The Qaradaglis are one of the ancient tribes of Azerbaijani Turks and played an important role in the establishment of the Safavid Empire. Historical sources also refer to them as “Qaradag Sufis,” and they were among the disciples of Sheikh Heydar. From the 16th century until the early 19th century, the administration of the Qaradag province was hereditary within this tribe. According to Iskandar Beg Munshi, the Qaradaglis ranked eighth after the seven main Qizilbash tribes. One of their prominent figures was Ansar Khalifa Qaradagly, who served as the governor of Qaradag and beylerbey of Shirvan.
The Qaradaglis mainly settled in the Qaradag province (modern-day East Azerbaijan province, Arasbaran region in Iran). This area lies south of the Araz River and is characterized by mountainous terrain. Historically, members of the tribe also lived in Karabakh, Nakhchivan, Zangezur, and some regions of Western Azerbaijan. Today, there are villages named Qaradagly in the Republic of Azerbaijan, and in the past, such settlements existed in Lachin and parts of Armenia.
The Qaradaglis are of Turkic origin and speak the Qaradag dialect of Azerbaijani, considered one of the purest forms of the language. Their religion is predominantly Shia Islam. Their population is estimated at about 75–80 thousand people living in Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey.
Traditionally, the Qaradaglis led a semi-nomadic feudal lifestyle, preserving the summer-winter pasture system and engaging in animal husbandry and farming. Fruit growing and sericulture were developed in the region. Their culture is similar to that of the Shahsevan tribe. The Qaradag dialect is regarded as one of the purest Turkic dialects. Throughout history, the tribe was known for its bravery and high status in state governance.
For a long time, the Qaradaglis lived under a semi-independent feudal system, subordinate to khans, and participated in wars as warriors. During the Safavid era, they were among the most loyal forces of the state. After the wars between the Qajars and Russia in the 19th century, part of the tribe migrated south of the Araz River.
Notable Figures:
- Ansar Khalifa Qaradagly – Governor of Qaradag, beylerbey of Shirvan.
- Shahverdi Khan Qaradagly – Renowned commander during the Safavid era.
- Other influential persons: Murshudqulu Sultan, Farrukhzad Bey, Suhrab Bey.
Customs and Folklore: Wedding ceremonies are based on ancient Turkic traditions: matchmaking, engagement, celebrations accompanied by saz and ashik music. Customs such as tying a red scarf on the bride’s head, setting up the bridal tent (gerdek), and bringing the bride on horseback have been preserved. Weddings often lasted three days and nights, with ashiks performing epic tales.
In mourning ceremonies, the tribe supports each other and organizes memorial meals. During religious holidays, especially Novruz, bonfires are lit, and traditional games are played.
The Qaradaglis are closely connected to the art of saz and mugham. Historically, Qaradag has been considered the cradle of ashiks and khanendes. At celebrations, epics such as “Shah Abbas” and “Abbas-Gulgaz” are performed, along with mugham music. The tribe is also famous for its rich bayatis and goshmas.
Qaradagly Villages in Azerbaijan:
- Qaradagly (Khojavend district) – Located in Karabakh, suffered during the 1988–1992 conflict, returned under Azerbaijani control in 2020.
- Qaradagly (Agdash district) – Near Agdash city, originated during the Safavid era.
- Qaradagly (Agdam district) – Historically known as Kolbasan and Soltanqobu. Other villages: Beylagan, Barda, Goranboy, Ujar, Fuzuli, Khachmaz, and Sheki.
Many of these villages experienced tragedies in the 20th century and during the Karabakh conflict. In Khojavend, the Qaradagly massacre of 1992 was one of the bloodiest events in Azerbaijan’s modern history.
P.S. Thanks to AI Copilot for helping in preparing the article!