The Russian conquest of eastern Transcaucasia

Fath ʿAli Shah Qajar was occupied until 1803 in dealing with internal opposition, but he maintained his uncle's policy of regarding Georgia and the other Caucasian districts as part of Iran, while fearful of Russian aims there. Tsar Paul annexed Georgia in 1801; when he was assassinated soon after, his successor Alexander I reverted to Catherine's policy of expansion in the Caucasus. In the next two years, unsuccessful attempts were made to negotiate the submission of the khanates of Erevan, Ganjeh and Nakhchevan, all of which had substantial Christian populations.

The Russian advent in the Iranian vassal territories of eastern Transcaucasia met with a mixed reception. Atkin gives an authoritative account of the mutual misunderstandings and prejudices that characterized relations between Russians and both the Iranian authorities and the local rulers and their subjects, in the years leading to the outbreak of war. She points out at length how the khans had ‘for generations … profited from the weaknesses of neighboring empires by asserting their own autonomy. They continued to pursue their traditional objective, then including Russia and Iran in their maneuverings.’

In some parts, for example the cities of Baku, Shaki, Qobbeh and Darband, the troops were apparently welcomed by the populace, who took the opportunity to throw off the oppressive yoke of the khans.