[1] Madatov was born Rostom Madatyan in 1782 in Avetaranots of the Principality of Varanda (nowadays Azerbaijan), in a minor Armenian noble family as a melik (prince).

[2][3][4] At the age of 15 he left Karabakh for St. Petersburg with another senior nobleman to seek support from Catherine the Great in their efforts to abolish Muslim control of the region.

[4] He was called back in 1815 to serve in the Caucasus, due to his familiarity with the region and the fact that he knew most of the major languages spoken in the area.

The 2,000 men under Madatov's command routed the 10,000-man Persian army on the banks of the Shamkhor river and retook Ganja on September 5.

[1] Upon hearing the news, crown prince of Persia Abbas Mirza lifted the siege of Shusha and marched towards Ganja.