a province of Asiatic Russia, in the country of the Caucasus, bounded on the north by the province of Daghestan, from which it is separated by the Caucasus, E. by the Caspian, S. by Persia, and W. by Georgia. It lies between N. Lat. 40. and 41.; E. Long. 48. and 49. 30. A range of mountains traverses the province from N.W. to S.E., separating the valley of the Kur, which Shirvan forms the southern frontier, from that of the Terek. The northern portion is level, fertile, and well wooded; watered by numerous affluents of the Kur. The climate is warm, especially about the delta of the Kur, where the soil is very fertile, and would produce, if properly cultivated, many tropical plants. Rice, silk, wine, cotton, and tobacco are the principal productions of Shirvan. On the coasts of the Caspian there are valuable fisheries. The chief manufac- tures are those of silk at Shamaka, the largest town in the province. In the mountainous regions arms and other metal fabrics are made. The inhabitants are almost all of the Tartar or Turkish race, with a slight mixture of Arabs and Persians. The majority are Mohammedans, but there are also some Jews and Armenians. The language is the Turkish, which is also used in Azerbaijan. Shirvan formed until the sixth century a part of the monarchy of Armenia; but was afterwards conquered by the Persians, and made a part of that empire under Khosroo Nooshirvan, who called this country after his name. But at a subsequent period it was governed for some time by independent princes, who in the ninth century acknowledged the supremacy of the Caliphs. The rulers of Shirvan, however, long retained much power, and carried on many wars with Persia, over which country they repeatedly gained great advantages. Finally, in the end of the fifteenth century, it was com- pletely brought under the Persian sway. The Russians gradually invaded the country; and it was ceded to them in 1812. Under their dominion it first formed the Caspian province, but was divided in 1847 into the governments of Shamaka and Derbent; the former of which in 1851 had 603,006, and the latter 453,284 inhabitants.