existence of Caucasian Albania, some Churches were built in the Qakh district. In the 8th century A.D., Qakh fell under Arab occupation. Starting from the 11th century first Oghuz Turks and later Qipchaq Turks inhabited the area, the region was incorporated into the Seljuq Empire. Qakh was later a part of Atabeg and Shirvanshah states. With the invasion of Hulaguids in Azerbaijan in the 13th century, Mongolian nomadic tribes populated the region. In 1562, by the order of the Safavid Shah Tahmasp I, Ilisu Sultanate was established in Qakh. In the 18th century, Ilisu Sultanate became so powerful that, the Ottoman Emperor conferred its ruler Ali Sultan Bey the highest title of Pasha recognizing him as the Beylerbey of Shaki. In 1803 the sultanate of Ilisu was annexed to the Russian empire. The ruler of the sultanate, Daniyal, inspired the people to rise against Russian rule in 1844, due to a disagreement between him and the government of Russia. Sultan Daniyel was defeated near the village of İlisu and continued his struggle against Russian along with the leader of the national freedom movement, Sheykh Shamil. Russians burnt Ilisu and divided the territory of the sultanate into mahals (territorial units) and annexed them to the Jar-Balaken daire (a territorial unit) converting it into a colony of tsarist Russia. With proclamation of independence of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in May 1918, Qakh became disputed between ADR and DRG. During the Soviet rule, Qakh was established as raion of Azerbaijan SSR in 1930. Demographics The overall statistics indicate the population growth fluctuates. For instance, In 2000 there were 832 newly born, in 2006 - 816, down to 753 in 2009. The Qakh District is also a centre of the Georgian minority in Azerbaijan, with most of the ones in this district being of Christian origin. Villages There are 59 villages in the district: Ağçay Ağyazı Almalı Amanlı Armudlu Bağtala Baydarlı Böyük Alatəmir Cəlayer Çinarlı Çüdüllü Dəymədağlı Əlibəyli Əmbərçay Əmircan Fıstıqlı Güllük İbaxlı İlisu Keşqutan Kiçik Alatəmir Kötüklü Ləkit Ləkit Kötüklü Ləkit Malax Lələli Lələpaşa Malax Marsan Meşəbaş Oncallı Qapıçay Qarabaldır Qarameşə Qaratala Qaşqaçay Qaxbaş Qaxingiloy Qaxmuğal Qaysarlı Qazmalar Qımır Qındırğa Qıpçaq Qorağan Qum Sarıbaş Şıxlar Şotavar Süskən Tanqıt Tasmalı Turaclı Üzümlü Uzuntala Xələftala Yeni İlisu Zərnə Zəyəm Gallery References Districts of Azerbaijan