SULEYMAN SARDAR ALIYARLI (1930-2014) Historian

Suleyman Aliyarli was born on 18 December 1930. In 1948, he entered Baku State University, Faculty of History. As a first year student he was transferred to Lomonosov Moscow State University, graduating in 1954. He then returned to Baku, embarking on a working career that included posts of a research fellow and scientific secretary at the Institute of History, Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. From 1956 to 1959, he did postgraduate studies at the institute. Suleyman Aliyarli defended a PhD thesis in 1962, achieving a ScD degree in 1975 and professorship in 1980. He embarked on a research and teaching career at Baku State University, Department of History of Azerbaijan, in 1959, where he served as a senior lecturer, associate professor and professor. He headed the department from 1978 to 2001. He was the recipient of “Merited Scientist” title. From 1990 to 2000, he headed Toponymy Commission of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan. From 1992 to 2001, he was a member of the Presidium of the Higher Attestation Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 2000, he was elected an honorary member of the Turkish History Authority for his researches into Turkic and Turkish history. Suleyman Aliyarli was a member of the editorial board of 26-volume “The Turks” encyclopedia which was published in Turkish and English languages (Ankara, 2002). His researches focused on topical problems of Azerbaijan in Middle Ages, and modern and contemporary period. He published more than 150 papers. He supervised over 30 masters, three ScD and 18 PhD students to completion.