Ganja, Azerbaijan

Ganja
Gəncə

Seal
Ganja
Coordinates:
Country  Azerbaijan
Government
 • Mayor Elmar Valiyev
Area
 • Total 110 km2 (42.5 sq mi)
Elevation +408 m (1,339 ft)
Population (2009)census data[1]
 • Total 313,300
 • Density 2,848/km2 (7,376.3/sq mi)
Time zone GMT+4 (UTC+4)
 • Summer (DST) GMT+5 (UTC+5)
Website www.ganca.net

Ganja (Azerbaijani: Gəncə) is Azerbaijan's second-largest city with a population of around 313,300.[1][2][3] It was named Yelizavetpol (Russian: Елизаветполь) 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 called Kirovabad (Russian: Кировабад) during the later Soviet Union period from 1935 to 1991. Finally, the city regained the original name after Azerbaijan's independence in 1991.

Contents

History

Origin of the name

See also: Arran (Caucasus)

Modern historians believe that the name Ganja (گنجه / Ganjeh) derives from the New Persian ganj (گنج: "treasure, treasury") and suggests that the city existed in pre-Islamic times and was likely founded in the 5th century A.D.[4] The area in which Ganja is located was known as Arran from the 9th to 12th century; its urban population spoke mainly in the Persian language.[5][6]

Pre-1500

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Elisavetpol (town).

According to medieval Arab sources, the city of Ganja was founded in 859-60 by Mohammad b. Khaled b. Yazid b. Mazyad, the Arab governor of the region in the reign of the caliph Al-Mutawakkil, and so-called because of a treasure unearthed there. According to the legend, the Arab governor had a dream where a voice told him that there was a treasure hidden under one of the three hills around the area where he camped. The voice told him to unearth it and use the money to found a city. He did so and informed the caliph about the money and the city. Caliph made Mohammad the hereditary governor of the city on a condition that he would give the money he found to the caliph.[7]

Foundation of the city by Arabs is confirmed by the medieval historian Movses Kagankatvatsi, who mentions that the city of Ganja was founded in 846-47 in the canton of Arshakashen by the son of Khazr Patgos, “a furious and merciless man”.[8]

Historically an important city of the South Caucasus, Ganja has been part of Sassanid empire, Great Seljuk Empire, Atabegs of Azerbaijan, Khwarezmid Empire, Il-Khans,[9] Timurids,[10] Jalayirids,[11] Qara Qoyunlu,[12] Ak Koyunlu,[13][14] and the Ganja Khanate. Ganja is also the birthplace of the famous poet Nizami Ganjavi

The people of Ganja experienced a temporary cultural decline after an earthquake in 1139, when the city was taken by king Demetrius I of Georgia and its gates taken as trophies, and again after the Mongol invasion in 1231. The city was revived after the Safavids came to power. City was also managed by Ottomans between 1578–1603 and 1724-1735.

16th-19th centuries

For a short period, Ganja was renamed Abbasabad by Shah Abbas after war against the Ottomans. He build a new city 8 km to the southwest of the old one, but the name changed back to Ganja during the time[15] During the Safavid rule, it was the capital of the Karabakh (Ganja) beylerbey,[16] one of the four such administrative units and principalities.[17] In 1747, Ganja became the center of the Ganja Khanate.

Russian expansion into the South Caucasus met strong opposition in Ganja. In contrast with spreading suzerainty over Christian Georgia and Sunni Daghestan, military attack on the khanate in 1804 led by Pavel Tsitsianov was seen as a direct challenge to Iran being an incursion into a mainly Shia-populated territory. The capture of the city was followed by a massacre of up to 3,000 inhabitants of Ganja by the Russians.[18] 500 of them were slaughtered in a mosque where they had taken refuge, after an Armenian told the Russian soldiers that there might have been "Daghestani robbers" among them.[19] Thosaunds of Azeris left Ganja and fled to Iran following the capture.

According to the October 1813 Gulistan Treaty, the Ganja Khanate, together with most of Azerbaijan, was recognized as part of the Russian Empire after Persia's defeat in the Persia-Russia wars except Persian occupation between 1826-1827.[20] It was renamed Elisabethpol (Russian: Елизаветполь) after the wife of Alexander I of Russia, Elisabeth, and in 1868 became the capital of Elisabethpol Governorate.[21] Elizavetpol was an uyezd of Tiflis Governorate before 1868. The Russian name was not accepted by Azerbaijanis who continued to call the city Ganja.[22]

20th century

In 1918, Ganja became the temporary capital of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, at which point it was renamed Ganja again, until Baku was recaptured from the British backed Centrocaspian Dictatorship. In April 1920, the Red Army occupied Azerbaijan. In May 1920, Ganja was the scene of an abortive anti-Soviet rebellion, during which the city was heavily damaged by fighting between the insurgents and the Red Army.[23] In 1935, Joseph Stalin renamed the city Kirovabad after Sergei Kirov.[24] In 1991, Azerbaijan re-established its independence, and the ancient name of the city was given back.[25] For many years the 104th Guards Airborne Division of the Soviet Airborne Troops was based in the town.

Climate

Climate data for Ganja
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 6.5
(43.7)		 6.8
(44.2)		 11.9
(53.4)		 19.2
(66.6)		 23.4
(74.1)		 27.9
(82.2)		 31.4
(88.5)		 29.9
(85.8)		 26.0
(78.8)		 19.3
(66.7)		 12.6
(54.7)		 8.3
(46.9)		 18.60
(65.48)
Average low °C (°F) −2.3
(27.9)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 2.2
(36.0)		 7.7
(45.9)		 12.2
(54.0)		 16.3
(61.3)		 19.5
(67.1)		 18.3
(64.9)		 15.2
(59.4)		 9.2
(48.6)		 4.5
(40.1)		 0.0
(32.0)		 8.47
(47.24)
Precipitation mm (inches) 10
(0.39)		 17
(0.67)		 32
(1.26)		 30
(1.18)		 42
(1.65)		 46
(1.81)		 23
(0.91)		 18
(0.71)		 16
(0.63)		 32
(1.26)		 14
(0.55)		 18
(0.71)		 298
(11.73)
Avg. precipitation days 4 5 5 6 9 7 3 4 3 6 3 4 59
Source: World Meteorological Organisation (UN) [26]

Administrative organization

Ganja is divided into:

Economy

The economy of Ganja is partially agricultural, partially tourist based, with some industries in operation. Ore minerals extracted from nearby mines supply Ganja's metallurgical industries, which produces copper and alumina.[27] There are porcelain, silk and footwear industries. Other industries process food, grapes and cotton from the surrounding farmlands.

The city has one of the largest textile conglomerates in Azerbaijan and is famous for a fabric named Ganja silk, which received the highest marks in the markets of neighboring countries and the Middle East.[25][28]

Demography

Ethnic groups in Ganja
Year Azerbaijanis  % Armenians  % Russians  % Others 1  % TOTAL
1886 [29]
11,139
54.9
8,914
43.9
131
0.6
110
0.5
 20,294
1892[30]
13,392
51.8
10,524
40.8
1,842
7.2
 25,758
1897 [31]
17,426
51.8
12,055
35.9
2,519
7.5
1,625
4.8
 33,625
1926[29]
30,878
53.8
16,148
28.1
4,470
7.8
5,897
10.3
 57,339
1939 [32]
49,755
50.3
27,121
27.4
16,992
17.2
4,626
4.7
 98,494
1959 [33]
63,258
54.5
32,371
27.9
16,545
14.2
4,039
3.5
 116,122
1970[34]
122,973
64.9
40,588
21.4
22,022
11.6
3,929
2.1
 189,512
1979[35]
167,251
72.4
40,354
17.5
19,822
8.6
3,639
1.6
 231,066
1988/1989 [36]
40,7412
14.7
 278,006 [37]
1999 [38]
294,876
98.5
32
0.01
2,814
0.9
1,620
0.5
 299,342
2009[39]
311,813
99.5
6
0
895
0.3
535
0.2
 313,249
1 Georgians, Jews, Ukrainians etc.
2Just before the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict [40]

Ganja is the second largest city of Azerbaijan after Baku with about 313,300 residents.

Historic Armenian community

In addition to Persian- and Turkic-speaking Muslims, the city has had a numerically, economically and, culturally significant Armenian community.[41][42] Among the Armenians, the city is known as Gandzak (Գանձակ)[43][44][45] The name Gandzak derives from gandz (Arm. - գանձ), the loan word from Old Iranian, which means treasure or riches.[46][47] The city's historically important Christian figures include Kirakos Gandzaketsi, author of the History of the Armenians[48]), Armenian[49] philosopher Mkhitar Gosh[50] author of the Code of Laws that was used in Armenia, Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and Armenian diasporan groups in Europe,[51] 13th century polymath Vardan Areveltsi[52] and Grigor Paron-Ter, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem. Among the modern time's prominent Armenian person's of the city were Russian-Armenian architect Karo Halabyan,[53] secretary of the Armenian SSR Communist Party Askanaz Mravyan,[54] and the Olympic champion Albert Azaryan.[55]

The founder of the Hethumid dynasty, Oshin of Lampron was an Armenian nakharar and lord of a castle near Ganja who fled to Cilicia in 1075 during the Seljuk invasion of Armenia.[56]

Buildings, landmarks and museums

In the 11th century, a local blacksmith named Ibrahim produced the well known the Gates of Ganja.[25]

Education

Ganja is home to four major institutes for post-secondary education.

Transportation

Air

Ganja International Airport is the only airport in the city.[58] The airport is connected by bus to the city center.

Rail

Ganja sits on one of the Azerbaijani primary rail lines running East-West connecting the capital, Baku, with the rest of the country. The railway provides both human transportation and transport of goods and commodities such as oil and gravel.

Languages

Most of the population in Ganja speaks Azerbaijani.

Sports

The city has one professional football team competing in the top-flight of Azerbaijani football - FC Kəpəz currently playing in the Azerbaijan Premier League.[59]

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

City Country
Derbent Russia
Rustavi Georgia
Newark, New Jersey United States
Izmir Turkey
Moscow Russia
Kutaisi Georgia
Kars Turkey

Notable natives

Pictures of Ganja

References

  1. ^ a b The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan
  2. ^ The Ganja State Historical-Cultural reserve
  3. ^ В Азербайджане численность населения достигла 8 млн. 922 тыс. человек (Russian)
  4. ^ Encyclopedia Iranica, "Ganja", C. Edmund Bosworth Archived 23 August 2011 at WebCite
  5. ^ Ростислав Борисовч Рыбаков (1995). Восток в средние века. ISBN 978-5-02-017711-6. http://books.google.com/?id=un36ewEACAAJ. 
  6. ^ Дьяконов, Игорь Михайлович. Книга воспоминаний. Издательство "Европейский дом", Санкт-Петербург, 1995., 1995. - ISBN 978-5-85733-042-5. cтр. 730-731 Igor Diakonov. The book of memoirs.
  7. ^ V.Minorsky. A History of Shirvan and Derbent.
  8. ^ History of the Caucasian Albanians by Movses Dasxuranci, C.J.F. Dowsett trans. (London 1961), chapter 21.
  9. ^ Iran. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 17, 2007
  10. ^ Timurid Dynasty. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 16, 2007
  11. ^ Jalayirid. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 17, 2007
  12. ^ Kara Koyunlu. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 15, 2007
  13. ^ Ak Koyunlu. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 17, 2007
  14. ^ Aznet.org: Ganja's History
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  16. ^ "Beglerbeg" in Cyclopædia dictionary, (ed. Ephraim Chambers), First Volume, London: Printed for J. and J. Knapton (and 18 others), 1728, p. 95 (accessed March 17, 2007)
  17. ^ I.Petrushevskiy. Ocherki po istorii feodal'nikh otnosheniy d Azerbaijane i Armenii v XVI - nach. XIX vv., Leningrad, 1949, p. 122, in Russian
  18. ^ Peter Avery; William Bayne Fisher, Gavin Hambly, Charles Melville (1991-10-25). The Cambridge history of Iran: From Nadir Shah to the Islamic Republic. Cambridge University Press. p. 332. ISBN 978-0-521-20095-0. http://books.google.com/?id=H20Xt157iYUC&pg=PA332. 
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  24. ^ Gəncənin tarixi... (Azerbaijani)
  25. ^ a b c Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Ganja's History
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  27. ^ Ganja on Cities & Sites
  28. ^ Gəncə Dövlət Universitetinin Riyaziyyat-İnformatika fakültəsi: GƏNCƏNİN TARİXİ (Azerbaijani)
  29. ^ a b (Russian) Ethno-Caucasus: Азербайджан
  30. ^ Елисаветополь в Энциклопедическом словаре Брокгауза и Ефрона
  31. ^ (Russian) Демокоп Weekly г. Елисаветполь
  32. ^ (Russian) Ethno-Caucasus: КИРОВАБАДСКИЙ ГОРСОВЕТ (1939 г.)
  33. ^ (Russian) Ethno-Caucasus: КИРОВАБАДСКИЙ ГОРСОВЕТ (1959 г.)
  34. ^ (Russian) Ethno-Caucasus: КИРОВАБАДСКИЙ ГОРСОВЕТ (1970 г.)
  35. ^ (Russian) Ethno-Caucasus: КИРОВАБАДСКИЙ ГОРСОВЕТ (1979 г.)
  36. ^ (Russian) Численность армянского населения в крупных городах и районах АзССР
  37. ^ (Russian) Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность городского населения союзных республик, их территориальных единиц, городских поселений и городских районов по полу
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  39. ^ Ethnic composition of Azerbaijan 2009
  40. ^ (Russian) Численность армянского населения в крупных городах и районах АзССР
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External links

Ganja
Capital: Ganja
Districts (Raions)

Absheron · Agdam · Agdash · Aghjabadi · Agstafa · Agsu · Astara · Babek · Balakan · Barda · Beylagan · Bilasuvar · Dashkasan · Fizuli · Gadabay · Goranboy · Goychay · Goygol · Hajigabul · Imishli · Ismailli · Jabrayil · Jalilabad · Julfa · Kalbajar · Kangarli · Khachmaz · Khizi · Khojali · Khojavend · Kurdamir · Lachin · Lankaran · Lerik · Masally · Neftchala · Oghuz · Ordubad · Qabala · Qakh · Qazakh · Gobustan · Quba · Qubadli · Qusar · Saatly · Sabirabad · Sadarak · Salyan · Samukh · Shabran · Shakhbuz · Shaki · Shamakhi · Shamkir · Sharur · Shusha · Siazan · Tartar · Tovuz · Ujar · Yardymli · Yevlakh · Zangilan · Zaqatala · Zardab
Cities

Baku · Ganja · Khankendi · Lankaran · Mingachevir · Naftalan · Nakhchivan City · Shaki · Shirvan · Sumqayit · Shusha · Yevlakh
Names in italics indicate parts of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic