Crimean–Circassian War (1720-1721)

The Nalchik War or Crimean–Circassian War of 1720–1721 was a military conflict between the Crimean Khanate and the Kabardian Principality.

History
The Crimean Khan Saadet II Giray supported Islam Misost, the leader of the pro-Turkish part of the Kabardian nobility, and wanted to establish a pro-Crimean government under his rule. In 1720, he sent his envoys to Kabardia demanding full annexation of Kabardia into the Ottoman Empire. The Kabardian prince Tatarkhan rejected the Crimean ultimatum. In the spring of 1720, Saadet II Giray, at the head of a 40,000-strong Tatar horde, encamped his army at the border of Kabardia and demanded compensation for the Tatar losses and humiliation during the Battle of Kanzhal (1708). The Council of Kabardian nobles sent a delegation declaring that they refuse to be annexed, but wish for peace. The Khan arrested the ambassadors and moved his troops through the Kuban.

The Crimean army started plundering inner parts of Kabardia: the property of nobles and peasants was plundered and their houses were destroyed. In August 1720, the Crimean Khan Saadet-Girey with 40,000 troops crossed the Kuban River and led his forces against Kabardian princes.

The Crimean troops, despite a long siege, were unable to capture the Cherek town. The Kabardians launched a partisan struggle on their territory. In December 1720, the khan with his army retreated from the town of Cherek and returned to the Kuban. Having set up his camp here, Saadet Giray began to send detachments throughout the territory of Kabarda to ruin and plunder the country. The behavior of the khan's troops caused acute discontent among the population of Kabarda, border incidents became more frequent. In January 1721, in Nalchik, a battle took place. During the battle, most pro-Turkish Kabardians, after realising that their "fellow Muslim" Crimeans were raiding their country, changed sides and joined Aslanbech's army. As a result, the Crimean Tatars were defeated and pushed back from Kabardia.