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{{Short description|City in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia}}
{{other uses}}
{{expand Russian|date=March 2023|topic=geo}}
{{Infobox Russian city
|en_name=Derbent
|ru_name=Дербент
|fa_name=دربند
|loc_lang1=Lezgin
|loc_name1=Цал (Tsal), Кьвевар (Kwevar), Дербенn (Derbent)
|loc_name2=Дәрбәнд (Dərbənd)
|loc_lang2=Azerbaijani
|loc_name3=Чяли
|loc_lang3=Dargwa
|image_skyline=  {{multiple images|border=infobox|perrow=1/2/2/1|total_width=270px
 | image1 = Derbent city. Dagestan.jpg
 | caption1 = Derbent Skyline
 | image2 =  Grand mosque of Derbent.jpg
 | caption2 = [[Juma Mosque of Derbent|Juma Mosque]]
 | image3 = Ворота Кыхляр.jpg	
 | caption3 = [[Kyrkhlyar]]
 | image4 =  Церковь. Вид из парка.jpg
 | caption4 = [[Church of the Holy All-Savior of Derbent|Holy Saviour Church]]
 | image5 = Derbent.Naryn Kala Citadel.139.Southern City Wall.Bayat Kapy Gate.JPG
 | caption5 = [[Naryn-Kala]]
 | image6 = Вокзал Дербент 1.jpg
 | caption6 = [[Train Station|Derbent Railway Station]]
   }}
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|image_coa=Coat of Arms of Derbent (Dagestan) (2014).png
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|image_flag=
|pushpin_map=Russia Dagestan#European Russia#Russia#Europe
|pushpin_map_caption=Location of Derbent in Dagestan##Location of Derbent in European Russia##Location of Derbent in Russia##Location of Derbent in Europe
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|adm_ctr_of1=City of Derbent
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|adm_ctr_of2=[[Derbentsky District]]
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|mun_data_as_of=October 2012
|urban_okrug_jur=Derbent Urban Okrug
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|mun_admctr_of2=Derbentsky Municipal District
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|leader_title= Mayor
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|leader_name= Akhmed Abduseinovich Kuliev
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|area_km2=69.63
|area_km2_ref=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gks.ru/dbscripts/munst/munst82/DBInet.cgi |title=База данных показателей муниципальных образований |access-date=June 9, 2015 |archive-date=October 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006155828/http://www.gks.ru/dbscripts/munst/munst82/DBInet.cgi |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|pop_2010census=119200
|pop_2010census_rank=137th
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|postal_codes=368600
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|dialing_codes=87240
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|website=http://www.derbent.org/
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|date=August 2011
}}
[[File:Caspian_Sea_from_orbit.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Derbent is at the foot of the snow-capped [[Caucasus Mountains]], seen here in a photo taken by the [[Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer|MODIS]] on the orbiting [[Terra (satellite)|Terra satellite]], June 2003]]

'''Derbent''',{{efn|({{langx|ru|Дербе́нт}}; {{langx|lez| Цал, Кьвевар, Дербент|Tsal, Kwevar, Derbent}}; {{langx|av|Дербенд}}; {{langx|az|Дәрбәнд|italic=no|Dərbənd}}; {{langx|rut|Derbend}}; all deriving from {{langx|fa|دربند|italic=no|Darband}} {{see below|[[#Etymology|below]]}})}} also historically known as '''Darband''',<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|entry=Persia|title=The Encyclopædia Britannica|volume=18|year=1885|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A2y1OJcIQPAC&pg=PA646|page=646}}</ref><ref>{{Iranica|darband|Darband}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Noonan|first=Thomas S.|year=2024|title=The Islamic World, Russia and the Vikings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zCEeEQAAQBAJ&pg=PT139|page=139}}</ref> or '''Derbend''',<ref>{{Cite EB9|wstitle=Derbend|volume=7|page=105}}</ref> is the southernmost city in [[Russia]]. It is situated along the southeastern coast of the [[Dagestan|Republic of Dagestan]], occupying the narrow gateway between the [[Caspian Sea]] and the [[Caucasus Mountains]], and connecting the [[Eurasian Steppe]] to the north and the [[Iranian Plateau]] to the south. Derbent covers an area of {{Convert|69.63|km2|mi2|abbr=}} with a population of roughly 120,000 residents.

Derbent is considered the oldest city in Russia, with historical documentation dating to the [[8th century BC]], making it [[List of oldest continuously inhabited cities|one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities]] in the world.<ref>[http://www.islamdag.info/story/1616 Derbent - Russia’s oldest city: 5,000 and counting] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515031716/http://www.islamdag.info/story/1616 |date=May 15, 2012 }}</ref> Due to its strategic location, over the course of history, the city changed ownership many times, particularly among the [[History of Iran|Persian]], [[Umayyad Caliphate|Arab]], [[Mongol Empire|Mongol]], [[Timurid Empire|Timurid]], and [[Shirvanshah|Shirvan]] kingdoms. In the early 19th century, the city came under control of the [[Russian Empire]] through the [[Treaty of Gulistan]] signed with [[Qajar Iran]].<ref>Timothy C. Dowling [https://books.google.com/books?id=KTq2BQAAQBAJ&dq=russo+persian+war+1804-1813&pg=PA728 ''Russia at War: From the Mongol Conquest to Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Beyond''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410111419/https://books.google.com/books?id=KTq2BQAAQBAJ&dq=russo+persian+war+1804-1813&pg=PA728 |date=April 10, 2023 }} p 728 ABC-CLIO, 2 dec. 2014 {{ISBN|1598849484}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Derbent is derived from [[Persian language|Persian]] "''Darband''" ({{Langx|fa|دربند|lit=Door/opening in a Barrier}}, from ''dar'' "door/gate" + ''band'' "barrier/dam", lit., "gate in the barrier"<ref>{{cite book |last2=Kosarev |first2=Aleksey N. |last3=Glantz |first3=Michael |last4=Kostianoy |first4=Andrey G. |last1=Zonn |first1=Igor S. |title=The Caspian Sea Encyclopedia |year=2010 |publisher=Springer |page=160}}</ref>), referring to the eastern-most pass in the high [[Caucasus Mountains]] (whence the putative "barrier/dam") on the beaches of the [[Caspian Sea]]. (The other pass, the [[Darial Pass]], is in the Central Caucasus Mountains, and likewise carries a Persian name, standing for "the Alan Pass/gate"{{snd}} with the [[Alans]] being the modern [[Iranic]] [[Ossetians]].)

It is often identified with the [[Gates of Alexander]], a legendary barrier supposedly built by [[Alexander the Great]] in the [[Caucasus]]. The Persian name for the city came into use at the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century&nbsp;AD, when the city was re-established by [[Kavadh I of Persia|Kavadh&nbsp;I]] of the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanid]] dynasty of Persia, but Derbent was probably already in the Sasanian sphere of influence as a result of the victory over the [[Parthian Empire|Parthians]] and the conquest of [[Caucasian Albania]] by [[Shapur I]], the second shah of the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanid]] Persians.<ref name="DARBAND 1" /> The geographical treatise [[Šahrestānīhā ī Ērānšahr]] written in [[Middle Persian]] mentions the old name of the fortress – ''Wērōy-pahr'' (The Georgian Guard):
<blockquote>
šahrestan [ī] kūmīs [ī] panj-burg až-i dahāg pad šabestān kard. māniš [ī] *pārsīgān ānōh būd. padxwadayīh [ī] yazdgird ī šabuhrān kard andar tāzišn ī čōl wērōy-pahr [ī] an ālag. (The city of Kūmīs of five towers Aži Dahag made it his own harem. The abode of the Parthians was there. In the reign of Yazdgird, the son of Šabuhr made it during the invasion of the Čōl, at the boundary of the Georgian Guard.).<ref>{{Cite book |title=Šahrestānīhā Ī Ērānšahr: A Middle Persian Text on Late Antique Geography, Epic, and History |last=Daryaee |first=Touraj |publisher=Mazda Publishers, Inc. |year=2002 |isbn=1-56859-143-8 |location=Costa Mesa, California 92628 U.S.A. |pages=14, 18}}</ref>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
-Wėrōy-pahr: "The Georgian Guard" The old name of the fortress at Darband;...<ref>{{Cite book |title=Šahrestānīhā Ī Ērānšahr: A Middle Persian Text on Late Antique Geography, Epic, and History |last=Daryaee |first=Touraj |publisher=Mazda Publishers, Inc. |year=2002 |isbn=1-56859-143-8 |location=Costa Mesa, California 92628 U.S.A. |page=40}}</ref>
</blockquote>
In Arabic texts the city was known as "''Bāb al-Abwāb''" ({{langx|ar|بَاب ٱلْأَبْوَاب|lit=Gate of all Gates}}),<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/world/europe/derbent-as-russias-oldest-city-think-again-moscow-says.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 17, 2016 |title=Derbent as Russia's Oldest City? Think Again, Moscow Says |first=Neil |last=McFarquhar |access-date=February 17, 2016 |archive-date=February 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217183855/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/world/europe/derbent-as-russias-oldest-city-think-again-moscow-says.html |url-status=live }}</ref> simply as "''al-Bāb''" ({{Langx|ar|ٱلْبَاب|lit=The Gate}}) or as "''Bāb al-Hadid''" ({{Langx|ar|بَاب ٱلْحَدِيد|lit=Gate of Iron}}).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bd4rBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA139 |title=Daghestan: Tradition and Survival |last=Chenciner |first=Robert |date=2012-10-12 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781136107146 |language=en}}</ref> A similar name meaning "Iron Gate" was used by Turkic peoples, in the form "''Demirkapi''".<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HkYKAQAAIAAJ |title=Across the Caucasus |last=Pereira |first=Michael |date=1973-01-01 |publisher=Bles |isbn=9780713805802 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fUsBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA228 |title=The Modern Part of an Universal History: From the Earliest Account of Time. Compiled from Original Writers. By the Authors of The Antient Part |date=1759 |publisher=S. Richardson, T. Osborne, C. Hitch, A. Millar, John Rivington, S. Crowder, P. Davey and B. Law, T. Longman, and C. Ware |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Derband.jpg|thumb|View of the city from the citadel of [[Naryn-Kala]], 1910s]]
Derbent's location on a narrow, three-kilometer strip of land in the [[North Caucasus]] between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains is strategic in the entire [[Caucasus]] region. Historically, this position allowed the rulers of Derbent to control land traffic between the [[Eurasian Steppe]] and the [[Middle East]]. The only other practicable crossing of the Caucasus ridge was over the [[Darial Gorge]].

===Persian rule===
[[File:Главный вход в цитадель Нарын-Кала.jpg|thumb|Derbent is renowned for its Medieval fortress, [[Naryn-Kala]], a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].]]
[[File:Derbent winter.jpg|thumb|Derbent's fortress during winter]]
A traditionally and historically [[Iran]]ian city,<ref name="books.google.nl">Michael Khodarkovsky. [https://books.google.com/books?id=VRJYt-79jPUC&dq=derbent+is+a+persian+city&pg=PA47 "Bitter Choices: Loyalty and Betrayal in the Russian Conquest of the North Caucasus"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119145949/https://books.google.com/books?id=VRJYt-79jPUC&dq=derbent%20is%20a%20persian%20city&pg=PA47 |date=November 19, 2023 }} Cornell University Press, 12 mrt. 2015. {{ISBN|0801462908}}. pp.&nbsp;47–52.</ref> the first intensive settlement in the Derbent area dates from the 8th century&nbsp;BC; the site was intermittently controlled by the Persian monarchs, starting from the 6th century&nbsp;BC. Until the 4th century&nbsp;AD, it was part of [[Caucasian Albania]] which [[Albania (satrapy)|was a satrapy]] of the [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenid Persian]] Empire, and is traditionally identified with Albana, the capital.<ref name="DARBAND 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/darband-i-ancient-city |title=DARBAND (1) |access-date=29 December 2014 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512053119/https://iranicaonline.org/articles/darband-i-ancient-city |url-status=live }}</ref> The modern name is a [[Persian language|Persian]] word ({{lang|fa|دربند}} ''Darband'') meaning "gateway", which came into use in the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century&nbsp;AD, when the city was re-established by [[Kavadh I of Persia|Kavadh&nbsp;I]] of the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanid]] dynasty of Persia<!-- Do not link to the disambiguation page, "Persian Empire"; link to a specific iteration of this topic -->,<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=1 |wstitle=Derbent |volume=8 |page=64}}</ref> however, Derbent was probably already into the Sasanian sphere of influence as a result of the victory over the Parthians and the conquest of Caucasian Albania by [[Shapur&nbsp;I]], the second shah of the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanid]] Persians.<ref name="DARBAND 1"/> In the 5th century Derbent also functioned as a border fortress and the seat of a Sassanid [[marzban]].<ref name="DARBAND 1"/>

The {{convert|20|m|ft|sp=us|adj=mid|-high}} walls with thirty north-looking towers are believed to belong to the time of Kavadh's son, [[Khosrau I of Persia|Khosrau&nbsp;I]], who also directed the construction of Derbent's fortress.<ref name="The Jews of Khazatia">Kevin Alan Brook. [https://books.google.com/books?id=hEuIveNl9kcC&dq=derbent+sassanid+fortress&pg=PA126 "The Jews of Khazatia"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119145950/https://books.google.com/books?id=hEuIveNl9kcC&dq=derbent+sassanid+fortress&pg=PA126 |date=November 19, 2023 }} Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 27 sep. 2006. {{ISBN|978-1442203020}}. p.&nbsp;126.</ref>

Some say that the level of the Caspian was formerly higher and that the lowering of the water level opened an invasion route that had to be fortified.<ref name="Robert H. Hewsen 2001, page 89">Robert H. Hewsen, ''Armenia: A Historical Atlas'', 2001, page 89.</ref> The chronicler [[Movses Kaghankatvatsi]] wrote about "the wondrous walls, for whose construction the Persian kings exhausted our country, recruiting architects and collecting building materials with a view of constructing a great edifice stretching between the Caucasus Mountains and the Great Eastern Sea". Derbent became a strong military outpost and harbour of the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanid Empire]]. During the 5th and 6th centuries, Derbent also became an important center for spreading the [[Christianity|Christian]] faith in the Caucasus.

During periods when the Sasanians were distracted by war with the [[Byzantine–Sasanian wars|Byzantines]] or protracted battles with the Hephthalites in the eastern provinces, the northern tribes succeeded in advancing into the Caucasus. The first Sasanian attempt to seal off the road along the Caspian seacoast at Darband by means of a mud-brick wall has been dated in the reign of [[Yazdegerd II]] (438–457 AD).<ref name="DARBAND 1"/>

Movses Kagankatvatsi left a graphic description of the [[Third Perso-Turkic War|sack of Derbent]] by the hordes of [[Tong Yabghu]] of the [[Western Turkic Khaganate]] in 627. His successor,{{citation needed|date=July 2010}} 

As mentioned by the ''[[Encyclopedia Iranica]]'', ancient Iranian language elements were absorbed into the everyday speech of the population of Dagestan and Derbent especially during the Sassanian era, and many remain current.<ref name="DAGESTAN">{{cite web |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/dagestan |title=DAGESTAN |access-date=11 June 2015 |archive-date=April 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429175746/http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/dagestan |url-status=live }}</ref> In fact, a deliberate policy of “[[Persianisation|Persianizing]]” Derbent and the eastern Caucasus, in general, can be traced over many centuries, from Khosrow I to the [[Safavid dynasty|Safavid]] shahs [[Ismail&nbsp;I]], and [[Abbas the Great|ʿAbbās the Great]].<ref name="DAGESTAN"/> According to the account in the later "Darband-nāma", after construction of the fortifications Khosrow&nbsp;I “moved much folk here from Persia”,<ref>Saidov and Shikhsaidov, pp.&nbsp;26–27.</ref> relocating about 3,000 families from the interior of Persia in the city of Derbent and neighboring villages.<ref name="DAGESTAN"/> This account seems to be corroborated by the [[Al-Andalus|Spanish Arab]] Ḥamīd Moḥammad Ḡarnāṭī, who reported in 1130 that Derbent was populated by many ethnic groups, including a large Persian-speaking population.<ref>Bol’shakov and Mongaĭt, p.&nbsp;26.</ref>

===Arab conquest===
In 643, Derbent was captured by the Arab Muslims, who called it the Gate of Gates (''Bab al-Abwab''),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/islam-islam-caucasus-and-middle-volga |title=Islam: Islam In The Caucasus And The Middle Volga |access-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130064441/https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/islam-islam-caucasus-and-middle-volga |url-status=live }}</ref> following [[Muslim conquest of Persia|their invasion of Persia]]. They transformed it into an important administrative center and introduced [[Islam]] to the area. The impression of antiquity evoked by these fortifications led many Arab historians to connect them with [[Khosrow I]] and to include them among the seven wonders of the world.<ref name="DARBAND 1"/> The Darband fortress was certainly the most prominent Sasanian defensive construction in the Caucasus and could have been erected only by an extremely powerful central government.<ref name="DARBAND 1"/> Because of its strategic position on the northern branch of the [[Silk Route]], the fortress was contested by the [[Khazars]] in the course of the [[Khazar-Arab Wars]]. The Sassanids had also brought Armenians from [[Syunik (historic province)|Syunik]] to help protect the pass from invaders; as Arab rule weakened in the region at the end of the ninth century, the Armenians living there were able to establish a community, which lasted until the early years of the thirteenth century.<ref>See {{in lang|hy}} Sedrak Barkhudaryan, “Դերբենդի հայ-աղվանական թագավորությունը” (“The Armenian-Caucasian Albanian Kingdom of Derbend”). ''[[Patma-Banasirakan Handes]] ''. № 3, 1969, pp. 125-147.</ref><ref>{{in lang|hy}} [[Matthew of Edessa]]. ''Ժամանակնագրություն'' (''Chronicle''). Translated by [[Hrach Bartikyan]]. Yerevan: Hayastan Publishing, 1973, pp. 151-152, 332, note 132a.</ref> The Holy Saviour Armenian Church still rises up in the skyline, though it is used as the Museum of Carpet, Arts and Crafts today due to the decline in the Armenian population. There was also a second Armenian church and two Armenian schools which served the Armenian community, which numbered about 3,000 in the census of 1913.

Excavations on the eastern side of the Caspian Sea, opposite to Derbent, revealed the [[Great Wall of Gorgan]], the eastern counterpart to the wall and fortifications of Derbent. Similar [[Sassanian]] defensive fortifications there—massive forts, garrison towns, long walls—also run from the sea to the mountains.

The Caliph [[Harun al-Rashid]] lived in Derbent and brought it into great repute as a seat of the arts and commerce.{{cn|date=April 2024}} According to Arab historians, Derbent, with a population exceeding 50,000, was the largest city of the 9th century in the Caucasus. In the 10th century, with the collapse of the Arab Caliphate, Derbent became the capital of an emirate. [[Emirate of Derbent]] often fought losing wars with the neighboring Christian state of [[Sarir]], allowing Sarir to manipulate Derbent's politics on occasion. Despite that, the emirate outlived its rival and continued to flourish at the time of the [[Mongol]] invasion in 1239. In the 14th century, Derbent was occupied by [[Timur]]'s armies.

===Shirvanshah era===
The [[Shirvanshah]]s dynasty existed as independent or a [[vassal]] state, from 861 until 1538; longer than any other dynasty in the [[Islamic world]]. They were renowned for their cultural achievements and geopolitical pursuits. The rulers of Shirvan, called the Shirvanshahs, had attempted, and on numerous times, succeeded, to conquer Derbend since the 18th Shirvanshah king, [[Afridun I]], was appointed as the governor of the city. Over the centuries the city changed hands often. The 21st Shirvanshah king, [[Akhsitan I]], briefly reconquered the city. However, the city was lost once again to the northern [[Kipchaks]].

After the Timurid invasion, [[Ibrahim I of Shirvan]], the 33rd Shirvanshah, managed to keep the kingdom of Shirvan independent. Ibrahim I revived Shirvan's fortunes, and through his cunning politics managed to continue without paying tribute. Furthermore, Ibrahim also greatly increased the limits of his state. He conquered the city of Derbend in 1437. The Shirvanshahs integrated the city so closely with their political structure that a new branch of the Shirvan dynasty emerged from Derbend, the Derbenid dynasty. The Derbenid dynasty, being a cadet dynasty of Shirvan, inherited the throne of Shirvan in the 15th century.

In the early 16th century, the kingdom of Shirvan was conquered by [[Shah Ismail]] of the Safavid dynasty. As Shah Ismail incorporated all the Shirvan possessions, he also inherited Derbend.

===Russian conquest===
[[File:Derbendt int ruck van Persien - Peeters Jacob - 1690.jpg|thumb|Illustration entitled ''Derbendt int rÿck van Persien'' ("Derbent in the Persian Empire"). Published by Jacob Peeters in 1690]]
[[image:דרבנטDERBENT.JPG|thumb|Derbent in the 1980s]]
Derbent stayed under [[History of Iran|Iranian]] rule, while occasionally briefly taken by the [[Ottoman Turks]] such as in 1583 after the [[Battle of Torches]] and the [[Treaty of Istanbul (1590)|Treaty of Constantinople]], till the course of the 19th century, when the Russians occupied the city and wider Iranian-ruled swaths of Dagestan.<ref name="Swietochowski Borderland">{{cite book |last=Swietochowski |first=Tadeusz |author-link=Tadeusz Swietochowski |year=1995 |title=Russia and Azerbaijan: A Borderland in Transition |pages=69, 133 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FfRYRwAACAAJ&q=Russia+and+Iran+in+the+great+game:+travelogues+and+orientalism |isbn=978-0-231-07068-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=L. Batalden |first=Sandra |year=1997 |title=The newly independent states of Eurasia: handbook of former Soviet republics |page=98 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WFjPAxhBEaEC&q=The+newly+independent+states+of+Eurasia:+handbook+of+former+Soviet+republics |isbn=978-0-89774-940-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=E. Ebel, Robert |first=Menon, Rajan |year=2000 |title=Energy and conflict in Central Asia and the Caucasus |page=181 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-sCpf26vBZ0C&q=Energy+and+conflict+in+Central+Asia+and+the+Caucasus |isbn=978-0-7425-0063-1 |access-date=November 10, 2020 |archive-date=June 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625053959/https://books.google.com/books?id=-sCpf26vBZ0C&q=Energy+and+conflict+in+Central+Asia+and+the+Caucasus#v=snippet&q=Energy%20and%20conflict%20in%20Central%20Asia%20and%20the%20Caucasus&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Andreeva |first=Elena |year=2010 |title=Russia and Iran in the great game: travelogues and orientalism |page=6 |edition=reprint |publisher=Taylor & Francis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FfRYRwAACAAJ&q=%3DRussia+and+Iran+in+the+great+game:+travelogues+and+orientalism |isbn=978-0-415-78153-4 |access-date=November 10, 2020 |archive-date=June 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625054149/https://books.google.com/books?id=FfRYRwAACAAJ&q=%3DRussia+and+Iran+in+the+great+game:+travelogues+and+orientalism |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Çiçek, Kemal |first=Kuran, Ercüment |year=2000 |title=The Great Ottoman-Turkish Civilisation |publisher=University of Michigan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c5VpAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Great+Ottoman-Turkish+Civilisation |isbn=978-975-6782-18-7 |access-date=October 19, 2015 |archive-date=June 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625054150/https://books.google.com/books?id=c5VpAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Great+Ottoman-Turkish+Civilisation |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Ernest Meyer, Karl |first=Blair Brysac, Shareen |year=2006 |title=Tournament of Shadows: The Great Game and the Race for Empire in Central Asia |page=66 |publisher=Basic Books |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ssv-GONnxTsC&q=Tournament+of+Shadows:+The+Great+Game+and+the+Race+for+Empire+in+Central+Asia |isbn=978-0-465-04576-1}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1070 |title=Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent |access-date=29 December 2014 |archive-date=December 1, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051201004316/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1070 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Being briefly taken by the Russians as a result of the [[Russo-Persian War (1722–23)|Persian expedition of 1722–23]] by [[Peter the Great]], the 1735 [[Treaty of Ganja]], formed by [[Imperial Russia]] and [[Safavid Iran]] (''de facto'' ruled by [[Nader Shah]]), forced Russia to return Derbent and its bastion to Iran. In 1747, Derbent became the capital of the [[Derbent Khanate]] of the same name.

During the [[Persian Expedition of 1796]], Derbent was stormed by Russian forces under General [[Valerian Zubov]], but the Russians were forced to retreat due to internal political issues,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3bt9AwAAQBAJ&q=Persian+Expedition+of+1796+derbent&pg=PA3 |title=Alexey Yermolov's Memoirs |isbn=9781105258183 |access-date=29 December 2014 |last1=Mikaberidze |first1=Alexander |year=2011 |publisher=Lulu.com |archive-date=June 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625054004/https://books.google.com/books?id=3bt9AwAAQBAJ&q=Persian+Expedition+of+1796+derbent&pg=PA3#v=onepage&q=Persian%20Expedition%20of%201796%20derbent&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> making it fall under Persian rule again. 
As a consequence of the [[Russo-Persian War (1804-1813)]] and the resulting [[Treaty of Gulistan]] of 1813, Derbent and wider [[Dagestan]] were ceded by [[Qajar Iran]] to the [[Russian Empire]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KTq2BQAAQBAJ&q=derbent+treaty+of+gulistan&pg=PA729 |title=Russia at War: From the Mongol Conquest to Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Beyond ... |isbn=9781598849486 |access-date=29 December 2014 |last1=Dowling |first1=Timothy C. |date=December 2, 2014 |archive-date=June 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625054153/https://books.google.co.id/books?id=KTq2BQAAQBAJ&q=derbent+treaty+of+gulistan&pg=PA729&redir_esc=y |url-status=live }}</ref> (For background, see [[Russian conquest of the Caucasus#Caspian Coast]].)

In the 1886 census of [[Dagestan Oblast]], as part of Russia's [[Caucasus Viceroyalty (1801–1917)|Caucasus Viceroyalty]], people of [[Iran]]ian descent ({{langx|ru|link=no|персы}}) were still an absolute majority at 8,994 out of 15,265, or 58,9%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru/rndaghestan.html |title=''НАСЕЛЕНИЕ ДАГЕСТАНА ДАГЕСТАНСКАЯ ОБЛАСТЬ (1886 г.)'' Retrieved 29 October 2015 |access-date=July 3, 2012 |archive-date=April 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422114950/http://www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru/rndaghestan.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
The modern city is built in the [[North Caucasus]] of [[Eastern Europe]]; near the western shores of the [[Caspian Sea]], south of the Rubas River, on the slopes of the Tabasaran Mountains (part of the Bigger [[Caucasus Mountains|Caucasus]] range). Derbent is well served by public transport, with its own harbor, a railway going south to [[Baku]], and the Baku to [[Rostov-on-Don]] road.

To the north of the town is the monument of the Kirk-lar, or forty heroes, who fell defending Dagestan against the Arabs in 728. To the south lies the seaward extremity of the [[Caucasian wall]] (fifty metres long), otherwise known as [[Alexander's Wall]], blocking the narrow pass of the Iron Gate or [[Caspian Gates]] (''Portae Athanae'' or ''Portae Caspiae''). When intact, the wall had a height of {{convert|29|ft|m|abbr=on|0|order=flip}} and a thickness of about {{convert|10|ft|m|abbr=on|0|order=flip}} and, with its iron gates and numerous watch-towers, defended [[Persia]]'s frontier.<ref name="EB1911"/>

===Climate===
Derbent has a [[cold semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''BSk''). Winters are highly variable, with very cold nights interspersed with occasional bouts of sunshine and summerlike temperatures. Highest temperature was recorded 38.8°C (101.8°F) on August 29, 1995 and August 13, 1974 and lowest temperature was recorded -19.0°C (-2.2°F) on February 14, 1988 and February 3, 1994, and the highest lowest temperature recorded was 28.9°C (84.0°F) on July 6, 1990, July 12, 2010 and June 7, 1984, lowest high was -6.1°C (21.0°F) on January 15, 1993 and December 7, 2005.
{{Weather box

|width = auto
|location=Derbent
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|Jan record high C = 26.7
|Feb record high C = 26.6
|Mar record high C = 28.3
|Apr record high C = 30.1
|May record high C = 34.2
|Jun record high C = 35.3
|Jul record high C = 35.8
|Aug record high C = 38.8
|Sep record high C = 33.0
|Oct record high C = 28.0
|Nov record high C = 28.0
|Dec record high C = 27.6
|year record high C = 38.8
|Jan high C = 4.8
|Feb high C = 4.7
|Mar high C = 7.4
|Apr high C = 13.6
|May high C = 20.0
|Jun high C = 25.4
|Jul high C = 28.4
|Aug high C = 28.2
|Sep high C = 23.7
|Oct high C = 17.5
|Nov high C = 11.7
|Dec high C = 7.2
|year high C = 16.1
|Jan mean C = 2.1
|Feb mean C = 2.0
|Mar mean C = 4.5
|Apr mean C = 10.1
|May mean C = 16.3
|Jun mean C = 21.7
|Jul mean C = 24.9
|Aug mean C = 24.6
|Sep mean C = 20.2
|Oct mean C = 14.3
|Nov mean C = 8.9
|Dec mean C = 4.5
|year mean C = 12.9
|Jan low C = -0.2
|Feb low C = -0.2
|Mar low C = 2.2
|Apr low C = 7.1
|May low C = 12.8
|Jun low C = 17.9
|Jul low C = 21.2
|Aug low C = 21.0
|Sep low C = 16.9
|Oct low C = 11.4
|Nov low C = 6.4
|Dec low C = 2.3
|year low C = 10.0
|Jan record low C = -18.9
|Feb record low C = -19.0
|Mar record low C = -9.1
|Apr record low C = -3.1
|May record low C = 4.1
|Jun record low C = 8.5
|Jul record low C = 12.9
|Aug record low C = 10.7
|Sep record low C = 5.1
|Oct record low C = -3.4
|Nov record low C = -9.7
|Dec record low C = -14.2
|year record low C = -19.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 30.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 31.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 23.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 20.9
|May precipitation mm = 22.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 18.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 18.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 24.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 47.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 52.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 48.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 39.9
|year precipitation mm = 379.5
|Jan precipitation days = 11.0
|Feb precipitation days = 10.9
|Mar precipitation days = 8.7
|Apr precipitation days = 6.1
|May precipitation days = 5.9
|Jun precipitation days = 5.8
|Jul precipitation days = 4.9
|Aug precipitation days = 5.2
|Sep precipitation days = 7.3
|Oct precipitation days = 9.3
|Nov precipitation days = 10.6
|Dec precipitation days = 11.2
|year precipitation days = 96.8
|Jan sun = 72
|Feb sun = 73
|Mar sun = 102
|Apr sun = 158
|May sun = 227
|Jun sun = 260
|Jul sun = 275
|Aug sun = 248
|Sep sun = 193
|Oct sun = 133
|Nov sun = 86
|Dec sun = 67
|year sun = 1894
|source 1 =  climatebase.ru<ref name="climatebase">{{cite web |url=http://climatebase.ru/station/37470/ |title=Climatebase |access-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-date=April 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416180050/http://climatebase.ru/station/37470/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|date = November 2017
}}

==Administrative and municipal status==
[[File:Derbent. Dagestan.jpg|thumb|Derbent]]
Within the [[subdivisions of Russia#Administrative divisions|framework of administrative divisions]], Derbent serves as the [[administrative center]] of [[Derbentsky District]], even though it is not a part of it.<ref name="Ref294">Law #16</ref> As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as the '''[[City of federal subject significance|City]] of Derbent'''—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the [[administrative divisions of the Republic of Dagestan|districts]].<ref name="Ref294" /> As a [[subdivisions of Russia#Municipal divisions|municipal division]], the City of Derbent is incorporated as '''Derbent Urban Okrug'''.<ref name="Ref416">Law #6</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations|1897|14649|1926|23100|1939|34100|1959|47318|1970|57192|1979|69575|1989|78371|2002|101031|2010|119200|2021|124953|type=|footnote=Source:
Census data}}According to the 1897 census, Derbent had 14,649 inhabitants, 9,767 of whom were Tatar (later known as [[Azerbaijanis|Azerbaijani]]) speakers (66.7%) and 1,004 were [[Russian language|Russian]] speakers (6.9%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Демоскоп Weekly - Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей. |url=http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/emp_lan_97_uezd.php?reg=364 |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=www.demoscope.ru |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411093259/http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/emp_lan_97_uezd.php?reg=364 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1916, Derbent had a population of 31,168 consisting of 7,919 [[Shia Muslims]] (25.4%), 7,567 [[Russians]] (24.3%), 6,879 [[Jews]] (22.1%), 5,138 [[North Caucasian languages|Caucasian highlanders]] (16.5%), 2,604 [[Armenians]] (8.4%), and 1,061 [[Sunni Islam|Sunni Muslims]] (3.4%).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.prlib.ru/item/417322 |title=Кавказский календарь на 1917 год |publisher=Tipografiya kantselyarii Ye.I.V. na Kavkaze, kazenny dom |year=1917 |edition=72nd |publication-place=Tiflis |pages=186–193 |language=Russian |trans-title=Caucasian calendar for 1917 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104233151/https://www.prlib.ru/item/417322 |archive-date=4 November 2021}}</ref>

According to the [[2021 Russian census|2021 Census]], the main ethnic groups in the city are:<ref name="ВПН-2020">{{cite web |url=https://05.rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/5.2.%20%D0%9D%D0%90%D0%A6%D0%98%D0%9E%D0%9D%D0%90%D0%9B%D0%AC%D0%9D%D0%AB%D0%99%20%D0%A1%D0%9E%D0%A1%D0%A2%D0%90%D0%92%20%D0%9D%D0%90%D0%A1%D0%95%D0%9B%D0%95%D0%9D%D0%98%D0%AF%20%D0%A0%D0%95%D0%A1%D0%9F%D0%A3%D0%91%D0%9B%D0%98%D0%9A%D0%98%20%D0%94%D0%90%D0%93%D0%95%D0%A1%D0%A2%D0%90%D0%9D%20%D0%9F%D0%9E%20%D0%93%D0%9E%D0%A0%D0%9E%D0%94%D0%A1%D0%9A%D0%98%D0%9C%20%D0%9E%D0%9A%D0%A0%D0%A3%D0%93%D0%90%D0%9C%20%D0%98%20%D0%9C%D0%A3%D0%9D%D0%98%D0%A6%D0%98%D0%9F%D0%90%D0%9B%D0%AC%D0%9D%D0%AB%D0%9C%20%D0%A0%D0%90%D0%99%D0%9E%D0%9D%D0%90%D0%9C.xlsx |title=Национальный состав населения |publisher=Rosstat |access-date=16 August 2023 |archive-date=July 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708083927/https://05.rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/5.2.%20%D0%9D%D0%90%D0%A6%D0%98%D0%9E%D0%9D%D0%90%D0%9B%D0%AC%D0%9D%D0%AB%D0%99%20%D0%A1%D0%9E%D0%A1%D0%A2%D0%90%D0%92%20%D0%9D%D0%90%D0%A1%D0%95%D0%9B%D0%95%D0%9D%D0%98%D0%AF%20%D0%A0%D0%95%D0%A1%D0%9F%D0%A3%D0%91%D0%9B%D0%98%D0%9A%D0%98%20%D0%94%D0%90%D0%93%D0%95%D0%A1%D0%A2%D0%90%D0%9D%20%D0%9F%D0%9E%20%D0%93%D0%9E%D0%A0%D0%9E%D0%94%D0%A1%D0%9A%D0%98%D0%9C%20%D0%9E%D0%9A%D0%A0%D0%A3%D0%93%D0%90%D0%9C%20%D0%98%20%D0%9C%D0%A3%D0%9D%D0%98%D0%A6%D0%98%D0%9F%D0%90%D0%9B%D0%AC%D0%9D%D0%AB%D0%9C%20%D0%A0%D0%90%D0%99%D0%9E%D0%9D%D0%90%D0%9C.xlsx |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Lezgian people|Lezgins]] (36.4%)
* [[Azerbaijani people|Azerbaijanis]] (35.1%)
* [[Tabasaran people|Tabasarans]] (12.2%)
* [[Dargwa people|Dargins]] (5.0%)
* [[Russians]] (3.0%)
* [[Aghul people|Aghuls]] (3.0%)
* [[Rutul people|Rutuls]] (0.8%)

=== Jewish community ===
{{main|History of the Jews in Derbent}}
Jews began to settle in Derbent in ancient times. During the Khazars' reign, they played an important part in the life of the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5098-derbent |title=DERBENT - JewishEncyclopedia.com |access-date=June 9, 2015 |archive-date=January 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106121413/http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5098-derbent |url-status=live }}</ref> The Jewish traveler [[Benjamin of Tudela]] mentions Jews living in Derbent in the 12th century, and Christian traveler Wilhelm of Rubruquis writes about a Jewish community in the 13th century. The first mention of Jews in Derbent in modern times is by a German traveler, Adam Olearius, in the 17th century.

Derbent's Jewry suffered during the wars in the 18th century. Nadir Shah of Persia forced many Jews to adopt Islam. After the Russian conquest, many Jews of rural Dagestan fled to Derbent, which became the spiritual center of the [[Mountain Jews]]. The Jewish population numbered 2,200 in 1897 (15% of total population) and 3,500 in 1903. In the middle of the 20th century, Jews constituted about a third of the population of Derbent.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.5104038 |agency=Haaretz |date=April 19, 2010 |title=Saving Another Dying Jewish Language Before It's Too Late |access-date=March 14, 2020 |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017122446/https://www.haaretz.com/1.5104038 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1989, there were 13,000 Jews in the city, but most emigrated after the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]]. In 2002, there were 2,000 Jews with an active synagogue and community center.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0005_0_05114.html |title=Derbent - Jewish Virtual Library |access-date=June 9, 2015 |archive-date=January 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114015133/https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0005_0_05114.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The chief rabbi of Derbent, Obadiah Isakov, was badly injured in an assassination attempt on July 25, 2013, sparking concerns of further acts of [[Antisemitism in Europe|antisemitism]] targeting the Jewish community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://izrus.co.il/diasporaIL/article/2013-07-26/21826.html |title=После покушения на раввина евреи Дагестана живут в страхе |access-date=June 9, 2015 |archive-date=August 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805164225/http://izrus.co.il/diasporaIL/article/2013-07-26/21826.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, the Jewish population was down to 1,345.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/world/europe/derbent-as-russias-oldest-city-think-again-moscow-says.html?_r=0 |title=Derbent as Russia's Oldest City? Think Again, Moscow Says |work=The New York Times |date=February 17, 2016 |access-date=March 1, 2017 |archive-date=October 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006051157/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/world/europe/derbent-as-russias-oldest-city-think-again-moscow-says.html?_r=0 |url-status=live |last1=MacFarquhar |first1=Neil }}</ref> In the [[2024 Dagestan attack|2024 Dagestan attacks]], a synagogue in Derbent was set on fire by armed gunmen, possibly affiliated with [[Islamic State|ISIS]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deaton |first=Darya Tarasova, Jen |date=2024-06-23 |title=Priest and police officer killed in attacks on synagogue and church in Russia's Dagestan |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/23/europe/dagestan-synagogue-attack-russia-intl-latam/index.html |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=June 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624114346/https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/23/europe/dagestan-synagogue-attack-russia-intl-latam/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-23 |title=At least 4 dead, 13 wounded in shooting attack on Russian synagogue, Orthodox church |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-807360 |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en |archive-date=June 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623180018/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-807360 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Economy and culture==
The city is home to machine building, food, textile, fishing, and fishery supplies, construction materials, and wood industries. It is the center of Russian [[brandy]] production. The educational infrastructure includes a university as well as several technical schools. On the cultural front, there is a Lezgin drama theater (named after S. Stalsky). About two kilometers ({{convert|2|km|abbr=off|disp=output only}}) from the city is the vacation colony of Chayka (Seagull).

The Soviet novelist [[Yury Krymov]] named a fictional motor tanker after the city in his book ''[[Yury Krymov#Tanker "Derbent"|The Tanker "Derbent"]]''.

===Museums===
* [[Derbent State Museum-Reserve]]
* [[Cabin of Peter the Great (Derbent)|Cabin of Peter the Great]]
* [[Alexander Bestuzhev House]]

===Theaters===
Derbent has 3 state and 1 municipal theaters.
*State Azerbaijan Drama Theater
*State Lezgin Music and Drama Theater named after S. Stalsky
*State Tabasaran Drama Theater
*[[Judeo-Tat Theatre]]

===Citadel of Derbend===
{{main|Fortifications of Derbent}}
[[File:Крепость Нарын-Кала. Дербент.jpg|thumb|Sassanid Fortress [[Naryn-Kala]] (Derbent)]]
Derbent resembles a huge museum and has magnificent mountains and shore nearby, and therefore possesses much touristic potential, further increased by [[UNESCO]]'s classification of the citadel, ancient city and fortress as a [[World Heritage Site]] in 2003; however, instability in the region has halted development.

The current fortification and walls were built by the Persian [[Sassanian Empire]] as a defensive structure against hostile nomadic people in the north, and continuously repaired or improved by later Arab, Mongol, Timurid, Shirvan, and Iranian kingdoms until the early course of the 19th century, as long as its military function lasted. The fortress was built under the direction of the Sassanid emperor [[Khosrow I|Khosrow (Chosroes)&nbsp;I]].<ref name="The Jews of Khazatia"/>

A large portion of the walls and several watchtowers still remain in reasonable shape. The walls, reaching to the sea, date from the 6th century, [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanid dynasty]] period. The city has a well-preserved citadel (Narin-kala), enclosing an area of {{convert|4.5|ha}}, enclosed by strong walls. Historical attractions include the baths, the cisterns, the old cemeteries, the caravanserai, the 18th-century Khan's mausoleum, as well as several mosques.

===Religious monuments===
As of 1865, the city had: 1 - Russian and 1 - Armenian church; 1 - Sunni and 16 - Shiite mosques, as well as 3 synagogues.<ref>P. Semenov. Derbent // Geographical and Statistical Dictionary of the Russian Empire. Volume II. - St. Petersburg, 1865. pp. 36-37.</ref>

===Mosques===
* [[Juma Mosque of Derbent|Juma Mosque]] is the oldest mosque in Russia and the [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]]. Built over a 6th-century Christian basilica; it has a 15th-century [[madrasa]].
* Bala-mosque is a mosque at the gates of Orta-kapa. In 1796 it was destroyed during the siege of the city by General [[Valerian Zubov|Zubov]]. Restored in 1812.<ref>Huseynov G.-B. Ya., 2005, pp. 79—80.</ref>
* Kilis-mosque is a mosque. It is located in the 7th district. In 1823-1853 the mosque served as a church. Now it is called Tovba Mesjidi.<ref>Huseynov G.-B. Ya., 2005, pp. 346—349.</ref>
* Kyrhlyar-mosque is a mosque at the gates of Kyrhlyar-kapa. Built in 1626-1627 by order of [[Abbas the Great|Shah Abbas]]. Another name is Shah Abbas Mesjidi. Rebuilt several times.<ref>Huseynov G.-B. Ya., 2005, pp. 392—395.</ref>
* The Minaret-mosque is the only mosque in the city with a minaret. Construction dates back to the XIII-XIV centuries. Rebuilt in the middle of the 19th century. The minaret is 11.5 meters high.<ref>Huseynov G.-B. Ya., 2005, p. 440.</ref>
* Chertebe-mosque is a mosque in 1 mahal. Construction dates back to the 17th century. Rebuilt at the end of the 19th century. Completely demolished in the 1960s.<ref>Huseynov G.-B. Ya., 2005, p. 702.</ref>

===Churches===
* The [[Church of the Holy All-Savior of Derbent|Armenian Church of the Holy All-Savior]] is an architectural monument of the 19th century. Built in 1860. After the completion of the overhaul and restoration work, in May 1982, a museum of fine arts (a branch of the republican museum of fine arts) was opened in it. The museum became part of the State Museum-Reserve as a department of "Carpets and arts and crafts".
* [[Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin of Derbent|Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin]] is an Orthodox church. Built in 1899, opened in 1900. <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141023204745/http://www.stavropolye.tv/sfdnews/view/37183 How does the Orthodox live in Dagestan?]</ref>
* [[Cathedral of St. George the Victorious of Derbent]] was the main Russian Orthodox Church in the city of Derbent. Demolished in 1938.
* [[Crossed-dome temple of Derbent]] is a temple of the 4-7 centuries. It is located in the northwestern part of the citadel [[Naryn-Kala]].

===Synagogues===
* The [[Derbent Synagogue]] is the only synagogue in the city. The center of the spiritual life of the Jews of Derbent. Built in 1914. In 2009 the synagogue building was reconstructed. It was reopened on March 22, 2010.
* On June 23, 2024, terrorists burned the Jewish synagogue in Derbent.<ref>[https://channel3now.com/2024/06/23/heavy-gunfire-reported-at-2-locations-in-russias-dagestan-region-synagogue-on-fire-police-officer-killed-derbent/ Terrorists burned the Jewish synagogue in Derbent] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623165335/https://channel3now.com/2024/06/23/heavy-gunfire-reported-at-2-locations-in-russias-dagestan-region-synagogue-on-fire-police-officer-killed-derbent/ |date=June 23, 2024 }}. 06-23-2024.</ref><ref>[https://glavnoe.life/news/55081-koshmar-v-dagestane-pervyie-vesti.html?utm_source=adwile&utm_content=6280955&utm_campaign=17734&utm_term=14556&ci=884ffc93-97f0-4a79-8894-97206b4c2f99&fpr=2001_11&full=1 Nightmare in Dagestan]. 06-23-2024.</ref><ref>[https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240623-gunmen-conduct-deadly-attacks-on-churches-synagogue-and-police-post-in-russia-s-dagestan Gunmen in Russia’s Dagestan attack churches, synagogue and police post] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623204713/https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240623-gunmen-conduct-deadly-attacks-on-churches-synagogue-and-police-post-in-russia-s-dagestan |date=June 23, 2024 }}. 06-23-2024.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/23/world/europe/russia-attack-dagestan.html Gunmen Kill at Least 6 at Synagogue and Churches in Russian Republic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624090906/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/23/world/europe/russia-attack-dagestan.html |date=June 24, 2024 }}. 06-23-2024.</ref>

===Cemeteries===
* [[Kyrkhlyar]] is an old and revered cemetery established in the [[7th century]]. It is the oldest active [[Muslim]] cemetery in Russia.<ref name = 'stones'>{{Cite web |url=https://archi.ru/russia/96358/kladbische-v-derbente |title=Holy stones |access-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329215404/https://archi.ru/russia/96358/kladbische-v-derbente |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archi.ru/projects/russia/17543/rekonstrukciya-i-blagoustroistvo-istoricheskogo-musulmanskogo-kladbischa-kyrkhlyar |title=Reconstruction and improvement of the historical Muslim cemetery Kyrkhlyar |access-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327101755/https://archi.ru/projects/russia/17543/rekonstrukciya-i-blagoustroistvo-istoricheskogo-musulmanskogo-kladbischa-kyrkhlyar |url-status=live }}</ref> The name means "the forty" and refers to the 40 [[companions of Muhammad]] who were killed there in 20 [[Islamic calendar|AH]] (640-641 CE) during the [[early Muslim expansion]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://russia.travel/objects/281790/ |title=Derbent - Kyrkhlyar |access-date=2022-06-29 |archive-date=2022-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629190913/https://russia.travel/objects/281790/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Lighthouse===

* [[Derbent Lighthouse]] is the southernmost lighthouse in Russia. The lighthouse is included in the list of protected monuments of Russia and [[UNESCO]].

==Notable people==
* [[Shahriyar of Derbent]] (7th century), Sasanian commander
* [[Djumshud Ashurov]] (1913–1980), composer 
* [[Yuno Avshalumov]] (1934–1981), conductor, and teacher
* [[Daniil Atnilov]] (1913–1968), poet
* [[Mishi Bakhshiev]] (1910–1972), writer and poet
* [[Manuvakh Dadashev]] (1913–1943), poet
* [[Mikhail Dadashev]] (1936), writer
* [[Musaib Dzhum-Dzhum]] (1905–1974), theatre director
* [[Boris Gavrilovich Gavrilov|Boris Gavrilov]] (1908–1990), writer and poet
* [[Mikhail Borisovich Gavrilov|Mikhail Gavrilov]] (1926–2014), writer and poet
* [[Sergey Izgiyayev]] (1922–1972), poet, playwright, and translator
* [[Mozol Izrailova]] (born 1955), actress
* [[Suleyman Kerimov]] (born 1966), businessman, investor, and politician
* [[Lev Manakhimov]] (1950–2021), theatre director
* [[Bikel Matatova]] (1928–2013), actress
* [[Ekhiil Matatov]] (1888–1943), a Soviet statesman
* [[Yagutil Mishiev]] (1927–2024), writer
* [[Mushail Mushailov]] (1941–2007), artist and teacher
* [[Tamara Musakhanov]] (1924–2014), sculptor and ceramist
* [[Bella Nisan]] (born ca.1957), ophthalmologist
* [[Sevil Novruzova]] (born ca.1977), lawyer
* [[Asaf Pinkhasov]] (1884–1920), educator, scholar, translator
* [[Konstantin Saradzhev]], (1877-1954), conductor and violinist
* [[Zoya Semenduev]] (1929–2020), poet
* [[Yuno Semyonov]] (1899–1961), writer, playwright and artistic director
* [[Akhso Shalumova]] (1909–1985), actress
* [[Israel Tsvaygenbaum]] (born 1961), artist
* [[Igor Yusufov]] (born 1956), politician

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Russia}}

Derbent is [[sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Города-побратимы |url=http://derbent.ru/city/pobratimy/ |website=derbent.ru |publisher=Derbent |language=ru |access-date=2020-02-03 |archive-date=September 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909102411/http://derbent.ru/city/pobratimy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|AZE}} [[Ganja, Azerbaijan|Ganja]], Azerbaijan
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Yakima, Washington|Yakima]], United States
* {{flagicon|ISR}} [[Hadera]], Israel
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Kronstadt]], Russia
<!--Pskov - not twining-->

==References==

===Notes===
{{notelist}}
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

===Sources===
* {{RussiaAdmMunRef|da|adm|law}}
* {{RussiaAdmMunRef|da|mun|list}}
* ''Some text used with permission from [http://www.travel-images.com www.travel-images.com]. The original text can be found here [http://www.travel-images.com/azerb.html].''
* M. S. Saidov, ed., Katalog arabskikh rukopiseĭ Instituta IYaL Dagestanskogo filiala AN SSSR (Catalogue of Arabic manuscripts in the H.L.L. Institute of the Dāḡestān branch of the A.N. of the U.S.S.R.) I, Moscow, 1977.
* Idem and A. R. Shikhsaidov, “Derbend-name (k istorii izucheniya)” (Darband-nāma. On the history of research),” in Vostochnye istochniki po istorii Dagestana (Eastern sources on the history of Dāḡestān), Makhachkala, 1980, pp.&nbsp;564.

==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{Wiktionary}}
* [http://www.derbent.ru/ Official website of Derbent] {{in lang|ru}}
* [https://derbent.jsprav.ru/ Derbent Business Directory] {{in lang|ru}}
* [http://www.towns.ru/towns/derbent_en.html History and attractions of Derbent]
* [http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/dagestan History of Derbent and the millennia old historical and cultural relations it has with Iran.]


{{Republic of Dagestan}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Russia}}
{{Iranian Architecture}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2011}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Dagestan]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Dagestan]]
[[Category:Derbent| ]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Caspian Sea]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Russia]]
[[Category:Sasanian cities]]
[[Category:Persian-Caucasian architecture]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Russia]]
[[Category:Wine regions of Russia]]