Devastation of the Kachkalyk villages of the Nokhchi and displacement of their inhabitants beyond the mountains after the Dadi-Yurt terror (1819)
After the demonstrative destruction of Dadi-Yurt, General Yermolov moved on to devastate the remaining Nokhchi villages of the Kachkalyk plain and drive their inhabitants off the land. The historian D. A. Khozhaev writes that under Yermolov "cruel punitive raids on peaceful Caucasian auls — with the annihilation of the population, houses, crops, orchards, and forests, the driving off of livestock, and the plundering of property — which disgraced Russian arms, became the rule," and following Dadi-Yurt the Kachkalyk villages of Isti-Su, Noiberdy, Alleroi, and others were "taken by storm and destroyed"[1]. Yermolov himself describes the campaign in his "Notes": on September 30, 1819, he "himself set out with 6 battalions and 16 artillery pieces toward the Kachkalyk villages"; on October 2 he attacked "the village of Goryachevskaya, the strongest of them" (also known as Isti-Su), and a day later devastated Noen-Berdy and Allayar-Aul: "from the first the Chechens were driven out by heavy cannonade, the latter was abandoned by them… Both were utterly devastated"[2]. At the same time, Major General Sysoev invaded Chechen land from Groznaya through Khan-Kale, drawing the forces of the Chechens away from the Kachkalyk plain[2]. The imperial historian Potto confirms: the Apsheron men "went in with bayonets without firing a shot, burst into the aul and committed it to the flames," while Noim-Berdy and Allayar-Aul "were utterly devastated"[3]. One village survived by submitting: Yermolov writes that "the village of Khangeldy begged for mercy… The Aksai owners vouched for its inhabitants, and mercy was granted them"[2], while Potto adds that "the aul of Khosh-Geldy met Yermolov with bread and salt and was spared"[3]. The remaining villages the punitive forces found empty, because the Dadi-Yurt terror had driven the inhabitants off the plain in advance. Yermolov admits that "in none of the villages were there wives and children; the property had likewise been carried away," for "the example of Dadan-Yurt spread terror everywhere"[2]. Potto writes that "the remaining auls were empty, their inhabitants had fled beyond the mountains," and "within a few days the Kumyk plain was completely cleared of the predatory Chechens"[3]. On October 5 the troops returned to Vnezapnaya[2].
Actors
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| G0009 | Russian Empire |
The Russian Empire sent troops to lay waste to Nokhchi villages and drive their inhabitants off the land. Historian D. A. Khozhaev writes that under Yermolov "cruel punitive raids on peaceful Caucasian auls, disgracing Russian arms, with the destruction of the population, houses, crops, orchards, and forests, the driving off of livestock, and the plundering of property, became the rule"[1]. General Yermolov writes in his "Notes" that on September 30, 1819, he "went in person with 6 battalions and 16 artillery pieces toward the Kachkalyk villages" and on October 2 attacked "the village of Goryachevskaya, the strongest of them," while Major General Sysoyev simultaneously invaded from the direction of Groznaya through Khan-Kale, drawing the Chechens’ forces away from the Kachkalyk plain[2]. The imperial historian Potto confirms that the Apsheron men "burst into the aul and consigned it to the flames"[3]. |
Techniques Used
| ID | Name | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|
| T0077 | Punitive Expeditions |
The Russian Empire sent troops to lay waste to Nokhchi villages and drive their inhabitants off the land. Historian D. A. Khozhaev writes that under Yermolov "cruel punitive raids on peaceful Caucasian auls, disgracing Russian arms, with the destruction of the population, houses, crops, orchards, and forests, the driving off of livestock, and the plundering of property, became the rule"[1]. General Yermolov writes in his "Notes" that on September 30, 1819, he "went in person with 6 battalions and 16 artillery pieces toward the Kachkalyk villages" and on October 2 attacked "the village of Goryachevskaya, the strongest of them," while Major General Sysoyev simultaneously invaded from the direction of Groznaya through Khan-Kale, drawing the Chechens’ forces away from the Kachkalyk plain[2]. The imperial historian Potto confirms that the Apsheron men "burst into the aul and consigned it to the flames"[3]. |
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| T0105 | Total Destruction of Infrastructure |
The Russian Empire wiped Nokhchi villages off the face of the earth. Historian D. A. Khozhaev writes that following Dadi-Yurt, the Kachkalyk villages of Isti-Su, Noiberdy, Alleroy, and others were "taken by storm and destroyed"[1]. General Yermolov writes in his "Notes" that Noyen-Berdy and Allayar-Aul were "utterly devastated"[2]. The imperial historian Potto confirms that "both villages were completely devastated"[3]. |
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Instruments
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S0010 | Regular Army |
The Russian Empire sent troops to lay waste to Nokhchi villages and drive their inhabitants off the land. Historian D. A. Khozhaev writes that under Yermolov "cruel punitive raids on peaceful Caucasian auls, disgracing Russian arms, with the destruction of the population, houses, crops, orchards, and forests, the driving off of livestock, and the plundering of property, became the rule"[1]. General Yermolov writes in his "Notes" that on September 30, 1819, he "went in person with 6 battalions and 16 artillery pieces toward the Kachkalyk villages" and on October 2 attacked "the village of Goryachevskaya, the strongest of them," while Major General Sysoyev simultaneously invaded from the direction of Groznaya through Khan-Kale, drawing the Chechens’ forces away from the Kachkalyk plain[2]. The imperial historian Potto confirms that the Apsheron men "burst into the aul and consigned it to the flames"[3]. |