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| The city was most likely founded in the 5th century AD. To explain the etymology of "Ganja" historians often refer either to the Persian word of ''ganj'' ("treasure"), or to the Turkic word of ''ganj'' ("young"). | The city was most likely founded in the 5th century AD. To explain the etymology of "Ganja" historians often refer either to the Persian word of ''ganj'' ("treasure"), or to the Turkic word of ''ganj'' ("young"). | ||
| People of Ganja experienced cultural decline after an ] in |
People of Ganja experienced cultural decline after an ] in ] and the ] invasion in the ]. The city was revived after the ] came to power. For a short period of time Ganja was being called Abbasabad, which it was renamed to after shah ]. In ], Ganja became the capital of the independent Ganja ]. In ] ] by the ], the city was transferred to the Russians after Persia's defeat in the ]. It was renamed to Elizavetpol after the wife of ], ]. | ||
| In ] Ganja became a tempopary capital of ], until ] was recaptured from the communists. In ] the ] conquered Azerbaijan and renamed it back to Ganja in ], but later in ], ] renamed the city to Kirovabad after ]. In ], Azerbaijan became independent, and the ancient name of the city was re-established. | In ] Ganja became a tempopary capital of ], until ] was recaptured from the communists. In ] the ] conquered Azerbaijan and renamed it back to Ganja in ], but later in ], ] renamed the city to Kirovabad after ]. In ], Azerbaijan became independent, and the ancient name of the city was re-established. | ||
Revision as of 00:12, 8 July 2004
Ganja (Gəncə or Ҝәнҹә) is an ancient town now in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Throughout its history, Ganja has had different names, including Elizavetpol (during Russia's rule) and Kirovabad (during the Soviet Union's rule). Ganja is the birthplace of the famous classical Persian poet Nezami.
The city was most likely founded in the 5th century AD. To explain the etymology of "Ganja" historians often refer either to the Persian word of ganj ("treasure"), or to the Turkic word of ganj ("young").
People of Ganja experienced cultural decline after an earthquake in 1139 and the Mongol invasion in the 1231. The city was revived after the Safavids came to power. For a short period of time Ganja was being called Abbasabad, which it was renamed to after shah Abbas I. In 1747, Ganja became the capital of the independent Ganja khanate. In October 1813 by the Treaty of Gülüstan, the city was transferred to the Russians after Persia's defeat in the Persia-Russia wars. It was renamed to Elizavetpol after the wife of Alexander I of Russia, Elizabeth.
In 1918 Ganja became a tempopary capital of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, until Baku was recaptured from the communists. In 1920 the Soviet Union conquered Azerbaijan and renamed it back to Ganja in 1924, but later in 1935, Joseph Stalin renamed the city to Kirovabad after Sergei Kirov. In 1991, Azerbaijan became independent, and the ancient name of the city was re-established.
Today Ganja is the second largest city in Azerbaijan. The population is about 300,000. It has an airport, and is home to the Nezami Mausoleum, built in 1991.