Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (, ) is a landlocked exclave of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The region covers Official portal of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic :Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic  with a population of 459,600 bordering Armenia (border ) to the east and north, Iran (border ) to the south and west, and Turkey (border ) to the northwest.

Name
"Nakhchivan" is believed to have Persian origins, with "Nakhjavan" meaning "place of descent" or "landing." The name could be associated with geographical features or historical events in the region.

History
Nakhchivan has a rich history dating back to ancient times. It was part of various empires, including the Persian and Ottoman. In the 20th century, it became an autonomous republic within the Soviet Union. Today, it's an integral part of Azerbaijan, maintaining its unique cultural and historical significance.

Districts
Nakhchivan has eight administrative divisions. Seven of these are districts, while the capital city is separate.

 Map ref. Administrative division Capital Type Area (km²) Population (1 August  2011 estimate)Official portal of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic :Cities and regions  Notes1Babek (Babək)BabekRayon749,8166,2Formerly known as Nakhchivan; renamed after Babak Khorramdin in 19912Julfa (Culfa)JulfaRayon1012,7543,000Also spelled Jugha or Dzhulfa.3Kangarli (Kəngərli)GivraqRayon711,8628,900Split from Babek in March 20044Nakhchivan City (Naxçıvan Şəhər)Municipality191,8285,700Split from Nakhchivan (Babek) in 19915OrdubadOrdubadRayon994,8846,500Split from Julfa during Sovietization6Sadarak (Sədərək)HeydarabadRayon153,4914,500Split from Sharur in 1990; de jure includes the Karki exclave in Armenia, which is de facto under Armenian control7Shakhbuz (Şahbuz)ShahbuzRayon838,0423,400Split from Nakhchivan (Babek) during Sovietization Territory roughly corresponds to the Čahuk (Չահւք) district of the historic Syunik region within the Kingdom of ArmeniaHewsen. Armenia: A Historical Atlas, p. 123.8Sharur (Şərur)SharurRayon847,35106,600Formerly known as Bash-Norashen during its incorporation into the Soviet Union and Ilyich (after Vladimir Ilyich Lenin) from the post-Sovietization period to 1990Total5,500414,900

Famous people from Nakhchivan
Political leaders
 Heydar Aliyev, former President of Azerbaijan (1993–2003) and father of the current President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev (2003–present).
 Abulfaz Elchibey, former President of Azerbaijan (1992–1993)
 Rasul Guliyev, former speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan (1993–1996) and opposition leader
 Christapor Mikaelian, founding member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
 Stepan Sapah-Gulian, leader of the Armenian Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (19th-20th century)
 Jafar Kuli Khan Nakhchivanski, the founder of the short-lived Republic of Aras
 Ibrahim Abilov, first and only ambassador of Azerbaijan SSR to Turkey
 Garegin Nzhdeh, famous Armenian revolutionary, military leader and political thinker

Religious leaders
 Alexander Jughaetsi (Alexander I of Jugha), Catholicos of All Armenians (1706–1714)
 Hakob Jughaetsi (Jacob IV of Jugha), Armenian Catholicos (1655–1680)
 Azaria I Jughaetsi, Armenian Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia (1584–1601)

Military leaders
 Abdurahman Fatalibeyli, Soviet army major who defected to the German forces during World War II
 Ehsan Khan Nakhchivanski, Russian military general
 Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski, Russian cavalry general and the only Muslim to serve as General-Adjutant of the Russian Tsar
 Ismail Khan Nakhchivanski, Russian military general
 Kelbali Khan Nakhchivanski, Russian military general
 Jamshid Khan Nakhchivanski, Soviet and Azerbaijani military general

Writers and poets
 M.S. Gulubekov, writer
 Huseyn Javid, poet
 Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, writer and satirist
 Ekmouladdin Nakhchivani, medieval literary figure
 Hindushah Nakhchivani, medieval literary figure
 Abdurrakhman en-Neshevi, medieval literary figure
 Mammed Said Ordubadi, writer
 Heyran Khanum, late medieval poet
 Elşen Hudiyev, contemporary poet and writer
 Mammad Araz, poet

Others
 Vladimir Makogonov, chess International Master and Grandmaster
 Ajami Nakhchivani, architect and founder of the Nakhchivan school of architecture
 Gaik Ovakimian, Soviet Armenian spy
 Ibrahim Safi, Turkish artist
 Rza Tahmasib, Azerbaijani film director

Related pages
Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan
Economic regions of Azerbaijan
Nakhchivan (city)

References

Category:Caucasus