The Caspian Flotilla under General Zavalivshin had laid siege to Baku but had been driven off by the Khan of Quba.

Tsitsianov had gone east with sixteen hundred men and ten guns, crossing the Shirvan Khanate, which he had annexed on the way, and arriving at Baku before February 8. 1806.

The town elders had delivered him the keys to the city, but he returns the keys asking to receive them from the khan in person.

The khan rides out with an escort, Tsitsianov advances with two other men and is shot dead.

The guns of Baku open up on the Russian army and Zavalivshin again chooses to withdraw.