Azerbaijanis consider the state of Shirvanshahs as Azerbaijani, but the reality is different

The state of the Shirvanshahs (9th-16th centuries) encompassed the northeastern regions of what is now the Republic of Azerbaijan. The main cities of the state were Shamakhi, Baku, and Qabala (Kapaghak). The state was initially ruled by the Mazyadid dynasty (Yazidids), whose origins trace back to the Arab military leader Yazid ibn Mazyad. Subsequently, the Kasranid and Derbendid dynasties continued the rule. Although the Shirvanshahs were of Arab origin, they soon became Iranized. The official language of the state, as well as historiography, poetry, and other written art forms, was primarily Persian, with some instances of Arabic. The civilizational impact of Iran was so significant that representatives of the Kasranid dynasty of the Shirvanshahs believed they descended from the Iranian Sassanids. The population spoke Iranian or Caucasian languages, and the official religion of the state was Sunni Islam. There is no ethnic, religious, or cultural connection or commonality between the Shirvanshahs and the Azerbaijanis. During the existence of the state of the Shirvanshahs, there was no mention of the Azerbaijani people.

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