Elisu Sultanate

The Elisu Sultanate (also Elisou, Ilisu, İlisu - with Turkish dotted 'İ') was one of the smaller Khanates of the Caucasus in the XVIII–XIX centuries.

Geography, Population and Government

Located mostly on the south slope of the Caucasus Mountains in what is now northwest Azerbaijan, it extended from north of the mountain crest down to the Alazani River valley. Southeast in the lowlands was the Shirvan Khanate and northwest along the mountains were the Djaro-Belokani communities. Djaro-Belokan and Elisu were closely connected.

The mountainous north was inhabited by Tsakhurs and the low country by Azeris and Ingiloys (Georgian Muslims). The upper class was Tsakhur and Azeri.

In local usage a Sultan was below a Khan and above a Beg. The Sultanate was partly hereditary and partly elected by a Jamaat or assembly of notables. He was often confirmed by the Persian Shah. In a few cases he was imposed by whoever had a large army nearby. For a few purposes the Sultan was almost a member of the Djaro-Belokani league.