Jar-Balakan jamaats (free societies) differed from other feudal khanates on the territory of Azerbaijan in terms of governance, ethnic diversity and success in wars.

The process of establishing these societies began in the 14th century. Prior to this period, separate communities had already begun to form in this region, which helped to form jamaats. In the 16th century, these communities began to unite in jamaats - free societies.
  
Jar-Balakan jamaats, formed in the middle of the 16th century, became completely independent at the beginning of the 17th century.
  
At the end of the 18th century, Russia became a real threat to Jar-Balakan. The Georgian feudal lords, who were also overpowered by the Ottomans, turned to Russia and agreed to become its protectorate. Thus, Russia entered the South Caucasus.
    
With the coming to power in Russia of Tsar Alexander I on September 12, 1801, a noticeable revival took place in the South Caucasian policy of Russia. In August 1802, the commander-in-chief of the Russian troops in the Caucasus, A. V. Knorring, and the Russian ambassador in Tiflis, R. I. Kovalensky, were recalled. Instead, the more energetic and decisive P. D. Tsitsianov was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian troops in the Caucasus and supreme ruler in Georgia, with the powers of the imperial governor.

The first goal of Tsitsianov was the northwestern lands of Azerbaijan - the Jar-Balakan Jamaats and the Ilisu Sultanate. This region was of military-strategic and economic importance to Russia.
      
Jar-Balakan had an advantageous strategic position as an access road to Eastern Georgia, Dagestan, and the Sheki Khanate. This region was a serious obstacle to the advance of the Russian troops deep into Azerbaijan. Only after the capture of Jar-Balakan, Russia was able to gain a foothold in eastern Georgia and bring the freedom-loving mountain tribes to their knees. The occupation of the entire Caucasus began with Jar Balakan. In the early 19th century, the issue of Jar-Balakan became a general Caucasian issue of the occupation policy of Russia.
   
The occupation of these lands also had other important aspects for Russia. It is known that the inhabitants of Jar-Balakan were famous for their disobedience throughout the Caucasus. Their submission meant the appearance of Russian fear in the Caucasus and the key to future success.
  
The offensive of the Russian troops on Jar-Balakan began on March 2, 1803. The military expedition of General Gulyakov included 1482 infantrymen, 210 Cossacks, 113 freelance soldiers, 500 Georgian cavalrymen, 4000 Georgian infantrymen and 8 cannons. In an unequal battle, the invaders showed particular cruelty. In the battles for Jar-Balakan, 500 people of local residents were killed. 44 men, 92 women and two Georgian princes were taken prisoner. On March 8, Russian troops who captured Balakan burned houses, looted and marauded. Balakan society was forced to take on a number of obligations, subject to compliance with the rules of the internal management. They took upon themselves the obligation not to grant asylum to the Georgian Tsar Alexander and his relatives on their territory, to place Russian troops on their territory, to pay a tax on silk, and to send 5 people to Tiflis as hostages.
   
The occupation of Balakan weakened the position of Jar and other communities. The foreign policy situation was not in their favour either. It was also not possible to receive the expected help from Dagestan, since the mountain roads were covered with snow and impassable. The local population of Jar, relying on the help of their ally Mahammadhasan Khan of Sheki, intended to attack the Russian troops. Sensing this danger, Gulyakov with his troops entered the village of Katekh. The village was deserted as the local population retreated into the mountains. Only a small group remained here. Russian armed detachments, easily breaking their resistance, moved to Jar. At this time, Mahammadhasan Khan of Sheki came to the rescue with his detachment and 2 cannons. However, seeing that the Russian military forces were superior to him, he returned before reaching the village of Kateh.
      
On March 29 Gulyakov began a campaign against Jar. Seeing the fate of Balakan and not being able to offer strong resistance, the people of Jar organized several attacks in small groups. However, it was not possible to prevent the attacks of well-armed Russian military units. On this day, the elders of Jar came to Gulyakov and agreed with his conditions.

On April 12, 1803, a Sacred Promise (agreement) was signed in Tiflis on the transfer of the Jar-Balakan community and the Ilisu sultanate to Russia. Thus, the people of Jar-Balakan who had no choice, were forced to accept the following conditions:
  
1. All Jar-Balakan societies forever join Russia and pay an annual tribute of 220 poods of silk. 
2. The Ilisu Sultanate is subject to Russian citizenship, with an annual payment of 10 poods of silk.
3. The villages of Jar, Balakan, Katekh, Tala, Mukhakh, and Jinikh submit a deposit as a pledge of their loyalty and are responsible for other villages assigned to them. 
4. Russian troops are given the right to be located in their villages at the discretion of the authorities, but the treasury must provide food for the troops.
5. Societies undertake not to receive or shelter either Tsarevich Alexander and his accomplices, or Dagestani highlanders, who should not be allowed through their possessions to Georgia.

The agreement also contained a special clause concerning the Ingiloys living on the territory of the Jar-Balakan jamaat. Clause 9 of the treaty demanded that the Ingiloys not be hindered from freely practicing Christianity. This requirement determined the direction of the colonial policy that the Russian Empire would pursue in the Jar-Balakan Jamaat in the future.
    
The question of the return of prisoners taken in the battle of Balakan is also included in paragraph 2 of the agreement.
 
Thus, the Russian Empire occupied the Jar-Balakan jamaats and opened the way leading to the Azerbaijani khanates.  

Recommended literature:

1. Məmmədova, Arzu Əşrəf qızı. Car-Balakən camaatlığı: XVII əsrin sonu-XIX əsrin 30-cu illəri / A. Ə. Məmmədova ; elmi red. Y. M. Mahmudov. - Bakı : UniPrint, 2009. - 256 s.
2. Cavadova, Z. Ə. Şimal-Qərbi Azərbaycanın əhali tarixi və tarixi demoqrafiyası: XIX əsrin əvvəlləri - 70-ci illəri : monoqrafiya / Z. Ə. Cavadova ; elmi red. Y. M. Mahmudlu. - Bakı : Altay, 2002. - 192 s.
3. Şimal-Qərbi Azərbaycan tarixi : monoqrafiya / Ş. H. Əliyev [et al.] ; layihənin rəh., ön sözün müəl. Y. M. Mahmudov, elmi red. İ. S. Bağırova ; AMEA A.A. Bakıxanov adına Tarix İnstitutu. - Bakı : Şərq-Qərb, 2011. - 424 s.