Derbent, an ancient city with thick walls has a favorable geopolitical position, which locks the coastal passage between the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian.

In carrying out its obligations under the Treaty of Georgievsk of 1783, albeit belatedly, the Russian government sent a large army (about 13,000) from Kizlyar towards the Iranian possessions in the Caucasus.

All irregular troops, making up the reserve, were subordinated to Major-General Platov, and before his arrival with the Chuguevsky regiment, they were under the control of Lieutenant-Colonel Baranov.

Although commissioners were sent to various places in Russia to purchase them, but, according to information received from them, in the middle of April only a third of the oxen and wagons could be transported across the Don River and, therefore, they could arrive on the line only by the end of May.

Therefore, in order not to stop the expedition before the onset of hot weather, Gudovich collected as many Nogai carts as possible and hired wagons from private individuals, with the obligation to pay them a monthly fee.

[4] Despite Zubov's troubles in Kizlyar, 4180 soldier strong vanguard troops under Ivan Savelyev's command was first to arrive at outskirts of Derbent.

Initially, the general offered Shaykh Ali Khan to submit join forces against Agha Muhammad Shah Qajar.

Young khan, trying to prolong negotiations at first replied to the message that he was afraid of Qajars and then said his religion forbids him to state infidels inside the city quarters.

According to the letter which was later recovered, Shaykh Ali denounced Dagestani leaders and Iranian shah, calling them traitors, while requesting from the Porte as the head of Islam.

This skirmish lasted more than three hours, until the Grebensky and Volga Cossacks dismounted and the third battalion of the Caucasian Jäger Corps forced the Derbentis out of the ambush, retreating into the fortress.

Having examined the city and made a reconnaissance of the surrounding area, Count Zubov saw that first of all it was necessary to capture the tower, which, covering most of the walls, prevented not only the construction of batteries, but also communication between the troops.

The commander of the battalion, Colonel Krivtsov, and almost all the officers were wounded, and therefore General Rimsky-Korsakov, who was in charge of the assault, ordered the Voronezh regiment to retreat.

Later that day, Count Zubov ordered to lay down a battery of four cannon for action against the outer towers located on the north side of the Narin-Kale castle.

[12] Despite initial success, fearing a long siege might turn the inhabitants against himself, Shaikh Ali Khan sent Khizir beg Gorchu on May 20 to Russian camp to negotiate.

[14] Zubov moved on to conquer Baku and took Shaykh Ali Khan with himself, appointing his pro-Russian half-sister Pari Jahan Khanum as head of the Derbent Khanate.

[16] Empress Catherine waxed jubilant at Zubov's rapid progress, which in two months had exceeded the gains of Peter the Great's costly Persian campaign in two years.