Aslandjeriy Cherchanuqo

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Aslandjeriy Cherchanuqo
Чэрчаныкъо Аслъанджэрый
Shedzheryk'o.svg
Tamga of the ruling Cherchanuqo dynasty
Prince of Hatuqay
In office
Late 18th century (Before 1795) –Early 19th century
Military service
AllegianceFlag of Adygea.svg Circassian Confederation

Aslandjeriy Cherchanuqo [a] was a Circassian politician and ruling prince of the Principality of Hatuqay. [1] His reign is considered the golden age of the Hatuqay, a period when the principality reached its political and social zenith before its eventual decline. [1] According to the 19th-century Circassian historian and ethnographer Sultan Khan-Giray, Aslandjeriy was remembered in oral history as a "wild hero" and an "unforgettable" leader, noted for his extraordinary oratory skills and his controversial deathbed decision to emancipate all Hatuqay serfs. [2] He is credited with restoring the principality's status, reportedly "forcing even the strongest neighboring tribes to respect the Hatuqay." [2]

Contents

Biography

Family and background

Aslandjeriy was born into the Hatuqo family of the Cherchanuqo branch of the Hatuqay princes. [2] In a Russian document from 1793, he is mentioned as "Arslan Giray, son of Kerim, Hatuqay prince". [3] The Hatuqay nobility traced their lineage to Prince Hatuqo, the younger brother of Boletoqo (progenitor of the Chemguy princes). [2] The dynasty later adopted the surname Cherchanuqo from a descendant of Hatuqo. [2]

Historically, the Hatuqay were one of the most powerful tribes in Circassia, originally inhabiting the Taman peninsula and later the southern banks of the Kuban River near the confluence of the Afips river. [1] [4] However, by the time of Aslandjeriy's birth, the principality had weakened due to the secession of the Khegayk clan, internecine wars, and disease. [2]

Early reign

Aslandjeriy inherited the title of prince while still a minor. Following his father's death, the domain fell into a state of "anarchy," and neighboring enemies sought to dismantle the Hatuqay state by taking advantage of the heir's youth. [2]

Contemporaries described the boy-ruler as physically weak, noting that he was unable to control a spirited warhorse and instead rode a gentle steed while touring his lands to demand fealty. Despite his physical frailty, he established authority through force of character. In a noted anecdote, when a nobleman acted rowdily in his presence, the young Aslandjeriy struck his own horse and exclaimed:

If you act like a foal, and I act like a child, then who is to govern the Hatuqay?

—  [2]

Aslandjeriy was known for his oratory skills. [1] [2] It was a custom among the neighboring Chemguy princes to never speak directly during negotiations or disputes, instead using noble proxies to argue their cases to preserve dignity and prevent emotional outbursts. [2] During a forest assembly, the young Aslandjeriy became dissatisfied with his proxy's defense of Hatuqay interests. Breaking custom, he interrupted the envoy, stepped onto the stump of a felled tree, and delivered a speech himself. Khan-Giray writes that he "defended his rights with such force of eloquence, and with such fidelity and perfect knowledge of the matter, that he achieved the desired success in everything." [2]

As an adult, Aslandjeriy successfully consolidated power. Under his rule, the Hatuqay were described as "flourishing" compared to the destitution of later years. [2] He fought with Abazins, who "repedeately attacked him", to the point he was considered "longtime enemies" of the Abazins. [5]

Death

On his deathbed, Aslandjeriy was approached by the noble elders regarding his will. It was customary to release specific families of serfs upon a prince's death as a religious act, in accordance with Islam. When asked which families should be manumitted, Aslandjeriy replied that "all Hatuqay are free." [2] Following this, Hatuqay slaves were freed. [1] Khan-Giray interprets this final decree not merely as an act of emancipation, but also a warning that the Hatuqay were too independent to be governed effectively. Following his death, the principality split into two warring factions. [2] [1]

He was succeeded by his son, Cherchanuqo Jandjeriy (also known as Dyancherey or Jan-Girey), who was the ruling prince during the 19th century and led the tribe during the Russo-Circassian War. [6] [2] Jandjeriy gave nominal allegiance to Russia but fought them in reality, together with prince Bezruqo of Chemguy. [6] He was an ally of Muhammad Amin. [5] [7] He is also mentioned in Ottoman archives as "Cangirey-bek". [8] Aslandjeriy had another confirmed son, Alejuqo. [9]

Date of his reign

Aslan-Girey was actively ruling by the late 18th century. Russian military documents record him as the "Hatuqay Circassian prince Aslan-Girey" ruling beyond the Kuban in May 1795. [10] By August 1795, he was reported to be seeking refuge on the Russian side of the Kuban due to pressure from the Abazins. [10]

In some Russian documents between 1795 and 1798, Hatuqay is listed as the "domain of prince Aslan-Girey". [10] [11] He was again named in 1807 by Julius von Klarapoth as the "chief prince" of Hatuqay. [12] In a book published in 1823, he is named as the senior prince of Hatuqay. [13] [14] But by 1828, his son had already taken over. [6]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Adyghe: Чэрчаныкъо Аслъанджэрый, Russian: Аслан-Гирей Керкануков, Turkish: Aslan-Girey Bey

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jaimoukha, Amjad (2001). The Circassians: A Handbook. Palgrave. p. 162. ISBN   9780312239947.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Khan-Giray, Sultan (1836). Записки о Черкесии (Notes on Circassia) (in Russian).
  3. ↑ Сивер, А. В.. (2012). МАТЕРИАЛЫ ПО ИСТОРИИ ЗАПАДНЫХ ЧЕРКЕСОВ (Архивные документы 1793-1914 гг.). Нальчик: Издательский отдел КБИГИ. p. 12.
  4. ↑ Кагазежев, Жираслан Валерьевич (2009). Борьба адыгов (черкесов) за национальную государственность: исторический аспект: XIV - первая половина XVI в. (Thesis). Vladikavkaz: North Ossetian State University.
  5. 1 2 Робертович, Чедия Анри (2018). "ЭТНИЧЕСКАЯ СИТУАЦИЯ НА ЗАПАДНОМ КАВКАЗЕ ПО ПРЕДСТАВЛЕНИЯМ ОСМАНОВ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ ДОКУМЕНТА ОСМАНСКОГО АРХИВА HATT- HATTI HüMAYüN 1104/ 444590- Y)". Genesis: исторические исследования (2): 102–113.
  6. 1 2 3 Marigny, Edouard Taitbout de (1837). Three Voyages in the Black Sea to the Coast of Circassia ...: Including Descriptions of the Ports and the Importance of Their Trade : with Sketches of the Manners, Customs Religions Etc. Etc of the Circassians. John Murray.
  7. ↑ Добровольский – Евдокимов. Экспедиция 1851 г. на правом фланге кавказской линии// Кавказский сборник. Т. VIII. Тифлис, 1884.
  8. ↑ Робертович, Чедия Анри (2018). "ЭТНИЧЕСКАЯ СИТУАЦИЯ НА ЗАПАДНОМ КАВКАЗЕ ПО ПРЕДСТАВЛЕНИЯМ ОСМАНОВ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ ДОКУМЕНТА ОСМАНСКОГО АРХИВА HATT- HATTI HüMAYüN 1104/ 444590- Y)". Genesis: исторические исследования (2): 102–113.
  9. ↑ Kandor, Ruslan Sultanovich (2020). Процесс инкорпорации традиционных форм управления адыгов (черкесов) Северо-Западного Кавказа в структуры российской административно-политической системы (XIX--начало XX в.) (in Russian). Magarin O.G. ISBN   978-5-91692-756-6.
  10. 1 2 3 "The Circassian Slave Narratives (A Documentary Collection)". Bylye Gody. 57–1 (3–1). 12 September 2020. doi:10.13187/bg.2020.3-1.1415. ISSN   2073-9745.
  11. ↑ ГАКК. Ф. 249. Оп. 1. Д. 313. Л. 33.
  12. ↑ Klaproth, Julius von (1814). Travels in the Caucasus and Georgia: Performed in the Years 1807 and 1808, by Command of the Russian Government. Henry Colburn.
  13. ↑ Броневский, Семен М. (1823). Новейшие географические и исторические известия о Кавказе (in Russian). Moscow.
  14. ↑ Гишев, Н. Т. "От первых записей слов до начала научного изучения адыгейского языка (520 г. до н. э.-1920-е годы н. э.)." (2009).
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