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Revision as of 16:23, 7 July 2004 by Roozbeh (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Ganja (Gəncə or Ҝәнҹә in Azerbaijani, گنجه in Persian) 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.
People of Ganja experienced cultural decline after an earthquake in the 12th century and the Mongol invasion in the 1231. The city was revived after the Safavids came to power. In 1747, Ganja became the capital of the independent Ganja khanate. In October 1813, the city was transferred to the Russians rule after the 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 Russians. 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.