Ismayil bek Kutkashensky

He was born on 27 January 1806 in Lezgi family during Eid al-Adha for which he was named Ismayil after Ishmael who is believed in Islam to be near-sacrificed by his father Abraham.

After receiving basic education of Arabic and Persian languages, he was sent to study in First Cadet Corps in St. Petersburg and enrolled in military service in 14th Georgian Grenadier Regiment starting from 1822.

Subsequently, he was awarded the Order of St. Anne (4th degree) with the inscription "for courage" for the battles against the Persians in 1827 on 25 January 1828.

In 1836 he was appointed to be under the commander of the Separate Caucasian Corps for special assignments under Georg Andreas von Rosen.

He temporarily governed Karakaytag province (centered around modern Jinabi, Kaytagsky District) from 28 June to 30 September in 1837.

He was married to Tuti Bika khanum, widow of Suleyman Pasha Tarkovsky - ruler of Shamkhalate of Tarki and sister of Khasay Khan Utsmiyev, both ethnic Kumyks.

Safarname is a travelogue depicting his travel to Middle East (Egypt, Beirut, Syria, Trabzon, etc.).

A romantic story of fictional nobles Rashid beg (Shakikhanov) and Saadat khanum (Qutqashen princess) was first printed in Warsaw, 1835.