Albums: Iran - Khoy

Iran - Khoy

Khoy (Persian: خوی, Azerbaijani: خوی), also spelt Khoi, Khvoy and Xoy, is a city in West Azarbaijan Province, Iran. It is located north of the state capital, Urmia, and 807 km north-west to Tehran. The region's economy is based around agriculture, particularly the production of fruit, grain, and timber. Khoy is nicknamed as the Sunflower city of Iran.

Khoy was fortified at various times in its history, most recently by the Qajar dynasty in the Nineteenth Century. It is well known for the tomb of Shams Tabrizi, renowned Iranian poet and mystic. Khoy was located on the Silk Road.

Khoy again came under Persian rule during the Seljuq period. After the death of Persian Emperor Nadir Shah Afshar in 1747 by the leader of the Dumbuli Azeri tribe, Khoy once again broke away from Persia along with several other states, including Afghanistan, becoming the Khanate of Khoy (1747-1813). The return of Khoy to Persia was precipitated by the Russian threat during the Russo-Persian Wars.

Khoy was attacked by Russia in 1827. In 1911 it was occupied by Turkish troops, followed in World War I by Russian troops, who withdrew in 1917. In World War II it was again occupied by Soviet troops, who remained until 1946.