Palace & Family
The house that became the Museum of History, and the philanthropist's kin.
A house that became a museum
In the centre of Baku still stands Taghiyev's palace — the lavish mansion he built for himself and his family. After the revolution the palace was nationalised, and the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan was housed within its walls. So the philanthropist's house still serves the people to this day — now as the keeper of their history.
Wives and children
Taghiyev was married twice: first to his cousin Zeynab, then to Sona, daughter of General Arablinski. He had many children. True to his convictions, he gave his daughters an education too: they studied at the Smolny Institute in the capital — unheard of for a Muslim family of the time.
The master of the business
Photographs survive of Taghiyev in his office — at his desk, among papers and books, surrounded by entrepreneurs and public figures. Illiterate in his youth, he ran a vast enterprise and held in his head dozens of affairs, schools and building works that he helped.
He built his palace for his family, and left it to the people: today the history of a whole country is kept within its walls.