Azərbaycanın Mərdlik Qalası

Azərbaycanın qədim və əsrarəngiz guşəsi olan Laçın rayonunun inzibati sərhədlərini Dəlidağ, İşıqlı, Qırxqız dağ silsilələri cızmışdı. Qarabağla mənfur qonşularımız arasında mərdlik qalasıydı Laçın! Tarix boyu torpağımıza göz dikənlər buranı «Qarabağın qara qapısı» adlandınrdılar.Ulu öndərimiz Heydər Əliyev bu ərazinin tarixi, strateji əhəmiyyətini belə dəyərləndirirdi: «Azərbaycanın müstəqilliyi, ərazisinin qorunması nöqteyi nəzərindən Laçın rayonu çox böyük strateji əhəmiyyətə malikdir».Tarix boyu bu ölkənin övladları Azərbaycana olan hücumlara öz sinələrini sipər etmiş, Vətənimizin bütövlüyü naminə tarixi qəhrəmanlıq ənənələri yaratmışlar.Laçın qədim oğuz torpaqlarında Ermənistan adlı dövlət quranlara peşkəş edilmiş Zəngəzurun bir parçasıydı. Müstəqil inzibati bölgü kimi təsdiq olunana qədər Qarabağ xanlığı, Zəngəzur qəzasının tərkibində olan bu ərazinin gözəl bir guşəsində, 1924-cü ildə Laçın şəhərinin əsası qoyuldu. Yazıçı Tağı Şahbazi Simurq bu şəhərə yaxınlıqdakı Laçın dağının adını verdi.Laçın şəhəri 1930-cu ildən yeni təşkil edilən inzibati rayonun mərkəzi oldu. Bu dağlar şəhəri 120 kəndin, 60 minlik əhalinin güvənc yeri, iftixar ünvanı idi. Bu gün 86 yaşı tamam olan Laçın şəhəri dağ qartalma bənzəyirdi.Qol-qanad açıb bir qanadı Qankaha kəndinə, bir qanadı Həkəri çayına qədər uzanmışdı. Laçın camaatının alın təri, halal zəhməti ilə tikilmiş bu şəhər mənfur qonşularımıza göz dağı idi.

Lachin region is situated in the west of the Azerbaijan Republic and borders with Armenia. The region is a rich territory with its 190 villages and the center and population of 60,000, over 500 historical, cultural and architectural monuments, hundreds of kurgans, castle type monuments that are of big archeological interest, numerous gravestone monuments, steles, figures of rams and horses, stones with mosaic, as well as with its lots natural resources and valuable mineral waters has been under the occupation of the Armenia Republic since May 18th 1992.The majority of these monuments in this region are related to Caucasian Albania. According to Azeri scholars a number of monuments of Caucasian Albania period in this territory are related to pre-Christian period. Complicated relief of this territory, cruel climate of this region is caused to the building of the bridges on a number of river transitions and in the roads with their impassable places. These bridges are interesting from the point of view archeology. They are mainly one or two arch bridges. These bridges are very reliable and proof.The list of monuments in Lachin has not been provided on a high standard level, a lot of monuments were not listed due to lack of information concerning their present condition. Therefore the monuments mentioned in the list presented covers 70% of the region. Hereby I mentioned the most known ones:

1. Abdallar (Baylik) village: a bridge on the river Hakari – XVIII century, a stone box – the Iron Age.

2. Zabuch village: Sumukly cemetery – Middle Ages, Khallanly cemetery – XVI century.

3. The territory of Malibeyli: an ancient cemetery.

4. The territory of Kosalar: Agoglan tower – IX century; an ancient cemetery.

5. Soltanlar village: The Palace of Sultan Hamsa – XVI century, The Palace of Sultan Ahmad – XIV century, an ancient cemetery.

6. Zeyvah village: The Mausoleum of Soltanbaba, The Mausoleum of Sheikh Ahmad, a Mausoleum, and an ancient cemetery.

7. Garishiglar village: a Mosque. Damirovlu temple – XI century.

8. Sadinlar village: The Temple dated XVII century.

9. Hajilar village: An ancient cemetery. The Spring (monument).

10. Vazargun village: a Temple.

11. Gushchu village: Child’s tower. The big spring – XV century. Korcha Spring. The little castle of Sadinlar.

12. Mirikend village: a castle. A temple dated XV century. Karbalai Behbudaly spring.

13. Bozlu village: The Cemetery. The Khachin Palace – XV century. The Khachin Stone.

14. Ahmadli village: a temple dated XVII century.

15. Minkendi village: two arch bridge on the river of Minkend. The one arch bridge on the territory of Abadkheyir. The Temple – XV century.

Azerbaijan’s Stronghold of Endurance

The administrative borders of the ancient and unique area which is the Lachin region of Azerbaijan are situated in the Delidag, Ishigly and Girkhgiz mountain ranges. Historically, Lachin used to be a stronghold of endurance and inaccessibility between Garabag and our unworthy neighbours. Those who historically had their eye on Lachin, called it “The black gates of Garabag”.Our eternal leader Heydar Aliyev, in evaluating this region’s historical and strategic importance, said: “The Lachin region has a very important strategic importance from the point of view of Azerbaijan sovereignty, and the security of its territory”.Over history, the sons of this region were repelling the assaults Azerbaijan, asserting the traditions of historic heroism for the sake of completeness of their Motherland.Lachin was a part of Zangezur, the land which was annexed by those who created the state of Armenia on the ancient Oguz territories. Before Lachin became an independent administrative unit, its origins are in the beautiful part of the Garabag khanate, Zangezur district and Shusha. The author Tagi Shakhbazi Simurg named the city after the surrounding Lachin mountain.Lachin city became a centre of an administrative district which was established in 1920.