Yelizavetpolsky Uyezd
Encyclopedia
Elisabethpol Uyezd also transliterated as Yelizabethpolsky Uyezd, and known as Ganja Uyezd was one of the uyezd
s (administrative units) of Elisabethpol Governorate
of the Russian Empire
and then of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
with its center in Elisabethpol
(Ganja) from 1840 until its formal abolition in 1929 by Soviet authorities.
, Zangezursky
, Kazakhsky, Areshsky
, Dzhebrailsky
, and Dzhevanshirsky Uyezds. Elisabethpol uyezd was located in the northern part of Elisabethpol Governorate, bordering Tiflis Governorate
on the north, Kazakhsky Uyezd on the west, Areshsky Uyezd on the east and Javanshir Uyezd
on the south. The uyezd center was the city of Elisabethpol. The area of the uyezd was 7695.7 square verst
and was divided into two parts: the northeastern lowlands steppes, irrigated by Kura River
and its tributaries and southwestern mountainous part, watered by Kura's right bank tributaries. The lowaland part split by Kura and Alazani
is not forrested, less fertile and was rarely used for farming. The mountainous part of the uyezd stretched up to Lake Goycha. The highest peaks of uyezd, Murovdag
, , Ginal-dag , Gyamysh , bordered Javanshir Uyezd
of Elisabethpol Governorate and Novobayazet Uyezd of Erivan Governorate
. The main rivers flowing down from these mountains into the lowland part of uyezd and discharging into Kura are Kuruk-chay, Ganja-chay, Qoshqara-chay, Shamkhor-chay
.
in South Caucasus and institution of administrative reforms, the territories of Ganja khanate
were incorporated into Tiflis Governorate of the empire. On April 10, 1840 Elisabethpol uyezd was established within Georgian-Imereti Governorate, and on December 14, 1846 it was incorporated into the newly created Tiflis Governorate
. In 1868, the uyezd was re-established within the newly founded Elisabethpol Governorate with its capital in Elisabethpol (present day Ganja). After establishment of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
(ADR) in 1918, the uyezd was renamed to Ganja Uyezd, then named back to Yelizavetpolsky Uyezd and then again to Ganja Uyezd on August 10, 1918. On April 22, 1920 a part of Ganja Uyezd was established as Shamkhor Uyezd within ADR. With Bolshevik take over of Azerbaijan and establishment of Soviet rule, the uyezd was abolished on April 8, 1929.
, 43,040 were Armenians
, 10,428 - Russians, 3,086 - Germans, 622 - Georgians
, and other minorities.
The population was engaged primarily in agricultural farming, gardening, winemaking, corn and rice growing. Wine production in Azerbaijan
was mostly seen in the city of Elisabethpol and German-populated town of Helenendorf where 450,000 canisters of wine were produced annually. In 1890, there were 107 factories and plants with a total number of workers at 2,136. There were two copper plants which produced 84% of the copper in Caucasus
.
Uyezd
Uyezd or uezd was an administrative subdivision of Rus', Muscovy, Russian Empire, and the early Russian SFSR which was in use from the 13th century. Uyezds for most of the history in Russia were a secondary-level of administrative division...
s (administrative units) of Elisabethpol Governorate
Elisabethpol Governorate
Elisabethpol Governorate or Elizavetpol Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire, with its centre in Elisabethpol . Its area was 44,136 sq. kilometres, and it had 878,415 inhabitants by 1897....
of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and then of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the first successful attempt to establish a democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world . The ADR was founded on May 28, 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917 by Azerbaijani National Council in...
with its center in Elisabethpol
Ganja, Azerbaijan
Ganja is Azerbaijan's second-largest city with a population of around 313,300. It was named Yelizavetpol in the Russian Empire period. The city regained its original name—Ganja—from 1920–1935 during the first part of its incorporation into the Soviet Union. However, its name was changed again and...
(Ganja) from 1840 until its formal abolition in 1929 by Soviet authorities.
Geography
Elisabethpol Governorate consisted of Elisabethpol, Nukhinsky, ShushinskyShushinsky Uyezd
Shushinsky Uyezd , was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire, and then of Ganja Governorate of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic with its center in Shusha in 1840–1921.-Geography:...
, Zangezursky
Zangezursky Uyezd
Zangezursky Uyezd was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire with its center in Gorysy from 1868 until its formal abolition in 1921 by Soviet authorities.-Geography:...
, Kazakhsky, Areshsky
Areshsky Uyezd
Areshsky Uyezd was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire and then of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic with its center in Agdash from 1874 until its formal abolition in 1929 by Soviet authorities....
, Dzhebrailsky
Dzhebrailsky Uyezd
Dzhebrailsky Uyezd was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire with its center in Jabrayil from 1868 until its formal abolition in 1921 by the Soviet authorities.-Geography:...
, and Dzhevanshirsky Uyezds. Elisabethpol uyezd was located in the northern part of Elisabethpol Governorate, bordering Tiflis Governorate
Tiflis Governorate
Tiflis Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire with its centre in Tiflis . In 1897 it constituted 44,607 sq. kilometres in area and had a population of 1,051,032 inhabitants...
on the north, Kazakhsky Uyezd on the west, Areshsky Uyezd on the east and Javanshir Uyezd
Javanshir Uyezd
Dzhevanshirsky Uyezd also spelled as Jevanshir Uyezd, was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire, with its center in Tartar in 1869–1918.-Geography:...
on the south. The uyezd center was the city of Elisabethpol. The area of the uyezd was 7695.7 square verst
Verst
A verst or werst is an obsolete Russian unit of length. It is defined as being 500 sazhen long, which makes a verst equal to 1.0668 kilometres ....
and was divided into two parts: the northeastern lowlands steppes, irrigated by Kura River
Kura River
Kura is a river, also known from the Greek as the Cyrus in the Caucasus Mountains. Starting in north-eastern Turkey, it flows through Turkey to Georgia, then to Azerbaijan, where it receives the Aras River as a right tributary, and enters the Caspian Sea...
and its tributaries and southwestern mountainous part, watered by Kura's right bank tributaries. The lowaland part split by Kura and Alazani
Alazani
The Alazani is a river that flows through the Caucasus.It is the main tributary of the Kura in eastern Georgia, and flows for 351 km...
is not forrested, less fertile and was rarely used for farming. The mountainous part of the uyezd stretched up to Lake Goycha. The highest peaks of uyezd, Murovdag
Murovdag
The Murovdag is the highest mountain range in Lesser Caucasus . It is made up mainly of Jurassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene rocks....
, , Ginal-dag , Gyamysh , bordered Javanshir Uyezd
Javanshir Uyezd
Dzhevanshirsky Uyezd also spelled as Jevanshir Uyezd, was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire, with its center in Tartar in 1869–1918.-Geography:...
of Elisabethpol Governorate and Novobayazet Uyezd of Erivan Governorate
Erivan Governorate
Erivan Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire, with its centre in Erivan . Its area was 27,830 sq. kilometres. It roughly corresponded to what is now most of central Armenia, the Iğdır Province of Turkey, and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave...
. The main rivers flowing down from these mountains into the lowland part of uyezd and discharging into Kura are Kuruk-chay, Ganja-chay, Qoshqara-chay, Shamkhor-chay
Shamkirchay
Shamkirchay is one of the tributaries of the Kura River located in northwestern part of Republic of Azerbaijan.-Overview:It starts in Gadabay district and ends in Shamkir. The government is building a water navigation tunnel on the river for irrigation purposes which will be long....
.
History
After establishment of Russian rule over Azerbaijani khanatesKhanates of the Caucasus
Khanates of the Caucasus were Persian ruled principalities on the territory of modern day Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Dagestan from the Safavid dynasty era to 1806. These principalities arose during the domination of Iran. During the period of Iranian domination, head of principality was a Khan...
in South Caucasus and institution of administrative reforms, the territories of Ganja khanate
Ganja Khanate
The Ganja khanate was a Muslim principality mostly under the dominion of Persia that existed in the territory of Azerbaijan in 1747-1805. The principality was ruled by the dynasty of Ziyadoglu , which had ruled Ganja as governors under Nadir Shah and was of Qajar extraction...
were incorporated into Tiflis Governorate of the empire. On April 10, 1840 Elisabethpol uyezd was established within Georgian-Imereti Governorate, and on December 14, 1846 it was incorporated into the newly created Tiflis Governorate
Tiflis Governorate
Tiflis Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire with its centre in Tiflis . In 1897 it constituted 44,607 sq. kilometres in area and had a population of 1,051,032 inhabitants...
. In 1868, the uyezd was re-established within the newly founded Elisabethpol Governorate with its capital in Elisabethpol (present day Ganja). After establishment of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the first successful attempt to establish a democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world . The ADR was founded on May 28, 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917 by Azerbaijani National Council in...
(ADR) in 1918, the uyezd was renamed to Ganja Uyezd, then named back to Yelizavetpolsky Uyezd and then again to Ganja Uyezd on August 10, 1918. On April 22, 1920 a part of Ganja Uyezd was established as Shamkhor Uyezd within ADR. With Bolshevik take over of Azerbaijan and establishment of Soviet rule, the uyezd was abolished on April 8, 1929.
Population
According to census held in 1897, the population of uyezd was 162,788, of which 103,970 were Azerbaijani TurksAzerbaijani people
The Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in the neighbourhood states, Georgia, Russia and formerly Armenia. Commonly referred to as Azeris or Azerbaijani Turks , they also live in a wider area from the Caucasus to...
, 43,040 were Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, 10,428 - Russians, 3,086 - Germans, 622 - Georgians
Georgian people
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
, and other minorities.
The population was engaged primarily in agricultural farming, gardening, winemaking, corn and rice growing. Wine production in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani wine
Azerbaijani wine is produced in several regions throughout Azerbaijan. Prior to 20th century communist rule, Azerbaijan had a thriving wine industry that dated back to the second millennium BC...
was mostly seen in the city of Elisabethpol and German-populated town of Helenendorf where 450,000 canisters of wine were produced annually. In 1890, there were 107 factories and plants with a total number of workers at 2,136. There were two copper plants which produced 84% of the copper in Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
.