Socio-political reality in historical narratives about the Karabakh khanate

Abstract

In post-independence Azerbaijan, the historical narrative genre has emerged as a vital vehicle for reconstructing collective memory and affirming national identity. However, comparative assessments of its key authors often remain scarce. This study addresses this deficiency by analyzing how the narratives of Zaman Garayev and Agil Abbas reconstruct the sociopolitical memory of the Karabakh Khanate. Through close textual analysis and triangulation with primary sources (chronicles, diplomatic letters, and Mirza Jamal's Karabaghnama), this article examines the narrative strategies, source integration, and aesthetic conventions of each work. The findings reveal that both authors manage to recover significant, yet marginalized, historical figures and events, such as the diplomacy of Panah Khan and the epic resistance of Muhammad Bey Javanshir. Garayev's narratives are distinguished by their documentary rigor and comprehensive representation of the khanate's politics, although historical accuracy occasionally challenges narrative harmony. In contrast, Abbas's "Batman's Sword" exemplifies mythic dramatization through potent symbols (Batman's sword, tribal genealogy, etc.) and the strategic use of dialect, even with sporadic lapses in historicity. Both works have catalyzed literary criticism and remain indispensable for interdisciplinary dialogues in literary, historical, and cultural studies. We hope this comparative research highlights the dynamic interplay between historiography and aesthetic creativity within Azerbaijani historical prose. In practice, we underscore the importance of balancing fidelity to sources with narrative coherence in the construction of national histories. Future research could apply this framework to other regional narratives or investigate their reception and pedagogical potential.