The Relations of the Khans of Maku with the Other Side of Aras

The Bayat Makoui Khans were forced to migrate to Maku during the reign of Shah Abbas Safavid II (1642 - 1666) in order to protect this border area under the observation of the rulers of this region. The primary origin and housing of a group of the Bayats of Maku was the Iravan Region. This fact played a key role in the relations of Bayats of Maku with the Qafqaz Region and with other members of the Bayat clan in this region. Gradually، with the weakness of other rulers of the northwestern region of the country and the reduction in the power of the central government of Iran، the Bayats of Maku became the dominating power in the Maku Region. Since Maku came to share borders with Russia and the Ottoman Empire due to the Treaty of Turkmenchay، the Bayats of Maku played an important role in the changes in this region. The members of Bayat clan in Maku، after their initial separation from other members of the clan in Iravan، restored their relations with them. These relations with the other side of Aras became more consistent during the reign of Morteza Gholi Khan Eqbal al-Saltaneh (1899-1923). He developed these relations in order to maintain his reign in Maku. In this paper we discuss the relations of Bayat Makoui rulers and khans with the other side of Aras.