Today is the memorial day of Ali-agha Shikhlinsky

Today is the memorial day of the outstanding military figure of Azerbaijan, Ali-agha Shikhlinsky.

Ali-agha Shikhlinsky was born on March 15, 1863, in the small village of Gazakhly (now the village of Ashaghy Salakhly in the Gazakh district of Azerbaijan). In 1876, he graduated from the private gymnasium of Ter-Akopov in Tiflis, and in 1883 — from the Tiflis Military Gymnasium.

He began his military service in September of the same year as a junker at the Mikhailovsky Artillery School in Saint Petersburg. Afterward, he received an assignment to the 39th Artillery Brigade, stationed in the Caucasus in the city of Alexandropol (now Gyumri). He served in this brigade until 1900, rising to the rank of captain.

In early 1900, a supreme order followed to transfer Captain Shikhlinsky to the Separate Transbaikal Artillery Division. From August 1902 to October 1903, he commanded the 2nd Battery, replacing Colonel Samad-bek Mehmandarov, who had departed on a six-month leave and for studies in Saint Petersburg.

Shikhlinsky entered the Russo-Japanese War in the position of senior battery officer. He took part in battles at the Jinzhou Isthmus and the Wolf Hills. On November 13, 1904, during the fourth Japanese assault, Ali-agha was seriously wounded by a shrapnel bullet in the leg. For the Russo-Japanese War, Ali-agha Shikhlinsky was awarded the following honors: the Order of Saint George the Victorious 4th class, a golden weapon inscribed "For Bravery," swords added to his existing Order of Saint Anna 2nd class, the Order of Saint Vladimir 4th class with swords and bow, and the Order of Saint Anna 4th class inscribed "For Bravery."

In June 1905, Shikhlinsky was transferred to the 2nd Division of the 15th Artillery Brigade, stationed in Odessa, and a year later — to the Officers' Artillery School in Saint Petersburg. At the end of January 1906, Lieutenant Colonel Shikhlinsky was enrolled in the school, the full course of which he