The founder of the Karabakh khanate, Panahali Khan Javanshir was a descendant of the famous Javanshir dynasty of Karabakh. He was born in 1693.
He became famous as a prominent commander and statesman. During his reign, Shahbulag Castle and Asgaran Fortress were built, where large-scale construction and building works were carried out.
However, the most important of his work was the city-fortress he started to build in 1752, which was first named Panahabad and later called Shusha.