Temryuk campaign in Ossetia

Temryuk campaign in Ossetia
Part of Central Caucasus Crisis
Date September 1562 Location Ossetia Result Kabardian victory [1] Territorial changes Russian-Kabardian forces occupied Ossetian lands. [2]
Belligerents
Kabardia Tsardom of Russia	Ossetia Digor Society  [ ru ] Kurtatin Society  [ ru ] Tagaur Society  [ ru ] Duchy of Ksani Ingush Confederation
Commanders and leaders
Temryuk Idar Grigory Pleshcheyev	Aznaur (POW) Dudar (POW) Burnak (POW) Burnat (POW)
Strength
Unknown 1,000	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Minimal	Heavy

The Temryuk campaign in Ossetia is a conflict in the September of 1562 between the forces of Temryuk Idar, prince of Kabarda, supported by a detachment of 500 Russians and 500 Cossacks from the Tsardom of Russia, aganist the Ossetian societies of the Digor, Kurtatin, and Tagaur regions, as well as the Ksani Eristavate in Central Ossetia. ^[3]

History

Background

The first conflict between Ossetians and Circassians occurred after Timur's invasion of the Caucasus. The ancestors of Ossetians were already weakened and almost completely exterminated. Around the 15th century, the Circassians launched a campaign against the Ossetians and drove them from the lowlands into the mountain gorges. In the territories captured from the Ossetians, the Circassians formed Kabardia. ^{[4] [5]}

In 1557, Kabarda voluntarily became a Russian citizen, which contributed to the strengthening of Kabardian influence in the region. In 1561, the wedding of Temryuk Idar daughter, Maria, to Tsar Ivan Terrible strengthened these ties and secured support from the Russian state. ^{[6] [7] [8] [9]}

Military campaign

In September 1562, Temryuk Idar, a leading prince of Kabarda, launched a military campaign against Ossetian and Ingush societies in the Digor, Kurtatin, and Tagaur regions, as well as the Ksani Eristavate in Central Ossetia. Assisted by a contingent of 500 streltsy and 500 Cossacks from Tsardom of Russia, Temryuk’s forces captured key Ossetian nobles, including Burnat, Aznaur, Burnak, and Dudar, and occupied several settlements. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

References

1. K. F. Dzamikhov; Z. A. Kozhev; D. N. Prasolov; D. M. Kumykova; A. Kh. Abazov, eds. (2015). Socio-Political and Cultural Space of the Central and North-Western Caucasus in the 16th – Early 20th Centuries: Directions and Dynamics of Integration Processes (PDF) (in Russian). Nalchik: KBIGI Publishing. pp. 36–38.
2. Kodzoev, N.D.; Darsigov, T.R. (2016). The Polonkoyev Family in the History of Ingushetia (Documents and Materials) (PDF) (in Russian). Rostov-on-Don: Self-published. p. 3.
3. Kodzoev, N.D. (2006). N.D. Kodzoev (ed.). Questions of Ingushetia's History: Research and Materials, Issue 5 (in Russian). Magas: Ingush Scientific Research Institute of Humanities named after Ch. Akhriev. pp. 3–13.
4. "Neue Seite 166". www.vostlit.info. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
5. "Историческое топографическое статистическое этнографическое и военное описание Кавказа". runivers.ru. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
6. Demidova, N.F. "Temruk Idarovich". Hrono. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
7. "Domestic and foreign policy of Ivan the Terrible.". Bibliotekar. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
8. Bronevsky, S.N. "Historical summary on Russia's relations with Persia, Georgia and with the mountain peoples of the Caucasus". Vostlit. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
9. "Повесть о женитьбе Ивана Грозного на Марии Темрюковне". Archived from the original on 2020-04-07. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
10. Gutnov, F. Kh. (1989). Genealogical Legends of the Ossetians as a Historical Source (in Russian). Ordzhonikidze: IR Publishing. pp. 113–115. ISBN   5-7534-0173-2.
11. P. Kh. Akieva, ed. (2016). Ingushetia in the Context of Scientific Problems and Prospects for the Study of the Caucasus (On the 90th Anniversary of the Ingush Scientific Research Institute) (PDF) (in Russian). Magas: GBU "IngNIY". p. 18. ISBN   978-5-4482-0018-2.
12. Z. V. Kanukova; S. A. Aylarova; A. G. Kuchiev, eds. (2019). History of Ossetia: In 2 Volumes, Volume 1 (PDF) (in Russian). Vladikavkaz: SOIGSI VNC RAS. pp. 346–348. ISBN   978-5-91480-152-3.