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Draft:Seven Months' War

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Seven Months' War
Part of Russo-Circassian War
Date1779
Location
Kabardia, North Caucasus
Result Russian victory
Territorial
changes		 Russian annexation of Kabardia up to the Terek and Malka rivers
Belligerents

Russian Empire Russia

Circassia Circassians

Other allies:

Commanders and leaders
  • Catherine II
  • Ivan Yakobi
  • Fedor Fabritsian
  • Ivan Savelyev
  • Dmitry Tuganov
  • Bas Y.
  • Yefim Dmitrievich
  • Wilhelm von Asheraden
  • Nikolai Lvovich
  • Yakim Chornin
  • Misost Bematiqwa
  • Hamirza Qeytuqo  †
  • Karamirza Misost
  • Yelbezduqo Qanemet
  • Sultan Deleqo
  • Qownshayiqo Adildzheriy
  • Misost Kurgoqo
  • Misost Hatokhshoqo
  • Karamirza Kurgoqo
  • Hamirza Beslan
  • Hamirza Azhdzheriy
Strength
Unknown

10,000-15,000 cavalries

Unknown number of infantry (mostly commoners)
Casualties and losses
Unknown 3,000+

The Seven Months' War (Kabardian: Мэзибл зауэ; Russian: Семимесячная война), was a stage on the eastern theater of the Russo-Circassian War (1763-1864) in 1779 between the Russian Empire and the Grand Principality of Kabardia. It was the largest conflict in the war up to that time.[4][5]

Before the war

[edit]

The construction of the Mozdok Fortress in 1763 marked the beginning of Russia's conquest of the Caucasus. The free use of migration routes was crucial for the Kabardians, Ossetians and Balkars, who made their living from animal husbandry.[6] However, Russia’s expansionism that started with Mozdok Fortress was cutting off these vital routes, causing the Kabardian economy to collapse, leaving the people impoverished and under harsh living conditions.[7] Two aristocratic factions of Kabardia, Baksan and Kashkhatau, united against the Russian threat.[8] In 1774, Russia pursued to take over the eastern lands of Kabardia and continued to build the Kizlyar-Mozdok Line, citing the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca as the reason.[9] This occupation worsened the socio-economic situation of the Kabardian people. All diplomatic efforts to stop the invasion were unsuccessful.[10]

On May 21, 1777, Russian General Ivan Yakobi [ru] was appointed as the commander of the Caucasus Corps, replacing General Ivan de Medem [ru].[11][12][13] In the same year, Russia started to build ten fortresses along the new line from Mozdok to Azov in a distance of 500+ kilometers with the order of Grigory Potemkin.[9][14][15][16][17]

Along with the fortresses; outposts, forts and stanitsas were also established. Cossacks were resettled on the line including the Volga and Khopyor Cossacks who participated in the Pugachev's Rebellion and exiled there.[18] Kabardians attempted to several attacks to prevent the construction of the fortresses.[19] Azov-Mozdok line [ru] was built by Russian and Cossack troops, with the involvement of subjects loyal to the Russians.[20][21] Durable and expensive materials were used in the construction of the fortresses.[22] To accelerate the construction, serfs faced increased pressure.[21] The Azov-Mozdok line's functions and objectives were as follows:[22][18]

  • Protection of the southern provinces from attacks by North Caucasian groups, including the protection of the territories of the North Caucasus.
  • Subjugating the North Caucasians and repelling any enemy force including the Ottoman forces.
  • Ensuring connection with South Caucasus (protecting Georgian Military Road).
  • Deploying reserve and outpost units to the south of Russia.

By 1779, the fortresses built along the Azov-Mozdok line on Circassian territory were: Yekaterinogradskaya, Pavlovsk, Marinskaya [ru], Georgiyevsk, Andreyevsky, Alexandrovsky, and Stavropol.[23][10][4][15][24][25] Pavlovsk also served as General Yakobi's main headquarters.[15] Stanitsas bearing the same names as the fortresses were established in their vicinity.[26] The main and the most guarded fortress of the line was the Marinskaya Fortress (near the present-day Fazannyi village).[27][28][24] The Marinskaya, Georgiyevsk, and Pavlovsk Fortresses were built in the main Kabardian regions and the Kabardians, in particular, sought to destroy these fortresses.[29] The Kabardian princes were secretly forming an alliance with neighboring tribes.[30]

The finished fortresses of the Azov-Mozdok Line on the map in 1779.

Diplomatic efforts yielding no results with the Russians, in 1778, Kabardians launched several attacks on the Russian fortresses. In January, 3,000 Kabardians were going to attack the Petrovsk fortress, but the fortress garrison abandoned the fortress when they received the news and the Kabardians captured the fortress without fighting.[31] Kabardian forces commanded by Prince Deleqo Sultan[32][33] ("Dulak/Chulak Sultan" in Russian sources) attacked the Pavlovsk Fortress in June but was repelled by Colonel Baron Wilhelm von Asheraden, Russians lost 40 men.[34][1] On June 4, Kabardians launched an assault on Stavropol Fortress but repelled.[35] On September 23, under the command of Deleqo Sultan, they attacked the Arkhangelsk redoubt.[33][11] In December, the Kabardians looted a Russian fortress. At the end of 1778, Kabardians tried diplomatic solutions again, but they were unsuccessful.[10]

On March 29, 1779, the Kabardian nobles and princes held a national congress. Grand Prince Tatarkhan Jankhot took an anti-war stance and stated that the Kabardians could not confront Russia. However the most of the aristocrats were determined to fight until the lost territories were regained.[10] During the congress, a letter was written in Tatar—the lingua franca of the region—to the commander of the Mozdok Fortress Dmitry Tuganov, signed by prominent Kabardian princes: "If the Russians do not destroy all the fortresses they have built—except for Yekaterinogradskaya—we swear that we are ready to wage war along the Kuban Circassians and to die."[11]

On April 28 the letter was translated into Russian.[11] The Lesser and Greater Kabardians crossed the Malka River and settled 7 kilometers away from Marinskaya Fortress with other Circassians and demanded the destruction of all the fortresses in sight, except for Yekaterinogradskaya but the Russians rejected.[36] Then on May 1, Russian Lieutenant Colonel Yakim Chornin who was the adjudant to Dmitry Tuganov met with the Kabardians. Kabardians declared that any correspondence or letters from the Russians would not be acknowledged buildings. All diplomatic relations had been severed. They expressed that they no longer want to see anyone from Russia.[11]

War preparations

[edit]

In the spring of 1779, the Kabardians crossed the Malka River and settled in Qeytuqo Tuash'a—south of the present-day Psykhurei [ru]—in the Qurey Plain, where all the war preparations were made in this forest; they began producing equipments and weapons, as well as constructing small defensive buildings.[15][10] The Kabardians were joined by their allies from neighboring regions.[21][15][1] Circassians had a total of 15,000 cavalry (10,000 in other sources, including the at least 3,000 from other Circassian tribes).[11][4][37][38]

According to tradition, the Grand Prince of Kabardia would be the commander-in-chief during wartime.[15][38] However, since Tatarkhan Jankhot did not participate in the war, Prince Misost Bematiqwa, known for his military skills and anti-Russian stance, was elected as the commander-in-chief during the congress.[6] Kabardians were divided into three main armies: Misost Bematiqwa directly commanded one, Prince Hamirza Qeytuqo—son of Aslanbech Qeytuqo—led the second, and Prince Islam Karamirza Misost commanded the third army.[10][11][15][6][1] Prince Qanemet Yelbezduqo was responsible for intelligence affairs.[15]

The war

[edit]

On March, Circassian cavalries—numbered 6-7,000—led by Prince Sultan Deleqo attacked Marinskaya with Nogais, Besleneys and Chemirgoys, they cut off the reinforcement line of the fortresses.[39][30][37][11][10][21] They managed to take back 5,000 cattle from the Cossacks that had been taken from the Kabardians and killed 85 Cossacks.[37][15][11][30][6] Reinforcement units were sent to the Russian fortresses along the line.[40]

At that time General Yakobi, stationed in Pavlovsk Fortress with a force of 2,000 soldiers and awaiting reinforcements, he ordered that all Kabardians in Kizlyar be imprisoned and subjected to hard labor. The adult hostages, who were "peaceful" Circassians, were chained, and all the hostages were sent to Astrakhan. In the following years, requests for the return of the hostages were denied.[23] Yakobi used this situation to threaten the Kabardians.[11][23][6]

Prince Yelbezduqo bribed Artemy Voskanyan, an Armenian from Crimea. Voskanyan sneaked into Alexandrovsky Fortress and set fire to the dining hall near the church. The smoke from the fire signaled the Kabardian army to attack, and they began their assault.[15][10] They captured herds, prisoners, and goods during the attack.[41] While the Russians gathering reinforcements, the Kabardians continued their attacks.[6]

Stavropol Fortress

In mid-May, the Circassians began launching widespread coordinated attacks on the Azov-Mozdok Line.[10][42] 1,500 Chemguy and Besleney Circassians, led by Deleqo Sultan, attacked Stavropol Fortress, killed 20 Cossacks, captured food supplies and 240 horses.[10][15][11][43][36] On May 30, 500 Circassians led by Sultan Deleqo attacked Alexandrovsky Fortress.[15][11][44][45] They managed to seize the horses of the Ustinov regiment but failed to capture the fortress due to heavy fire and retrated with more than 90 casualties.[44][41]

On June 4, Kabardian forces led by Sultan Deleqo, attempted to seize Stavropol Fortress but failed.[46] In the same month, the Circassians attacked Alexeyevsky Fort but retreated after the clashes while a separate contingent of Circassians attacked a Cossack unit there and defeated them.[47][48]

Chechens attacked the Kalinovsky stanista of the Mozdok Cossack Regiment around the Mozdok Fortress.[11][30] Clashes also occurred in Pyatigorsk.[10][29] Andreyevsky Fortress was taken by the Kabardian forces.[49] Despite the initial gains of the Kabardians, rapid Russian reinforcements forced a withdrawal from the captured positions.[49][31]

Circassians led by Deleqo attacked Andreyevsky Fortress on June but repelled.[50] In the same month, near Stavropol Fortress, a Cossack detachment under the command of Colonel Yefim Dmitrievich attacked a Circassian detachment and defeated them.[51]

During the war, Ottomans reinforced their fortresses on the Caucasus coast.[11] Ottoman spies disseminated rumors among the Kabardian people that the Ottomans would extend assistance; however, no help was provided.[15]

The Night Assault

[edit]

On June 5, a 5-6,000-strong Kabardian army—led by Prince Hamirza Qeytuqo—was divided into 3 detachments.[23][15][52][53][54] The first detachment attacked the Cossacks and Kalmyks who were attempting to join General Yakobi's army as reinforcements. The second detachment attacked Yakobi's camp and the last detachment made its way to attack Pavlovsk Fortress. Kabardians lost 120 men and withdrew.[6]

On June 8, the Kabardians launched another attack on Pavlovsk Fortress but were forced back by heavy fire.[30][40] They moved toward Marinskaya Fortress and set up near this fortress, 12.8 kilometers away from Pavlovsk, then started to siege the fortress.[30][6] The Kabardians received strong reinforcements from the Chechens, other Circassians and other neighbors, and bringing their numbers up to 15,000.[30][55] On the night of June 9, the Kabardians besieging Marinskaya Fortress began digging trenches on both sides and extending them toward the fortress trenches.[11][30][6] From the Circassian side, one group carried out trench-digging operations, while the others provided cover by rifle fire, ensuring that shots from the fortress caused minimal damage.[36] The Circassians in the trenches and the Russians in the fortress were exchanging heavy fire.[30] Other Circassian groups took advantage of the darkness to crawl almost up to the fortress trench.[6]

On the evening of June 10, General Yakobi left Pavlovsk Fortress with his army and set towards Marinskaya to lift the siege and the critical condition, dividing his forces into three infantry squares and cavalries between the squares for the battle, this battle would later be known as the Kabardian Night Assault.[36][11] The Kabardians left a total of 500 men in both trenches and positioned themselves on the closest ridge near Marinskaya Fortress from the direction of Pavlovsk, forming a single row over 4 kilometers long parallel to the Russian army to frighten the enemy and take battle positions according to the enemy's position.[11][30] General Yakobi approached and the Kabardians, in three groups, planned to attack on the Russian army from three squares.[30][55]

As the Kabardians approached in range, Russians suddenly opened heavy fire.[11][15] The Kabardians continued to advance to the front despite the intense fire, concentrating their attack on the center, where General Yakobi was located.[30][55] The Russian infantry broke up the Kabardian charge with volley fire.[55] After that, they charged the Cossacks on the right flank of the Russian army, engaging in intense combat for 2 hours.[36] Some of the Kabardians tried to slip behind the Russian army, but they were met with heavy fire.[30]

The Kabardians then retreated, formed a loose circle around the Russian army and opened fire with rifles while reorganizing.[55] However, as both sides were out of their rifle range, the Kabardians were engaging in hit-and-run tactics, getting close to shoot and then pulling back.[15][55] After reorganizing, they attacked the left flank of the Russian army but the left flank of the Russians turned out to be stronger than the Kabardians had expected and had to retreat.[11][15][55] Thus, General Yakobi forced the Kabardians to lift the siege in the 6-hour long battle, preventing the fortress from being taken.[56][18][36] The commander of Marinskaya Fortress, Captain Bas Y. seized the opportunity, left his fortress and launched an attack on the Kabardians positioned in the trench resulting in the deaths of 97 Kabardians.[15][36]

The Kabardians suffered 550 casualties including 50 nobles and princes during the battle.[23] Leader of this Kabardian army, Prince Hamirza Qeytuqo and his son Ismail were shot and killed during the battle.[52][29][1] After the Kabardian defeat in the Night Assault, they had to reduce their attacks and reorganize for a month.[11][36]

After the Night Assault, the Kabardians demanded the destruction of the Pavlovsk, Marinskaya, and Georgiyevsk fortresses in exchange for handing over all the captives and paying double the compensation for the damage caused; the occupation of this area forced the Kabardians to keep their herds in cramped conditions, as although they had a lot of unused land on the Kuban side, the mountainous terrain made it impossible to graze cattle especially in winter, and they did not prepare hay for the season. All their demands were rejected.[6][36]

The term Night Assault (Kabardian: Жэщтеуэ), for this battle was used by the Circassians. In the Circassian languages, the word for night assault also means nightmare or "the evil spirit that causes sleep paralysis," but in a military context, it refers to an army launching a nighttime attack on an enemy force.[57]

Aftermath clashes of the Night Assault

[edit]

In July, considering the situation in Kabardia to be very serious, Catherine II issued a secret decree allowing Russian armies to take whatever actions they deemed necessary in Kabardia.[15] General Yakobi stated in his general report dated June 18: "I defeated them decisively; they left behind 3,000 casualties, both wounded and killed."[10][29] In the new orders sent by Catherine II to the Russian armies, it was instructed that the forces should not launch a general attack until September 15 and remain on the defensive.[56]

The Circassians adhered to the tactics of cutting off communication between the fortresses, devastating and burning fields. On July 17, a detachment of 5,000 Kabardians attacked the Georgiyevsk Fortress, burned all the grain, destroyed the hayfields, killed Cossacks, drove off the cattle and left, losing 27 men.[6][36] Kabardians continued to attack the Georgiyevsk Fortress in August and September.[58] In August, General Yakobi's army received new reinforcements.[56] The Kabardians were constantly harassing Yakobi's forces, destroying their sentinels and stealing their herds.[56]

At the end of August, a 1,000-strong Kabardian army attacked an 80-man Russian unit under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Nikolai Lvovich near Georgiyevsk while they were transporting supplies to Marinskaya Fortress. However, the Kabardian army was fired upon by snipers who had taken up positions at a distance, causing them to retreat with more than 100 casualties.[59][11][56] On September 25, a new reinforcement army consisting of 8,000 troops under the command of Major General Fedor Fabritsian arrived in Kabardia.[56][60] On September 27, the Kabardians attacked a Russian unit consisting of 80 soldier, which was transporting supply, near Yekaterinogradskaya, killing 41 Russians, including an officer, and capturing prisoners, gunpowders and one cannon.[61][56]

Battle of Qeytuqo

[edit]

On September 29 (October 10 N.S.), the armies of Fabritsian and Yakobi arrived at the headquarters of the Kabardians, located on the south bank of the Malka River which is the exact camp where all the war preparations were made.[10] It is likely that someone informed Yakobi of the exact location of the Kabardian camp.[10][15] Fabritsian crossed the Malka River with 1,000 Cossacks, 1,000 Kalmyks, 2 battalions and 2 companies from the Mozdok battalion and positioned themselves 3 kilometers south of the Kabardian headquarters.[30][15][11] After that, Fabritsian sent a group of Cossack and Kalmyk cavalry toward the herd where the Kabardians kept their horses, driving off the horses of 2,000 warriors.[11][15] The Kabardians were consisted of approximately 350 nobles, 50 princes and a cannon (the cannon captured near Yekaterinogradskaya).[15][8][29][62]

Yakobi divided his 10-battalion army into two to encircle the Kabardians from both the left and right sides of the headquarters on the riverbank, where most of the distinguished Kabardian leaders would be killed.[10] He took position on the hill with the infantry, which allowed them to easily target the Kabardians.[11][10] The Kabardian sentinels didn't do their duty. Thus, the Kabardians woke up completely encircled.[15]

At dawn, the Russian forces issued calls for surrender. The Kabardians responded to the surrender call by firing into the air.[10][15] The battle started at 7 AM and ended at 12 PM with the complete annihilation of the Kabardian forces and the destruction of their headquarters, overwhelmed by the strategically, technologically, and numerically superior Russian troops.[10]

Although the Kabardians attempted to break the encirclement and escape, they were unsuccessful due to the continuous and intense artillery fire.[29][15] Towards the end, Fabritsian sent his army deep into the camp to completely destroy the remaining Kabardians with close combat.[30] Very few Kabardians managed to escape.[29] Fabritsian's army suffered 16 deaths and 34 wounded while Yakobi's forces suffered 20 deaths and 80 wounded during the battle.[56][29] The remaining Kabardian forces retreated to Baksan River.[56]

End of the war

[edit]

After the defeats and deaths of the most distinguished Kabardians, the Kabardian princes began negotiations. However, these negotiations were actually a diversion to organize new attacks on Russian fortresses. Towards the end of November, Kabardian princes refused to surrender and wrote to Ivan Yakobi that since the time of Ivan the Terrible, they had never been subjects of Russia, but had traditionally been under Russian protectorship and seen them as guests or allies and they were willing to accept the restoration of these same conditions.[63][64] In order to prevent a new wave of attack, the Russians decided to attack deep into Kabardia to crush the remaining resistance.[56]

General Yakobi set up a camp along the banks of the Malka River for a month, and after the Kabardians refused to surrender, he began his campaign into Greater Kabardia on November 27, while Colonel Ivan Savelyev was in command of the campaign into Lesser Kabardia.[11][15] Clashes occurred in Tambiy village.[11] Kabardian villages were burned, pillaged and damaged by the Russian forces during the campaign.[15]

At the beginning of December, General Yakobi and Major General Fabritsian formally declared the subjugation of Kabardia.[15] The Caucasus Military Administration deemed it “impossible for the Kabardians to recover.”[15]

On December 2, (December 9 in other sources)[19][65][42][40] the Kabardian princes had to concede defeat and accept the treaty which had heavy obligations in exchange for the withdrawal of Russian armies from the designated borders.[11][56][66] The obligations were as follows:[9][10]

  1. The livestock, goods and money allegedly plundered—by your side—last summer must be fully repaid as of today. You must account for the spoils of war. You are obligated to fully repay all our losses. The assets to be repaid are as follows:
    • 2150 Horses
    • 1914 Cattle
    • 2845 Cows
    • 4539 Sheep
    • 10,000 rubles
  2. All captives from forts or roads, including those taken by Chechens, must be returned along with items stolen in 1777 from Mr. Molchanov, valued at 300 rubles, and those taken from residents of Kizlyar and Mozdok; Georgians, Armenians, and Tatars. You must also immediately surrender all Russian captives in Kabardia to Colonel Dmitry Taganov and return any Russian deserters who joined you last summer.
  3. If any theft occurs against us in the future, whether committed by Chechens, Chemirgoys, Besleneys, or any other group, any individuals suspected of being in collaboration must vacate their lands and compensate for the losses incurred.
  4. The border of Greater Kabardia was established along the Malka River, while Lesser Kabardia was set along the Terek River, according to the Czarina’s order. All lands beyond the Malka River are under the fortress lines’ control. You may not move livestock, farm, or claim these lands without permission from the regional fortress commander. Earlier, permission was granted for livestock movement, but it was misused, so this privilege is now revoked.
  5. No one may cross the border without a permit from Colonel Taganov. Livestock passage across the border is strictly forbidden. If someone has a reason to cross, they must notify the fortress commander via the border guard. With permission, aristocrats will be escorted by two armed guards, and commoners by one. They must remain with the guard at the gate and cannot enter the fortresses without the commander's permission. If allowed entry, they may stay only in the designated area.
  6. You are obligated, as per your oath, to faithfully execute any orders from Her Imperial Majesty. You must not oppose or disregard any of Her Majesty’s commands, covenants, or rules, with the understanding that you are subjects of Her Imperial Majesty.
  7. You must not interfere with the Kuban Circassians, Chemguys, or Besleneys in their councils or defense. Greater Kabardia was prohibited from establishing diplomacy with the Ottoman Empire and the Crimean Khanate, while Lesser Kabardia was forbidden from engaging in diplomacy with the Chechens. Refrain from theft and be content with your own property, needs, and agriculture. Any deviation from this will incur the wrath of Her Imperial Majesty and severe punishment.
  8. For the improvement of your well-being is proposed by your superior chief Czarina, you must accept all measures taken to this end with a grateful spirit and without objection.
  9. If any common people are oppressed by burdens, excessive levies, or humiliations, or forced into shameful actions (such as resisting Russia), they shall be allowed to leave their landlords and possessions and seek refuge in other places or within the lines. Landlords shall not interfere, as this is the supreme will of Her Imperial Majesty.
  10. You shall not hinder the other people in any way if they wish to resettle or migrate to Mozdok or other places, since they have never been your subjects. Therefore, you shall allow them to settle in Mozdok and other places, according to the supreme will of Her Imperial Majesty.
  11. For all wrongs and injustices committed among yourselves, you must seek justice from the Imperial Majesty's representative, Grand Prince Jankhot. You must not take the law into your own hands, especially avoid revenge, which is contrary to Allah and the teachings of your prophet Muhammad. If any wrongdoing is committed against you by us, you may seek justice through your representative, and full justice will be ensured.
  12. The fulfillment of all the claims outlined in all the points is entrusted to Grand Prince Jankhot Tatarkhan and Prince Misost Bematiqwa, who must make every effort to fulfill them without any delay and to hand over the collected claims to the Colonel Taganov.
  13. "We shall swear allegiance and affix our seals to fulfill all of the above as soon as possible. We accept all these points with gratitude and pledge to fulfill all the commands and decrees of Her Imperial Majesty, as well as to return the requested claims as soon as possible and to do whatever else the owners have indicated with their seals. In confirmation of this obligation, which we promise to fulfill, we swear a sacred oath before the Holy Quran, the almighty Allah, and His great prophet Muhammad, kissing the Quran and affixing our seals."

The Kabardians struggled for a year to meet the Russian demands.[11] The Caucasus Military Administration was given the following order: "Above all, do not allow the mountaineers to unite. If possible, sow chaos among them."[15] Russia continued to strengthen the lines and isolate Kabardia especially from the Western Circassians and Abazins by continuing to build new fortresses.[18][67] It was decreed not to interfere with the people’s acceptance of Christianity, and a prohibition was imposed on involvement with the Ingush and Ossetians.[9] The Kabardians lost most of their dominance over the Ossetians.[42] Kabardia lost a third of its territory after the war.[8]

The rights conferred upon the common people, which the Russians took advantage of the complaints of the commoners, were intended to diminish the authority of the Kabardian princes, weakening the resistance of the aristocrats by destabilizing the socio-political situation in Kabardia.[9][15] The requests of the Kabardian aristocrats to settle in other countries were rejected, but after the war some defiant Kabardian aristocrats managed to settle in Kuban region with their subjects which was the first generation of Hajret Kabardians, while a small portion moved to Kartli-Kakheti at the invitation of King Heraclius II, Russia accused the Georgians of offering refuge to "rebels" and aiding them in seeking asylum in Ottoman Empire.[68][69][70][15] In 1780, Russia sealed all kind of border crossings of Georgia after intercepting a letter carried by an Armenian courier, which contained a promise of support for the Princes of the Greater Kabardia against Russia, allegedly sent from the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti.[31]

The Seven Months' War is considered a turning point due to the significant loss of the anti-Russian Kabardian aristocracy and the harsh treaty imposed on the Kabardians. However, it took more than 40 years for Kabardia to fully succumb to Russian control.[11]

Legacy

[edit]
"Way of the Spirit" monument

Many folk songs and laments have been written about the Seven Months' War by Circassians. Even among the other Circassian tribes, there are songs about the Night Assault. Small Circassian cavalry units breaking through encirclements during battles after being surrounded is often recounted in Kabardian folk tales.[49]

The first commemoration of the Seven Months' War was held in October 10, 1996, in Qeytuqo Tuash'a by a group of Circassian nationalists.[71][38] In 1997, commemorations continued with a larger group, and a memorial was mounted along with the Circassian flag being planted.[72] In the years that followed, Circassians continued to visit the area. Over time, this commemoration became a tradition.In 2014, an initiative was launched to create a memorial in honor of the Circassians who lost their lives in the war.[38][73] However, on October 10, 2015, the planned memorial was delayed by the authorities without any official statement.[74][38] Circassian activist Martin Kochesoko stated that the monument was ready, but permission for its mounting has been denied, and it has been under inspection by a commission formed specifically for this purpose.[74]

The new monument made from granite and 3-meters long, which is named the "Way of the Spirit" was later designed by sculptor Arsen Gushapsha, the creator of the previous memorial.[75] Permission to open the monument was repeatedly denied and security forces disrupted commemorative activities.[76] On October 10, 2018, a commemoration event was held for the unveiling of the monument, attended only by the public with no officials present.[74][38][77][78] During the commemoration, the main vocalist of the Hagauj group, Tembolat Tkhashloko, performed one of the folkloric Night Assault songs.[78] Seven circles were made around the monument from stones collected from the riverbank, representing seven generations of the past.[38][78]

The unmounted memorial

Inscription on the unmounted memorial

"Our old way of life is fading,

It is more fitting for us to die with our honor."

"For our homeland and Xabze,

Honor comes before life."

In memory of the heroes who said these words,

On October 10, 1779,

Fighting against the dark army of the Russian Empire,

And perishing here,

The Kabardian princely-noble army, which brought pride to the Circassian nation.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Hasırcı, Metin. Büyük Osmanlı Tarihi (in Turkish). p. 1043.
  2. ^ "′′ 7 AY SAVAŞI / KABARDİAN GECE SALDIRISI ′′ NIN 241 ANI GÜNÜ" [241st Anniversary of the '7-Months' War / Kabardian Night Attack]. www.infocherkessia.com (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  3. ^ "ВОЕННЫЕ ДЕЙСТВИЯ ДОНЦОВ ПРОТИВ НАГАЙСКИХ ТАТАР в 1777-1783 годах" [MILITARY ACTIONS OF THE DON COSACKS AGAINST THE NOGAI TATARS in 1777-1783.]. vostlit.info (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  4. ^ a b c "Семимесячная война 1779 года" [Seven Months War 1779]. Адыги .RU - Новости Адыгеи, история, культура и традиции адыгов (черкесов) (in Russian). 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-04-23. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
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