| Battle of Beshtamak | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Russo-Circassian War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Crimean Khanate  Russian Empire |  Kabardia (East Circassia) | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Devlet IV Giray | Jankhot | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown, but more | 20,000+ | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Heavy | 2,000+ | ||||||
The Battle of Beshtamak was a military conflict between the Crimean Khanate lead by Devlet IV Giray and the Kabardian Principality [1] lead by Jankhot.
In 1774, during the ongoing Russo-Circassian War, a Crimean army of many thousands invaded Kabarda and laid siege to Mozdok. In the Beshtamak area and on the Gundelen River Kabardian cavalry defeated the Crimeans who suffered a devastating loss as many men got cornered and massacred meanwhile the Kabardians suffered around 2,000 casualties in the battle. The remnants of the Crimeans retreated from Kabarda and Devlet IV Giray was humiliated once returning back to Crimea. [1]
Hacı I Giray (1397–1466) was the founder of the Crimean Khanate and the Giray dynasty of Crimea ruling from c. 1441 until his death in 1466. As the Golden Horde was breaking up, he established himself in Crimea and spent most of his life fighting off other warlords. He was usually allied with the Lithuanians. His name has many spellings, such as Haji-Girei and Melek Haji Girai.
Devlet I Giray ruled as Crimean Khan during a long and eventful period marked by significant historical events. These events included the fall of Kazan to Russia in 1552, the fall of the Astrakhan Khanate to Russia in 1556, and the burning of Moscow by the Crimean Tatars in 1571. Another notable event during Devlet's reign was the defeat of the Crimeans near Moscow in 1572. However, Cossack raids into the Crimea were also common during his reign.
The Fire of Moscow occurred on 24 May 1571, when the Crimean army led by the khan of Crimea Devlet I Giray, bypassed the Serpukhov defensive fortifications on the Oka River, crossed the Ugra River into the Moscow suburbs, and rounded the flank of the 35,000–40,000 men of the Russian army.
Adil Giray, Adil Khan Girai was khan of the Crimean Khanate from 1666 to 1671.
Sahib I Giray (1501–1551) was Khan of Kazan for three years and Khan of Crimea for nineteen years. His father was the Crimean Khan Meñli I Giray. Sahib was placed on the throne of Kazan by his ambitious brother Mehmed of Crimea and driven out of Kazan by the Russians. He became Khan of Crimea with Ottoman support and was expelled by the Turks for disobedience. During his reign Crimean troops fought for the Turks and also fought in the North Caucasus. In 1532-1584, during the long reigns of Sahib I Giray, Devlet I Giray and Mehmed II Giray, Crimea was at the height of its power.
Selim I Giray, Selim Khan Girai was four times Khan of the Crimean Khanate in the period from 1671 to 1704. During this time Crimean khans were regularly appointed and replaced by the Ottomans. The main events of the period were the continuing conflicts in Ukraine, the Russian capture of Azov and the Great Turkish War during which the Turks were pushed back from Vienna in 1683 to about the line of Belgrade. Unlike other khans of the period, he ruled well and had no conflicts with his nobles. He was born in 1631.
Devlet II Giray (1648–1718) was Khan of the Crimean Khanate from 1699 to 1702 and from 1709 to 1713. His eldest son was Selim I Giray.
Mehmed III Giray was a khan of the Crimean Khanate. Much of his life was spent in conflict with nearly everyone around him. Part of the trouble was caused by his over-aggressive brother Shahin Giray. His reign was marked by an unsuccessful Turkish attempt to expel him and by the first treaty between Crimea and the Zaporozhian Cossacks. He was driven out by the Turks in 1628 and died trying to regain his throne.
Mehmed II Giray, the Fat was khan of the Crimean Khanate. During his reign he made at least three campaigns against Persia in the service of the Ottomans. He was overthrown by the Ottoman Empire for refusing another campaign. He was one of the numerous sons of Devlet I Giray. Five of his brothers were later Khans.
Islyam II Giray was a khan of the Crimean Khanate. His long stay in Turkey, theological training, and possibly age, may have unfitted him to rule. Most of the fighting was done by his brother Alp Giray. He was one of the many sons of Devlet I Giray. His reign was briefly interrupted by the usurpation of his nephew Saadet, and much of his reign was spent in conflict with Saadet and his brothers, the sons of his murdered brother and predecessor, Mehmed II Giray. Unlike many Crimean khans he died of natural causes.
Canibek or Janibek Giray was twice khan of the Crimean Khanate. During his first reign he fought for the Turks in Persia and Poland. He proved a poor commander and had difficulty making his men obey. He was removed by the Turks in 1623. In the following year the Turks tried to restore him and failed. During his second reign there were raids on Poland and Russia. The Turks again removed him and he died in exile.
Kurgoqo Atajuq was the Kabardian Supreme Prince between 1695 and 1709.
Qaplan I Giray was three times khan of the Crimean Khanate. He was the son of Selim I Giray and thus one of the six brothers who ruled for most the period from 1699 to 1743. During his first reign he was defeated by the Kabardians. His second reign ended when he did not fully support the Turks in the Balkans. During his third reign Russia invaded Crimea and burned its capital. He and his brothers, as members of the House of Giray, were direct patrilineal descendants of Tuqa-timur, son of Jochi Khan, the founder of the Golden Horde.
The Temryuk War or Crimean-Circassian War of 1551–1556 was a military conflict between the Crimean Khanate and the Kabardian Principality.
Misost Bematiqwa was a member of the Kabardian royal family and the Atajuq family. He was the Grand Prince between 1785 and 1788.
In 1583, the Turkish army suffered damage in Kabarda from Kabardian detachments. In 1588, the Kabardian princes Mamstryuk and Kudenet went to Moscow for military assistance against the Ottoman Turks and Crimean Tatars. Russian Russian Archers were sent to Kabarda in 1589, and the Kabardian princes, together with Russian soldiers, defeated Prince Sholokhov, a supporter of the Crimean Turks.
The Nalchik War or Crimean–Circassian War of 1720–1721 was a military conflict between the Crimean Khanate and the Kabardian Principality.
The Crimean-Circassian Wars were a series of military conflicts that took place from 1414 until 1721 between the Crimean people and the Circassian people. These wars were part of a wider conflict between the Crimean Khan and Circassian.