kids encyclopedia robot

Aliagha Shikhlinski facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Ali Agha Shikhlinski
Shikhlinski.jpg
Nickname(s) "The God of the Artillery"
Born (1863-03-03)March 3, 1863
Kazakh (now Ashaghy Salahly), Kazakhsky Uyezd, Elisabethpol Governorate, Russian Empire
Died August 18, 1943(1943-08-18) (aged 80)
Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR
Buried
Yasamal cemetery
(40°21′49″N 49°48′36″E / 40.3636837°N 49.8099878°E / 40.3636837; 49.8099878)
Allegiance Russian Empire Russian Empire (1886-1917)
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (-1920)
Soviet Union Soviet Union (-1929)
Service/branch Imperial Russian Army
Azerbaijan National Army
Years of service 1886–1929
Rank Russian Empire Lieutenant general
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic General of the Artillery
Commands held 5th Battery, 29th Artillery Brigade
1st Division, 21st Artillery Brigade
10th Army
Battles/wars Boxer Rebellion
Russo-Japanese War
  • Battle of Nanshan
  • Siege of Port Arthur

World War I

Awards 1st Class Ode of Saint Stanislaus2nd Class Ode of Saint Stanislaus3rd Class Ode of Saint StanislausOrder of Saint Anne2nd Class Order of Saint Anne3rd Class Order of Saint Anne4th Class Order of Saint Anne2nd Class Order of Saint Vladimir3rd Class Order of Saint Vladimir4th Class Order of Saint Vladimir4th Class Order of Saint George
Spouse(s) Nigar Shikhlinskaya

Ali Agha Shikhlinski (born March 3, 1863 – died August 18, 1943) was a very important military leader from Azerbaijan. People often called him "The God of the Artillery" because he was so good at using cannons in battles. He served in the armies of the Russian Empire, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, and the Soviet Union.

Ali Agha Shikhlinski: A Military Leader

Growing Up

Ali Agha Shikhlinski was born in 1863 in a village called Ashaghy Salakhly. His family, the Shikhlinski Dynasty, was a noble family with a long history. His mother was the grandchild of Molla Vali Vidadi, a famous poet from the 1700s. Ali Agha also had two brothers.

Starting His Military Journey

Aliagha Shikhlinski in 1905
Lieutenant Colonel Ali Agha Shikhlinsky in 1904

In 1876, Ali Agha started at the Tiflis military school. He graduated in 1883 and continued his studies at the Mikhailovsky Artillery Academy in Saint Petersburg. He was a very talented student, especially in horse riding and gymnastics.

After finishing his studies in 1886, he became a junior officer (called a podporuchik). He was sent to the 39th Artillery Brigade. Over time, he earned higher ranks like poruchik and shtabs-kapitan. In 1900, he moved to Eastern Siberia to join the Transbaikal Artillery Battalion. He became a Battery Chief, leading a group of cannons. He also took part in a military mission in China.

Fighting in the Russo-Japanese War

Niva-1905-4
Artillery officers with Shikhlinski in the middle (1905, Port Arthur)

During the Russo-Japanese War, Ali Agha Shikhlinski was in charge of an artillery battery. He showed great bravery during the Siege of Port Arthur. Even though he was badly wounded in his leg, he kept aiming the cannons himself when his team was unable to. This helped push back the Japanese attacks.

For his courage in battle, he received the Order of St. George, a very high military award, in 1905. He also received a special sword and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

Becoming an Artillery Expert

Triangle of Aliagha Shikhlinski
The "Shikhlinski triangle" diagram

In 1906, Shikhlinski went to the Officer's Artillery College. He did so well that he became an instructor there. During this time, he wrote books about how to use artillery in battles. He also invented a special device to help find targets, which was named the "Shikhlinski triangle."

He was promoted to colonel in 1908 and then to major-general in 1912. He became the deputy chief of the Officer's Artillery College, helping to train many future artillery officers.

Role in World War I

Spectacles of Aliagha Shikhlinski 2
Ali Agha Shikhlinski's protective glasses from World War I (Azerbaijani National Museum of History)

When World War I began in 1914, Ali Agha Shikhlinski was put in charge of the artillery in St. Petersburg. He later helped train soldiers to use heavy artillery. He was given important roles, managing artillery operations on the Western Front. In 1917, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general.

Serving Azerbaijan

After the Russian Revolution in 1917, Ali Agha Shikhlinski became the commander of the 10th Russian army. He later moved to Tbilisi and helped create the Muslim (Azerbaijani) corps. This group supported the Ottoman Army in the Battle of Baku.

In 1919, he became the Deputy Minister of Defense for the new Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. He was promoted to General of the Artillery for the Azerbaijani army. However, when the Red Army took over Azerbaijan in 1920, he was arrested but released two months later.

Later Years with the Red Army

Letter from Narimanov to Lenin 1920
Letter about Samad bey Mehmandarov and Ali Agha Shiklinski that Nariman Narimanov sent to Vladimir Lenin (1920)
Aliagha Shikhlinski
Ali Agha Shikhlinsky in Red Army commander uniform (1929)

From 1920 to 1921, he worked in Moscow as an adviser for the Red Army's artillery and taught at a military school. In 1921, he returned to Baku and continued teaching at a military school. He also helped lead the military science society in Baku.

In 1926, Shikhlinski published a Russian-Azerbaijani Military Dictionary. He retired from military service in 1929 and spent his time writing his life story.

His Final Days

Building on the Jafar Jabbarly Street 14
The building where Ali Agha Shikhlinsky lived in Baku

Ali Agha Shikhlinski spent his last days in his home in Baku. He finished writing his memoirs, "My Memories," in 1942. The book was published in 1944, after his death. A famous military expert, Evgeny Barsukov, wrote the introduction to his book.

Ali Agha Shikhlinski passed away on August 18, 1943. His funeral was a special event, with an orchestra from the Baku Military Garrison playing music.

Nigar Shikhlinskaya in 1914
Ali Agha's wife Nigar Shikhlinskaya was the first Azerbaijani nurse

His Legacy

Ali Agha Shikhlinski is remembered as a great military figure. A short film about him called "The General" was made in 1970. An oil tanker was named after him in 1980. There are also streets named after him in Baku and Qazax.

In 1990, a scholarship was created in his name for university students. A documentary film about him, "Was considered the god of artillery," was released in 2006. In 2014, the President of Azerbaijan ordered a celebration for his 150th birthday.

A famous Russian military expert, Evgeny Barsukov, said that Ali Agha Shikhlinski was one of the few Russian artillery experts who truly understood how to use cannons in battle. He believed that Shikhlinski's skills greatly helped Russian artillery in wars.

Ali Agha Shikhlinski was also a character in two novels by Russian-Soviet writer Alexander Nikolaevich Stepanov: "Port-Arthur" and "Zvonaryov Family." Stepanov wrote that even though Shikhlinski was a high-ranking general, he was humble and had a natural talent for military science.

Films About Him

  • The General (1970 film)
  • Was Considered The God of Artillery
  • Honorable Commander: General Ali Agha Shikhlinski

Honours and Medals

Əliağa Şıxlinskinin məzarı (2023)
Grave of Ali Agha Shikhlinski in Baku

Ali Agha Shikhlinski received many awards for his bravery and service, including:

  • Russian Empire Order of Saint Stanislaus (3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class)
  • Russian Empire Order of Saint Anne (3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class, and 4th Class for Bravery)
  • Russian Empire Gold Sword for Bravery
  • Russian Empire Order of Saint George (4th Class)
  • Russian Empire Order of Saint Vladimir (4th, 3rd, and 2nd Class)
  • France Legion of Honour

Gallery

See also

kids search engine
Aliagha Shikhlinski Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.