Punitive campaign and the devastation of the Nokhchi mountain communities (1617–1618)
The occupation administration of the town of Terki undertook an armed invasion of the mountain lands of the Nokhchi. Historian E. N. Kusheva states that the 1618 military campaign of the Terek detachments into the mountains took place «at the request of «the Uvar Nutsal prince and his brother Suleman-murza and the Cherny prince's son Turlov-murza»»[1]. Kusheva adds that «In 1621, the serving Kabardian prince Sunchaley Yanglychevich Cherkassky and his son Prince Sholokh referred in their petitions to their participation in the campaign of the Terek fighting men into the mountains that took place in 1618»[1]. Preparation for the operation included forced mobilization: in a petition to Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, the Kabardian prince Sholokh reported that «voivode Mikita Dmitreevich Velyaminov sent me... together with my father on your sovereign's service... against your sovereign's disobedient ones, the Michkiz people, against their kabaks»[2]. Having made the crossing «through the mountains and along mountain crevices, through impassable places»[2], the detachments descended upon the settlements. In a similar document, the Kabardian prince Sunchaley Yanglychevich Cherkassky reported that they «burned down and utterly devastated many Shibut, and Kalkan, and Erokhan, and Michkiz kabaks, and took many captives, and killed many other peo[ple]»[2]. Kusheva states that after the detachments «had made war upon «the Shibut, and Kalkan, and Erokhan, and Michkiz kabaks»», the Indigenous population was forced into submission: ««the Shibut, and Kalkan, and Erokhan, and Michkiz people... acknowledged their guilt»»[1], as a result of which the mountaineers «petitioned in submission and gave the shert (oath) and amanats to the town of Terki»[2].
Actors
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| G0008 | Tsardom of Muscovy |
The occupation administration of Tersky Town mobilized the metropole's subordinate allies: in a petition to Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, the Kabardian prince Sholokh reported that «the voivode Mikita Dmitreevich Velyaminov sent me... with my father on your sovereign's service... against your sovereign's disobedient ones — the Michkiz people, against their kabaks»[2]. |
Techniques Used
| ID | Name | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|
| T0049 | Forced Mobilization |
The occupation administration of Tersky Town mobilized the metropole's subordinate allies: in a petition to Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, the Kabardian prince Sholokh reported that «the voivode Mikita Dmitreevich Velyaminov sent me... with my father on your sovereign's service... against your sovereign's disobedient ones — the Michkiz people, against their kabaks»[2]. |
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| T0147 | Forced Registration of Subjecthood |
Under direct military threat, the mountain communities were forced to capitulate: in a petition to Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, the Kabardian prince Sunchaley Yanglychevich Cherkassky reported that the mountaineers «brought their guilt... petitioned humbly and gave... the shert (oath of allegiance)»[2]. |
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| T0099 | Hostage-Taking |
As a result of the devastation of their settlements, the subjugated communities handed people over to the occupation administration: in a petition to Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, the Kabardian prince Sunchaley Yanglychevich Cherkassky records that they «gave amanats (hostages) to Tersky Town»[2]. |
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| T0104 | Mass Killings of Civilians |
The punitive detachments physically exterminated the local population: in a petition to Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, the Kabardian prince Sunchaley Yanglychevich Cherkassky reported that in the settlements they «slew many other peo[ple]»[2]. |
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| T0019 | Military Intervention |
The occupation administration of Tersky Town dispatched armed detachments which, as the Kabardian prince Sunchaley Yanglychevich Cherkassky and his son the Kabardian prince Sholokh reported to Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, made their way «across the mountains and through mountain crevices, impassable places»[2] in order to suppress the defiant communities. |
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| T0148 | Predatory Raids |
The punitive detachments plundered and enslaved the population: in a petition to Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, the Kabardian prince Sunchaley Yanglychevich Cherkassky reported that they «utterly ruined» the auls «and took many captives»[2]. |
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| T0077 | Punitive Expeditions |
The occupation administration of Tersky Town deliberately organized a campaign of violent punishment: in his petition to Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, the Kabardian prince Sholokh reported that the Terek voivode sent the armed detachments precisely «against your sovereign's disobedient ones — the Michkiz people, against their kabaks»[2]. |
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| T0022 | Terror |
The occupation administration of Tersky Town employed mass terrorizing violence: in a petition to Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, the Kabardian prince Sunchaley Yanglychevich Cherkassky reported that the military detachments «burned down and utterly ruined many Shibut and Kalkan and Erokhan and Michkiz kabaks»[2] and «slew many peo[ple]»[2]. |
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| T0105 | Total Destruction of Infrastructure |
During the punitive campaign, the military detachments burned entire auls to the ground: in a petition to Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, the Kabardian prince Sunchaley Yanglychevich Cherkassky reported that they «burned down and utterly ruined many Shibut and Kalkan and Erokhan and Michkiz kabaks»[2]. |
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Instruments
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S0012 | Occupation and Controlled Administrations |
The occupation administration of Tersky Town mobilized the metropole's subordinate allies: in a petition to Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich, the Kabardian prince Sholokh reported that «the voivode Mikita Dmitreevich Velyaminov sent me... with my father on your sovereign's service... against your sovereign's disobedient ones — the Michkiz people, against their kabaks»[2]. |