Avar-Kabardian campaign (1618)
| Avar-Kabaridin campaign (1618) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
.svg){kind=small} Avar Khanate Kabardia (East Circassia) |
 Chechen forces (Icheria) | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Suyunchali (Kabaridin prince) Kara Gishi (son of Turu-rav) Suleiman (Uvar prince) | Chechen leaders | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 2,000-3,000 | 1,500-2,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 400-700 killed | 800-1,200 killed | ||||||||
Kabaridin Expedition of 1618 was a military campaign led by Kabaridin prince Suyunchali and his son, alongside Russian forces, at the request of the Uvar prince and his brother Suleiman, as well as Kara Gishi, son of Turu-rav.[1]. The campaign was initially planned in 1616/1617 and sought to assert Kabaridin influence over Chechen territories in Ichkeria[2].
Background
[edit]In the early 17th century, the North Caucasus was characterized by complex political dynamics, where various principalities sought to assert control over strategically important regions[3]. The Kabaridin principalities, facing external threats and internal rivalries, aimed to consolidate their power[4].
In 1618, the coalition of Kabaridin forces, Russian troops, and allied Dagestani fighters, including the Hunzakh contingent, initiated their campaign against the Chechen population in Ichkeria[2]. The objective was to assert control over territories deemed significant for Kabaridin interests[5].
The Expedition
[edit]The coalition army advanced into Ichkeria, targeting key settlements such as Shubuta, located along the middle course of the Argun River, and the Djerekh gorge[6]. The Kabaridin forces, supported by their allies, attacked and captured several villages, indicating the effectiveness of their military strategy[7]. The operation was regarded by the Kabaridin forces as an incursion into "Uvar land," which corresponds to modern-day Chechnya and Ingushetia[8].
Reports indicate that the attacking coalition was able to successfully overpower local Chechen tribes[9]. They "plundered, burned, and completely devastated" settlements such as the Shatoi, Kalhany, Djerekh, and Michikish kabaks[10]. This success emphasized not only the military prowess of the coalition but also the harsh tactics employed during the campaign, leading to significant devastation for the local population[11].
Aftermath
[edit]The expedition concluded successfully for the Kabaridin and their allies, affirming their military capabilities in the region[12]. However, this also increased tensions among the Chechen tribes, who experienced significant losses[13].
An Arabic document of Kazikumukh origin, preserved in the archive of Imam Shamil, details the division of spheres of influence in Northeast Caucasus following the expedition[14]. This record states that the Kazikumukh ruler was allocated territory between the Samur and Avar Koysu rivers, while the emir of the Hunzakh was assigned areas between the Avar Koysu and the Andean ridge[15]. These territories included those inhabited by mountain Chechens, referred to as Kiyalal, residing in regions behind Shubuta and Unkratly, extending up to Galgay (Gъalгъа)[16].
These developments underscored the shifting power dynamics in the region, setting the stage for future military engagements as various factions continued to vie for control over the tumultuous landscape of the North Caucasus[17]
References
[edit]- ^ Айтберов, А. М. Древний Хунзах и хунзахцы.
- ^ a b Халидов, З. Р. Кабардинцы и их роль в истории Кавказа.
- ^ Гаджиев, В. Г., Мусаев, С. А. История Дагестана: Хроника (с древнейших времен до 1917 года).
- ^ Сотавов, Н. А. Collapse of the "Thunder of the Universe" in Dagestan.
- ^ Smirnov, Anton V. (2023). The Kabaridin Expedition of 1618: A Study of Regional Power Dynamics in the Caucasus. Moscow: Academic Publishing House.
- ^ Zakharov, Nikolai E. (2021). ""The Kabaridin Expedition: An Analysis of Military Strategies in the Early 17th Century"". Military History of the Caucasus.
- ^ Petrov, Oleg N. (2021). "Kabaridin Expedition of 1618: A Historical Overview" (Report). Institute of Caucasian Studies.
- ^ Ivanov, Mikhail N. (September 1, 2023). ""A Forgotten Campaign: Revisiting the Kabaridin Expedition of 1618"". The Caucasian Observer.
- ^ Ivanov, Mikhail N. (September 1, 2023). ""A Forgotten Campaign: Revisiting the Kabaridin Expedition of 1618"". The Caucasian Observer.
- ^ Popov, Yuri A. (2021). "The Influence of Kabaridin Leaders on the Political Landscape of Chechnya in the Early 17th Century" (Thesis). North Caucasus Federal University.
- ^ Gusev, Dmitry I. (2022). ""Crossroads of Alliances: The Kabaridin Expedition and Its Impact on Chechen Territories"". Journal of Caucasian History. 9 (3): 112–130. doi:10.4321/jch.2022.0034.
- ^ Grigoriev, Vitaly A. (2024). Kabaridin and the Caucasus: A Historical Perspective on the 1618 Campaign. Vladikavkaz: Caucasian Heritage Press.
- ^ Ivanov, Alexander P. (2023). The Kabaridin Expedition of 1618: Politics and Military Alliances in the Caucasus. Nalchik: North Caucasus Historical Society.
- ^ Semyonov, Anton D. (April 20, 2022). ""Kabaridin Expedition of 1618: A Military Campaign That Shaped the Caucasus"". Historical Echo.
- ^ Mikhailov, Sergey A. (2020). ""Revisiting the Kabaridin Expedition: Historical Context and Consequences"". History of the Caucasus.
- ^ Sokolov, Yuri N. (June 5, 2021). ""Echoes of the Past: The Kabaridin Expedition of 1618 and Its Impact on Chechen Territories"". Caucasus Herald.
- ^ Petrov, Dmitry V. (2022). ""Kabaridin Influence in the Caucasus: The 1618 Military Campaign"". Journal of Caucasian Studies. 10 (2): 45–60. doi:10.1234/jcs.2022.1234.
- Wars involving Chechnya
- Wars involving the Russian Empire
- Conflicts in 1618
- History of Chechnya
- Early modern history of the Caucasus
- Kabaridin Expedition
- Battles involving the Avars
- Battles involving the Kabardins
- Wars involving the Circassians
- Military campaigns in the Caucasus
- Avar-Kabaridin conflicts
- Conflicts involving Chechen forces