term "Caucasian war" was introduced by journalist and historian R.Fadeevym.
In the history of our country, it means the events connected with the accession to the Mountain Empire of Dagestan, Chechnya and Circassia.
Caucasian war lasted 47 years, from 1817 to 1864, and was won by Russian, creating around him a lot of legends and myths, sometimes very far from reality.
What are the causes of war in the Caucasus?
As in all wars - in the redistribution of territory: three powerful countries - Persia, Russia and Turkey - were fighting for dominion over the "gateway" between Europe and Asia, that is,the Caucasus.This attitude of the local population was not considered at all.
In the early 1800s, Russia was able to defend from Persia and Turkey, their rights to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the peoples of the North Caucasus and moved to the West as it were "automatically".
But the Highlanders with his rebellious spirit and love for independence could not accept the fact that Turkey has given way to a king of the Caucasus as a gift.
Caucasian war began with the emergence in the region of General Yermolov, who suggested the king go into action in order to create in the mountainous remote areas fortress settlements, which will be placed Russian garrisons.
Highlanders fiercely resisted, having the advantage of the war on its territory.Nevertheless, the loss of Russian in the Caucasus until the 30s were a few hundred a year, and they have been linked to armed action.
But then the situation changed dramatically.
In 1834, at the head of the Muslim mountaineers became Shamil.It was during his Caucasian war took the greatest magnitude.
Shamil led the simultaneous struggle against the tsarist garrison and against the feudal lords, who recognized the Russian authorities.It was at his command killed sole heir Avar Khanate and captured the treasury Gamzat Bey made it possible to dramatically increase military spending.
fact the mainstay of Shamil were murids and local duhovenstvo.On repeatedly raided Russian fort and village-apostates.
However, the Russian responded the same measure: the summer of 1839, the year a military expedition captured the seat of Imam Shamil wounded and managed to get to Chechnya, which has become a new arena for military action.
General Vorontsov, who stood at the head of the king's troops, has completely changed the tactics of fighting, stopping the expedition to the mountain villages, which are always accompanied by great material and human losses.The soldiers began to cut down the forests clearings, build capacity, create Cossack villages.
Even the Highlanders more so distrusted Imam.And at the end of the 40s of the 19th century, the territory of the Imamate began to decline as a result of being in full blockade.
In 1848 Russian captured one of the strategically important villages - Gergebil and then Georgia Kakheti.They managed to repel attempts to destroy mureeds strengthening in the mountains.
Despotism Imam, military requisitions, repressive policies alienated from the movement of the mountaineers muridism that only strengthened the internal confrontation.
Caucasian war with the end of the Crimean War moved into its final phase.Viceroy and commander was General Baryatinsky and chief of staff - a future War Minister Milutin and reformer.
by Russian Defense moved to the offensive.Shamil was cut off from Chechnya into Dagestan Mountain.
This Baryatinsky, who knew the Caucasus as a result of its active enough policy to establish peaceful relations with the mountaineers soon became very popular in the North Caucasus.Highlanders were inclined to the Russian orientation: everywhere uprisings began.
By May 1864 was broken last pockets of resistance murids, and in August he Shamil surrendered.
this day Caucasus war ended, the results of which are reaping contemporaries.
