Exploring Azerbaijan's Historical Neighbors: Borders In 1900

Azerbaijan's borders have changed over time, but in 1900, it was bordered by Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Iran to the south, and Armenia to the west. The Caspian Sea lies to the east of Azerbaijan, and the country also has an exclave, Nakhchivan, which is bordered by Armenia, Iran, and Turkey.

Russia to the north

Russia is to the north of Azerbaijan. In the 19th century, the territories of the republic of Azerbaijan and Iran were usually under the same rule. However, the Russo-Persian wars of 1804–1813 and 1826–1828 forced Qajar Iran to cede its Caucasian territories to the Russian Empire. The treaties of Gulistan in 1813 and Turkmenchay in 1828 defined the border between Czarist Russia and Qajar Iran. The region north of the Aras River was Iranian territory until it was occupied by Russia in the 19th century.

The border between the two countries was set at the Aras River after the incorporation of all Caucasian territories from Iran into Russia. Azerbaijan is bounded on the north by Russia's republic of Dagestan.

Georgia to the northwest

Georgia lies to the northwest of Azerbaijan. In the 1900s, Georgia was part of the Russian Empire, and had been since the early 1800s. The incorporation of Georgia into the Russian Empire was the result of a series of Russo-Persian wars, which ended in the 1813 Treaty of Gulistan and the 1828 Treaty of Turkmenchay. These treaties established the border between Czarist Russia and Qajar Iran, with the territories north of the Aras River becoming part of Russia.

During the 1900s, Georgia was governed as part of the Tiflis Governorate, which also included the present-day independent nations of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The governorate was bordered to the north by the Kutais Governorate and the Tiflis Governorate, and to the south by the Erivan Governorate and the Elizavetpol Governorate.

Georgia has a diverse geography, with its landscape ranging from lowland plains to the Greater Caucasus mountains in the north. The country has a population of over 3.7 million people, with Tbilisi as its capital and largest city.

Iran to the south

In 1900, the country to the south of Azerbaijan was Iran. The natural boundary between the two countries is less distinct, and the landscape of Azerbaijan merges with the Iranian Plateau. The territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Iran have usually shared the same history, and Azerbaijan retained its Iranian character even after the Arab conquest of Iran and the conversion of the area's inhabitants to Islam.

The territories of Azerbaijan and Iran were separated when the Qajar dynasty of Iran was forced to cede its Caucasian territories to the Russian Empire after the Russo-Persian wars of 1804–1813 and 1826–1828. The treaties of Gulistan in 1813 and Turkmenchay in 1828 defined the border between Czarist Russia and Qajar Iran. The region north of the Aras River was Iranian until it was occupied by Russia in the 19th century.

The Iranian Plateau, which is part of the wider Iranian Plateau system, is a geological formation in Iran and eastern Turkey. The plateau covers the Iranian Plateau proper, the Armenian Plateau, and the small part of Azerbaijan that merges with the Iranian Plateau. The Iranian Plateau is a geological formation in Iran and eastern Turkey and is one of the world's largest desert regions. It covers the Iranian Plateau proper, the Armenian Plateau, and the small part of Azerbaijan that merges with the Iranian Plateau.

The territory of what is now Azerbaijan was first ruled by Caucasian Albania and later various Persian empires. Until the 19th century, it remained part of Qajar Iran. The region was conquered by Russia in the 19th century, and the Azerbaijanis are now parted between two nations: Iran and Azerbaijan.

Turkey to the west

In 1900, Turkey bordered Azerbaijan to the west via the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan. The exclave was bounded by Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. The territory of what is now Azerbaijan was first ruled by Caucasian Albania and later by various Persian empires. Until the 19th century, it remained part of Qajar Iran.

The territory of Azerbaijan and Iran usually shared the same history from the time of the Medes and the Achaemenid Empire until the coming of the Russians in the 19th century. Azerbaijan retained its Iranian character even after the Arab conquest of Iran and the conversion of the area's inhabitants to Islam. Some four centuries later, Oghuz Turkic tribes under the Seljuq dynasty entered the area, and Azerbaijan gained a large number of Turkic inhabitants. Over the centuries, as the original population mingled with the immigrant Turkic nomads, the number of native Persian speakers gradually diminished, and a Turkic dialect now known as Azerbaijani (or Azeri Turkic) gained hold.

In the ensuing period, in post-Iranian Russian-held East Caucasia, an Azerbaijani national identity emerged at the end of the 19th century. After more than 80 years of being part of the Russian Empire in the Caucasus, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was established in 1918. The name "Azerbaijan", adopted by the ruling Musavat Party for political reasons, had been used to identify the adjacent region of northwestern Iran.

Turkey has been Azerbaijan's strongest military partner, a relationship that has included weapons transfers, technical advice, bilateral training exercises, and support during its conflicts with Armenia.

Armenia to the west

Armenia borders Azerbaijan to the west and via the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the north and east. The region of Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, has a majority ethnic Armenian population and has been the focus of intense conflict between the two countries.

In ancient and early medieval times, eastern Transcaucasia was populated by Iranian speakers, nomadic Turkic tribes, Kurds, and the Caucasian Albanians, who converted to Christianity in the 4th century and came under the cultural influence of the Armenians. After Arab incursions in the 7th century, Islamic polities were established under local rulers called shāhanshāhs. The Seljuq invasions in the 11th century changed the composition of the local population and resulted in the linguistic dominance of Oghuz Turkic languages.

In the 19th century, the territories of the republic of Azerbaijan and Iran usually shared the same history. Azerbaijan retained its Iranian character even after the Arab conquest of Iran and the conversion of the area's inhabitants to Islam. Some four centuries later, Oghuz Turkic tribes under the Seljuq dynasty entered the area, and Azerbaijan gained a large number of Turkic inhabitants. Over the centuries, as the original population mingled with the immigrant Turkic nomads, the number of native Persian speakers gradually diminished, and a Turkic dialect, now known as Azerbaijani or Azeri Turkic, gained hold.

The Russo-Persian wars of 1804–1813 and 1826–1828 forced Qajar Iran to cede its Caucasian territories to the Russian Empire. The treaties of Gulistan in 1813 and Turkmenchay in 1828 defined the border between Czarist Russia and Qajar Iran. The region north of the Aras River was Iranian until it was conquered by Russia in the 19th century. According to the Treaty of Turkmenchay, Qajar Iran recognised Russian sovereignty over the Erivan, Nakhchivan, and Talysh Khanates (the last parts of Azerbaijan still in Iranian hands).

In the ensuing period, in post-Iranian Russian-held East Caucasia, an Azerbaijani national identity emerged at the end of the 19th century. After more than 80 years of being part of the Russian Empire in the Caucasus, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was established in 1918. The name "Azerbaijan", adopted by the ruling Musavat Party for political reasons, had been used to identify the adjacent region of northwestern Iran. Azerbaijan was invaded by Soviet forces in 1920, which led to the establishment of the Azerbaijan SSR. In the early Soviet period, the Azerbaijani national identity was finally forged.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have had hostile relations since the independence of the former in 1991. The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh has been a focal point within Azerbaijani politics. The enclave held periodic elections, the results of which were rejected by Azerbaijan as illegal under international law. The fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh resulted in the displacement of substantial populations of both Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

Frequently asked questions