or Derbent (the ancient Albana), a fortified town of Russia, capital of the province of Daghestan, situated on the western shore of the Caspian, 135 miles N.N.W. of Baku. Pop. 1200. It is built in the form of a parallelogram, and extends from the shore to the declivity of a mountain ridge running N.E. from the Caucasus, and terminating about a mile from the Caspian. The walls which inclose the town on the north and south are of great antiquity, and very strong, being 8 feet thick and 26 feet high, and many of the stones are cubes of 6 feet. They are strengthened by numerous round and square towers; and the citadel in the upper part of the town is well fortified. It has little trade, owing to the poverty of the surrounding countries, but very fine saffron is cultivated in the neighbourhood. The harbour is one of the worst on the Caspian Sea. It had formerly a quay, which is now sunk under water. Derbend is a place of great antiquity. The celebrated khaliph Haroun-al-Raschid lived here at different times, and brought the town into great repute, by promoting commerce and the arts. In the convulsions of this part of Asia it has frequently changed masters. In 1722 it was taken possession of by the Russians, who retained possession of it until 1735, when it was restored to the Persians. In the war with Persia in 1796, it surrendered to the Russians, and has ever since remained in their possession.