Mardakan
Mardakan is a settlement and municipality in Khazar Rayon of Baku, Azerbaijan, located on the coast of the Caspian Sea, with a population of 32,084. It's positioned on the eastern Absheron Peninsula, about 30 km away from downtown Baku, and just 10 km from Heydar Aliyev International Airport, bounded by Shuvalan to the east, Qala to the south, and Shagan to the west. It also borders Bina in the south-west, and Buzovna to the north-west. Mardakan is the third largest settlement in Khazar Rayon by population, and one of the most populated municipalities in the country. It is considered to be the center of the Khazar Rayon, with the district's office being located in the settlement.
Widely regarded and known across the peninsula as a resort town, Mardakan attracts thousands of visitors every year during the summertime. It is praised for its beaches, a generally pleasant climate, and an abundance of recreational establishments. It occupies a portion of the northern part of the Khazar Rayon, although the municipality's territory was adjusted multiple times throughout its history. Mardakan was granted the status of a settlement in 1936. In 1933, Shagan village was incorporated into the Mardakan municipal council, however, Shagan was separated in 1945, only to be reunited with Mardakan in 1948. Finally, in 1994, Shagan once again became independent and was granted the status of a settlement.
Etymology
Name of Mardakan is believed to originate from the phrase "place of the Mards", which suggests that the settlement was originally established by the ancient Mard tribes. While there are alternative interpretations of the settlement's name, the most accepted meaning in Azerbaijani is "." The earliest mention of the Mards appears in historical accounts describing the tribes that inhabited Caucasian Albania. Archaeological discoveries near Mardakan, including bows, tools, and other artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age, provide further evidence of early human settlement in the area. Additionally, traces of ancient dwellings have been found, indicating that Mardakan has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years. Ethnographic research has led to different interpretations of the origin of the name "Mardakan." Some scholars link it to the Mard tribe, while others argue that it originates from the term "Mardi place," a phrase derived from the linguistic traditions of the local population. The name is also discussed in historical studies conducted by Sara Khanum Ashurbeyli, a distinguished Baku-based historian and expert in historical sciences. According to her research, the toponym "Mardakan" is directly associated with the Mard tribe, which once resided in the region.History
Mardakan is one of the oldest villages of the Absheron peninsula. Several traces of ancient settlements have been discovered close to the village. Some rocks in the area have paintings typical to the Bronze Age. Alongside these rock paintings, Mardakan is home to a variety of old castles and fortifications. It boasts a history that stretches back to prehistory, with evidence of early human activity in the region. In antiquity, the territory of Mardakan was part of Caucasian Albania, a state established around 2nd century BC, home to the Albanian tribes, whose presence in the region left a lasting cultural impact. The region was likely known for its strategic location along the Caspian Sea, offering both defense and trade advantages. In the 4th century AD, following the decline of Caucasian Albania, Mardakan and its surroundings came under the control of the Sasanian Empire, which dominated much of the Caucasus, influencing the region with Zoroastrianism. Territories of Caucasian Albania would ultimately become a part of the empire, forming a province of Caucasian Albania. Mardakan would also be under the control of the First Turkic Khaganate, or the Göktürks, a Turkic state that occupied large portions of Central Asia, modern-day Mongolia, and the territories of Goguryeo, a Korean kingdom which experienced several altercations with Turkic populations of the state.By the 7th century, the Arab Caliphates expanded into the region, ushering in the Islamic era and leaving a profound imprint on the religious and cultural landscape. Over the next few centuries, the Seljuk Empire took hold in the 11th century, followed by the rise of Mongol empires in the 13th century, which shifted the political dynamics of the region yet again, bringing Mardakan under the rule of the Mongol Empire and its successor states, such as the Qara Qoyunlu and Aq Qoyunlu. Around the same time, Mardakan would partially be controlled by the Shirvanshahs, which expanded their influence beyond their original possessions. By the 16th century, the Safavid Empire, established its dominance over Mardakan. During much of the 18th century, territory of the settlement would be under the control of the Khanates of the Caucasus, mainly the Baku Khanate, which occupied a majority of the Absheron Peninsula. The absorption of the region into the Russian Empire in the 19th century, after the Treaty of Gulistan and the Treaty of Turkmenchay, marked a significant shift, as Russian rule laid the foundations for modern infrastructure and industrialization, particularly in the oil sector. Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the direct predecessor to modern Republic of Azerbaijan, would declare its independence in 1918, and would solidify its rule over Baku and the territories of Absheron following their victory in the Battle of Baku. Following the Soviet Union's formation in the early 20th century, Mardakan, along with the rest of Azerbaijan, became part of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, during which time the region saw significant development, especially with the growth of Baku as a global oil hub. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Azerbaijan gained independence, and Mardakan became part of the newly sovereign Republic of Azerbaijan.