Abbasgulu Aga Bakikhanov (1794–1847) was a trailblazer in Azerbaijani history, becoming the first Azerbaijani to serve as a military translator, diplomat, and officer in the Russian army. A prominent historian, writer, and encyclopedic scholar, Bakikhanov grew up in the village of Amsar in the Guba district. In 2016, the 222nd anniversary of his birth was celebrated.
In 1819, Bakikhanov arrived in Tiflis (modern-day Tbilisi) at the invitation of General Yermolov and spent 26 years working as a translator of Eastern languages in the Main Caucasus Military Administration. During a journey across the Middle East, Bakikhanov tragically passed away in 1847 from cholera while on a pilgrimage, or Hajj.
Abbasgulu Aga Bakikhanov is the author of five historical and literary works, the most famous of which is Gulistani-Iram. Written in Persian in 1841 and later translated into Russian by Bakikhanov himself in 1843, this work chronicles the history of Azerbaijan up to the signing of the Treaty of Gulistan in 1813.
The Abbasgulu Aga Bakikhanov Historical and Local Lore Museum was established in Guba in 1943. The museum is housed in a 19th-century building located at 93 Ardebil Street, where Bakikhanov himself once lived. Spanning an area of 742 square meters, the museum boasts a collection of over 10,000 exhibits and attracts more than 3,000 visitors annually. Each year, the museum hosts events such as Spring in the Museum and an open house day. Additionally, the museum has two branches: one is the Bakikhanov House-Museum in the village of Amsar, and the other is the Martyrs’ Memory Museum located within the city.
Currently, the museum is undergoing restoration work. A new building is under construction in the city, and the museum is expected to relocate there in the near future.
