Islamic Historians (part V)

Abu Reyhan Biruni (Raihan, Rayhan) (973-1048 AD)
ابوريحان بيروني
Full: Abu Reyhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad Biruni
ابوريحان محمدبن احمد بيروني
Work: Athar ul Baghieh, Al Jamahir, etc.
آثار الباقيه, الجماهير

The great Iranian scientist, physicist, mathematician, geographer, historian and literary figure Abu Reyhan Biruni (about 360s–440s Hijri) in his accounts of the region mentions Bardha (Partaw) a city in Aran (Aghvank) close to the River Kur, Beylakan (Pytakaran), Khlat, Arjish (Arjesh, Argishtiuni, Արճեշ, Արգիշտիունի), Shirvan and Bab ul Abwab (Darband, Chor). He explains that Bab ul Abwab is also known as Darband of Khazar and Bakooh (Baku) is the source of white naft (oil). Abureyhan considers all these regions part of Armenia until Vartan (Vartanakert) which according to him was under Azarbayegan’s (Azarbaijan the real) jurisdiction. ●

Abulfada (Abul Fida, ?- 1331 AD)
ابوالفداﺀ
Full: Emadeddin Ismail ibn Muhammad ibn Omar Abulfada
عمادالدین اسمعيل بن محمدبن عمر ابوالفداﺀ
Work: Taqwim al Buldan
البلدان تقويم

The seventh/eighth century Hijri historian and geographer Abulfada (died 732 Hijri) is a descendant of Salaheddin (Saladin) Ayyubi. His work deals mainly with Iran but it contains valuable information about Asia Minor as well. A chapter in his work is about Armenia, Aran (Aghvank) and Azarbaijan (Atrpatakan) with detailed descriptions of their geographic features.

Abulfada says: “Armenia, Aran (Aghvank H.) and Azarbaijan (the real H.) are three large and separate realms that are represented together on maps by the experts”.

Describing the borders of Azarbaijan (Atrpatakan) he states: “it is limited by Deylam in the east and Iraq to the south… Aran’s (Aghvank H.) borders starts in Bab (Darband H.) to Tiflis (Tbilisi H.) until near Arax River in a place known as Hajeiran… And Azarbaijan (the real H.) begins in Hajeiran and stretches till Zanjan, Dinvar to Halvan and the city Zur and turns until it reaches near Tigris and the borders of Armenia” which clearly shows that an “Azerbaijan” north of the Arax is nothing but 20th century mythology. ●

Qudamah ibn Jafar Katib Baghdadi
قدامت بن جعفر کتيب بغدادي
Work: Kitab ul Kharaj
کتاب الخراج

Qudamah ibn Jafar mentions the khoras and considers Aran (Aghvank) a khora of Armenia. ●

Ibn Miskuyeh (?-1030 AD)
ابن مسکويه
Full: Abu Ali Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Miskuyeh Razi
ابو علي احمدبن محمدبن مسکويه رازي
Work: Tajarib al Umam (Experiences of Nations)
تجارب الامم

A famous Iranian historian, Ibn Miskuyeh (died 421 Hijri) served the rulers of Al Buyeh. In Tajarib al Umam he narrates the Russian invasion in Aghvank and the events of Yussof ibn abis Saj’s time, the caliph al Muqtadir appointed ruler of Azarbaijan (the real), Aghvank and Armenia. Abis Saj stops paying taxes to the caliph (299 Hijri). He treacherously obtains the rule of Qazvin, Rey, Zanjan and Abhar. ●

Bakri Qurtubi (?-c. 1094 AD)
البكري قرطبي
Full: Abu Ubeid Abdullah al Bakri Qurtubi (of Cordoba)
ابو عبید عبدالله البكري قرطبي
Work: Al Massalek wal Mamalek
المسالک و الممالک

Bakri Qurtubi (died around 487 Hijri) is a well known Arab geographer from Spain. Besides Al Massalek wal Mamalek, he compiled one of the earliest Islamic encyclopedias. Bakri considers Aran (Aghvank) a khora in Armenia. He explains: “Khoras of Armenia: Aran (Aghvank), Jorzan (Georgia), Neshwi (Nakhijevan), Khlat, Dabil (Dvin), Seraj, Jordbil, Arjish (Arjesh), Sisjan (Sisakan), the city of Bab ul Abwab (Darband, Chor) and Hey Darjan”. He confirms that Azarbaijan (the real) is a separate khora. ●

Idrissi (1100-1163 AD)
ادريسي
Full:Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Muhammad Sharif Idrissi
ابوعبدالله محمدبن محمد الادريسي
Work:Nuzhat ul Mushtaq fi Ikhtiraq al Afaq (The Delight for Who Desires to Journey through Different Horizons)
نزهة المشتاق في الاختراق الافاق

The sixth century (493–around 560) Hijri Andalusian geographer Sharif Idrissi studied mathematics, history and geography in Cordoba and visited Asia Minor among other destinations. From 1138 he lived at the court of the Sicilian king Roger II, who ordered him to draw the map of the world. In his manuscript he has drawn the maps of Armenia, Aran (Aghvank) and Azarbaijan as three separate entities. ●

Toosi (Tusi)
طوسي
Full: Muhammad ibn Mahmood ibn Ahmad Toosi
محمدبن محمودبن احمد طوسي
Work: Aja’eb ul Makhluqat (Marvels of Creatures)
عجائب المخلوقات

The Iranian geographer, Toosi lived in the sixth century Hijri and dedicated his work to Tughril ibn Arslan ibn Tughril, a Seljuk ruler of Iraq. He says: “Bardha (Partaw H.) …is a city on the border of Armenia to the Caucasus Mountain.” Note that this is already in the times after the Seljuk invasions. Not a single sign of “Azeri” or “Azerbaijan” in the region north of the Arax is yet to be discerned. ●