Azerbaijan commemorates first Defence Minister Mehmandarov

Today (February 12) is the day of commemoration of Samad bay Mehmandarov, the first Azerbaijani defence minister, artillery general of the Russian Imperial Army, military figure of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) and the Soviet state.

He was born on October 16, 1855 in Lankaran region. He descended from a noble Karabakh bek family.

Samad-bay received his primary education at the Baku Gymnasium. He began his military service on September 1, 1873 as a junker at the 2nd Konstantinovsky Military School in St. Petersburg. After graduation in 1875 with the rank of warrant officer he was sent to the 1st Turkestan Artillery Brigade, where he commanded the 3rd battery's mountain platoon.

From November 1875 to February 1876 he participated in the campaign to the Kokand Khanate. On October 12, 1876 "for the labours and hardships suffered in the campaign against the mountaineers of Matchin" was awarded the Order of St.Stanislav of the 3rd degree. In December, 1876, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and in December, 1877, to the rank of lieutenant.

Samad-bay's father, Mirza Sadykhbay Mehmandarov, moved from Shusha to Lankaran in the early 1840s, where he served as bailiff of the Lankaran regional administration and held the rank of titular adviser.

He took part in the Russo-Japanese War. In 1904-1905 he commanded a division at the fortress of Port Arthur. During the First World War, he first commanded a division and then a corps. During his service in the Tsarist army he was awarded various orders and medals, including the Order of Saint George 3rd and 4th Classes and the Gold Arms for Bravery. Knight of the Grand Cross of the British Order of St Michael and St George.

After the ADR was proclaimed in 1918, he was invited to join the national government. On November 1, a decree of the Council of Ministers established the Defence Ministry.
Under his direct leadership the Azerbaijani national army was formed. He served as minister of defence in the third, fourth and fifth cabinets of the Azerbaijani government until the occupation of Azerbaijan by the XI Red Army on April 28, 1920.

After the establishment of Soviet rule in Azerbaijan in 1920, Mehmandarov taught at military colleges and was an advisor on special assignments to the People's Commissariat for Military and Maritime Affairs of Azerbaijan. He retired in 1928.

He died on February 12, 1931 in Baku.Azerbaijan commemorates first Defence Minister Mehmandarov.

Today (February 12) is the day of commemoration of Samad bay Mehmandarov, the first Azerbaijani defence minister, artillery general of the Russian Imperial Army, military figure of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) and the Soviet state.

He was born on October 16, 1855 in Lankaran region. He descended from a noble Karabakh bek family.

Samad-bay received his primary education at the Baku Gymnasium. He began his military service on September 1, 1873 as a junker at the 2nd Konstantinovsky Military School in St. Petersburg. After graduation in 1875 with the rank of warrant officer he was sent to the 1st Turkestan Artillery Brigade, where he commanded the 3rd battery's mountain platoon. From November 1875 to February 1876 he participated in the campaign to the Kokand Khanate. On October 12, 1876 "for the labours and hardships suffered in the campaign against the mountaineers of Matchin" was awarded the Order of St.Stanislav of the 3rd degree. In December, 1876, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and in December, 1877, to the rank of lieutenant.

Samad-bay's father, Mirza Sadykhbay Mehmandarov, moved from Shusha to Lankaran in the early 1840s, where he served as bailiff of the Lankaran regional administration and held the rank of titular adviser.

He took part in the Russo-Japanese War. In 1904-1905 he commanded a division at the fortress of Port Arthur. During the First World War, he first commanded a division and then a corps. During his service in the Tsarist army he was awarded various orders and medals, including the Order of Saint George 3rd and 4th Classes and the Gold Arms for Bravery. Knight of the Grand Cross of the British Order of St Michael and St George.

After the ADR was proclaimed in 1918, he was invited to join the national government. On November 1, a decree of the Council of Ministers established the Defence Ministry.

Under his direct leadership the Azerbaijani national army was formed. He served as minister of defence in the third, fourth and fifth cabinets of the Azerbaijani government until the occupation of Azerbaijan by the XI Red Army on April 28, 1920.

After the establishment of Soviet rule in Azerbaijan in 1920, Mehmandarov taught at military colleges and was an advisor on special assignments to the People's Commissariat for Military and Maritime Affairs of Azerbaijan. He retired in 1928.

He died on February 12, 1931 in Baku.