User:Maia.Tserediani/sandbox

Viceroy of the Caucasus
In 1844, Mikhail Vorontsov was 62 years old with fading eye-sight when Tsar Nicolas I of the Russian empire, decided to send him to the Caucasus. Nicolas I, well aware of Vorontsov’s accomplishments and his long standing commitment to the Empire, was convinced he could finally bring the Caucasus under firmer military and administrative control. He feared however that due to his old age, Vorontsov might refuse the appointment to this dangerous region, and so decided to offer him the title of not just Chief Administrator (Russian: главноуправляющий) but Viceroy in the Caucasian Territory with Unlimited Plenary Powers (Russian: Наместник во всех областях с неограниченным полномочием). By bestowing so prestigious a title, he hoped Vorontsov would be unable to decline. Never before had any subordinate received such authority to act as the proxy of the Tsar himself. Vorontsov’s initial reaction was indeed to refuse the appointment. After some deliberation however he reluctantly accepted the nomination.

The news of the famous Vorontsov’s appointment spread fast within the Russian army in the Caucasus. It was greeted with much enthusiasm amongst soldiers who had become disheartened by a war that had dragged on so long without any decisive victories. After assuming his position in Tiflis as viceroy, the first thing Vorontsov was expected to do was carry out an attack on Shamil and his army. Vorontsov's upcoming campaign attracted many military aristocrats to the Caucasus who wanted to take part in what was believed to be the long-awaited conquest of the Caucasus. The much awaited military campaign, called the Dargo War, took place in the Spring of 1845. To his credit, after arriving in the Caucasus, Vorontsov began to doubt the wisdom of the campaign. Nevertheless he obeyed his Tsar, and mounted an aggressive offensive to defeat the Shamil, the defiant leader of the Dagastani resistance. The offensive proved disastrous, with over 3000 men killed or wounded, plus the death of 200 officers and 2 generals. Vorontsov himself made a narrow escape. According to some historians, his survival may have had less to due with luck than with Shamil’s desire to capture him alive in hopes of gaining a better bargaining position with the Tsar.

After the defeat in Drago, Nicholas I gave Vorontsov more freedom to pursue his own military strategy in dealing with highlanders, which included better use of diplomatic and economic measures. Vorontsov became more methodical and cautious in his tactics, only mounting attacks on places he could maintain control of afterwards. Over the next several years, Vorontsov was consistent with his efforts to discredit Shamil among the highlander population in order to cut off his informational and material resources. He formed friendly ties with other highland leaders who opposed Shamil’s rule in the region. This strategy lead to a significant reduction of the causalities on both sides.

In regards to the lowland parts of the Caucasus already under Russian control, Vorontsov’s aim was to consolidate Russian rule by incorporating local populations as much as possible into Russian economic, social and cultural life. In pursuit of the task he saw cooperation of local society at large indispensable. He went out of his way to win the trust of locals by playing a mediatory role between the Tsar and local people. He increasingly incorporated local elite into the administrative system, appointing them at different positions, and sometimes even at the expense of displaced Russian officials.

Along with the administrative changes Vorontsov also put a lot of effort into creating a political and cultural center for the Caucasus in Tiflis in hopes of making it resemble a modern, vibrant european style city. He redesigned the structure of the city, creating new avenues, parks and districts. Under his supervision new museums, press houses, theaters, and an opera house were established.

Another one of Vorontsov’s initiatives was to reform the education system in the Caucasus and integrate it into the Russian system. Not only were the newly established schools throughout the regions models after their Russian counterparts, but the universities of Moscow and St. Petersburg also began to receive promising graduates from these new schools.