Principality of Chechnya

The Principality of Chechnya or Princedom of Chechnya was a Chechen Princedom under the Lead of the Chechen Prince Shikh Okotsky

After the Chechen-Gazimukh War war in the 16th century, the Chechen Princedom gained significant land, conquering Dagestan, reaching the CASPIAN Sea, and annexing the Gazikumukh Shamkhalate.

History

After the unification between Chechen and Ingush tribes, they formed the Chechen Princedom under Shikh Okotsky. Next to it was the Lak-Kumyk Khanate of Gazikumukh and the Avar Khanate including other North Caucasian Khanates primarly a khanate of the Kalmyks whom had conflicting relations with the Chechens for the Terek borders. Chechens also had conflicts with the Gazikumukh Shamkhalate regarding the Aukh which had a majority Chechen population

Chechen-Gazikumukh War

In 1545, The Chechens invaded the Gazikumukh Shamkhalate to regain the Ichkeria and Aukh regions and the Kalmyks to gain the Terek region under Zokk, Under the commandmant of Zokk, the Chechens drove the Gazikumukhs to the bank of Yassa with a secret deal of the Tson-taroy seniority who turned against the Shamkhals 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.

Kalmyk Invasion of Chechnya

In the early spring of the following year, Kalmyk taishas set off for the Ter-Sulak interfluve in order to take revenge on the Chechens. The news of the appearance of the Kalmyks in the lower reaches of the Yassa (which then flowed into the Caspian) reached Zokka, who, together with his comrades, acting in advance, went to meet them. Two troops clashed in the lower reaches of the Yassy: from here the Chechens drove the Kalmyks beyond the Terek and further into the steppe. Continuing their success, Zokk with the militia again invaded the Kalmyk possessions, and then returned to Nokhchmokhk, capturing the enemy's cattle. The listed events refer to 1548–1555. Thus, the successes of the Chechens during the military-political activity of Zokk-Kant contributed to the restoration of their sovereignty over the territories of the Chechen Plain, Nokhchmokhk, Aukh and the Caspian lands. Sokk-Kant became the debutant of the first stage of the "reconquista", i.e. the reconquest of lands, marking the beginning of a socio-political revival or the Chechen Renaissance. By the end of his life, Zokka, according to oral sources, had 12 sons, the most famous of whom was Mamm Zokkov, one of the military