Mehdi Qoli Khan Javanshir (Persian: مهدیقلی خان جوانشیر, romanized: Mehdīqolī Xān Javānšīr; Azerbaijani: مهدیقلی خان جوانشیر, romanized: Mehdīqulī Xān Cavānşīr; 1763 or 1772–1845) was the last Khan of the Karabakh Khanate, functioning as its head from 1806 to 1822.
One of his grandchildren, Ja'far Qoli Agha, whose succession was meant to be assured by the Treaty of Kurekchay and who had his own plans for ruling Karabakh, was frightened and angered by this action.
[8] Following the Iranian victory against the Russians at the Battle of Sultanabad on 13 February 1812, Mehdi Qoli Khan escaped to Shusha.
[9] In June 1812, Mehdi Qoli Khan received a farman (royal decree) from Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (r. 1797–1834) asking him to reaffirm his loyalty and work with him to expel the Russians from Karabakh.
[10] The Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813 ended with the Treaty of Gulistan, in which Iran agreed to cede the majority of their holdings in the eastern Caucasus to Russia, including Karabakh.
[11][12] On 21 November 1822, fearing to be punished by the Russians for the initiatives he had made towards the Iranians, Mehdi Qoli Khan escaped to Iran,[1] passing via Erivan, Nakhchivan and Sharur.