The
main
aim
of
the
Russian
Government
and
Prince
Tsitsianov
was
tooccupy
the
territory
between
the
Caspian
(Khezr)
and
the
Black
(Asud)
seas
and
theircoasts
for
the
purpose
of
opening
easy
trade
routes.
Therefore
H.
Ex.
Prince
Tsitsianovset
up
the
fortress
of
Redut-Kale
(Qoli)
at
the
coast
of
the
Black
Sea
and
thenmarched
to
conquer
Baku.
After
returning
from
Dar-al-Sorur
[Tiflis]
he
mademilitary
preparations
for
a
campaign,
and
in
February
of
1806/1221,
with
victorious
troopsmade
for
Baku
and
its
nearby
areas.
Mahdi-qoli
Khan
of
Karabagh
joined
him
to
assist,
whereas
Mustoufi
Khan
of
Shirvan
refused
to
submit
to
him
and
revolted.
H.
Ex.
Commander-in-Chief
preferred
to
punish
him
first,
then
advanced
towards
Shamakhi.
Hearingthis
Mustoufi
Khan,
was
scared
and
escaped
to
the
fortress
Fit.
He
fortified
it
with
hisretinue
and
subject
tribesmen.
After
the
arrival
of
the
Commander-in-Chief,
a
peace
treatywas
signed,
which
resulted
in
restoring
order
in
the
country.
The
Commander-in-Chiefaccompanied
with
only
one
convoy
went
to
meet
Mustoufi
Khan
several
times.
The
latterwarned
him
kindly
of
the
danger
he
exposed
himself
to,
being
careless
about
his
guard.
TheCommander
answered
him,
"The
celebrated
Emperor
of
[Russia]
has
millions
of
soldierslike
me.
If
I
am
killed,
he'll
lack
only
one
and
what
difference
does
it
make
whichone
is
killed?"
Completing
his
affairs
there,
H.
Ex.
Commander-in-Chief
invaded
Baku.
He
encircled
the
town
from
the
sides
of
the
sea,
the
land
and
the
valley.
After
a
while,
Hoseyn-qoli
Khan,
the
governor
of
Baku,
started
peace
negotiations
and
expressed
his
willto
submit
to
the
Great
State
of
Russia.
The
Commander-in-Chief
believed
in
his
words
andsoon
friendly
relations
were
established
between
them.
Hoseyn-qoli
Khan
came
out
of
thefortress
and
put
up
his
tent
in
its
vicinity.
One
day
he
sent
a
secret
message
to
theCommander-in-Chief
inviting
him
his
tent
for
having
consultation
about
problems.
H.
Ex.,
afrank
and
an
honest
man,
did
not
care
his
life
and
did
not
anticipate
the
ulterior
motiveof
the
invitation.
So,
he
came
to
Hoseyn-qoli
Khan's
tent,
sat
down
to
talk
with
him.
Hoseyn-qoli
Khan
put
the
keys
of
the
fortress
on
a
silver
tray
in
front
of
theCommander-in-Chief.
At
that
time
Ibrahim
Khan,
a
relative
of
Hoseyn-qoli
Khan,
due
to
theorder
given
to
him
beforehand,
dishonorably
fired
at
such
a
reverend
Commander
and
woundedhim.
The
Commander-in-Chief
died
at
the
same
moment.
No
other
commander
ever
excelled
Prince
Tsitsianov
in
courage,
skill,
and
success.
[He
was]
very
painstaking,
upright,
kind,
and
pleasant.
He
never
punishedanyone
without
bringing
him
to
reason
beforehand.
Hoseyn-qoli
Khan
considered
his
action
a
worthy
service
toQizilbash's
State
and
sent
Tsitsianov's
head
with
Ibrahim
Khan
to
them.
Innumerable
troops
hit
the
plain
of
Baku,
which
looked
like
the
Doomsday
owing
to
a
greatnumber
of
pink-colored
tents.
After
this
the
Russian
army
could
not
dare
to
return
by
land
and
sailedtheir
ships
to
Astrakhan.
Then
Iran
assumed
reins
of
government
in
the
[East]
Caucasiancountries,
and
insurrections
occurred
everywhere.
H.
Ex.
Major
General
Nesvetaev
(Nesvitaev),
a
Commander-in-Chief
inShaki,
then
became
interim
governor
until
(115b)
Count
Gudovich's
(Ghudovich)
arrivalin
Tiflis
five
months
later.
