In 713–714, Arab general Maslama led an expedition which captured Derbent, reportedly after a resident showed him a secret underground passage.

[3][4] The Armenian historian Łewond claims that the Arabs, realizing that they could not hold the fortress, razed its walls.

A commander of Derbent, al-Munajjim al-Sulami (or Najm b. Hashim[5]) was executed by Sa'id ibn Salm al-Bahili in 799, which prompted his son Hayyun to mount a revenge raid by the Khazars.

[7] The emirate's politics were influenced by guilds, important tribes and warrior caste (ghazi), often struggling with each other as kingmakers.

[8] This dynasty was in power c. 1173 when Akhsitan I defeated emir Bek-Bars b. Muzaffar with his cousin George III (r. 1156–1184), the king of Georgia.