As it is known, the Turkic world is divided into two main ethno-linguistic communities — Oghuz and Kipchaks (Kipchaks). Both Oguzes and Kipchaks played a significant role in the history of Azerbaijan. Oghuz Turkic languages are spoken by Turks, Azerbaijanis, Turkmens, Gagauz, Khorasan and Khorezm Turks, as well as some Crimean Tatars.
Kipchaks played a significant role in the history of AzerbaijanThe Oguzes numerically dominate over the Kipchaks in the Turkic world. The largest Oghuz peoples are the Turks, who number about 70 million, and the Azerbaijanis, who number over 50 million (together with the Iranian Azerbaijanis).
The languages of the Kipchak branch are spoken by Tatars, Bashkirs, Kazakhs, Nogais, Kirghiz, Karakalpaks, and others. The most numerous Kipchak people are Kazakhs, whose total number approaches 14 million. Uzbek and Uigur languages belong to the Karluk, and Chuvash — to the most archaic Bulgar branch of the Turkic languages.
Who are the Kipchaks? The prototype of the word «Kipchak» is probably the term «Kyueshe» or «Jyueshe», mentioned in 201 BC in Chinese written sources. The mention of this people under the name «Kibchak» in the rock inscription on the so-called Selenga Stone (759) is considered more reliable and proven. The ethnonyms «Kypchak» and «Kyfchak» are often cited in their works by such medieval authors as Ibn Khordadbeh (IX century), Gardizi, Mahmud Kashgari (XI century), Ibn al-Asir (XIII century), Rashid al-Din, al-Umari, Ibn Khaldun (XIV century), etc.
In medieval Russian annals of the XI-XIII centuries, the Kipchaks are mentioned under the names «Polovtsy» and «Sorochin». In Hungary they were known as «Palots» and «Kuns» (ethnographic group «Kumans» still lives in Hungary). Medieval Byzantine and Western European sources of the XIII century call them by the same term («Kumans» or «Komans»).
Bulgars and Kipchaks in Azerbaijan
The Turkic history of Azerbaijan is connected not only with the Oguzes. According to historical sources, Bulgars and Kipchaks also lived in Azerbaijan since ancient times, and Bulgars represent one of the oldest Turkic strata. Thus, back in III-VI centuries AD the territory of Caucasian Albania was inhabited by Hun-Bulgarian tribes — Huns, Savirs, Khazars, etc. In 552 the Savirs (Suvars) invaded Caucasian Albania. In 562 Turkic tribes of Savirs and Khazars settled the areas around the city of Gabala, the capital of Caucasian Albania. In 626-630. Caucasian Albania was subordinated to the Khazar Kaganate, whose administrative center was sometimes located in Gabala.
Over time, the Oghuz and Kipchak elements intensified in Azerbaijan, assimilating the older Bulgar (Hun, Savir and Khazar) stratum. The language of the ancient Turks of Hun and Bulgar origin, who once inhabited Azerbaijan, is considered extinct. Its only «living» heir is the modern Chuvash language, which has very archaic features and sharply differs from all other currently used Turkic languages.
Azerbaijanis are considered to be Oghuz Turks, and the Azerbaijani language is rightly attributed to the Oghuz branch of Turkic languages. This is quite true, but it often does not take into account the significant contribution of the Kipchaks to the formation of the Azerbaijani people and its language. However, linguists know that although the Azerbaijani language as a whole belongs to the Oghuz branch of Turkic languages, Kipchak elements are clearly visible in it.
In particular, one of the most used Azerbaijani words — «yakhshi» («good», «good»), which is related to the Kazakh word «zhaksy» (Kazakhs and Kyrgyz pronounce the sounds «zh» and «s» where Azerbaijanis use «y» and «sh») — is of Kipchak origin.
The ancient Oguzes themselves, unlike the Kipchaks, more often used the word «iyi» («igi») instead of «yakhshi». The word «iyi» («good», «good») is still used in modern Turkish, but it gradually went out of use in Azerbaijan, being replaced by the Kipchak word «yakhshi».
Kipchaks in ancient manuscripts
Unlike the Huns and Bulgars, the Kipchaks left a more tangible trace in the Azerbaijani Oghuz language. Thus, the rulers of the Atabek state of Azerbaijan (1145 — 1225) — the Eldenizids (Eldegizids, Ildegizids) Atabek Shamsaddin Eldeniz and his descendants Jahan Pehlevan, Kyzyl Arslan, Abubekr and Uzbek were Kipchaks by origin. Although their Eldenizid militias consisted more of representatives of Oghuz tribes, nevertheless, the Kipchaks at that time also lived compactly in many regions of Azerbaijan and represented a formidable military force. At times they served Shirvanshahs and kings of Georgia and at times fought with them.
Famous medieval chronicler Ibn al-Asir (1160-1233) in his book «Tarikh al-kamil» («Complete History») describes participation of Kipchaks in political life of medieval Azerbaijan: «In sha’ban of this year, 587 [August 1191], Kizil Arslan, whose name is Osman Ildegiz, was killed. We have already mentioned that he took possession of the countries after his brother Pehlevan, king of Arran, Azerbaijan, Hamadan, Isfahan, Ray and what is between them….
After Mongols have occupied the land of Kipchaks, last have scattered: one part has left in the country of Russ, other has dispersed on the mountains, the majority of them, having collected, have gone to Derbend of Shirvan. They have sent to its owner by name Rashid and have told to it: » Mongols have grasped our country and have plundered our property; we have come to you to settle down in your country. We are your slaves, and we will conquer regions for you, and you are our sultan.»… He granted their request…..
They moved on and came to the vicinity of Ganja in the province of Arran, which (Ganja) belonged to the Muslims, and here the Kipchaks settled down. And Emir of Ganja — it was a slave of Padishah Uzbek, the ruler of Azerbaijan, named Kushkhara — sent troops against them and prevented them from approaching his area… And one of the Kipchak leaders came out at the head of a large horde against Gurja (i.e. Georgians) and suddenly attacked them, killed many of them, put them to flight, took what was with them and captured many captives. After that the Kipchaks returned to Mount Kilkun and settled on it, as it was before».
Kipchaks in the epic «Dede Gorgud»
Kipchaks are also described in the outstanding medieval literary monument of the Oghuz Turks — the epic «Kitabi Dede Gorgud». At that time there was a fierce intertribal war between Kipchaks and Oguzes, so Kipchaks are described in the epic in a negative light. Since at that time (XII-XIII centuries) the Oguzes had already accepted Islam, and the majority of Kipchaks remained pagans and Tengrians, in the epic the Kipchaks are referred to by the words «gyaur», «kafirs», i.e. «infidels». The main negative character in the epic is a treacherous and cruel leader of the Kipchaks named Shekli Melik, or Kypchak Melik. Kipchaks, according to the epic, suddenly attack the Oguzes’ camps and, taking advantage of the temporary absence of warriors in them, kill and enslave women, old men and children.
Here is an excerpt from the epic «Dede Gorgud» translated by V.V.Bartold: «Seven thousand black-haired giaurs of unclean faith, enemies of the (true) faith, wearing caftans torn halfway down the back, sat on their foot horses and made a raid; at midnight they came to the horde of Kazan bey. The Giaurs destroyed his golden-topped dwellings, made his goose-like daughter-bride scream, jumped on herds of his swift horses, stole rows of his red camels, plundered his rich treasury, his abundant money. The dewy Burla-Khatun and forty slender maidens with her were taken away into captivity; Kazanbek’s aged mother was taken away, tied to the neck of a black camel; Kazan’s son Uruz-Bek and three hundred dzhigits were taken away with their hands tied and their necks tied; Sary-Kalmash, the son of Ilik Kodzhi Sary-Kalmash, fell in battle for Kazan-Bek’s house; Kazan had no news about these cases».
However, according to one of the versions, the word «gyauri» in the epic does not mean Kipchaks, but Georgians. Especially since «gyauri» are dressed in black, which is a traditional color of Georgian clothing. Besides, in one place the term «Aznavour» is used in relation to «gyaur». Probably, there is a mixed Georgian-Kipchak variant, as in the 12th century tens of thousands of Kipchak-Tengrians settled in the south of Georgia and, having made an alliance with Georgian kings, participated in their military campaigns, including against Muslims.
Thus, the king of Georgia David IV, fearing the invasion of the Seljuks, in 1118 concluded an alliance with the Kipchaks and married Gurandukht (probably Turandukht — «daughter of Turan»), daughter of the king (melik) of the Kipchaks Atrak. After that, 40,000 warriors of Atrak, not counting women and children, settled in the south of Georgia, and 5,000 selected Kipchak warriors joined the royal guard.
Kypchak Melik is colorfully represented in the movie «Dede Gorgud» («Light of extinguished fires», Azerbaijanfilm, 1975): «The throne of Kypchak Melik was placed on a high platform. The platform was very wide. Here was the throne of Kypchak Melik and his bed. On this platform, besides Kypchak Melik himself, there were nine black-eyed, fair-faced, long-skinned beauties. Their hands up to their wrists were painted with henna, their fingers were thin, and their necks were long. Kypchak Melik had fun with them. The girls served him wine in golden goblets.
Kipchak Melik never left the platform. When it was necessary to go somewhere, the horse was brought to the platform, and he jumped directly from the throne on the horse’s back. The warriors sitting below would lie down under the feet of Kypchak Melik’s horse, and until the chief rode on their backs, they would not raise their faces from the ground. The platform was richly decorated. The pillars were trimmed with expensive stones, the edges with peacock feathers. Snake skins hung everywhere. The tribe worshipped snakes. Returning after raids, Kypchak Melik ate and drank with nine concubines, amused himself and enjoyed himself in front of all the warriors of the tribe».
In fact, the Kipchaks were not at all more cruel and treacherous than the Oguzes. Just between two related Turkic tribes there was a war, and during the war opposing sides, as it is known, draw negative images of each other, which is natural and in modern times is called ideological or information warfare.
As a result, in the confrontation between Oghuz and Kipchaks in the territory of Azerbaijan, Iran and Asia Minor (modern Turkey), the numerically dominant Oghuz won, who later created the Seljuk and Ottoman empires, the states of Karakoyunlu, Akkoyunlu and Safavids. Kipchaks were subordinated, but did not disappear from the territory of Azerbaijan. They assimilated linguistically and switched to the Oghuz Turkic language. However, this influence was not one-sided — many Kipchak words, some grammatical constructions and peculiarities of phonetics passed into the Azerbaijani language, belonging in general to the Oghuz branch of Turkic languages.
At present, the strongest Kipchak elements in Azerbaijani culture are manifested in the northwestern regions of the country — in the Ganja-Kazakh zone, as well as among Azerbaijanis living in Georgia. These are the regions where Kipchaks settled en masse and where their direct descendants, who mixed with Oghuz in the Middle Ages, live. Thus, in the Gakh district of Azerbaijan there is still a village called Gypchag.
Cossacks, Kazakhs and Kazachis
As is known, the Kazakhs are one of the largest modern Kipchak peoples. It is quite remarkable that in the north-western part of modern Azerbaijan there is a city of Gazakh and Gazakh district named after it. Although the population of the Gazakh district of Azerbaijan consists not of Kazakhs, but of ethnic Azerbaijanis, in ancient times these territories were inhabited by Kipchaks, who probably gave the area this name.
G.A. Geybullayev in his book «To the ethnogenesis of Azerbaijanis» (Baku, «Elm», 1991, p.141, 356), writes the following: «The toponym Kazakh in Azerbaijan is of interest. There is an opinion that the ethnonym Kazakh among Kipchaks appeared not earlier than XI century. However, the settlement of Kazakh in Aran was mentioned already in the IX century by Arab authors in connection with the events that took place in the VII century: in al-Kufi — Kasak; in Ibn-Hordadbeh — Kisal. According to al-Balazuri, Kasal was built by the Arab governor Marwan ibn Muhammad (732-744) approximately in the mid-30s of the VIII century and served as a military camp during the struggle with the Khazars and local tribes».
G.A. Geybullaev further notes that: «The different spelling (Kasal and Kasak), as correctly noted by N. Velikhanli, is explained by the similarity of Arabic handwritten letters «k» and «l». This indicates that Kazakhs inhabited here, in any case, until VII century… Arab author of IX century Abu Muhammad Ahmad ibn Asam al-Kufi mentions the fortress of Kazaj on the territory of Iranian Azerbaijan.
In the commentary to this toponym Z.M. Buniyatov writes on the basis of information of Yaqut al-Hamawi that it belonged to Babek. In all probability, this toponym is distorted through the fault of the scribes of «Kazakh», based on the similarity of Arabic letters «x» and «j»… It is possible to connect the toponym of Kazakh in the south with the toponym of Kazakh in the north (present-day Kazakh in the Azerbaijan SSR), which is mentioned by the Arab author. Both these toponyms are undoubtedly connected with the Turkic ethnonym kasak, kazak, kazakh».
In Central Asia, the word «Cossack» as an ethnonym (name of the people) appeared around 1460. Its basis was laid by the khans Zhanibek and Kerey, who migrated with their tribes from the banks of the Syr Darya River eastward to Semirechye, Chui Valley and founded there in 1465 the Cossack Khanate. Its population began to be called «free people», i.e. «Cossacks» («Kazakhs»).
Thus, the more ancient and correct variant of the word «Kazakh» is «Cossack» or «Gazag». Russian Cossacks were called «Kazaks» because of their partly Turkic (in the past) origin. The Central Asian republic of Kazakhstan was also originally named Kazak ASSR and was only renamed Kazakh SSR in 1936. This was done to prevent confusion of Kazakhs with Cossacks, as well as to make it difficult to draw analogies between these two ethnic communities in order to prevent the ancestors of Russian Cossacks from being identified with Turks and Kazakhs in particular.
In Azerbaijani language the word «gazag» turned into «gazakh» for another reason. The Azerbaijani language, especially the colloquial language, is characterized by the modification of «g» to «h» or «gh». For example, «bulag» (spring) is often pronounced as «bulah», «ayag» (foot) as «ayah», etc. The very word «gazag» («Cossack», «Kazakh») is of Old Turkic origin and means «a free, independent person, a fortunate man, an adventurer».
Tatar cavalry regiment
During the years of the Russian Empire, Muslims of the Caucasus were not subject to military conscription. However, in 1914, a volunteer Caucasian Native Mounted Division, better known as the «Wild Division», was created under the command of the Tsar’s younger brother, His Majesty’s retinue, Major-General, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. As part of the division there was an Azerbaijani (at that time it was called «Tatar») cavalry regiment, two-thirds of whose personnel were drawn from the Ganja-Gazakh zone of Azerbaijan and the Borchala zone of Georgia, populated by Azerbaijanis, including descendants of the Kipchaks.
Nicholas II during his stay in Tiflis in November 1914 addressed to the deputation of Muslims with the following words: «I express my heartfelt gratitude to all representatives of the Muslim population of Tiflis and Elizavetpol provinces, who were so sincere in the difficult time, proof of which is the equipping by the Muslim population of the Caucasus of six mounted regiments in the division, which under the command of my brother went to fight against our common enemy. Please convey my heartfelt gratitude to the entire Muslim population for their love and devotion to Russia».
After the proclamation of Azerbaijan’s independence in 1918, the backbone of the Azerbaijani army was formed by the same Tatar Mounted Regiment and recruits from the Ganja-Gazakh zone of Azerbaijan led by a native of Gazakh, General Ali Agha Shikhlinsky, who had previously served in the Russian army before the October Revolution and was nicknamed «God of Russian artillery».