Punitive devastation of the Nokhchi villages along the Sunzha and pitting neighboring peoples against them under Rtishchev (1813-1816)
In 1812-1814 Russia was at war with Napoleon and conducted no major campaigns deep into Chechnya. The troops on the Terek were commanded by General Rtishchev, who avoided large campaigns, but raids across the Terek continued under him. Colonel Eristov twice crossed the Terek and devastated Chechen villages; the second time he "exterminated several villages along the Sunzha" and forced the Nokhchi to give up amanats (hostages)[1]. Even the imperial leadership itself condemned these raids. General Rtishchev demanded that the highlanders be won over "not by arms, but by kind treatment"[1], and Emperor Alexander I, upon learning "of yet another raid on peaceful Chechnya by Colonel Eristov," ordered by special rescript "to establish tranquility on the Caucasus Line through friendliness and kind indulgence," that is, he deemed the raid unjustified[2]. The raids did not stop because of this. Beyond the raids, the empire incited neighboring peoples against the Chechens. In 1816 the Nokhchi, led by Beibulat Taimiev, took Major Shvetsov prisoner[2], and in response the commander on the Terek, General Delpozzo, by letter compelled the Kumyk lords of Endirey, Aksai, and Kostek to go to war against the Chechens, demanding that they "put an end to the brigand people"[3]. The Kumyk lords signed "Obligations" in which they undertook to make war on the Chechens, to kill them or hand them over to the Russians, and to let no goods through to them[3]. At the same time Delpozzo did not withdraw his own troops, and in the same report proposed keeping them on the Sunzha "until I exterminate their beastly freedom and independence"[3].
Actors
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| G0009 | Russian Empire |
The Russian Empire carried out punitive raids beyond the Terek in order to force the Nokhchi into submission. The imperial historian Potto writes that Colonel Eristov «crossed the Terek a second time and, after a stubborn battle, destroyed several villages along the Sunzha»[1]. The punitive, rather than defensive, character of these raids was acknowledged by the imperial leadership itself. Commander-in-chief General Rtishchev condemned «such expeditions» and demanded that the mountaineers be won over «not by arms, but by kind treatment»[1]. Emperor Alexander I, upon learning «of yet another raid on peaceful Chechnya by Colonel Eristov», ordered by a special rescript «to establish tranquility on the Caucasian Line through friendliness and gentle indulgence»[2]. |
Techniques Used
| ID | Name | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|
| T0099 | Hostage-Taking |
The Russian Empire used the devastation of villages to force the Nokhchi to hand over hostages. The imperial historian Potto writes that after Colonel Eristov had laid waste to the villages along the Sunzha, the Nokhchi «gave amanats (hostages), promising to trouble the Russian borders no more»[1]. |
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| T0152 | Pitting Neighboring Peoples Against Each Other |
The Russian Empire set neighboring peoples against the Nokhchi in order to weaken the Chechens through their enmity. In 1816, the Nokhchi led by Beibulat Taimiev took Major Shvetsov prisoner[2]. In response, the commander on the Terek, General Delpozzo, in a letter to the Kumyk lords of Endirey, Aksai, and Kostek, pressed them to go to war against the Chechens: «I ask you, I advise you, I order you to form among yourselves one council, one will, to return immediately by force of arms the captive Major Shvetsov, to put an end to the brigand people… to adopt such a resolution as would reduce the Chechens to weakness, to obedience to us, to complete slavery before you»[3]. The Kumyk lords signed «Obligations» in which they pledged «to cease all mutual enmities… and to form a brotherhood», «to receive none of the Chechens… but wherever any of them is encountered, to kill him or deliver him alive to the nearest Russian authorities», and to let no goods pass through to them[3]. |
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| T0077 | Punitive Expeditions |
The Russian Empire carried out punitive raids beyond the Terek in order to force the Nokhchi into submission. The imperial historian Potto writes that Colonel Eristov «crossed the Terek a second time and, after a stubborn battle, destroyed several villages along the Sunzha»[1]. The punitive, rather than defensive, character of these raids was acknowledged by the imperial leadership itself. Commander-in-chief General Rtishchev condemned «such expeditions» and demanded that the mountaineers be won over «not by arms, but by kind treatment»[1]. Emperor Alexander I, upon learning «of yet another raid on peaceful Chechnya by Colonel Eristov», ordered by a special rescript «to establish tranquility on the Caucasian Line through friendliness and gentle indulgence»[2]. |
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| T0105 | Total Destruction of Infrastructure |
The Russian Empire razed and burned Nokhchi villages. The imperial historian Potto writes that Colonel Eristov, having crossed the Terek, after a stubborn battle burned and razed «several villages along the Sunzha»[1]. |
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Instruments
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S0010 | Regular Army |
The Russian Empire carried out punitive raids beyond the Terek in order to force the Nokhchi into submission. The imperial historian Potto writes that Colonel Eristov «crossed the Terek a second time and, after a stubborn battle, destroyed several villages along the Sunzha»[1]. The punitive, rather than defensive, character of these raids was acknowledged by the imperial leadership itself. Commander-in-chief General Rtishchev condemned «such expeditions» and demanded that the mountaineers be won over «not by arms, but by kind treatment»[1]. Emperor Alexander I, upon learning «of yet another raid on peaceful Chechnya by Colonel Eristov», ordered by a special rescript «to establish tranquility on the Caucasian Line through friendliness and gentle indulgence»[2]. |