Daghestan
history have generally been studied together with Caucasian history. Throguh centuries,
Caucasia have been attacked by Indo-European tribes from west and by Turan tribes from
east. It was especially under the control of those tribes coming from the east of Caspian
Sea. Turk and Mongol attacks started in the 4th century and continued at intervals, and it
has made great changes in the ethnical and political structure of Caucasia. Khazar and
Avar attacks on the Slavs continued from the 4th century to 13th century. Establishing a
country between the river Volga and North Caucasia, Khazar Turks invaded Caucasia in th
e7th century. Wars on Daghestan were generally between
Abbasid - Emevi Arabs and Khazars and other Turkish tribes. During these years the native
settlers, Lezghis, became Muslim and fought against their Chiristian neighbor Georgians.
After being conquered by Great Seljuk Empire in th 11th century, Dahgestan lived under the
control of Seljuk Empire until being invaded by Mongols in the 13th century. In Seljuk
Empire era between 11-13th centuries, they have an important role in Turkizing Daghestan.
Later, Ilhan Empire (1256-1353) Altın Orda Khanate ‘1226-1502) Shirvanshakh, Timur
Empire (1370-1506 and Safevis took Daghestan under control in order.
Close relations between Daghestan and the Ottomans
started through Crimean Khanate in 1475 and it lasted until the collapse of the Ottoman
Empire. In Sultan Mehmet the Conquerer period, Kefe city was conguered and Crimean Khanate
was taken under control by the Ottomans. Then, some Daghestan Begs in this Khanate
acknowledged the Ottomans.
Daghestan was conquered by Ozdemiroglu Osman Pasha
in 1578 and lived under Ottoman control for 28 years between 1578-1606. Daghestan
governors kept close relations with the Ottomans ofter their control. This relations,
which will be studied in detail later below, included mutual military aids, assignement of
khans and other officials, accepting students for Ottoman Universities (Darülfünun and
Darülmaillimin) and in almost all other political, economical, sociological and cultural
fields.
The campain by Persians in the beginning of 17th century
for spreading Shi’ism reacted severly by Daghestan people. In 1607, Shakh Abbas I
invaded Shamahi Fort. The Ottomans left the fort with the condition that nobody would be
hurt, Shakh Abbas killed many people. At the beginning of 17th century, Daghestans
unionized under the leadership of Colak Surhak Khan of Ghazi Kumukh Khanate, took
back the Shamahi fort from Persians and went under the protection of the Ottoman Empire
from which they received support during this war against Persians.
Daghestan draw attention of Russia from the 16th century
on. In 1722 Tzar Petro I announced war against Iran by claiming Russian traders’
homicide, and Russia invaded Derbent city. Ottoman Empire protested the Tzar Petro because
Derbent was under his protection, and wanted Petro to leave the city. Russian forces were
stopped near Bakhu city with the help of Ottoman army. But, with the agreement
between Iran and Russian in 1724, Derbent and Bakhu were taken under Russian control.
Nadir Shakh took bak Derbent in 1732. But after 1747, Russian again tried to control the
Caucasia and in 1785 they assigned Caucasian Governor which meant Russian control
over the region. With the Gulistan agreement between Russia and Iran, all Daghestan
was left to Russia.
But Russia could not control Daghestan for a long
time. As Baddeley tells, Imam Mansur, a warrior, leader and mentor from mountains,
appeared as rain falls down, and trying to unionized the Highlander tribest, he announced
a holy war against Russia. Thus, the campaign was starter by Imam Mansur in 1783, carried
on by Ghazi Muhammed in 1794 and later by Hamzat Bek, and lastly by Sheikh Shamil in an
intensive way. Being elected as Imam, Sheikh Shamil organized this holy war campaign of
Dahgestan people against Russia and fought bravely agains Russians for 25 years. At last,
he had to yealded to heavily armed forces under the command of General Bartyatinsky on
25th August 1859.
Continued
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