The Tsakhurs are first mentioned in 7th-century
Armenian and
Georgian sources where they are named
Tsakhaik. After the conquest of
Caucasian Albania by the
Arabs, Tsakhurs formed a semi-independent state (later a
sultanate) of
Tsuketi and southwestern Dagestan. By the 11th century, Tsakhurs who had mostly been
Christian, converted to
Islam. From the 15th century some began moving south across the mountains to what is now the
Zaqatala District of Azerbaijan. In the 18th century the capital of the state moved south from
Tsakhur in Dagestan to
İlisu and came to be called the
Elisu Sultanate. West of the Sultanate Tsakhurs formed the
Djaro-Belokani free communities. The sultanate was in the sphere of influence of the
Shaki Khanate. It became part of the
Russian Empire by the beginning of the 19th century. ==Geography==