Palace of the Shirvanshahs

Palace of the Shirvanshahs

The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is a palace from the Shirvanshah dynasty, which ruled the Shirvan region in northern Azerbaijan from the 6th to the 16th century. In 1191, a catastrophic earthquake destroyed the then-capital Shamakhi, prompting the Shirvanshah people to relocate to Baku and laying the foundations for the palace of the Shirvanshah rulers. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is the highest point in Baku's Old City and stands as one of the outstanding examples of medieval Azerbaijani architecture.

The various parts of the palace complex were not built all at once, and there was no overall master plan for the entire complex. Instead, the individual buildings were constructed gradually according to the needs of the time. The main sections of the Palace of the Shirvanshahs were completed in the 15th century—during the reign of Khalilullah I and his son (1435–1442). An Egyptian historian spoke highly of the father, describing him as “the most beloved, most devout, and wealthiest ruler, the greatest and most distinguished Islamic ruler. He ruled Shirvan for 50 years and died in 1465. Even when he was over 100 years old, he still had excellent eyesight and good health.” The structures built during this period include residential quarters, a mosque, a rectangular palace building, the mausoleum of royal family members, the tomb of Baku (a then-famous astrologer), and a bathhouse. Among all the buildings, except for the residential quarters and the bathhouse, the rest are well-preserved.