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Yagub Mikayil oghlu Mahmudov was born on February 10, 1939 in Bash Goynuk village of Sheki region.

In 1956, he graduated from the secondary school of Saribulag village of Balakan region. From 1957 to 1962 he received his bachelor degree in History from Baku State University. In 1962, he embarked on postgraduate studies at Baku State University. In 1966, he defended a thesis entitled "Relationships between the Aggoyunlu state and Venice" to receive a doctor of philosophy degree. In 1989, he held a Doctor of Sciences degree in History from the Scientific Council of the Faculty of History of Moscow State University. His thesis entitled "Relationships between the Aggoyunlu and Safavid states and Western European countries". In 1991, he was qualified for professorship.

In 1966-1975, Yagub Mahmudov took office as scientific editor, senior scientific editor, head of editorial and deputy Editor-in-chief for scientific affairs at the Azerbaijani Soviet Encyclopedia. From 1968 to 1981 he worked as senior teacher and then an associate professor at Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University. In 1992-1993, Mahmudov was Vice-chairman of the Supreme Attestation Commission under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan and General director of "The Encyclopedia of Azerbaijan" Publishing-Polygraphy Union. In 1981-2004, he became an associate professor, head of department, deputy dean and dean at the Faculty of History of Baku State University. He held the position of Director at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan in 2004-2021.

In 1991-1992, Mahmudov was named as leader of a working group of experts who were in charge of the preparation of the first educational law of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Y.Mahmudov was elected a corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan in 2007. Since 2017 Prof. Mahmudov is a permanent member.

For the first time Y.Mahmudov revealed to the historiography that Azerbaijan maintained a wide range of diplomatic relations with European countries between fifteenth and seventeenth centuries. The names of many Azerbaijani diplomats who negotiated with those countries are known to the history thanks to Mahmudov’s researches. He is the author of more than thousand scientific works. Mahmudov is one of the authors and publishers of the works of fundamental importance on the history of Karabakh, Nakhchivan and Iravan. These works have been awarded the State Prize of Azerbaijan. He is the editor-in-chief of the "Encyclopedia of the Azerbaijan People's Republic" (“Azərbaycan Xalq Cümhuriyyəti Ensiklopediyası”) published in two volumes and the author of "Selected Works" (“Seçilmiş əsərləri”) in twenty volumes. His books have been published in many foreign countries including Turkiye, Pakistan, Russia, Great Britain, USA, Kyrgyzstan, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Italy, Egypt, South Korea, Sweden and Mexico.

Y.Mahmudov established scientific schools in the field of history of diplomacy, the lost lands, and the history of genocides. He has been a Doctoral advisor to 72 candidates for Doctorate of philosophy and sciences.

He served as a member of the Political Council of the New Azerbaijan Party and delivered a speech during the very first and third congresses of the Party. He was a member of Azerbaijani Parliament - Milli Majlis during the second, third, fourth and fifth convocations. He is a member of the Veterans Council of the New Azerbaijan Party.

Y.Mahmudov has been awarded the title of Honored scientist of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He is a laureate of the State Prize of Azerbaijan and an Honored Scientist of the Republic of Dagestan. Mahmudov is a permanent member of seven international scientific academies. He has been awarded national orders "Shohrat" (The Fame Order), "Sharaf" (The Honor Order), the first class of "Emek" (The Labor Order) and an international order "Ataman Anton Golovaty". Y.Mahmudov is the laureate of national awards of "Yusif Mammadaliyev", "Rasul Rza", "Qızıl Qelem", "Humay" and others.

Prof. Yagub Mahmudov has been given a number of international awards, including "The Name in Science", "The Best General Manager", the International Atatürk Award and his name has been included on the list of celebrated scientists of the XXI century.

The virtual exhibition called "Academician Yagub Mahmudov" has been organized by the Azerbaijan National Library.

The virtual exhibition includes pictures and books and articles published by Prof. Mahmudov and by other authors on his life.

The virtual exhibition is available at the following link:  http://anl.az/el/vsb/Yaqub_Mahmudov/index.htm

Meanwhile, the Library is hosting, as a tradition, a book fair on Yagub Mahmudov’s scientific works.

The exhibition will last one week.