Ganjeh] is an example of the moral supremacy of the Russians over
the Persians and of that spirit of confidence in victory which I consid-
er my primary goal to nurture and ignite among the soldiers."^32
He was not afraid that someone would think the destruction of
the old order in Ganjeh was deliberate. On the contrary, he did his
best to persuade the khans of Yerevan, Qarabagh, Baku, and Shakki
that he would destroy them as he had Javad unless they complied
immediately with his demands. When Mohammad Hasan Khan of
Shakki informed Tsitsianov of his distress over the killing of Javad
(his brother-in-law), the general replied by lauding Russia's genero-
sity in giving Javad's widow a pension and added threateningly, "Can
the fly fight the eagle or the rabbit the lion? Be certain that I need
only give the order and the khanate Nukha [Shakki] will cease to be,
like the khanate of Ganjeh."^33
Not only was Ganjeh eliminated as a political entity, there was a
wholesale assault on the khanate's social and cultural life. It became
a crime punishable by a fine of one ruble even to refer to the place
as Ganjeh rather than Elizavetpol'. According to Iranian sources,
Muslims were expelled from their homes within the citadel. The main
mosque of the capital was turned into a church. Russian law replaced
the Koranic law and common law. The jurisdiction of the Muslim
lawyers was drastically reduced and their fees were eliminated. Within
a year, they were destitute. Some of the most important among them
were given salaries by the Russian government, which also agreed to
maintain five mosques. In return for the salaries, these religious lead-
ers were expected to serve as functionaries of the Russian govern-
ment.^34
Javad Khan's wives and other relatives who survived the battle but
had not escaped to Iran (as had most of his sons) were arrested. They
were held as prisoners in the citadel until 1812, when they were freed
by Tsitsianov's successor Philip Paulucci, who held the view, novel
among Russian officials, that Javad was a valiant man who died fight-
ing to defend his interests.^35
The conquest of Ganjeh and the changing of its name to honor the
tsaritsa brought Tsitsianov the recognition he had sought from St.
Petersburg. He was promoted to general of the infantry, and eight
of his officers were decorated. All the other soldiers who participated
in the undertaking were given a silver ruble each and the tsar's praise.
The clement tsar praised Tsitsianov's use of harsh methods, which
were said to be necessary because of Javad's obstinacy. The casualties,
however regrettable, were the khan's own fault, said the tsar. In any
event, only the guilty suffered. Most of all, Alexander was pleased
84 Russia s Conquest of the Eastern Caucasus