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Revision as of 01:10, 7 July 2004 by Roozbeh (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Ganja (Gəncə or Ҝәнҹә in Azerbaijani) is an ancient town in Azerbaijan. Throughout its history, Ganja has had different names: Abbasabad (during Shah Abbas I's rule), Elizavetpol (during Russia's rule), and Kirovabad (during the Soviet Union's rule). Ganja is the birthplace of the famous classical Persian poet Nezami.
People of Ganja experienced cultural decline after the Mongol invasion in the 1231 and an earthquake in the 12th century. The city was revived after the Safavids came to power. In 1747, Ganja became the capital of the independent Ganja khanate. In 1804, the city 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 Russians. In 1920 the Soviet Union conquered Azerbaijan and 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 a Nezami Mausoleum, built in 1991.