Instrumentalization of a Natural Disaster by the Colonizers: Paskevich and Rosen Declare the Earthquake "God's Punishment of the Nokhchi People for Disobedience to the Empire" (1830)
At the end of February 1830, the Caucasus was struck by a devastating earthquake that lasted more than a month and caused panic among the mountain peoples. The empire turned the disaster into a weapon of indoctrination and delivered this lie to the people. The historian Ya. Z. Akhmadov wrote: "supporters of the Russian orientation claimed that the earthquake had been caused by the wrath of Allah over the attempt at an armed uprising"[1]. The mechanics of the indoctrination are acknowledged by the colonizers themselves. The imperial historian Volkonsky wrote: "the commander-in-chief accordingly ordered General Rosen 4th to spread entirely opposite rumors among the people, namely, that the earthquake had been sent down by God upon the mountain peoples for their ill-intentioned acts against the Russian government, and hoped by this means to tear his followers away from Kazi-Mulla"[2]. The imperial historian Potto admits that the order was carried out: General Rosen 4th, who commanded the troops on the left flank of the Caucasus Line (the eastern section of the empire's fortified frontier along the Terek and the Sunzha), "resorted to proclamations in which he strove to assure the people that the earthquake had been sent down upon them as punishment for their treason and ill-intentioned acts against the Russian government"[3].
Actors
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| G0009 | Russian Empire |
In 1830, during an ongoing earthquake, General Rozen 4th, who commanded the troops on the left flank of the Caucasus Line (the eastern section of the empire's fortified border along the Terek and Sunzha rivers), on the orders of commander-in-chief Paskevich sent proclamations out to the auls, instilling in the people an artificial picture of the world: the natural disaster was declared God's punishment for resisting the empire. The historian Ya. Z. Akhmadov wrote about how this lie sounded among the Nokhchi: "supporters of the Russian orientation claimed that the earthquake was caused by the wrath of Allah over the attempt at an armed uprising"[1]. The imperial historian Volkonsky acknowledges the source of the suggestion: the commander-in-chief "ordered General Rozen 4th to spread entirely opposite rumors among the people, namely, that the earthquake had been sent down by God upon the Mountain Peoples for their ill-intentioned acts against the Russian government"[2]. The imperial historian Potto recorded the act: Rozen "resorted to proclamations in which he sought to assure the people that the earthquake had been sent down upon them as punishment for their treason and their ill-intentioned acts against the Russian government"[3]. |
Techniques Used
| ID | Name | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|
| T0007 | Imposition of Its Own Picture of Reality |
In 1830, during an ongoing earthquake, General Rozen 4th, who commanded the troops on the left flank of the Caucasus Line (the eastern section of the empire's fortified border along the Terek and Sunzha rivers), on the orders of commander-in-chief Paskevich sent proclamations out to the auls, instilling in the people an artificial picture of the world: the natural disaster was declared God's punishment for resisting the empire. The historian Ya. Z. Akhmadov wrote about how this lie sounded among the Nokhchi: "supporters of the Russian orientation claimed that the earthquake was caused by the wrath of Allah over the attempt at an armed uprising"[1]. The imperial historian Volkonsky acknowledges the source of the suggestion: the commander-in-chief "ordered General Rozen 4th to spread entirely opposite rumors among the people, namely, that the earthquake had been sent down by God upon the Mountain Peoples for their ill-intentioned acts against the Russian government"[2]. The imperial historian Potto recorded the act: Rozen "resorted to proclamations in which he sought to assure the people that the earthquake had been sent down upon them as punishment for their treason and their ill-intentioned acts against the Russian government"[3]. |
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Instruments
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S0010 | Regular Army |
In 1830, during an ongoing earthquake, General Rozen 4th, who commanded the troops on the left flank of the Caucasus Line (the eastern section of the empire's fortified border along the Terek and Sunzha rivers), on the orders of commander-in-chief Paskevich sent proclamations out to the auls, instilling in the people an artificial picture of the world: the natural disaster was declared God's punishment for resisting the empire. The historian Ya. Z. Akhmadov wrote about how this lie sounded among the Nokhchi: "supporters of the Russian orientation claimed that the earthquake was caused by the wrath of Allah over the attempt at an armed uprising"[1]. The imperial historian Volkonsky acknowledges the source of the suggestion: the commander-in-chief "ordered General Rozen 4th to spread entirely opposite rumors among the people, namely, that the earthquake had been sent down by God upon the Mountain Peoples for their ill-intentioned acts against the Russian government"[2]. The imperial historian Potto recorded the act: Rozen "resorted to proclamations in which he sought to assure the people that the earthquake had been sent down upon them as punishment for their treason and their ill-intentioned acts against the Russian government"[3]. |