THE GILAN QUESTION IN RUSSIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS UNDER SHAH ABBAS

Andreev A., Krasutskii S.

The article examines the role of Gilan (as a «semi-independent» administrative unit within the framework of the vassalage system that operated in medieval Iran) in Russian-Iranian relations under Shah ‘Abbas I (1588–1629). The ruler of Biya-pish (as this region of the southern coastal part of the Caspian Sea was also called) Ahmad Khan at the end of the 16th century tried to maneuver in the context of Ottoman-Safavid contradictions. As Moscow's active foreign policy towards the South Caucasus developed, Gilan began to show a noticeable interest in its northern neighbour, seeking to preserve its «semi-independent» status. Based on published materials from the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts (RGADA), as well as current developments in Russian and Iranian historiography, the article retrospectively examines the attempt of the rebellious Iranian northern province to preserve its privileged status due to the complexity of the foreign policy situation.

Keywords:Russian-Iranian relations, Fyodor Ioannovich, Boris Godunov, Muhammad Khudabandeh, Shah ‘Abbas the Great, Biya-Pish, Gilan, Ahmad Khan, embassy, history of diplomacy