Baba Behbud

Baba Behbud or Baba bey Behbud Saricali Javanshir (b. 1897, Shusha, Russian Empire - d. Istanbul, Türkiye, 1970) was an officer in the National Army of Azerbaijan People's Republic. He also served as an immigrant colonel of Turkish Armed Forces in the Turkish Independence War. He was awarded the Medal of Independence. He participated in the Battle of Askeran and the Karabakh uprising against the occupation after the April invasion.

Baba bey was born in Shusha in 1897. He belonged to the Behbudov noble family from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. The family was founded by Behbud Ali bey, the brother of Panah Ali Khan, who was the founder of the Karabakh Khanate. Baba bey's parents were Mustafa bey and Mina khanum. He had two sisters, Afer and Aghca. After the establishment of the Republic of Azerbaijan, he entered the military school which was opened in Ganja in May 1918.

In Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

After graduating from the military school, he started serving in the Karabakh Cavalry Regiment as an officer. As an officer, since the end of 1918, he served in Shusha and surrounding regions for the purpose of neutralizing Armenian separatists in Karabakh. During the inspection held in January 1919, the cavalry regiment served by Baba Bey received personal thanks from the Minister of War for his service.

He served in the army of land forces of the Azerbaijan People's Republic. After the occupation of Azerbaijan by the Soviet army on April 28, 1920, revolts began in Ganja and Karabakh. The rebellion in Ganja was commanded by members of the Azerbaijani Army, while the rebellion in Karabakh was commanded by Nuri Pasha. Baba bey joined the rebellion together with the Karabakh cavalry that he commanded.

On March 21, 1920, the Armenian-Dashnak forces suddenly attacked the positions of the Javanshir infantry regiment located in Askeran, seized the Askeran pass and started a rebellion. On March 26, 1920, the Azerbaijani army launched a large-scale attack against Dro's troops in the direction of Askaran. As an officer of the national army, Baba Bey Behbudov participated in these battles as part of the cavalry regiment. Fierce battles that began in Asgaran ended with the victory of the Azerbaijani army. The enemy forces were completely destroyed in the battles that lasted until the middle of April.

After the occupation of the republic, uprisings against the Bolsheviks began in different parts of Azerbaijan. Baba Bey took part in the Karabakh uprising led by Nuru Pasha on the night of June 3-4, 1920 as part of the Karabakh Cavalry Regiment. The rebels overthrew the Soviet government in Shusha on June 6 and arrested the members of the Shusha Revolutionary Committee. Colonel Zeynalov is appointed the general commander of the national military forces in Karabakh. On June 10, 1920, the Red Army launched a full-frontal offensive against the rebels. Since the Red Army was numerically superior in this attack and used armored vehicles and military aircraft in the battle, the rebels were unable to fight against them and were forced to retreat.

After the suppression of the Karabakh rebellion, Baba Behbudov and the surviving soldiers of the cavalry and infantry regiments of the army of the Republic of Azerbaijan, under the command of Colonel Nuh Bey Sofiev, retreated in the direction of Garyagin and Jabrayil, crossed the Araz river and entered the territory of Iran.

In Turkey

He moved to Turkey, where he joined the resistance in Anatolia and fought in the War of Independence. He was awarded the Medal of Independence by Mustafa Kemal for his services. After the war, he suppressed ethnic and religious rebellions between 1925 and 1927. He was promoted to Captain in 1933, Major in 1940, Lieutenant Colonel in 1944, and Colonel in 1948. He then commanded the cavalry division in Ankara. He retired from the army in 1955. During his life in Turkey, he was an active member of the Azerbaijani emigration in Turkey and had many meetings with Mahammad Amin Rasulzade.

He died on 10 July 1970 in Istanbul and was buried in Feriköy Cemetery.

• Əhməd, Dilqəm (2018). Bir ildən yüz ilə. Baku: TEAS Press. ISBN 978-9952-310-47-4.