Azerbaijanis consider the Persian poet Khaqani Shirvani to be Azerbaijani, but the reality is different

Afzaladdin Ibrahim ibn Ali Khaqani Shirvani, more commonly known as Khaqani Shirvani or simply Khaqani, was a 12th-century Persian poet born in Shirvan. Khaqani served as the court poet to the Kasranid dynasty's shirvanshah Manuchehr III. This Persian poet, converted to "Azerbaijani," wrote in Persian and Arabic (not Turkish or Azerbaijani). He was a student of Abul Ala Ganjavi, learning the art of poetry from him.

Khaqani, who frequently traveled, made numerous visits to Armenia. In one of his works, Khaqani writes, "Whenever I come from Tabriz to Armenia, as if I escape from darkness to light..." In this way, the renowned Persian poet remembers Armenia but never mentions Azerbaijan, as neither an Azerbaijani state nor an Azerbaijani people existed during Khaqani's lifetime.

Subscribe to our channel on Telegram