Farrukh Yassar

Farrukh Yassar was the last independent Shirvanshah of Shirvan (1465–1500). In 1500, the first Safavid ruler, Ismail I, decisively defeated and killed Farrukh Yassar during his conquest of the area. Descendants of Farrukh Yassar continued to rule Shirvan under Safavid suzerainty, until 1538, when Ismail's son and successor Tahmasp I (r. 1524-1576) appointed its first Safavid governor, and made it a fully functioning Safavid province.[1]

Farrukh Yassar I
Shah of Shirvan
Silver coin minted during reign of Farrukh Yassar
Reign	1465–1500
Coronation	1465
Predecessor	Khalilullah I
Successor	Bahram
Born	1441 Baku
Died	1500 Baku
Spouse	Daughter of Usmi of Kaitag Adil bey
Issue	Gazi Beg Shirvanshah Bahram Beg Ibrahim II Sheykhshah Princess Govhershakh
Full name Farrukh Yassar Darbandi
House	House of Shirvanshah
Father	Khalilullah I

Relations

Ak Koyunlu

He averted strategy of his ancestor's - alliance with Timurids, instead he moved towards Uzun Hasan. He married his daughter to Uzun Hasan's son Yaqub. On 31 January 1468 the combined forces of Shirvanshahs and Ak Koyunlu defeated Timurid khan Abu Sa'id Mirza. Future sultans of Ak Koyunlu - Baysonqor and Murad were his grandsons.

Ottomans

He sent his "Khalaf ul umarah and akabir" (Deputy of emirs and nobles) Ziyaaddin Yusif and his personal merchant Khawja Yar Ahmad with 2 bullions of gold to Istanbul, in order to establish relations with Mehmet the Conqueror.

Russia

In 1465, Shirvanshah envoy Hasan Shirvani was sent to Moscow in order to establish diplomatic relations, in response Ivan III of Russia sent an embassy with leadership of Vasily Papin and a group of merchants (which also included Afanasy Nikitin) for trade and a pact against Golden Horde.[2]

The battle between the young Ismail I and Shah Farrukh Yassar of Shirvan.

Safavids

During Uzun Hasan's reign, relations with Safavids were quite peaceful. But, in 1488 Shaykh Haydar of Safaviyya extremist Shia sect moved through Shirvan towards Derbent, supposedly to wage jihad against Circassians, but instead laid siege to Shamakhy. He captured the capital and burned it. Farrukh Yassar was not able to mount defense and asked his son-in-law Sultan Yaqub of Ak Koyunlu to come to his rescue on 9 June 1488. Upon hearing his arrival, Sheikh retreated to Derbent. Combined forces of Ak Koyunlu under Suleiman bey and Shirvanshah forces which were led by shah himself, attacked to Qizilbash on 9 July 1488. Their combined forces were able to defeat the Safavid Qizilbash forces and Shaykh Haydar was wounded by an arrow. He was captured by gatekeeper Ali aga who severed his head and sent to Sultan Yaqub.

Ak Koyunlu civil war

Another helmet that bears name of Farrukh Yassar. ("New York Metropolitan Museum")

Upon death of his son-in-law in 1490, he supported his grandson Baysonqor for keeping the throne. In 1492, he fled to Shirvan upon dethronement. However he was killed in a battle between Barda and Ganja. Brother of Baysonqor, Murad also fled to Shirvan sometime later and stayed there until 1497.[3]

Sheikhshah

In 1497 Shaki ruler Shah Hussain rebelled with Shah's youngest son future king Ibrahim II Sheykhshah and raided Gabala for 8 days. Shah crushed them with his other sons and Abulfath beg - wali of Gabala. However, they were pardoned.

Later reign and death

Young Ismail was freed by his cousin, new Ak Koyunlu sultan Rustam in 1492. He decided to take revenge of his father, but rulers of Ardabil Ali beg Jayirli and Talysh ruler Muhammed who were vassals of Shirvanshahs did not give any help when demanded. Ismail then moved on to Karabakh and then to Erzincan. In 1499, he began to march on Shirvan. Two forces met on Battle of Jabani, near Shamakhy. Shirvanese forces were devastated and shah were captured and beheaded.[4] Ismail captured Shamakhy, and moved on to Baku.

Legacy

He was remembered as merciful and glorious ruler by sources.[5] Construction of Tuba Shahi Mosque and Juma Mosque in Derbent were patronized by himself.[6]

Family

Farrukh Yassar was married to daughter of Usmi of Kaitag Adil bey

• Gazi Beg - Shirvanshah in 1501.
• Shirvanshah Bahram Beg - Shirvanshah in 1502.
• Ibrahim II Sheykhshah - Shirvanshah after his brothers.
• Princess Govhershakh – Married to Uzun Hasan son Yaqub.

References

1. Fisher et al. 1986, pp. 212, 245.
2. M.M.Алтьман. Из истории торгово-дипломатических cвязeй Mocквы и Шиpвaнa. Tp. Ин-тa истории им. A.Бaкиxaнoвa, т.I, Бaкy, 1947, c.157
3. The early yeaгs of Shah Isma'il, founder of the Safawi Dynasty, by E. Denisson Ross. JRAS, vol. 29, 1896. p.257-260
4. Hasan Rumlu - Ihsan at Tawarikh
5. "Tarikh-i alam ara-yi Amini" by Fazlallah bin Ruzbihan, p. 67-71
6. T.M.Myceви. Cpeднeвeкoвыe дoкyмeнты пo истории b Бaкy, 1967, c.81-82

Sources

• Fisher, William Bayne; Avery, P.; Hambly, G. R. G; Melville, C. (1986). The Cambridge History of Iran. 6. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521200943.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)