Reflection of Sassanid policy in Dagestan in the arabographic chronicle of “Derbend-name” in the Kubachi language and its place among the chronicle of “Derbend-name” in some other languages

Abstract

The author discusses the features of the Sassanid policy in Dagestan since the 5th century A. D., as recorded in the chronicle “Derbend-name” written in the Kubachi language. The study offers a textual analysis of the historical chronicle “Derbend-name” written in the Kubachi language. The text is compared with its wellknown translations “Derbend-name” into English, Arabic, Kumyk, Dargin (Sirkh dialect), Persian and Azerbaijani languages. The author identifies the place of the Kubachi version among these translations. The research shows that the Kubachi version in comparison to other versions comprises a larger number of settlements built by Anushirvan (531–579) during his stay in Dagestan, equally it provides a more detailed list of settlements, which were conquered by him. Among them, there is mentioned a city, which is mentioned only in the version written in Sirkh dialect of the Dargin language. This is the city of Guna rebuilt by Isfendiyar. The Kubachi version of “Derbend-name” also provides a more detailed list of the cities and villages, which were owned by the Khazar ruler Khakan Shah. “Derbend-name” in the Kubachi language can therefore be considered as a valuable text, which belongs to the scribal culture of the Kubachi-speaking population of Dagestan. As a historical source, it constitutes a link between all translations of the chronicle “Derbend-name” into five languages of Dagestan. Equally, it provides the most valuable linguistic data, which enables linguists to conduct several research projects. Among them is the comparison between the Old and New Kubachi languages, as well as a comparative analysis of texts written in the Dagestan adjam (writing of the peoples of Dagestan based on the Arabic alphabet). In addition, the historical chronicle “Derbend-name” in the Kubachi language records some 60 old Kubachi words, which are now forgotten and out of use.