The Ottoman fortification of Ganja and provincial administration of Ganja- Qarabagh province in the late Sixteenth century

Fortress as a tool for the implementation of Ottoman military power was necessary for the upkeep and security of the Ottoman rule in Azerbaijan. Following its capture in 1588, Ganja was among the main towns of Azerbaijan fortified by the Ottomans. The primary aim of the fortification of Ganja was to maintain Ottoman rule in former Safavid beylerbeyi of Qarabagh, in the territories of which Ottomans established the vilâyet-i Gence Karabağ with seven sanjaks (districts). After fortifications, Ganja became one of the major garrison towns on the eastern frontier of the Ottomans. Apart from its military functions, the fortress served as the administrative seat of Ganja-Qarabagh province until it fell into the hands of the Safavids after the siege of 1606. In 1615, Ganja fortress, one of the examples of the late sixteenth century Ottoman military architecture in Azerbaijan, was subjected to destruction by the order of Shah Abbas I. Drawing mainly on primary sources, this article aims to explore the history of Ottoman fortifications of Ganja and examine some little-studied aspects of Ottoman provincial administration of GanjaQarabagh province in the late sixteenth century.