Bakhchisarai War (1525)

Crimean-Circassian War (1525)
Part of Crimean–Circassian wars
Date 1525 Location Bakhchysarai Result Circassian victory
Belligerents
Kabardia (East Circassia)	Crimean Khanate
Commanders and leaders
Idar Andeimirqan Tkhemuj Ianqot	Saadet I Giray

The Bakhchisarai War or Crimean-Circassian War of 1525 was a military conflict between the Crimean Khanate and the Kabardian Principality. ^[1]

The event is considered legendary because it is recorded only in the folklore of the peoples of the Caucasus, other sources do not mention the Circassian campaign in the Crimea. ^[2]

History

Before the war

Prince Inal had established a strong nation in the fifteenth century and early sixteenth century, uniting all Circassians, and Abkhazians. ^{[3] [4]} However, after his death civil war ensued just like his predecessor. He dominated the North Caucasus and established diplomatic contacts with the Ottoman Empire, and the Kabardian Circassians. ^[5]

The war

Bakhchisarai, located in the southwest of the Peninsula, saw a victorious campaign bringing back great spoil, including 100 chariots packed full with cloth, a precious commodity at the time. ^[1] Andeimirqan (b. circa 1509), legendary Kabardian hero. He led the elite force of the Kabardians during the Bakhchisarai Campaign, supporting the cavalry and the two-wheeled war chariots. His leadership and strategic acumen were crucial in securing victory and bringing back significant spoils from the campaign. ^[1]

References

1. Jaimoukha, Amjad. A Brief History of Kabarda [from the Seventh Century AD]. p. 19.
2. Sheykhumerov, Amet (2022). Походы крымских татар против черкесов: дискуссионные проблемы современной историографии[Сampaigns of the Crimean Tatars against the Circassians: Discussion Problems of Modern Historiography]. Tyurkologicheskie issledovaniya (Turkological Studies) (in Russian). 5 (4): 55–70. p.64
3. "PRENSLERİN PRENSİ İNAL NEKHU (PŞILERİN PŞISI İNAL NEKHU)". cherkessia.net (in Turkish). Retrieved 2021-03-29.
4. Абасова, Шамсият (26 December 2020). Взгляд на османские и кавказские дела. Litres. ISBN   9785042257544. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020.
5. Besleney, Zeynel Abidin (March 21, 2014). The Circassian Diaspora in Turkey: A Political History. Routledge. p. 42. ISBN   978-1-317-91004-6.