Ottoman campaign in Circassia (1479)

First Ottoman-Crimean campaign against Circassia (1479)
Part of Crimean–Circassian War (1479–1490) and Circassian-Turkish conflicts
Date 1479 Location Circassia Result Ottoman victory Territorial changes Ottomans establish control over Anapa and Kopa
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire Crimean Khanate	Circassia
Commanders and leaders
Cezeri Kasim Pasha  [ tr ]	Unknown
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Significant portion of the population enslaved

The First Ottoman-Crimean campaign against Circassia took place in 1479 and marked the beginning of systematic Ottoman influence in the North Caucasus. During this period, the Ottomans promoted Islam among the mountain tribes, successfully converting mainly the aristocracy, while much of the general population remained pagan or Christian. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Background

By the late 15th century, the Ottoman Empire was expanding its influence into the Black Sea region. The strategic location of the North Caucasus, with access to the coastline, made Circassia a region of interest. The Crimean Khanate, an Ottoman vassal state, shared these interests, particularly in slave raids and control over trade routes. ^[6]

Campaign

In 1479, the Ottoman Empire and the Crimean Khanate launched their first joint military campaign against Circassia. They captured the towns of Anapa and Kopa, where they established permanent garrisons. A significant number of Circassians were taken captive and sold into slavery. The campaign marked the beginning of a sustained Ottoman presence in the region. ^{[7] [8]}

Aftermath

Following the campaign, the Ottomans did not undertake further large-scale operations in Circassia for nearly two decades. Instead, they focused on spreading Islam among the Circassian people, primarily targeting the local nobility for conversion. The majority of the population remained pagan or Christian. During this period, the Ottomans also constructed the Taman Fortress, which became a key military and trade outpost in the Northwestern Caucasus. ^[1]

References

1. Савельев, А.Е. "Южный Кавказ и Турция: уроки истории". Самиздат (Samlib.ru) (in Russian).
2. "Osmanlı Devleti ve Kafkasya", M. Sadık Bilge, Eren Yayınları, İstanbul (2005), s.37
3. "Tâc-üt Tevârih", Hoca Sadeddin Efendi, İstanbul (1861), c.1, s.567-568
4. "Osmanlı Sultanları Tarihi", Karamanlı Nişancı Mehmed Paşa, İstanbul (1949), s.360
5. "İslam Ansiklopedisi, "Çerkesler" maddesi, Türk Diyanet Vakfı, Ankara (2020), c:Ek-1, s.287". Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
6. Чедия, Анри Робертович (2019). "Западный Кавказ в Черноморской политике Османской империи в XVII – первой четверти XIX вв" (PDF). Москва: Московский государственный университет имени М.В. Ломоносова, Институт стран Азии и Африки.
7. Хотко, Самир Хамидович (2015). "Открытие Черкесии. Картографические источники XIV – XIX вв" (PDF). ОАО «Полиграф-ЮГ». ISBN   978-5-7992-0829-5.
8. Некрасов, А. М. (1990). Международные отношения и народы Западного Кавказа, последняя четверть XV - первая половина XVI в. Москва: Наука. p. 50. ISBN   5-02-009532-X.