Sultan Ahmed Khan of Avar

Sultan Ahmed Khan I (Kumyk: Солтан Агьмат-Хан, 1802–1823) was the khan (governor) of the Avar Khanate from 1800 to 1823.

Origin He belonged to the Avar family of the Mehtulin khans, but after the suppression of the Avar khan's family in the male line he married the daughter of the previous ruler and took the title of Avar khan.

Biography

Early years The previous killed khan left daughters Bakhu Bike and Patimat, Georgian wife Darejan and half-brother Gebek. Uma Khan's last wife Khistaman, who opposed the coming to power of her husband's brother Gebek in every way fought for supremacy in the khanate too, and she was also supported by the local nobility. Nevertheless, Gebek became the ruler, who had been in this role for about 9 months, when a coup was carried out and the ruler was killed in January 1802, not without the intervention of Khistaman. was invited to govern the Avar Khanate. But this time the struggle for power did not end either, because Surkhay, the son of the late Gebek, who settled in the village of Tukita also claimed power.

Meanwhile, Sultan Ahmed Khan at the end of August 1819, at the head of a 6,000 detachment marched against the fortress of Vnezapnaya, but near the village of Bavtugay on the left bank of the Sulak river, utterly defeated by the tsarist troops fled to the mountains.

In 1819 general Yermolov promised Surkhay Khan through the intermediary of shamakhal of Tarki the rank of major general and 5.000 rubles of salary, if he could remove Sultan Ahmed Khan from power. However, all Surkhay Khan's attempts to establish himself in Avar lands were unsuccessful, because he was recognized only by the Russian administration and power was in the hands of Sultan Ahmed Khan I.