Iravan Fortress was constructed in 1504 under the orders of the Safavid ruler Shah Ismail I by his vizier Ravangulu Khan. It was built on the bank of the Zangi River, at the site of the present-day city of Iravan. The purpose of the fortress was to defend the borders of the Safavid state from foreign raids. Initially known as Ravan Fortress after its builder, the name evolved into Iravan in the local dialect.

According to initial sources, the fortress had a square layout measuring 790 by 850 meters, encompassing an area of 7 hectares. The fortress walls, built in two layers, extended for a total length of 4.5 kilometers. The outer wall reached a height of 10.5 to 12 meters and enclosed the territory on the northeast, southeast, and southwest sides, while the steep banks of the Zangi River formed the boundary on the opposite side. The two sets of fortress walls were constructed 36 to 42 meters apart. These walls featured robust inner and outer defenses, complemented by semi-circular towers. The towers contained approximately 2,450 gun ports, and the defensive walls could accommodate 53 cannons.

Iravan Fortress, situated on the left bank of the Zangi River, underwent significant fortifications at the close of the 18th century. It was encircled on three sides by a deep moat, while the fourth side was protected by two towering walls constructed on a steep incline along the left bank of the river. The fortress featured two entrances: the Shirvan Gate to the north and the Tabriz Gate to the south.

Additionally, the fort had direct access to the Zangi River, providing a water supply during sieges.

In the early 19th century, Iravan Fortress housed the Khan's Palace (also known as Sardar Palace), residences for soldiers, shops, and two mosques. Water was supplied to the fortress through underground channels from the Zangi River and the Gyrkhbulag River on the southeast side. Before the Russian occupation, the fortress contained 800 homes. Surrounding Iravan Fortress in the outer city were 1,736 houses, 5 squares, 8 mosques, 6 caravansaries, 1,670 shops, 9 public baths, as well as 1,470 vineyards and orchards, 40 mills, and 6 peeling mills.

At the dawn of the 19th century, the South Caucasus witnessed the onset of violent tragedies. The Russian Empire seeking to gain control of the region, initiated wars against the Azerbaijani khanates. Before long, the South Caucasus had transformed into a battleground for bloody wars fought by the Russian Empire against Qajar Iran and the Ottoman Empire.

The capture of the Iravan Khanate, situated along the border with the Ottoman Empire and Qajar Iran, played a crucial role in the Russian Empire's invasion strategy. The occupation of this strategically positioned territory, which borders Iran, Turkey, and Georgia, was highly significant in Russia's foreign policy discussions. The importance of seizing the Iravan Fortress, found along the Tiflis-Tabriz transit route, was a topic of intense debate. Beyond viewing the Iravan Khanate as a key military asset, the Russian Empire regarded this Azerbaijani land as essential for reestablishing stability in Georgia and diminishing the political influence of Iran and Turkey in the South Caucasus. Consequently, the Iravan Khanate was prioritized as the first territory to be brought under Russian control in a decree issued by Tsar Alexander I.

Between 1804 and 1813, during the First Russo-Iranian War, fought over the control of Azerbaijani territories the Iravan Fortress was attacked twice by Russian forces. The residents of the khanate rose to defend their homeland under the leadership of Muhammad Hussein Khan Qajar, the Iravan Khan, who ruled from 1784 to 1805.

Despite failing to capture the Iravan Fortress, the occupation of the strategically vital territory of the Iravan Khanate continued to be a primary objective for Russian military circles.

During the Second Russo-Iranian War (1826-1828), Tsar Nicholas I (reigning from 1825 to 1855) placed great significance on the occupation of the Iravan Khanate. He often reminded General Yermolov of the military-strategic value of capturing the fortresses of Iravan and Sardarabad. Due to suspicions regarding Yermolov's ties to the Decembrists, Nicholas I eventually removed him from his role as commander-in-chief of the Russian army in the Caucasus. In late March 1827, General I.F. Paskevich, loyal to the tsar, was appointed new commander of Russian forces in the region. Recognizing the strategic importance of the Iravan Khanate, the new commander-in-chief resolved to launch an initial attack on it.

From September 14 to 20, 1827, the Sardarabad Fortress was heroically defended by Iravan Khan Huseyngulu Khan Qajar and his brother Hasan Khan Qajar, but ultimately fell to the invading Russian forces. Despite this setback, Iravan Khan's troops maintained their resistance against the invaders, concentrating their efforts on defending the Iravan Fortress.

On September 23, Paskevich's unit set up camp 2 versts away from the Iravan Fortress and seized Mount Mughanlitapa, situated 750 sazhens from the fortress's walls. Despite the fall of Sardarabad, Hasan Khan Qajar remained undeterred in his fight, taking command of the defense of the Iravan Fortress. After successfully breaking free from the Sardarabad encirclement, Hasan Khan focused on fortifying the Iravan Fortress.

Cannons were positioned behind the walls of the Iravan Fortress, flanked by two tall towers and encircled by a broad moat. The garrison housed 2,000 soldiers along with an equal number of gunners. Provisions stored within the fortress were intended to last for six months. The substantial gunpowder, ammunition, and grain reserves ensured that the fortress's defenses and the garrison's sustenance could be maintained for several months.

Given these circumstances, Paskevich chose to initiate the siege of the Iravan Fortress from the southeast. Huseyngulu Khan Qajar, recognizing that the fortress could no longer be defended due to its isolation from all sides, withdrew with his cavalry towards Turkey. Meanwhile, his brother Hasan Khan Qajar took command of the fortress's defense.

On September 24, 1827, Russian forces initiated their fourth siege of the Iravan Fortress. On that day, General Paskevich established artillery batteries to the right of Mughanlitapa, bombarding the fortress throughout the night. For three consecutive days, two batteries relentlessly shelled the city. The fortress's towers unable to withstand the onslaught of heavy cannons were destroyed. To cut off the defenders' water supply, Paskevich ordered the kahrezs at the base of the fortress walls to be filled with stone. Meanwhile, he demanded the fortress's surrender from Hasan Khan. However, Hasan Khan Qajar disregarded this and instead began reinforcing the towers in preparation for a new battle. Although the garrison fired heavily upon the Russian troops, the encircling forces managed to reposition their cannons closer to the city. After receiving no positive response to his latest demand for surrender, Paskevich commanded a barrage of over 1,000 shells from 40 cannons directed at the Iravan Fortress, igniting the city in flames.

The inhabitants of Iravan were also firing cannons at the enemy. However, the situation worsened due to the betrayal by the Armenians within the fortress, who maintained communication with the enemy. As had happened in the past, Armenian spies continued to relay crucial military information to Paskevich, including details about the defenders' positions, their numbers, and the locations of the cannons.
Armenians outside the fortress also aided the Russian troops in their efforts to seize the Iravan Fortress. On September 27-28, Armenian priest Nerses called upon the villagers of Uchkilsa for immediate support for the Russian forces. Additionally, during the defense of the Iravan Fortress, the small number of Armenians in the city offered various forms of assistance to the Russian troops. As they ascended the fortress walls and waved their hats to signal their surrender to the invaders, the Azerbaijani residents of the city bravely continued to defend their historic homeland.

On September 30, the siege of the fortress intensified. Cannons were repositioned to closer ranges, and the fortress walls came under fire from all angles. On the night of October 1, under Hasan Khan's command, the defenders launched another heavy barrage at the Russian troops. However, this effort did not yield the desired outcome.

On October 1, the Armenians within the fortress united with the invaders and called for Hasan Khan to relinquish control of the fortress. Despite the Khan's best efforts, they opened the northern gates to the Russian troops. In an act of betrayal against the country they resided in, the Armenians raised a white flag over the fortress gates as a sign of surrender.

A fierce battle erupted between Russian forces, who had entered the fortress through Armenian betrayal, and the courageous defenders of the stronghold. Realizing that further resistance would be futile, Hasan Khan Qajar withdrew with about 200 nobles to one of the mosques within the fortress. By evening, the Iravan Fortress succumbed to the invaders. Alongside Hasan Khan several key figures were captured, including special battalion commander Gasim Khan, Jafargulu Khan Marandli, Alimardan Khan Tabrizli, Aslan Khan, and Fatali Khan. The invaders also seized four flags belonging to the fortress's defenders, all the cannons, and a stockpile of weapons and ammunition. Thus, on October 1, 1827, Russian troops occupied the Iravan Fortress.

I.F. Paskevich, the commander-in-chief of the Russian forces who seized the Iravan Fortress and occupied the khanate through Armenian betrayal, was awarded the title of count, the Order of Saint George II Class, a financial reward of 1 million rubles for this "victory," and the title of "Erivanskii" for his capture of the Iravan Fortress.

The capture of the Iravan Fortress was celebrated in St. Petersburg with a special official procession. Furthermore, commemorative medals were created to mark this event.

The seizure of the Iravan Fortress was met with immense celebration in the palace of the Russian emperor. On November 8, 1827, a special prayer service took place at the cathedral in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to commemorate the occupation of the fortress. Emperor Nicholas I himself attended the ceremony. That same day, the keys to the gates of Iravan and the four flags captured from the Iravan Khanate were paraded through the city's central streets.

With the capture of the Iravan Fortress and the occupation of the Iravan Khanate, the entire territory of Northern Azerbaijan became part of the Russian Empire.

Recommended literature:

1. Qarayev, Elçin Teymur oğlu. İrəvan xanlığı : 1747-1828: monoqrafiya / E. T. Qarayev ; elmi red. Y. M. Mahmudov ; AMEA A.A. Bakıxanov adına Tarix İnstitutu. - Bakı : Avropa nəşriyyatı, 2010. - 343 s.
2. İrəvan xanlığı : Rusiya işğalı və ermənilərin Şimali Azərbaycan torpaqlarına köçürülməsi: monoqrafiya / Y. M. Mahmudov [et al.] ; elmi red. Y. M. Mahmudov ; AMEA A.A. Bakıxanov adına Tarix İnstitutu, Regionların İnkişafı İctimai Birliyi. - Bakı : Azərbaycan nəşriyyatı, 2010. - 616 s.
3. Əliyev, Fuad Məmmədbağır oğlu. İrəvan xanlığı / F. M. Əliyev, U. Həsənov ; red., ön sözün müəl. K. K. Şükürov, bur. məsul Ə. Güləliyev. - Təkrar nəşr. - Bakı : Şərq-Qərb, 2007. - 144 s.
4. İrəvan xanlığının tarixi = История Иреванского ханства = History of the Irevan Khanate / tərt.-müəl. Z. Hacıyeva. - Bakı : n. y., 2013. - 105 s.
5. Qarayev, Elçin Teymur oğlu. Azərbaycanın İrəvan bölgəsinin tarixindən : XVII yüzilliyin sonu - XIX yüzilliyin ortalarında: monoqrafiya / E. T. Qarayev ; elmi red.: C. M. Mustafayev, N. H. Həsənov ; AMEA A.A. Bakıxanov adına Tarix İnstitutu. - Bakı : Mütərcim, 2016. - 544 s.