Exploring the Political and Military Role of Talesh Rulers in Iran-Russia Conflicts (1160-1243 AH)

The expanse of land that stretches between the provinces of Gilan and Ardabil is known as Talesh; a region that has created headaches for the central rulers as regards succumbing to a central power, and this has borne on the demarcation of political boundaries. In the period between Karim Khand Zand through the Qajar dynasty, the Khanates of Talesh managed to establish themselves as independent rulers. The end of Iran-Russia wars brought about the secession of parts of Talesh and this, in turn, drastically changed the geographical turf of the rulers and their respective politics vis-à-vis the Iranian and Russian governments. Sharing border with the Caucasus and the expansionist policies pursued by Peter the Great apparently draw Russians’ attentions to Talsh rulers. Notwithstanding the said factors, the draconian stance taken by Qajar sovereigns towards the rulers in Talesh provided further incentive to the latter to lean more on Russia. The hypothesis that links Talesh rulers’ disobedience to the central rule in Iran to the former’s strong sense of independence is predicated upon the relative decline of the central authority in Iran after the demise of Nadir Shah. Weak central power after the Safavid dynasty on the one hand, and the turmoil in the wake of Nadir’s death on the other, created a sense of disregard toward Talesh rulers which brought about their rebellion, rise to independence and their policy shift vis-à-vis Iran and Russia. The current research has employed descriptive-analytical method to study the political and military role played Talesh rulers in Iran-Russia conflicts