The Mehtuli Khanate was formed in the 17th century during the collapse of the
Tarki Shamkhalate. Its name comes from the name of its founder, Qara Mehdi, who, according to legend and written sources, came from the house of Shamkhals. The parentage of Qara Mehdi is not known for certain, but according to Russian historian
Ekaterina Kusheva, there is a possibility that Chupan Shamkhal (d. 1588) may have been a strong candidate. Qara Mehdi had numerous offsprings, one of his sons was Ahmad Khan. However, in the sources he began to be mentioned only from 1637 as already the ruler of the principality. Ahmad Khan together with the rulers of
Endirey participated in various raids on the Cossack fortifications along the
Terek. A descendant of Qara Mehdi, Ahmad II (1735–1747) joined
Qaplan I Giray's invasion of Caucasus and fought against
Nader Shah's Dagestan campaign and reportedly was instrumental during
Battle of Andalal in 1741. The ruling dynasty of Mehtuli Khanate established links with Avar Khanate when Ali Sultan married his son
Sultan Ahmad to
Umma Khan's daughter Pakhu Bika. After Umma's death in 1801, his widow Gikhilay (d. 1833) also married Sultan Ahmad. Avars offered the throne of khanate to Sultan Ahmad in 1802, since Umma had no surviving sons and his brother was killed by Gikhilay. After Ali Sultan's death in 1807, Ahmad demanded his patrimony from his elder brother Hasan Khan, who granted him villages of
Dorgeli, ,
Paraul and Urum. Hasan's son Ahmad III soon established himself as ruler Mehtuli until his death. Khanate then came under rulership of Nuh Bike, daughter of Mehdi II of Tarki Shamkhalate. Avar Khanate however was invaded by
Hamzat Bek's Murid army who executed Pakhu Bika and his sons in 1834. Ibrahim Khan, son of Ahmad III was appointed as ruler of Avar Khanate on , however due to
Imam Shamil's occupation of Avaria this title was only nominal. In 1855 he also became ruler of Mehtuli. He was transferred to Avar Khanate in 1859 and his brother Rashid Khan was appointed as Mehtuli khan instead. However, Avar Khanate was disestablished in 1862 due to inability of Ibrahim Khan to submit remnants of pro-Shamil insurgency. Mehtuli Khanate was also disestablished in 1867 and Rashid Khan (d. 1876) was sent to retirement. Mehtuli Khanate transformed into Dzhengutayevsky uchastok of
Temir-Khan-Shurinsky Okrug same year. == References ==