Chechen-Gazimukh War

The Chechen–Kazikumukh war, also known as Chechen reconquista or Z'okk-K'ant's campaign against the Kazikumukhs, was a war between Chechens and the Laks of Gazikumukh Shamkhalate, the Kabardians and the Kalmyks in the 16th century. The war began as a result of Chechens from Nashkh region resettling around the Kazikumukh controlled area of T'sontaroy (modern-day Grozny) and refusing to pay tribute to the Kazikumukhs. The war lasted 10 years, defeating the Kazikumukh in 3 years, and conflict with the Kalmyks and Karbardians continued for 6 more years, both ending with the Chechens reconquering former lands of Aukh and Nokhchmokhk, continuing to the shoreline of the Caspian Sea and pushing the Kalmyks beyond the Terek (river). The Kazikumukh, worrying that the Chechens will continue to conquer more lands, sent a messenger to Sulak (river) in order to reach an agreement with the Chechens. As a result the Chir-Yurt peace treaty was signed and one of the Shamkals sons was offered to the Chechens as an amanat (hostage).

Prelude

In the second quarter of the 16th century, "ShalgIu-shah Taymaskha" (Shah of Iran Tahmasp I) brought down his armies on the mountains of the South Caucasus, provoking the movement of the masses to the north. In the hands of Mekhk-Khel, a demographic resource was concentrated, which was used to recapture the previously occupied eastern and flat lands of the Chechens from their enemy. In 1541, Mehk-Khel, identified the repatriates and authorized Zokk to lead the resettlement of a group of migrants from Nashkhi to Nokhchmokhk. Apparently, it was an advanced detachment and reconnaissance operation. The movement to Nokhchmokhk went through the Argun gorge up the Sharo-Argun to Cheberloy, and from there to the sources of Iasi. During the period under review, in Tsontaroy (then the administrative center of Nokhchmokhk) there was a residence of a protege of Persian vassals, the Kazikumukh shamkhal; the representative of the shamkhal was called the term "BiotIa" (hereinafter - Bota). Residents of the region paid a symbolic tax in favor of the shamkhal - one ram out of a hundred (although even zakat - a mandatory tax for Muslims - provides for the payment of one ram out of forty; i.e. the tax was 2.5 times less than the minimum taxation in Muslim world and had, of course, a symbolic character). Zokk, at the head of settlers from Nashkhi, arrived in the regional center of Nokhch-mokhk - Tsontaroy. When the time came to pay tribute, the repatriates refused to fulfill their tax obligations, for which the foremen of the regional center, under pressure from the governor of Shamkhal, delivered an ultimatum to the Zokki group: to accept the demands of the Kazikumukh people or to retire to the area between the Gansol and Gums rivers, where there were scares and poor pastures and drinking - howling water of the earth. Repatriates from Nashkh left the center and settled in farms in interfluve. Zokk himself, apparently, settled in the fortification at the top of Tielip-gala.

Yassin campaign

After some time, Zokk organized a military campaign against the Aksay settlements of the Kazikumukhs, defeated the local detachments and drove the colonists to the right bank of the Yassa. Apparently, this event happened after a secret agreement between Zokk and a part of the Tson-taroy seniority, who turned against the shamkhal and his governor, turned to the leader of the settlers. The news of the Yassin campaign of repatriates from Nashkhi led by Zokka reached Kazi-Kumukh.

Battle of Gums-Gansoli

Shamkhal sent an army to the shores of Gums; in addition, he conveyed a message to Botha demanding that the local Chechens be mobilized and join the Kazikumukh forces. Shamkhal also invited Kalmyks and Kabardians, who had accepted this offer. Zokka was supported by the Chechens Gumsa and Gansoli. Opponents met, and a battle took place at Gums-Gansoli, as a result of which Zokk and his comrades were defeated by the Kazikumukh coalition. Zokka's reconnaissance mission has been completed. Mehk-Khel, having received an idea of the situation in the area, promoted Zokku from the post of military leader (bach-cha) to the status of chief commander and strategist (Tur-Da) and instructed the new commander-in-chief to assemble the people's militia to liberate the district. Preparations for the campaign stretched out for several years.

Eastern Campaign (1545-1546)

In 1545, having completed all the work, Zokk, at the head of the Chechen people's militia, went on the Eastern campaign (1545–1546), arrived in Nokhchmokhk and immediately approached the regional center, demanding that the local seniority submit to Mekhk-Khel and join to the popular movement, promising to forgive the elders for participating in the battle of Gums-Gansoli. Botha, knowingly sending a message to Shamkhal about the movement of Chechens from Nash-khi to Tsontaroy with a request to send help, met the Chechen Tur-Da in order to fight him personally. In a duel, Zokk cut off Bothe's head and sent it to the foremen of the district. The regional council of Nokhchmokhk gave way to Zokke and joined the militia forces. By that time, the Shamkhal's army approached Tsontaroy. “Within two days,” the manuscript “BIotIa Vohor” says, “the battles that began near the border of Tsontaroy were transferred to the shores of Sulak (that is, the Chechens pushed the enemy from Yassy to GIoy-khi. - Z.T.). Then the shamkhal sent messengers with a letter affixed with his seal, declaring that [he] was ready to appoint Bota (that is, a protege-viceroy. - Z.T.) from their own number Nadchechens, the chechens sent in response the corpses of the Kazikumukhs killed by them, saying that they appointed one of them as the Kazikumukh shamkhal. Enraged by this answer, the shamkhal sent messengers to the Kabardians and Kalmyks, again inviting them to rob the Chechens. The murzas and taishas of the nomads, avid for trophies, again accepted the offer of the shamkhal. The combined forces of the enemy forced the Chechens from the Sulak to the upper reaches of the Yassa and the foot of the Benoy. Zokka's militia was in a difficult position. Word of what was happening reached Mehk-Khel. In Greater Nashkh, additional forces were immediately assembled and headed for Benoy. In addition, the Kakhetian king Levan, who was also at war with Kazi-Kumukh, sent to help Zokka, who was defending in Benoy, Chechens from among the soldiers who were in his military service - detachments of "keys" (led by Yanbek) and " Pkhoitsev” (under the leadership of Ushurma Okotsky). Reinforcing his army with the above detachments, Zokk resumed the offensive and again began to oust the anti-Chechen coalition of Shamkhal, first from the upper reaches of the Yassy, and then from the upper reaches of the Sulak. With fighting, the Chechens came out flat, liberated Nokhchmokhk, Aukh and approached the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Chir-Yurt peace treaty

The manuscript further states: "[Then] the shamkhal sent people beyond Sulak [in order to reach] an agreement, [assuming obligations] not to challenge the area beyond Sulak from the sources of the rivers to the coastal [region] Ishlandash" (swamps and swamps of the Caspian lowland at the mouths of the rivers. - Z.T.), if the Chechens stop further [movement deep into Shamkhalism], and [in confirmation of] the reliability of [this oath] send their son along with his family to Tsontara "vekal-vakha" (i.e., ambassador-amanat, or a hostage. - Z.T.)". Thus, the shamkhal agreed to give one of his sons, who did not claim the throne, as an amanat in order to achieve peace and as a confirmation of his sincerity. The Chechen side, making sure that the Nogai Tumens living in the Ishlandash area would take an oath of allegiance and would not interfere with the new (Chechen) authorities, accepted the Shamkhal's proposal and later approved the Chir-Yurt peace treaty (1548) with Kazikumukh shamkhal-stvo. At the same time, the son of Shamkhal, apparently, was settled in the area of Chanakha near Tsontaroy. After the victory over the shamkhal, Zokk erected a religious building in the Yarditye area. "Going on a campaign or [on other business]," the GIela manuscript reports, "[Zokk] came to Yardita, praying [to God] for the success [of the enterprise]." Also, a large and unhindered resettlement of Chechens from Nashkh to the Chechen plain, to Nokhchmokhk and further to Aukh (where Shircha-Yurt was restored in 1546) began.