SHIRVAN IN THE SPHERE OF INTERESTS OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE XVIII CENTURY: PREPARATION FOR "SHAMAKHY EXPEDITION" IN 1721
The crisis that engulfed the Safavi state at the beginning of the XVIII century, sparked activation of the foreign policy of the Russian state in the East, in the region of Caspian Sea and in particular, in the coastal area of Shirvan. To research of the Caspian Sea shores, and socio-economic and military-political state of its regions, The Russian Emperor Peter I equipped a number of expeditions and embassies. The collected information allowed the Russian commanders to realize the Caspian campaign or “Shamakhi expedition” in 1721.