Jar-Balakan

Here a series of valleys extended down from the mountain crest southwest to the lowlands of the Alazani River.

The Tsakhurs came from north of the mountains (see Elisu Sultanate) and "Avar" may have originally been a vague term for Dagestani.

In terms of real power they ranked: Djari, Belokan, Tali, Mukhakh and Dzhinikh.

The Tsakhurs and Avars confined themselves to collecting a land tax and villages were led by "Agsakkals" (meaning 'White-beards' ie elders) who administered Sharia law.

Mukhakh (now spelled Muxax) is shown south of that while Djari is almost certainly the modern village of Car (pronounced Jar) at the head of the valley that runs 8 km southwest to Zaqatala.

In the early 18th century a Turkish firman recognized Djaro-Belokani control as far southwest as the Iori River.

In 1562 Shah Tahmasp I granted lands west of the Shaki Khanate to a Tsakhur called Adi-Kurkul Beg.

The Djaris won some battles and in 1715 submitted to Imam Gulu Khan who was Wali of Kakheti.

The Djaris fought Nadir Shah's army in 1738 near Dzhinikh and killed his brother Ibraham-Khan.

Following the annexation of Georgia, several members of the royal family found protection with the mountaineers.

The Russian conquest in 1830 produced a strong backlash in Dagestan and contributed to the origin of the Murid War.

Shamil's 1853 defeat was largely due to Argutinsky's remarkable march across the snow-covered mountains from Akhti.