# "Chronicle of Western Azerbaijan": Before the name "Iran" existed the reality of the Safavids, Afsharids, Qajars

The Battle Sword of Reformer Abbas Mirza and the Secrets of the Qajar Dynasty: A Unique Collection of Western Azerbaijan Artifacts.

As part of the "Chronicle of Western Azerbaijan" project, another edition of the "Our Heritage" section has been prepared with a presentation by Doctor of Philosophy in Art History Elchin Alibeyli.

Collector Yusif Bagirzade presented unique ancient seals and miniatures, telling about the indelible traces of the palace culture of the Qajars, as well as the historical heritage of the Erivan Khanate and the Qajar dynasty. He paid special attention to the battle sword of Abbas Mirza - the author of the army modernization project against Tsarist Russia.

Yusif Bagirzade noted that traces of the Qajar palace culture found their reflection in Baku as well.

"Before the name 'Iran,' there existed the reality of the Safavids, Afsharids, Qajars. The collections we have gathered contain rare weapons, documents, and memory of statehood," emphasized the collector.

According to him, the sword currently stored in Russia, in the Hermitage, is the battle blade of Abbas Mirza, who was the initiator of military reforms and attempts to modernize the Persian army according to the European model in the early 19th century. Abbas Mirza participated in the Russo-Persian wars of 1804-1813 and 1826-1828, striving to regain the lost Qajar territories in the Caucasus.

The collector also shared interesting facts about Shah Abbas's ivory dagger, the legend of the crown placement, the magnificent sword of Nasreddin Shah, his seal, carved wooden items, ancient seals and miniatures. Stories about the technologies of weapon and jewelry making were of particular interest: "gyzyllama" (gilding), "Damascus steel" (Damascus metal) and the "Zulfiqar" style (the legendary sword of Caliph Ali), as well as Azerbaijani jewelry traditions.