arab caliphate from the late 7th to middle 8th centuries.
Early Muslim ruling dynasties of the time included Rawwadids, Sajids, Salarids and Shaddadids, Shirvanshahs, Sheki and Tiflis emirates. The principle city of Arran in early medieval times was Barda (Partav). It reached a prominence in 10th century, and used to house a mint for Arabs, Shaddadids and Salarid. Barda was sacked by the Rus/Norse several times in 10th century.
From 11th century, the importance of Arran as a region declined and consequently the use of the word Arran as well. The territory of Arran became a part of the Seljuk empire, followed by Ildegizid state, Mongol Hulagu empire in the 13th century. Later it became a part of Chobanid, Jalayirid and Timurid states. Aran and Azerbaijan were incorporated into the Safavi state by 1500s.
See also
Sources
- Bashi, Munnjim, Duwal Al-Islam
- Minorsky, V., Studies in Caucasian History
- Volkmar Gantzhorn, Oriental Carpets
References
- ^ a b c Encyclopedia Iranica. C. E. Bosworth. Arran
- ^ a b V. Minorsky. Caucasica IV. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Vol. 15, No. 3. (1953), p. 504
- ^ http://rbedrosian.com/kg7.htm
- ^ Moses Kalankatuatsi. History of country of Aluank. Chapter IV.