Terek Cossacks 1903699 222061714 2008-06-27T11:16:17Z Kuban kazak 439789 /* The Terek Cossack Host 1860-1920s */ {{Cossacks}} '''Terek Cossack Host''' ({{lang-ru|Терское казачье войско}}) was a [[Cossack host]] created in [[1577]] from free [[Cossack]]s who resettled from [[Volga]] to [[Terek River]]. In [[1792]] in was included into the [[Caucasus Line Cossack Host]] and separated from it again in [[1860]], with the capital of [[Vladikavkaz]]. In [[1916]] the population of the Host was 255,000 within an area of 1.9 million [[desyatina]]s. ==Early History== <!-- Казаки живущее вдоль берегов реки Терека; о их жизни в глубокой древности сохранились лишь только некоторые свидетельства. Среди них было много горских Казаков, а потому перво-1 начальные общины Т. К-ков назывались Гребенскими. По их словам А. И, Ригельман в восемнадцатом веке записал, что они жили до прихода на Терек в горах между Кабардинцами и там назывались Казаровцами, выходцами из Казарии. По данным старинных русских историков И. Болтина и В. Н. Татищева, оттуда же в 1280 г. Татарский баскак Ахмет вывел крупную группу Пятигорских Казаков, которые впоследствии основали г. Черкасы на Днепре, т. к. по старому месту их пребывания они назывались и Черкасами. Ермолинская летопись повествует, что ордынский царь Махмет и его сын Мамутяк в 1445 г. призвали из Черкасии 2.000 Казаков. Черкасами же называют русские акты всех Запорожских Казаков почти до XIX в., относя то же имя и к их предкам Черным Клобукам, чему начало кладет Московская летопись под годом 1152 ("все Черные Клобуки уже зовутся Черкасами"). Если добавить к этому свидетельства иностранцев Сигизмунда Герберштейна и польского монаха Матвея из Мехова о Пятигорских Черкасах, христианах славянского языка, то станут вполне обоснованными слова русского академика XVIII века И. К. Тауберта о Казаках, с которыми Мстислав Томаторканский разгромил войска своего брата Ярослава под Листвено в 1023 году. Из приведенных сведений следует, что. предки Т. Казаков проживали на Сев. Кавказе уже в очень отдаленные времена. И, вероятно, профессор русской Академии Генерального штаба В. И. Баскаков имел в своем распоряжении еще более основательные данные, когда утверждал, что "Казаки Кавказа, во всяком случае, должны считать давность своего поселения не позже других туземцев края, к каким они и должны быть причислены" (С.И. Сирин, Юго-Восток России. Издание Комитета Экономического возрождения, Юго-Востока России, Берлин, 1922). Это подтверждается данными археологии и сохранившимися в записях народными преданиями. It is unclear how the first Cossack community formed on the Terek, a theory exists that they are descendants of the [[Tmutarakan]] Principality as there are records indicating that [[Mstislav of Tmutarakan]] in the Battle of Listveno in [[1023]] had Cossacks on his side when he destroyed the army of [[Yaroslav the Wise]]. This would mean the Slavic peoples of the Caucasus are native of the region as they would migrated there much earlier. --> The earliest known records of Slavic settlements on the lower [[Terek River]] date to [[1520]] when the [[Ryazan Principality]] was annexed by the [[Grand Duchy of Moscow]] and a lone group left and settled in the natural haven of the Terek River (modern northern Chechnya), the early settlement was located at the mouth of the [[Aktash River]]. This formed the oldest Cossack group, the '''Rowing Cossacks''' (Гребенские казаки ''Grebenskiye Kazaki'') who settled on both banks of the still largely uninhabited river. In 1559-71 the [[Tsardom of Russia]] in course of several campaigns build several fortifications, during which the first Terka was built, which after abandonment is taken over by the still independent Cossacks. In [[1577]] after the [[Volga Cossacks]] were defeated in by [[strelets]] [[Ivan Murashkin]], many scattered, some of which settled in the Terek basin and [[Voevoda]] Novosiltsev builds the second Terka on the Terek, this date is seen as the start of the Terek Cossacks, yet in 1584 this was again abandoned and taken over by Cossacks, some of whom are recruited by the Georgian King Simon. <ref>http://pohodd.ru/article_info.php?articles_id=374 </ref> In a separate story, an Ataman of the [[Don Cossack]] Host, led a band of three Cossack [[sotnia]]s to the [[Kumyk]] lands, founding the town of Andreev. One of Shadra's motives may have been his tense relations with [[Yermak Timofeyevich]].<ref>Mikhail Astapenko "Donskiye Kazach'i Atamany" (Don Cossack Atamans)</ref> In 1580, by official decree, Shadra, along with several cossacks and soldiers, relocated to the [[Terek]], settling in the frontier town of [[Tersky]]. In the late 16th century several campaigns by the Terek Cossacks were carried out against the [[Ottoman Empire]] ([[Temryuk]]) which led the Sultan to complain to [[Ivan the Terrible]]. In 1589 the first outpost on the [[Sunzha River|Sunzha]] is built and a permanent Terka, later Tersky gorodok is built on the lower Terek. ==17th century== During the [[Time of Troubles]] in 1606 four thousand Terek Cossacks left for the Volga to support their own candidate for the Tsar, Ileyka Muromets but already 1614 the Rowers support the new Romanov monarch and aid him in quelling the unrest in [[Astrakhan]]. In 1633 they destroy the remnants of the [[Nogay Horde]] and a decade later aid the [[Don Cossacks]] against the [[Crimean Khanate]] in 1646. By the mid 17th century, once again the Cossacks expand into the Sunzha where they build a new outpost in 1651, but two years later this withstands a hailing attack by [[Kumyks]] and [[Dagestan]]is. Though the battle ensures the Tsar's respect, it is recommended that the Cossacks pull down the outpost. In the 1670s the Terek Cossacks help to defeat [[Stenka Razin]] in [[Astrakhan]]. In 1680 after the [[Raskol]] in the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] reaches the [[Don Cossacks]], a number of [[Old Believers]] leave the Don River and settle first on the [[Kuma River|Kuma]] and later on the [[Agrakhan River|Agrakhan]]. After the aid of the Terek and Rowing Cossacks to the Don Cossacks during the [[Azov Campaigns]] in 1695, the [[Ottoman Empire]] retaliate against the Terek Cossacks and in 1707 most of their outposts are destroyed on the right bank of the Terek. ==18th century== Afterwards in 1711 [[Graf]] Apraskin re-settles all of the Rowing Cossacks on the left bank of the Terek River, this move is met with much resent, and during the whole 18th century, the Terek Cossacks would still inhabit the left bank and use the rich vineyards and lands right up until 1799. Also in 1720 the Rowers and Tereks are fully incorporated into the [[Russian Empire]] and during the [[Russo-Persian War (1722-1723)]], the Cossacks aid [[Peter I of Russia]] in his conquest of the eastern Dagestan and the capture of [[Derbent]]. During the campaign the re-settled 1000 Don Cossacks on the Agrakhan and the Sulak form the '''Agrakhan Cossack Host''' (''Аграханское Казачье Войско''), which is united with the Terek Cossacks. Yet in 1735 by the new agreement with [[Persia]] the Sulak line is abandoned, and Agrakhan Cossacks are re-settled on the lower Terek Delta, the fort of [[Kizlyar]] is founded. Thus in 1735 three hosts are formed: '''Grebenskoye''' (''Гребенское'' Rowing) from the descendants of the earliest Cossacks, '''Tersko-Semeynoye''' (''Терско-Семейное'' Terek-Family) from the re-settled Agrakhan Cossacks up to Kizlyar and '''Tersko-Kizlyarskoye''' (''Терско-Кизлярское'' Terek-Kizlyar) also from the Agrakhan Cossacks, but also from many settled Armenians and Georgians. Simultaneously with the arrival of the [[Kalmyks]] to the northwestern Caspian allowed for a combined campaign against [[Temryuk]] during the [[Russo-Turkish War (1735–1739)]], where the Terek Cossacks were led by Atamans Auka and Petrov. In 1736 and again in 1765 the right bank of the Terek still nominally Cossack property is offered to [[Chechens]], who wish to adopt Russian patronage and re-settle there. Yet by the latter half of the 18th century, relations between the Cossacks and Mountain peoples begin to turn sour, in 1765 the outpost of [[Mozdok]] is founded, which becomes an immediate target for [[Kabardins]] who attack the Terek line and Kizlyar. In 1771 [[Yemelyan Pugachev]] arrives on the [[Terek]] but showing loyalty Ataman Tatarintsev arrests him. Although Pugachev does flee, the [[Pugachev Rebellion]] in 1772-1774 gains no support on the Terek. ==The Caucasus War (1770s-1860s)== The [[Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774)]] and the resulting [[Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca]] give Russia the pretext under which they could begin their expansion into the [[Caucasus]], and so the almost century-long [[Caucasus War]] begins. In 1769-1770 the almost half of the [[Volga Cossacks]] are re-settled around Mozdok. In 1776 further settlers arrive including almost all of the [[Volga Cossacks]] (the remaining Cossacks on the lower Volga are separated into the [[Astrakhan Cossacks Host]]) and the [[Kuban Cossacks|Khopyor Cossacks]] from the eastern Don territory. These form the [[Azov]]-[[Mozdok]] defence line. Major foreposts for Russian expansion into the central Caucasus are founded by the re-settlers including: [[Giorgiyevsk]] in 1777 by the Khopyor regiment, and [[Vladikavkaz]] in [[1784]]. During this early phase several high-profile battles take place. In June 1774 Devlet-Girey sends a massive Kabardin Army on against the Terek Cossacks, on 10-11 of June the stanitsa of [[Naurskaya]] is heroically defended against the invaders and in 1785 Kizlyar is defended against Sheikh Mansur. In 1788-91 the Terek Cossacks take part in three campaigns which take them to [[Anapa]] in western Caucasus. However the major gap in the western section of the line there is solved when in [[1792]] the [[Black Sea Cossacks]] are re-settled there. The next three decades show severe difficulties for the Russian effort in the Caucasus, after the joining of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] to Russia in [[1801]], the Terek Cossacks spare some men and take part in combat under [[Yerevan]] but on the whole most of them are in constant defence of their home lines. All this changes when in 1816 General [[Yermolov]] takes command of the Caucasus army, in 1818 he changes the Russian tactics from defensive to offensive and begins building the [[Sunzha]]-[[Vladikavkaz]] line where the strongholds such as [[Grozny|Groznaya]] and Vnezapnaya are founded. Furthermore Yermolov reforms the whole structure of Cossacks and in 1819 replaces elected Atamans with appointed commanders. In [[Transcaucasia]] Line Cossacks take part in the [[Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829)]] where they participated in the siege of [[Kars]] and other key battles. After Yermolov was recalled from the Caucasus, a new reform took place and the interim regiments in the central Caucasus were united with the three Hosts on the Terek to form the '''[[Caucasus Line Cossack Host]]''' (Кавказское линейное казачье войско, ''Kavkazskoye lineynoye kazachye voysko'') in [[1832]], and the new Nakazny Ataman is named Peter Verzilin. Several reforms followed in 1836 the Kizlyar and Family regiments are united into one, responsible for the [[Terek Delta]] and in 1837 a Malorossiyan regiment (formed in 1831 to combat the [[November Uprising]] in Poland]]) is resettled on the upper Terek north of Vladikavkaz and in 1842 the regiment is incorporated into the Line host. This was followed by the formation of the Sunzha regiment with its Ataman Sleptsov. By this point the Russian control in the Caucasus has drastically improved, with the initiative firmly in the Cossack hands. Most of the battles now took place in Chechen and Dagestani territories far away from the Cossack homes. During the 1840s several victorious expeditions were mounted deep into the mountains. The line Cossacks participated in the [[Crimean War]] (1853-1856) and finally in the closing phase of the Russian advance against [[Shamil]] in 1859. ==The Terek Cossack Host 1860-1920s== [[Image:Cosacos Artilleros de Terek.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Terek Cossack Artillery unit 1914]] The end of the Caucasus War marked the end of the line Cossack Host. In 1860 it was divided with the two western regiments joining the [[Black Sea Cossacks]] to form the [[Kuban Cossack Host]] and the remaining into the '''Terek Cossack Host'''. The next decade shows a gradual reform from military control to a civil one. In 1865 a permanent police is formed, and in 1869 the [[Terek Oblast]] is formed which is split into eight mountainous districts (populated by indigenous people) and seven Cossack subdivisions. Several regimental reforms follow: Kizlyar and Rower as well as Mountain and Mozdok regiments are united into two (thus reducing the number of sub-divisions from to five), and in 1871 a charter for Terek Cossacks is published. From the 1870s onwards the Eastern Caucasus remain largely peaceful, Terek Cossacks due however take part in several Imperial Wars, including the campaigns against [[Khiva]] in 1873. During the [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)]] the Terek Cossacks sent six cavalry regiments, one [[Guards (Russia)|Guards]] squadron and one mounted artillery regiment to the [[Balkans]] whilst further seven regiments and mounted battery were mobilised against the rebelling Chechens and Dagestanis. In the 1880s the arrival of the railways the discovery of oil made the Terek Oblast one of the wealthiest in the Caucasus, which also saw a great growth in Cossack and indigenous mountain population. This created friction between land ownership however as the former held extensive areas, and the latter only in the mountainous zones. However the combat ability of the Terek Cossacks never extinguished as in 1879 they took part in campaigns against [[Geok-Tele]] and in 1885 right up to the Afghan border in Central Asia. ==Terek Cossacks during the Soviet times== The arrival of the [[February Revolution|February]] and later the [[October Revolution]]s caught most Cossacks on the front lines in [[Kurdistan]], and the unrequited mountainous peoples took full advantage of the crises, several Cossack stanitsas were wiped out by Chechens and Ingush on the Sunzha line. The Bolsheviks were able to establish themselves in Grozny and Vladikavkaz, though [[Denikin]]'s [[Volunteer Army]] drove them out across the Black lands to Astrakhan. Although Cossacks did form a substantial part of Denikin's units, the Terek Cossacks were mostly involved in fighting the Caucasus insurgency against their traditional adversaries. In [[1920]] some [[Population transfer in the Soviet Union|Terek Cossacks were deported]] to [[Ukraine]] and northern part of European [[Russia]] and a new [[Mountanous ASSR]] was formed. This left the former Sunzha-Terek Mesopotamia triangle split between the new Chechen land passing through the middle. The remaining parts were formed as the [[Sunzha Cossack District]] which also encompassed lands around Grozny. In the 1930s however, to make the mountanous autonomies more sustainable in economical terms, they were united with remaining Cossack lands, such the Sunzha district was swallowed up by the [[Chechen-Ingush ASSR]], the former capital of the Terek Oblast, [[Vladikavkaz]] became the administrative centre for [[North Ossetian ASSR|North Ossetia]], likewise Cossack territory of the [[Kabardin-Balkar Autonomous Oblast]] was also awarded with Cossack territories. On the lower Terek the [[Dagestan ASSR]] between 1923 and 1937 administered the extensive territory there ([[Kizlyar]], [[Terek Delta]]). Thus by the start of the [[Second World War]] only the historical Terek Left-bank was not administered by autonomies. The [[Chechen collaboration]] in [[1942]] caused the whole [[Chechen people|Chechen]] and [[Ingush]] populations to be [[Operation Lentil|deported]] to [[Kazakhstan]]. The successors of the Terek Cossacks became once again the absolute majority in the newly established [[Grozny Oblast]] within the [[RSFSR]]. After the rehabilitation of the Chechens in [[1957]], it was split between the Dagestan and Checheno-Ingushetia republics. This time even the regions north of the [[Terek River]], which had previously been part of [[Stavropol Krai]], were handed over to the expanded [[ASSR]]s. Afterwards the systematic emigration of Russians from the Northern Caucasus into other parts of the USSR, notably the [[Baltic states]], took place. ==Post-1990 history== [[Image:Cosacos de Terek.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Modern Terek Cossacks]] During the separatist regime of [[Dzhokhar Dudayev]] in [[Chechnya]] in 1990s, many non-ethnic Chechens found themselves threatened by criminal elements and faced with an indifferent government that showed no intention to protect them. Many of the educated elites also lost their positions in government, industry and academia to locals connected with those in power.<ref>[http://www.chechnyaadvocacy.org/refugees.html] Chechnya Advocacy Network. Refugees and Diaspora</ref> Nadteretchny, Naursky and Shelkovskoy ''raions'' of the Republic of Chechnya practically lost the traditional Cossack population. In both [[Chechen wars]] many Terek Cossacks fought against the Chechen separatists. Today, part of the traditional Cossack land was lost due to the exodus of Russians and the conflict in Chechnya. In Northern [[Dagestan]], [[North Ossetia]] and the adjacent regions of [[Stavropol Krai|Stavropolye]] a strong minority still remains. ==External links== ==References== {{reflist|2}} [[Category:Cossack military units and formations]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Russia]] [[Category:Peoples of the Caucasus]] [[de:Terekkosaken]] [[eo:Terekaj kazakoj]] [[fr:Cosaques du Terek]] [[ru:Терские казаки]] [[uk:Терські козаки]]