International struggle for dominance over the western “gate” of the Caspian Sea
The research propose of this article is to study the centuries-old struggle between the regional powers (the Ottoman Empire, Persia, the Russian Empire) for domination over Derbent. Derbent is often called as the western "gateway" of the Caspian Sea in historiography. It should be noted that the struggle for this fortified city-fortress has been going on antiquity since the era of the Roman Empire. The merchants, seafarers and adventurers of different countries and peoples had the aspirations to wealth of the East through the western "gates" of the Caspian Sea. This research was conducted on the basis of an analysis of numerous written sources such as diary entries of merchants and travelers who are eyewitnesses to the described events, archival documents and taking into account the latest achievements of historical science. The conducted research showed that the Turks, the Safavids and the Russians had fought between themselves for dominance over Derbent from the late Middle Ages. When these or those rulers having conquered the city, that they had the opportunity to control the international trade route along the Caspian route which connected the North and South since old times. There was a customs station in Derbent. This station has been bringing a huge income at the expense of customs duties. So, for example, the revenues from customs duties amounted to 247 bags of money annually during the rule of the Turks in Derbent. It was an impressive amount. It is known that the city's trade contacts were quite extensive. They came from India and China in the east to England in the west. Accordingly, such an important trade station on the international trade route could not be not interest the great powers. Russia joins the fight for Derbent since the XVIII<sup>th</sup> century. Russia had proposed to establish broad trade relations with the eastern countries. Derbent was an important port in the Caspian Sea. It played an important role in the eastern trade policy of Peter the First. Derbent was annexed to Russia as a result of the Caspian expedition. The modernization of its natural and economic resources was begun. The Derbent commercial harbor was also reconstructed. It had a positive effect on its trading activity. It was established that the favorable geographic location of Derbent located on the trade route and linking the peoples and countries of the South Caucasus and the Far East with South-Eastern Europe was the main reason for the struggle of the great powers for it as a result of the conducted research. The centuries-old struggle ended with the fact that Derbent was finally annexed to the Russian Empire in 1806.