Derbent (English) Дербент (Russian)
-  City[1]  -
Location of the Republic of Dagestan in Russia
Derbent Location of Derbent in the Republic of Dagestan
Coordinates: 42°04′N 48°17′E / 42.067°N 48.283°E / 42.067; 48.283Coordinates: 42°04′N 48°17′E / 42.067°N 48.283°E / 42.067; 48.283
Administrative status (as of April 2006)
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Republic of Dagestan[1]
Administratively subordinated to	City of Derbent[1]
Capital of	Republic of Dagestan[1]
Administrative center of	City of Derbent,[1] Derbentsky District[1]
Municipal status (as of November 2006)
Urban okrug	Derbent Urban Okrug[2]
Administrative center of	Derbent Urban Okrug,[2] Derbentsky Municipal District[citation needed]
Statistics
Population (2010 Census, preliminary)	119,961 inhabitants[3]
- Rank in 2010	136th
Population (2002 Census)	101,031 inhabitants[4]
- Rank in 2002	163rd
Time zone	MSK (UTC+04:00)[5]
Derbent on WikiCommons

Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Country	Russia
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iii, iv
Reference	1070
Region **	Europe
Inscription history
Inscription	2003 (27th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO

Derbent (Russian: Дербе́нт; Azerbaijani: Dərbənd; Lezgian: Кьвевар; Avar: Дербенд; Lak: Чурул, Churul; Persian: دربند; Judæo-Tat: דארבּאנד/Дэрбэнд/Dərbənd^[6]) is a city in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia. It is on the Caspian Sea, north of the Azerbaijani border. It is the southernmost city in Russia, and it is the second most important city of Dagestan. Population: 119,961 (2010 Census preliminary results);^[3] 101,031 (2002 Census);^[4] 78,371 (1989 Census).^[7]

Often identified with the legendary Gates of Alexander, Derbent claims to be the oldest city in Russia (8th century BCE) ^[8]. Since antiquity the value of the area as the gate to the Caucasus has been understood and Derbent has archaeological structures over 5,000 years old. As a result of this geographic particularity the city developed between two walls, stretching from the mountains to the sea. These fortifications were continuously employed for a millennium and a half, longer than any other extant fortress in the world. Over the years different nations gave the city different names, but all connected to the word 'gate'.

Geography[link]

The modern city is built near the western shores of the Caspian Sea, south of the Rubas River, on the slopes of the Tabasaran Mountains (part of the Bigger Caucasus range). Derbent is well served by public transport, with its own harbor, a railway going south to Baku, and the Baku to Rostov-on-Don road.

To the north of the town is the monument of the Kirk-lar, or forty heroes, who fell defending Dagestan against the Arabs in 728. To the south lies the seaward extremity of the Caucasian wall (fifty metres long), otherwise known as Alexander's Wall, blocking the narrow pass of the Iron Gate or Caspian Gates (Portae Athanae or Portae Caspiae). This, when entire, had a height of 29 ft (9 m) and a thickness of about 10 ft (3 m), and with its iron gates and numerous watch-towers formed a valuable defence of the Persian frontier.

History[link]

View of the city from Naryn-Kala, 1910s

Derbent has an important strategic location in the Caucasus: the city is situated on a narrow, three-kilometer strip of land between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus mountains. Historically, this position allowed the rulers of Derbent to control land traffic between the Eurasian Steppe and the Middle East. The only other practicable crossing of the Caucasus ridge was over the Darial Gorge.

The first intensive settlement in the Derbent area dates from the 8th century BCE; the site was intermittently controlled by the Persian monarchs, starting from the 6th century BCE. Until the 4th century CE it was part of Caucasian Albania, and is traditionally identified with Albana, the capital. The modern name is a Persian word (دربند Darband) meaning "closed gates", which came into use in the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century CE, when the city was re-established by Kavadh I of the Sassanid dynasty of Persia.

The 20-meter (66 ft) high walls with thirty north-looking towers are believed to belong to the time of Kavadh's son, Khosrau I. The chronicler Movses Kagankatvatsi wrote about "the wondrous walls, for whose construction the Persian kings exhausted our country, recruiting architects and collecting building materials with a view of constructing a great edifice stretching between the Caucasus Mountains and the Great Eastern Sea." Derbent became a strong military outpost and harbour of the Sassanid empire. During the 5th and 6th centuries Derbent becomes also an important center for spreading the Christian faith in the Caucasus.

Movses Kagankatvatsi left a graphic description of the sack of Derbent by the hordes of Tong Yabghu of the Western Turkic Khaganate in 627. His successor^{[citation needed]}, Böri Shad, proved unable to consolidate Tong Yabghu's conquests, and the city was retaken by the Persians. In 654, Derbent was captured by the Arabs, who transformed it in an important administrative center and introduced Islam to the area. Because of its strategic position on the northern branch of the Silk Route, the fortress was contested by the Khazars in the course of the Khazar-Arab Wars. The Sassanids had also brought Armenians from Syunik' to help protect the pass from invaders; as Arab rule weakened in the region at the end of the ninth century, the Armenians living there were able to establish a kingdom of their own, which lasted until the early years of the thirteenth century.^[9][10]

Sassanian fortress in Derbent

Excavations on the eastern side of the Caspian Sea, opposite to Derbent, revealed the Great Wall of Gorgan, the eastern counterpart to the wall and fortifications of Derbent. Similar Sasanian defensive fortifications there—massive forts, garrison towns, long walls— also run from the sea to the mountains.

The Caliph Harun al-Rashid spent time living in Derbent, and brought it into great repute as a seat of the arts and commerce. According to Arab historians, Derbent, with population exceeding 50,000, was the largest city of the 9th century Caucasus. In the 10th century, with the collapse of the Arab Caliphate, Derbent became the capital of an emirate. This emirate often fought losing wars with the neighboring Christian state of Sarir, allowing Sarir to occasionally manipulate Derbent politics. Despite that, the emirate outlived its rival and continued to flourish at the time of the Mongol invasion in 1239.

In the 14th century Derbent was occupied by Tamerlane's armies. In 1437, it fell under the control of the Shirvanshahs of Azerbaijan. During the 16th century Derbent was the arena for wars between Turkey and Persia ruled by the Iranian Safavid dynasty. Ottoman Empire gained control of the city following the Battle of the Torches in 1583 and Ottoman ownership was secured with the Treaty of Istanbul of 1590.

By the 1735 Ganja treaty Derbent fell within the Persian state. In 1722, during the Russo-Persian War, Peter the Great of Russia wrested the town from the Persians, but in 1736 the supremacy of Nadir Shah was again recognized. In 1747, Derbent became the capital of the khanate of the same name.

During the Persian Expedition of 1796, Derbent was stormed by Russian forces under Valerian Zubov. As a consequence of the Treaty of Gulistan of 1813—between Russian and Persia—Derbent became part of the Russian Empire.

The Caspian Gates

A large portion of the walls and several watchtowers have been preserved in reasonable shape till our days. The walls, reaching to the sea, date from the 6th century, Sassanid dynasty period. The city has a well preserved citadel (Narin-kala), comprising an area of 45,000 m², enclosed by strong walls. Historical attractions include the baths, the cisterns, the old cemeteries, the caravanserai, the 18th century Khan's mausoleum, as well as several mosques. The oldest mosque is the Juma Mosque, built over a 6th century Christian basilica; it has a 15th century madrassa. Other shrines include the 17th century Kyrhlyar mosque, the Bala mosque and the 18th century Chertebe mosque.

Administrative and municipal status[link]

Derbent serves as the administrative center of Derbentsky District, although it is not administratively a part of it.^[1] Administratively, it is incorporated as the City of Derbent—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.^[1] Municipally, the City of Derbent is incorporated as Derbent Urban Okrug.^[2]

Demographics[link]

The main ethnic groups are Lezgins (32.6%), Azeris (31.7%), and Tabasarans (15%) (2002 Census).^[11]

Economy and culture[link]

The city is home to machine building, food, textile, fishing and fishery supplies, construction materials and wood industries. It is the production center of Russian brandy. The education infrastructure is fairly extensive; there is a university as well as several technical schools. On the cultural front, there is a Lezgin drama theater (named after S. Stalsky). About two kilometers from the city is the vacation colony of Chayka (Seagull).

Derbent being in practice a huge museum and with magnificent mountains and shore nearby, a great potential for development of the tourism industry exists, further increased by UNESCO's classification of the Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress as a World Heritage Site in 2003; however, instability in the region has not allowed further development.

Notable residents[link]

• Abramov, Shetiel Semenovich — Hero of the Soviet Union.
• Aliev, Shamsullo Feyzulla oglu — Hero of the Soviet Union.
• Bakhshiev, Misha Yusupovich - Tat Soviet writer.
• Eldar, Omar Hasan - sculptor, honored artist of Azerbaijan SSR (1962), People's Artist of Azerbaijan SSR (1982)
• Gaidarov, Nahum Kasyanovich - Major General, a member of the Caucasian War and the campaigns in Central Asia.
• Guth, Fortunat Ferdinandovich - known Siberian builder and architect.
• Hasanov, Gottfried Alievich - composer, honored art worker of the Dagestan ASSR (1943), Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1960), author of the first Dagestani opera.
• Henry, Alievich Hasanov ( 8 July 1910 - 28 May 1973 ) - shipbuilder, Ph.D., a specialist in the field of shipbuilding and ship design of steam boilers and steam generators, general designer of nuclear reactors, engines, marine vessels.
• Izgiyaev, Sergey Davidovich (1922—1972) - The Mountain Soviet-Jewish poet, playwright and translator.
• Jasmine, born Sarah Manahimova - singer, Honoured Artist of the Republic of Dagestan.
• Kerimov, Suleiman Abusaidovich - businessman, owner of the company "Nafta-Moscow".
• Khanmagomedov, Aydin Asadullaevich - Russian poet and innovator.
• Khanmagomedov, Riad Aydynovich - chief editor of "777", pazlsportu’s champion of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, find solution and compiling crosswords, sudoku solving.
• Mamedov, Shafiga Hashim oglu - Azerbaijani theater and film actress, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan SSR (1974), People's Artist of Azerbaijan SSR (1982).
• Mammus al-Lakzi - an expert on hadith, a historian and one of the most influential sheikhs of al-Bab abwab, the court historian Hashimites, the author chronicles of "The History of Shirvan and Derbent"
• Matata, Ehiil Ruvinovich - People's Commissar of Justice of the Dagestan ASSR.
• Mishiev, Yagutil Israelovich – writer, author of books about the history of Derbent, Dagestan, Russia. The distinguished Teacher of the Republic of Dagestan and the Russian Federation.
• Mushailov, Mushael Hanuhovich (1941—2007) — a painter, a member of the USSR Union of Artists and Israel.
• Sadikhov, Najmeddin Huseyn - Lieutenant General, Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijan.
• Saradzhev, Constantine Solomonovich - Soviet conductor, teacher, music leader, People's Artist of Armenian SSR (1945), Hero of Socialist Labor (1921).
• Rasulbekov, Hussein Dzhumshudovich - lieutenant-general of artillery, the commander of air defense forces of the Baku Air Defense District, the Minister of Communications of Azerbaijan SSR (1975-1984).
• Solomon, Albert Romanovich - Israeli football coach.
• Tsvaygenbaum, Israel Iosifovich – Russian-American artist.
• Yusufov, Igor Hanukovich - Minister of Energy of Russia (2001-2004).
• Zeynalli, Asef Zeynalabdin oglu - Azerbaijani composer and teacher, founder of the songs in Azerbaijani music.

International relations[link]

Twin towns and sister cities[link]

Derbent is twinned with:

• Ganja, Azerbaijan
• Yakima, Washington, United States
• Hadera, Israel

References[link]

Notes[link]

Sources[link]

• Народное Собрание Республики Дагестан. Закон №16 от 10 апреля 2002 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Республики Дагестан», в ред. Закона №23 от 4 апреля 2006 г «О внесении изменений в некоторые законодательные акты Республики Дагестан в связи с прекращением полномочий Государственного Совета Республики Дагестан». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Дагестанская правда", №81, 12 апреля 2002 г. (People's Assembly of the Republic of Dagestan. Law #16 of April 10, 2002 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of the Republic of Dagestan, as amended by the Law #23 of April 4, 2006 On Amending Several Legislative Acts of the Republic of Dagestan Due to the Termination of Powers of the State Council of the Republic of Dagestan. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
• Народное Собрание Республики Дагестан. Закон №6 от 13 января 2005 г. «О статусе и границах муниципальных образований Республики Дагестан», в ред. Закона №13 от 12 марта 2012 г «Об утверждении границ муниципальных образований Республики Дагестан и о внесении изменений в Закон Республики Дагестан "О статусе и границах муниципальных образований Республики Дагестан"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Дагестанская правда", №8, 15 февраля 2005 г. (People's Assembly of the Republic of Dagestan. Law #6 of January 13, 2005 On the Status and Borders of the Municipal Formations of the Republic of Dagestan, as amended by the Law #13 of March 12, 2012 On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations of the Republic of Dagestan and on Amending the Law of the Republic of Dagestan "On the Status and Borders of the Municipal Formations of the Republic of Dagestan". Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
• Some text used with permission from www.travel-images.com. The original text can be found here.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Derbent

External links[link]

• Derbent - Russia's oldest city: 5,000 and counting
• History and attractions of Derbent
• A mosque. A prison. And a mosque again. Derbent - the oldest Djuma-mosque in North Caucasus.

v t e Administrative divisions of the Republic of Dagestan Capital: Makhachkala Cities and towns Buynaksk · Dagestanskiye Ogni · Derbent · Izberbash · Kaspiysk · Khasavyurt · Kizilyurt · Kizlyar · Makhachkala · Yuzhno-Sukhokumsk Administrative districts Agulsky · Akhtynsky  · Akhvakhsky  · Akushinsky · Babayurtovsky · Botlikhsky · Buynaksky  · Charodinsky · Dakhadayevsky · Derbentsky · Dokuzparinsky · Gergebilsky · Gumbetovsky · Gunibsky  · Karabudakhkentsky · Kayakentsky · Kaytagsky  · Kazbekovsky · Khasavyurtovsky  · Khivsky  · Khunzakhsky · Kizilyurtovsky · Kizlyarsky · Kulinsky · Kumtorkalinsky · Kurakhsky  · Laksky  · Levashinsky · Magaramkentsky  · Nogaysky · Novolaksky  · Rutulsky  · Sergokalinsky  · Shamilsky · Suleyman-Stalsky · Tabasaransky · Tarumovsky · Tlyaratinsky · Tsumadinsky  · Tsuntinsky · Untsukulsky

v t e World Heritage Sites in Russia by federal district Central Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye Moscow Kremlin and Red Square Novodevichy Convent Trinity Sergius Lavra White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal Historic Centre of Yaroslavl Southern Western Caucasus Northwestern Curonian Spit1 Ferapontov Monastery Kizhi Pogost Virgin Komi Forests Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Surroundings Solovetsky Islands Struve Geodetic Arc2 Far Eastern Volcanoes of Kamchatka Central Sikhote-Alin Wrangel Island Siberian Golden Mountains of Altai Lake Baikal Putorana Plateau Uvs Nuur Basin3 Volga Kazan Kremlin North Caucasian Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent 1 Shared with Lithuania 2 Shared with nine other countries 3 Shared with Mongolia

lez:Кьвеварvep:Derbent

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2008)

Chris David is an American mixed martial artist. He competes in the Bantamweight division. He won his last fight at GC 75 - Erin-Go-BRAWL against Joey Bareng on March 15, 2008. After 22 fights recorded and several others not recorded, he remains unfinished, while finishing 9 out his 13 recorded wins by KO, TKO and various submissions.

Mixed martial arts record[link]

Result	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	13-10-2	Joe Soto	Submission (rear-naked choke)	TWC 13-Impact	02012-01-27January 27, 2012	2	4:28	Porterville, California, United States
Win	12-7-2	Paul McVeigh	Decision	Eurofight Xtreme FC	02009-10-17October 17, 2009	3	5:00	Glasgow, Scotland
Win	11-7-2	David Granados	Decision	Pure Combat: Halloween Bash	02008-11-01November 1, 2008	5	5:00	Sacramento, California, United States
Win	10-7-2	Joey Bareng	KO	GC 75: Erin-Go-BRAWL	02008-03-15March 15, 2008	2	1:17	San Francisco, California, United States
Win	9-7-2	Georgi Karakhanyan	Decision (split)	GC 74: Evolution	02008-02-16February 16, 2008	3	5:00	California, United States
Loss	8-7-2	Bao Quach	Decision (unanimous)	KOTC: Arch Rivals	02007-10-27October 27, 2007	3	5:00	Nevada, United States
Loss	8-6-2	Scott Jorgensen	Decision (unanimous)	ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series	02007-07-27July 27, 2007	3	5:00	Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Barbara County, Calif.
Win	8-5-2	Walter Patterson	Decision (unanimous)	GC 63: Crackdown	02007-05-11May 11, 2007	2	5:00	California, United States
Win	7-5-2	Alejandro Perez	Submission (armbar)	MMA Xtreme 11	02007-04-21April 21, 2007	2	0:36	Mexico
Loss	6-5-2	Bobby Merrill	Decision (split)	CCFC: Judgment Day	02007-02-17February 17, 2007	3	5:00	California, United States
Loss	6-4-2	Jesse Romero	Decision	TFA 3 - Rage on the Stage	02006-08-19August 19, 2006	5	5:00	California, United States
Loss	6-3-2	Ian McCall	Decision	Total Combat 15	02006-07-15July 15, 2006	3	5:00	California, United States
Win	6-2-2	Noah Shinable	TKO (doctor stoppage)	GC 51: Madness at the Memorial	02006-07-01July 1, 2006	2	1:20	Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, Calif.
Loss	5-2-2	Jesse Moreng	Decision (unanimous)	TC 13 - Anarchy	02006-03-11March 11, 2006	3	5:00	California, United States
Win	5-1-2	Brandon Gentry	Submission (rear naked choke)	GC 47 - Night of the Heavyweights	02006-02-02February 2, 2006	1	2:11	California, United States
Win	4-1-2	Rick Screeton	KO	TC 12 - Total Combat 12	02005-12-17December 17, 2005	1		Mexico
Win	3-1-2	Daniel Vasquez	Submission (armbar)	TC 10 - Total Combat 10	02005-10-15October 15, 2005	1	1:00	Golden Acorn Casino, San Diego, Calif.
vDraw	2-1-2	Ryusuke Uemura	Draw	ZST - SWAT! 02	02005-07-24July 24, 2005	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	2-1-1	Ed West	Decision (unanimous)	RITC 64 - Heart & Soul	02004-08-07August 7, 2004	3	3:00	Dodge Theater, Phoenix, AZ
Win	2-0-1	Yahir Reyes	TKO (punches)	TC 4 - Total Combat 4	02004-07-25July 25, 2004	N/A		Mexico
vDraw	1-0-1	Ronnie Major	Draw	TC 3 - Total Combat 3	02004-05-30May 30, 2004	3		Mexico
Win	1-0	Seth Phelps	TKO	RM 3 - Reto Maximo 3	02003-03-14March 14, 2003	1	2:08	Mexico

References[link]

External links[link]

• Professional MMA record for Chris David from Sherdog

This biographical article relating to American martial arts is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This biographical article related to mixed martial arts is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e