Investigating the Factors Affecting the Structure and Security Role of the Defensive-security Fortifications of Azerbaijan (during the Era of Abbas Mirza Naib al-Saltanah; 1798-1833)

Throughout history, humans have used different defensive tools and methods to provide security and deal with natural and man-made hazards and disasters, according to the requirements of time and place. The construction of castles as an important part of defense and military fortifications has been one of these methods. In the history of Iran and different eras, including the Qajar era, according to the climatic and strategic conditions of different regions of Iran, for defense and military measures, the construction of defense fortifications and forts with a new approach based on Western thought and benefiting from the experiences of Western advisers. The region of Azerbaijan during the reign of Abbas Mirza is one of these regions. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the factors affecting the structural changes in the defense fortifications of Azerbaijan and the security role of the forts in this region, seeks to investigate and answer the question of what was the impact of external factors on the structure and security and military role of Azerbaijani fortifications? The research method is based on a theoretical and qualitative approach and in a historical-interpretive format in which, while introducing and expressing the effective factors in the structure of Azerbaijan's defense fortifications, five important and strategic fortresses in this region during the viceroy's period have been studied. The findings of the study indicate that geopolitical factors, the Iran-Russia war, the presence of foreign advisers and experts, Iranian students and intellectuals, and the presence of Abbas Mirza in Azerbaijan, play an important role in the structure of castles in the region and its security against foreign invasion.