 A staunch Russian imperialist, Yermolov was committed to bring the entire Caucasus under the Russian sway.He wanted to establish the Aras river as the border between Iran and Russia at all costs, and was therefore determined to conquer the last remaining khanates under Iranian rule; the Erivan Khanate and the Nakchivan Khanate.When Ismail, the khan of Shaki, died in 1819 without any heir, Yermolov annexed the entity.