AZERBAIJANI HISTORY IN SCIENTIFIC-PUBLIC ARTICLES IN YUSIF VAZIR CHAMENZAMINLI’S PERSONAL ARCHIVE FUND

ИСТОРИЯ АЗЕРБАЙДЖАНА В НАУЧНО-ПУБЛИЧНЫХ СТАТЬЯХ В ЛИЧНОМ АРХИВНОМ ФОНДЕ ЮСИФА ВЕЗИРА ЧЕМЕНЗАМИНЛИ

Гулиев Орудж

доктор философии по истории, Заместитель директора Центральной научной библиотеки, Докторант Института рукописей имени Мухаммеда Физули НАНА,

Азербайджан, г. Баку

ABSTRACT

The articles and works on Azerbaijani history by Yusif Vazir Chamenzaminli (1887–1943), the prominent writer, scholar, and public figure of Azerbaijan are of great significance, especially during the national liberation struggle in the early XX century. These articles of the writer highlight his rich intellectual legacy and essential role in shaping Azerbaijan’s national identity. Some autograph copies of the articles, which have always been valuable sources for researchers and readers, are being preserved in the personal archive fund of the Institute of Manuscripts named after Mahammad Fuzuli of ANAS. In this study we refer to specifically those materials.

АННОТАЦИЯ

Статьи и труды по истории Азербайджана выдающегося писателя, ученого и общественного деятеля Азербайджана Юсифа Везира Чемензаминли (1887–1943) имеют большое значение, особенно в период национально-освободительной борьбы в начале XX века. В этих статьях писателя подчеркивается его богатое интеллектуальное наследие и существенная роль в формировании национальной идентичности Азербайджана. Некоторые автографы статей, которые всегда были ценными источниками для исследователей и читателей, хранятся в личном архивном фонде Института рукописей имени Мухаммеда Физули НАНА. В данном исследовании мы ссылаемся именно на эти материалы.

Keywords: Yusif Vazir Chamenzaminli, Azerbaijan, history, article, Turk, Persian.

Ключевые слова: Юсиф Везир Чемензаминли, Азербайджан, история, статья, турок, перс

Among the materials in the personal archive fund of Yusif Vazir Chamenzaminli, the prominent writer and socio-political figure, preserved at the Institute of Manuscripts named after Mahammad Fuzuli of ANAS, his scientific-popular articles are of particular significance for the study of Azerbaijani history. The said articles can also be characterized as some of the earliest examples of research conducted in the fields of regional studies and historiography in the early XX century.

The author’s article titled “On the works of Abbasgulu Agha Qudsi” [1] highlights the work of the earliest prominent figures in Azerbaijani historiography. This article, preserved in the personal archive is an autograph copy. The date of writing on it is shown as May 12, 1935. This article was later published under the title “The works of Abbasgulu Agha Qudsi” in the 18th issue of the “Literature Newspaper” on May 30, 1935. In the article, the author who compares Mirza Fatali Akhundzada and Abbasgulu Agha Bakikhanov, noted that Bakikhanov as a person in our literature who possessed both Eastern and Western sciences after Akhundzada. Then he provides extensive information about the works by Bakikhanov. Initially, attention was directed to the historical research of the aforementioned author: “[A.A. Bakikhanov – O.G.] – If we review the works written by him, we can see that he was a man of great knowledge...

The works written by Qudsi are listed below:

1) “Gulustani-Iram”. This work, written in Persian, relates to the history of Shirvan and Dagestan, continuing from the earliest times up to the Treaty of Gulustan (1813). While the sections preceding the Arab invasion of the Caucasus (7th century) have undoubtedly lost their scholarly relevance, the subsequent parts—particularly those concerning Qudsi's era and the surrounding periods—contain highly valuable historical material. This work was translated into Russian by the Society of the “Study of Azerbaijan” and was published in Baku in 1926” [11, p.325].

It is known that through Gulustani-Iram, A.A. Bakikhanov is the first person who systematically writes the history of Azerbaijan from ancient times up to the first half of the XIX century in which he lived. For this reason, he is considered the founder of Azerbaijani historiography.

Another article by the writer related to the history of Azerbaijan is titled “Azerbaijan and its borders” [3]. In this article, the author draws upon the works of scholars such as Shamsaddin Sami, Yagut Hamawi, and Abbasgulu Agha Bakikhanov. In the article the history of the origin of the name of our homeland has been given and notes that information on this topic can be found in the works of Eastern, ancient Greek, and Roman authors: “The name of our country has been as “Azarbaykan”, “Azerabadgan”, “Azarbiyjan”, and “Azerbaijan” in Eastern sources. Ancient Greek and Roman historians referred to it as “Atropaten”. According to Ibn al-Muqaffa, the name “Azerbaijan” comes from Azarbaz bin Asud bin Sam bin Noah, or Azarbaz bin Bivarasaf. Another version says that “Azar” means “fire” and “Baykan” means “guardian” in Pahlavi; therefore, “Azerbaijan” means “Land of Fire” or “Fire Temple””.

The fact that the second version is strong is supported by the famous historian Tabari, Arab geographer Yagut Hamawi, and Ottoman scholar Shamsaddin Sami” [10].

This idea was supported by following historians as well and has been accepted as the primary version in explaining the etymology of the name of our country.

Y.V. Chamanzaminli conducted a deeper investigation about the root of the word “Azerbaijan”, referring to the works of well-known scholars such as Strabo, Spiegel, Houwar, Pierre David, Bartold, Marr, Saint-Martin, Tabari, Shamsaddin Sami, Al-Bukhari, and Hamdallah Qazvini in his article titled “Around Our History” [8]. Reviewing different versions, the author of the article also draws attention to Marr’s assumption that the toponym “Azerbaijan” might have a more ancient origin: “Academician Marr rejects the prevailing theory and states: “The issue of the name of Azerbaijan does not date from history, but belongs to prehistory... “Azerbaijan” is an ethnic or geographic concept and at the same time it refers to the racial veneration that has been practiced by the common people since earlier times’” [7, p.101].

It should be noted that, as in Y.V. Chamanzaminli’s time, in the modern era there are still cases where the word “Azerbaijan” is associated with the names of ancient tribal unions. Disputes among scholars in this direction continue to this day.

One of the autograph articles preserved at the Institute of Manuscripts is titled “About Vagif” [9]. This article was published in issue 13 of the “Literature” newspaper in 1935. In it, Molla Panah Vagif’s life is examined through a historical aspect, important information has been provided about the poet, including misconceptions about him and his journey to Tbilisi, etc. The author writes: “Vagif’s trip to Tbilisi, the gifts sent by Catherine to Ibrahim Khan and Vagif, have undoubtedly left traces in the archive materials of Tbilisi and Leningrad. These should be found and brought to light. In this field, our historians and literary scholars must work together” [11, p.324].

While speaking about the history of relations between the Karabakh Khanate and Tsarist Russia in the late XVIII century — up until the occupation of Shusha by the Qajars, Intiqam Jabrayilov highlights the services of Vagif in his article titled “Molla Panah Vagif as a statesman”. He writes: “The letters written on behalf of Ibrahim Khan to Tsarina Catherine II had aroused great interest in the Russian court. Naturally, these letters were written by M.P. Vagif. In May 1784, Catherine II wrote a letter to Prince G.A. Potemkin and noted that the letters from Ibrahim Khan were written with great politeness and, in certain aspects (especially their poetic tone), differed from and surpassed those sent by neighbouring states. She also instructed that the identity of the letter’s author (whether young or old, strong or weak) be investigated” [4, p.15].

As seen, Y.V. Chamanzaminli’s assumption about the existence of documents in Russian archives reflecting M.P. Vagif’s activities as a statesman is validated and as he noted, conducting research in this direction could contribute new insights into the study of that historical period.

One of the issues that deeply concerned Y.V. Chamanzaminli, both as a writer and public-political figure, was the assimilation of Turkic-speaking populations in territories under Iranian control — Southern Azerbaijan. In his article “The stamp of persianization and the fight against it” [5], written during his stay in Kyiv in 1913, he discussed the traditions adopted to Azerbaijani Turks from non-native peoples, primarily Persians, the influence of the Persian language on our own, and the ways to combat related to these issues. The article was published in the “Iqbal” newspaper on November 1, 1913. In this article he writes: “Unfortunately, we still lack the strength to fight this influence. In my opinion, we will be able to resist only when the following ideas will be actualized, moving from potential into practice. My suggestions are presented in eight sections:

We should have a society which will liberate our language from Persian influence. This is only possible if the society is consisting of active and competent individuals....

... Our national music must be Turkified...

... Our daughters must be provided with a complete education and liberated from the oppression resulting from the denial of rights...

… The number of Turkish schools must be increased...

… The history of Azerbaijani Turks must be written in a simple language and published so that people understand they are Turks, learn about their past, and seek solutions for the future considering their national responsibilities…” [7, pp. 68–70].

It should be noted that in the fiction works by the author, and also in memories he painfully highlights the issue of young people considering it shameful to speak in their mother tongue.

In the article titled “Country study” [6], the writer discusses the establishment of the Societies for the Exploration and Investigation of Azerbaijan related to study of the nations in the early XX century, the inability of Azerbaijanis to participate in these societies, the issue of the development of Azerbaijani scholars, and the toponyms of regions within Azerbaijan. The author notes that the successive Persian and Arab invasions of Azerbaijan over time have inevitably left their mark on the language as well. While this influence is less noticeable in words we have gradually assimilated, it is clearly evident in toponyms. “...Words like Azerbangan, Mughan, Aran, Lankaran, Mardakan, Abshoran, Belagan, Nargan, and Turkan ending with “an” and “gan” indicate plural form in Persian. Even if historical texts and ancient monuments did not show that Aryans played a significant role in Azerbaijan, this is evident through the analysis of contemporary geographical terminology, as each term embodies a distinct historical narrative in its own right” [7, p.97].

Y.V. Chamanzaminli, like with other place names mentioned above, speculates that the toponym Absheron is also formed from a combination of two Persian words and explains it as “Abshoran”—ab (water) and shoran (salty). However, according to the “Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Azerbaijani Toponyms”, this toponym is connected to Turkic tribal origins: “According to many scholars, “Absheron” is related to the name of the Avshar / Afshar tribe, one of the Oghuz clans. For the information of the sources there was a settlement called Afsharan near Baku, located on the caravan route from Iran to Derbent. ...Therefore, interpreting the toponym of Absheron as “the place where the Afshars lived” is more logical” [2, p.10].

Nonetheless, Chamanzaminli’s version appears more convincing.

As we see, in the scientific-popular articles by Y.V. Chamanzaminli in his personal archive numerous contentious issues related to the history from its earliest periods of Azerbaijan to modern times have been touched. However, his articles are distinguished more by the presentation of hypotheses and the highlighting of current issues in our historiography than by the resolution of controversial scholarly matters.

References:

1. Abbasqulu Ağa Qüdsinin əsərləri haqqında // AMEA Məhəmməd Füzuli adına Əlyazmalar İnstitutunun şəxsi arxivi, Fond № 21, s.v.140. – 4 vərəq.
2.  Azərbaycan toponimlərinin ensiklopedik lüğəti: [2 cilddə] / tərt. ed. R.Əliyeva, Q.Məşədiyev, R.Eyvazova [və b.] – Bakı: Şərq-Qərb, – 2007. – c.1. – 304 s.
3. Azərbaycan və sərhəddi // AMEA Məhəmməd Füzuli adına Əlyazmalar İnstitutunun şəxsi arxivi, Fond № 21, s.v.122. – 40 vərəq.
4. Cəfərbəyov, İ. Molla Pənah Vaqif dövlət xadimi kimi // – Bakı: Azərbaycan Respublikasının Təhsil İnstitutunun Elmi əsərləri,  – 2018, – c.85, № 1, – s.16-19.
5. Əcəmilik möhürü və onunla mübarizə // AMEA Məhəmməd Füzuli adına Əlyazmalar İnstitutunun şəxsi arxivi, Fond № 21, s.v.143. – 3 vərəq.
6.  Ölkəşünaslıq // AMEA Məhəmməd Füzuli adına Əlyazmalar İnstitutunun şəxsi arxivi, Fond № 21, s.v.160. – 8 vərəq.
7. Şuşa torpağında doğulan dilçi alim Yusif Vəzir Çəmənzəminli / transfoneliterasiya, tərt. ed., ön söz Ş.Hümmətli – Bakı: Zərdabi Nəşr,  – 2022. – 344 s.
8. Tariximiz ətrafında // AMEA Məhəmməd Füzuli adına Əlyazmalar İnstitutunun şəxsi arxivi, Fond № 21, s.v.163. – 8 vərəq.
9. Vaqif haqqında //  AMEA Məhəmməd Füzuli adına Əlyazmalar İnstitutunun şəxsi arxivi, Fond № 21, s.v.135. – 11 vərəq.
10. Y.V.Çəmənzəminli: Azərbaycan və sərhəddi / URL: https://losman.ru/y-v-c%C9%99m%C9%99nz%C9%99minli-azerbaycan-ve-serhedi/
11. Yusif Vəzir Çəmənzəminli. Əsərləri: [3 cilddə] / tərt.ed. T.Hüseynoğlu – Bakı: AVRASİYA PRESS, – 2005. – c.3. – 440 s.