Exploitation of the village of Solzha (Sunzhenskaya) as a resource base and its punitive devastation for the armed resistance of the Nokhchi (1818)
In 1818, after the fortress of Groznaya had already been erected on seized land, the Russian Empire used the nearby village of Solzha (Sunzhenskaya) as a resource base for the garrison, and then devastated it when its inhabitants refused to hand over a fellow villager and took up arms. Historian D. A. Khozhaev records the devastation of Solzha (Sunzhenskaya), as a consequence of which "most of the peaceful surrounding auls fled to the mountains, and the flourishing riverbanks stood deserted for a long time thereafter"[1]. Imperial general Yermolov testifies in his "Notes" that he had previously ordered the troops to spare the village so that the fortress "could obtain from it all the necessary provisions." When soldiers were taking away from a villager an ox "which he called his own," the man shot at a soldier; the inhabitants refused to hand him over, declaring "that they would not give up the man who had shot at the soldier and would defend themselves if the troops came." When the chief of the corps staff "went himself with several companies," he "was met with gunfire." The families and property had been sent away in advance; the defense was held by the men alone. The troops were ordered to cut off the retreat — "to intercept the withdrawal in the forest" — but the defenders had pulled back earlier. Only after this did the troops enter the abandoned village, spending several days carting away from it "grain, forage, and timber fit for construction"[2].
Actors
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| G0009 | Russian Empire |
Solzha (Sunzhenskaya), one of the wealthiest villages, the Russian Empire kept as a source of supply for the fortress of Groznaya, and having seized the village by force, it spent several days carting away its stores. Historian D. A. Khozhayev records the ravaging of Solzha (Sunzhenskaya), as a consequence of which "most of the peaceful neighboring auls fled into the mountains, and the flourishing banks were left deserted for a long time thereafter"[1]. Imperial general Yermolov testifies in his "Notes" that he had earlier ordered the troops to spare the village so that the fortress "could obtain from it all necessary supplies," and when the troops seized the village, "grain, forage, and timber fit for building were carted away for several days"[2]. |
Techniques Used
| ID | Name | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|
| T0052 | Expropriation of Resources |
Solzha (Sunzhenskaya), one of the wealthiest villages, the Russian Empire kept as a source of supply for the fortress of Groznaya, and having seized the village by force, it spent several days carting away its stores. Historian D. A. Khozhayev records the ravaging of Solzha (Sunzhenskaya), as a consequence of which "most of the peaceful neighboring auls fled into the mountains, and the flourishing banks were left deserted for a long time thereafter"[1]. Imperial general Yermolov testifies in his "Notes" that he had earlier ordered the troops to spare the village so that the fortress "could obtain from it all necessary supplies," and when the troops seized the village, "grain, forage, and timber fit for building were carted away for several days"[2]. |
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| T0077 | Punitive Expeditions |
Solzha (Sunzhenskaya) the Russian Empire took by storm and ravaged as punishment for the village’s refusal to hand over a fellow villager who had shot at a soldier who was taking his ox. Historian D. A. Khozhayev records the ravaging of Solzha (Sunzhenskaya)[1]. Imperial general Yermolov testifies in his "Notes" that a villager shot at a soldier "when they would not give him back an ox from a state wagon, which he called his own," and the attempt to seize the shooter failed — the officer whose "horse was seized by the bridle" was nearly killed, and the detachment retreated; to the demand to hand over the shooter the villagers replied "that they would not surrender the man who shot at the soldier and would defend themselves if the troops came," after which the chief of the corps staff "went himself with several companies… but was met with gunfire," while "the wives and children and the best property had already been sent away; only men remained to defend the houses"; during the storming the troops were ordered to cut off the withdrawal — "to intercept the retreat in the forest" — but the defenders had withdrawn earlier[2]. |
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Instruments
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S0010 | Regular Army |
Solzha (Sunzhenskaya), one of the wealthiest villages, the Russian Empire kept as a source of supply for the fortress of Groznaya, and having seized the village by force, it spent several days carting away its stores. Historian D. A. Khozhayev records the ravaging of Solzha (Sunzhenskaya), as a consequence of which "most of the peaceful neighboring auls fled into the mountains, and the flourishing banks were left deserted for a long time thereafter"[1]. Imperial general Yermolov testifies in his "Notes" that he had earlier ordered the troops to spare the village so that the fortress "could obtain from it all necessary supplies," and when the troops seized the village, "grain, forage, and timber fit for building were carted away for several days"[2]. |