Shirvanshahs Palace; “A Pearl of Azerbaijan’s Architecture”
The Shirvanshahs Palace is an important cultural heritage site in Baku, it is one of the famous and oldest place which exhibits the a wonderful display of Azerbaijan architecture, this palace is belongs to rulers of Shirvan. This palace is probably built in 15th century at the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku. UNESCO described it as “one of the pearls of Azerbaijan’s architecture” located in the heart of Baku city. It is originally constructed by the ruler Shirvanshah Khlilulla I and his son, Faruk. Shirvanshah Palace had great significance both religiously and royally.
The construction of palace was hault in 15th century due to killing of Faruk in a battle. Ibrahim I, a ruler of Shirvanshah dynasty moved capital from shemakha to Baku after a severe earthquake. He choose this palace for his residence and completed its construction. The palace was destroyed in 1501 by Safavids. Safavids occupied the Azerbaijan. In second half of the 16th century, Safavids and Ottoman started a battle, Ottoman won the war and conquered Azerbaijan in 1578 and restoration process were started. A major destruction the palace followed in 1723 when Russia invade Azerbaijan under the command of Peter I. The whole city was bombed, after the war Russian forces renovated the palace but removed all the main Arabic Features.
When a visitor first entered in Shirvanshah’s Palace, visitors go through a beautiful fountain, this beautiful complex had a Divan Khas Courtyard, tomb of shirvanshahs family, the mosque of 1441, bathrooms and shrine of sufi syed yahya Bakuvi Mausoleum, the place of Kei Kubad mosque which is mostly destroyed, thw eastern portal, a mosque, and bathrooms.
The palace not built in a single phase; it completed partially from 13th to 16th century. The palace has many rooms but most of them have no usual shape. There is a hall near Divan Khan building which has octahedral shape. The mausoleum has same octahedral shape as the hall has. The tomb has rectangular shape, the prayer hall has cross shape, an amazing minaret enhance the beauty and greatness of mosque.
Although palace is not built at one glance but shirvanshahs done an amazing and impressive architecture work which exhibits in every stone of the palace.
The palace is located on the upper side of Baku Hill. It surrounded by old fortress wall, in the old Baku city. The oldest palace built many times in several centuries. The palace is a complicated figure according to its design. Some of its architecture has western, northern, and eastern facades. On the southern front, there are two triangular lanterns and a broken line between them. It’s difficult to describe in words but when a visitor visits the building makes a wonderful impression.