# History of Azerbaijan (Iran)

The history of Azerbaijan, being the historical region of northwestern Iran, spans thousands of years.

## Antiquity
### Early antiquity

During the Iron Age, the western part of modern-day Azerbaijan was populated by Urartians.
From around the 10th to the 7th centuries BCE, Mannaea was an ancient kingdom located in northwestern Iran, south of Lake Urmia. According to Ran Zadok,
   It is unlikely that there was any ethnolinguistic unity in Mannea. Like other peoples of the Iranian plateau, the Manneans were subjected to an ever increasing Iranian (i.e., Indo-European) penetration.
The Mannaeans were eventually assimilated by Matiene, which became a satrapy of the Median Empire in about 609 BCE until the Persian conquest, when along with tribes of Saspires and Alaradians (remnants of Urartians) it became a part of the XVIII satrapy of the Achaemenid Empire.

### Ātṛpātakāna

Ātṛpātakāna (Old Persian name; in ancient Greek sources: Ἀτροπατηνή Atropatēnḗ) was founded c. 323 BCE by *Ātṛpāta (in ancient Greek sources: Ἀτροπάτης Atropátēs), a Persian nobleman who had served Darius III then Alexander the Great. Ātṛpātakāna existed as an independent kingdom for some time.

### Ādurbādagān

In 226 CE, Ādurbādagān (Middle Persian name) submitted to the first Sasanian emperor, Ardashir I.

## Middle Ages

Azerbaijan was part of the various caliphates and empires ruling Iran during the Middle Ages, following the Islamic conquest. It was clearly bounded in the north by the Aras separating it from Arran.

### Muslim conquest

Azerbaijan was incorporated in the Rashidun Caliphate after the second caliph, Umar, ordered its invasion in 643.

### Abbasid, Sajid, Sallarid and Rawwadid rules

After the Abbasids, Azerbaijan was ruled by the Sajids, the Sallarids, and the Rawwadids.

### Seljuk rule and onset of Turkicization

Under the Seljuks, Azerbaijani Turkic emerged in Azerbaijan, and would gradually replace the Old Azeri language as the local language.

### Anushteginid, Hulaguid, Timurid, Qara Qoyunlu and Aq Qoyunlu rules

After the Seljuks, Azerbaijan was ruled by the Anushteginids.
Ögedei Khan conquered Maragheh in 1231. Azerbaijan was afterwards ruled by the Hulaguids, the Timurids, the Qara Qoyunlus, and the Aq Qoyunlus.

## Modern era
### Safavid Azerbaijan

From 1501 to 1736, Azerbaijan was part of Safavid Iran, one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. From their base in Ardabil, the Safavids established control over parts of Greater Iran. They also converted Iran to Shiism. Tabriz became the capital of the Safavids until 1555.

### Khanates of Azerbaijan

Khanates emerged in Azerbaijan following Nader Shah's death in 1747, at the same time as the neighboring khanates of the Caucasus.

### Qajar Azerbaijan

From 1789 to 1925, Azerbaijan was part of Qajar Iran. While the Caucasian khanates were lost to the Russian Empire following the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813, the khanates of Azerbaijan remained under Qajar Iran’s authority. Some of these khanates were disestablished in the 19th century by the Qajars. Other khanates were allowed to remain by the Qajars into the 20th century, and would eventually be disestablished by Reza Shah Pahlavi.

## Contemporary era

In 1937, under Reza Shah Pahlavi, Azerbaijan was renamed as Ostân-e Shomâl-e Gharb (Persian: استان شمال غرب, lit. 'the Northwestern Province'). Shortly after, Azerbaijan was divided into an eastern and western part which were renamed as Ostân-e Sevom (Persian: استان سوم, lit. 'the Third Province') and Ostân-e Chahârom (Persian: استان چهارم, lit. 'the Fourth Province') respectively. In 1941, Azerbaijan was occupied by the Soviets. The Azerbaijan People's Government and the Republic of Mahabad were established in 1945 and 1946 respectively and were both disestablished in 1946.
In 1961, the Third Province was renamed East Azerbaijan, and the Fourth Province was renamed West Azerbaijan. In 1993, Ardabil province was carved out of East Azerbaijan.