Covert reconnaissance of Chechnya by Rosen's topographers and the devastation of Zandak by Pullo's detachment: capture of 31 inhabitants and seizure of livestock (1835-1836)
In 1835–1836 the empire combined systematic punitive expeditions in Chechnya with covert reconnaissance of the territory. Corps commander Rosen, in a report to the emperor, admits the practice of clandestine study of unsubdued lands: the undertakings "consisted either in the collection of topographical information... or in covert surveys of the lands of the mountaineers hostile to us"; "in 1836, to survey the direct route leading from Kakheti to Chechnya, a topographer was sent, who, having crossed the snowy ridge, came out onto the Caucasian Line at the fortress of Groznaya, and from there, through Chechnya and the lands of the Kists and the Didoi, returned to Kakheti"; at the same time "I sent from Vladikavkaz Ensign Prince Utsmiev of the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment with a topographer, through Chechnya, to Andia"[1]. Against the movement of Imam Tashu-Hajji, Colonel Pullo, commander of the Sunzha fortified line, conducted constant expeditions; the imperial review of military operations admits: Tashu-Hajji's attempts "were forestalled in good time by the expeditions of the commander of the Sunzha Line, Colonel Pullo, which inflicted total ruin on the inhabitants"[1]. On August 23, 1836, Pullo's detachment, in a covert night march, reached the aul of Zandak on the Yaman-su River, where Tashu-Hajji was staying. Rosen reported to the minister of war: Pullo, "in order to shake the influence of Tashev-Hajji, to quell the unrest among the Chechens, and to instill fear in them, resolved to undertake movements to punish the inhabitants of the village of Zandak"; "the sudden appearance of our troops struck terror into the inhabitants"; the infantry, having driven out the defenders, seized "31 souls of male and female sex as prisoners. In addition, the property of the inhabitants and 384 head of horned cattle fell to our troops as booty"; before the withdrawal, the houses of the murids and of "other principal adherents of Tashev-Hajji" were annihilated[1]. The Chechen writer Abuzar Aydamirov, in his "Chronology of the History of Checheno-Ingushetia," recorded: "Punitive expedition of Colonel Pullo to the auls on the Yaman-Su River. Destruction of the aul of Zandak. Retreat of Pullo's detachment, under the pressure of Tashav-Hajji, to the fortress of Vnezapnaya"[2].
Actors
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| G0009 | Russian Empire |
In 1836, corps commander Baron Rosen sent covert topographers through Chechnya for the clandestine surveying of the unsubdued land. In a report to the emperor, Rosen acknowledges: "in 1836, to survey the direct route leading from Kakheti to Chechnya, a topographer was sent who, having crossed the snow ridge, came out onto the Caucasian Line at the fortress of Groznaya, and from there, through Chechnya and the lands of the Kistins and the Didois, returned to Kakheti"; at the same time "I sent from Vladikavkaz Ensign Prince Utsmiev of the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment with a topographer, through Chechnya, to Andia"[1]. Rosen named the method outright: "covert surveys of the lands of the mountaineers hostile to us"[1]. |
Techniques Used
| ID | Name | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|
| T0053 | Abduction of People |
On August 23, 1836, during the sudden seizure of the aul of Zandak, the detachment of Colonel Pullo, chief of the Sunzha fortified line, took captive residents who had not managed to escape through the ravines and the forest. Corps commander Baron Rosen reported to the Minister of War: the infantry drove out the defenders, "having taken prisoner 31 souls of male and female sex"[1]. |
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| T0150 | Comprehensive Reconnaissance of Territories |
In 1836, corps commander Baron Rosen sent covert topographers through Chechnya for the clandestine surveying of the unsubdued land. In a report to the emperor, Rosen acknowledges: "in 1836, to survey the direct route leading from Kakheti to Chechnya, a topographer was sent who, having crossed the snow ridge, came out onto the Caucasian Line at the fortress of Groznaya, and from there, through Chechnya and the lands of the Kistins and the Didois, returned to Kakheti"; at the same time "I sent from Vladikavkaz Ensign Prince Utsmiev of the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment with a topographer, through Chechnya, to Andia"[1]. Rosen named the method outright: "covert surveys of the lands of the mountaineers hostile to us"[1]. |
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| T0052 | Expropriation of Resources |
On August 23, 1836, during the destruction of the aul of Zandak, the detachment of Colonel Pullo, commander of the Sunzha fortified line, appropriated the property and livestock of the inhabitants. Corps commander Baron Rosen reported to the Minister of War: "our troops received as booty the property of the inhabitants and 384 head of cattle"[1]. |
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| T0077 | Punitive Expeditions |
In 1835–1836, Colonel Pullo, chief of the Sunzha fortified line, conducted systematic expeditions against Chechen villages that supported Imam Tashu-Hajji. The imperial review of military operations acknowledges: Tashu-Hajji’s attempts "were preempted in good time by the expeditions of the chief of the Sunzha line, Col. Pullo, which inflicted utter ruin on the residents"[1]. On August 23, 1836, Pullo led a detachment by a covert night march to the aul of Zandak on the Yaman-su River. Corps commander Baron Rosen reported to the Minister of War on the objective: "in order to shake the influence of Tashev-Hajji and to quell the unrest among the Chechens and instill fear in them, I resolved to undertake movements to punish the residents of the village of Zandak"[1]. |
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| T0105 | Total Destruction of Infrastructure |
On August 23, 1836, the detachment of Colonel Pullo, chief of the Sunzha fortified line, ravaged the aul of Zandak on the Yaman-su River. Corps commander Baron Rosen reported to the Minister of War on the destruction in the aul of the houses of murids and of "other principal adherents of Tashev-Hajji"[1]. The Chechen writer Abuzar Aydamirov, in his "Chronology of the History of Checheno-Ingushetia," recorded: "Punitive expedition of Colonel Pullo to the auls on the Yaman-Su River. Destruction of the aul of Zandak"[2]. |
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Instruments
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S0010 | Regular Army |
In 1836, corps commander Baron Rosen sent covert topographers through Chechnya for the clandestine surveying of the unsubdued land. In a report to the emperor, Rosen acknowledges: "in 1836, to survey the direct route leading from Kakheti to Chechnya, a topographer was sent who, having crossed the snow ridge, came out onto the Caucasian Line at the fortress of Groznaya, and from there, through Chechnya and the lands of the Kistins and the Didois, returned to Kakheti"; at the same time "I sent from Vladikavkaz Ensign Prince Utsmiev of the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment with a topographer, through Chechnya, to Andia"[1]. Rosen named the method outright: "covert surveys of the lands of the mountaineers hostile to us"[1]. |