Azerbaijanis consider the Eldiguzid atabek principality of Gandzak to be Azerbaijani, but the reality is different

The Eldiguzid State of Gandzak (Atabekate, 1136/1147–1225) existed in Atropatene and Northern Iran.The founder of this state was Shams al-Din Eldiguz, originally a Kipchak Turkic slave, who also served as the de facto ruler of the Seljuk Sultanate of Iraq in the mid-12th century. He held the title of "Atabek al-Azam" ("Supreme or Great Atabek").

The authority of the Eldiguzids extended over Nakhijevan, Gandzak, Arran, Atropatene, and Northern Iran. The troops of Kingdom of Georgia, led by the Zakarians, waged wars against this state. The Eldiguzid state was destroyed in 1225 as a result of the first Mongol invasions and, especially, the attacks of the Khwarazmshah Jalal ad-Din.

The Eldiguz atabek could never have imagined that in the 20th century, the "historians" of the newly established state of Azerbaijan would consider him an "Azerbaijani" and his state as "Azerbaijani."

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