Azamgarh district (Hindi: आज़मगढ़ ज़िला, Urdu: اعظم گڑھ ضلع) is one of the three districts of Azamgarh Division in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

The district is named after its headquarters town, Azamgarh. Azam, son of Vikramajit, founded the town in 1665. Vikramajit a descendant of Gautam Rajputs of Mehnagar in pargana Nizamabad had embraced the faith of Islam. He had two sons, namely, Azam and Azmat. It is also known as land of the famous rishi Durvasa whose ashram is situated in Phulpur tehsil where thousands of his students were used to take education.

Azamgarh has the distinction of participating in every small and big struggle to free India from its colonial rulers. The Great Historian, Writer, Social Reformer, Nationalist Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan played a major role in Indian Freedom Struggle. He have been arrested and jailed for three Years for creating Anti-British Writings and speeches. Both Hindu and Muslim landowners (known as Rautaras) of Azamgarh aided and abetted the mutiny and rebellion against the British in 1857. On the 3rd of June 1857 the 17th Regiment of Native Infantry mutinied at Azamgarh, murdered some of their officers, and carried off the government treasure to Fayzabad. The district became a centre of the fighting between the Gurkhas and the rebels, and was not finally cleared until October 1858 by Colonel Kelly. Later, many of the local land owners were crushed by the British. Later, residents of Azamgarh actively participated in various national movements including the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement in 1942.

Azamgarh is a town in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is headquarters of Azamgarh district and Azamgarh Division.

Azamgarh, one of the easternmost districts of the State, once formed a part of the ancient Kosala kingdom, except the north-eastern part of it which was included in the kingdom of Malla. Kosala figured prominently among the four powerful monarchies of northern India during the time of the Buddha when its prosperity reached its zenith. The kingdom of Kosala was bounded on the east by the Ganges and the kingdom of Magadha, on the north-east by the territories of Vriji-Lichchhavis and those of Mallas on the north by the territories of the Sakyas, on the west by Surasena and on the south and south-west by the kingdom of Vatsa with Kausambi as its capital.

The district of Azamgarh possesses hardly any remains of much antiquarian value. Of the few that exist, neither the origin nor the history are known, for the most part. There are some deserted sites, forts and tanks to be seen in every tehsil of this district, and they carry vague legends regarding their builders. The early history of the district can be traced only from the extant antiquities.