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Shikh-Murza Okotsky (Old Russian: Ших-мурза Окоцкий) was the prince or feudal lord of a Chechen state, mentioned in the sources of the Russian Tsardom under the name, Land of Okotsk(identified with present day Aukh), he was mentioned in a number of Russian language diplomatic documents of the late 16th century, where he was titled as "owner", Mirza/Murza, prince or Knyaz of the land of Okotsk. Shikh Okotskiy at the time of his reign was one of the most influential sovereigns in the North Caucasus, his influence spread from the Darial Gorge all the way to the city of Derbent, while his feudal realm encompassed the lands between the Sulak and Terek rivers.

He participated together with the Cossacks in the battles of the anti-Ottoman coalition - against the Turkish garrisons in Dagestan and Azerbaijan. According to Vainakh oral legends, he was buried in a cemetery called Shikh-keshnash (“Shikha's cemetery”) on the outskirts of the village of Shircha-Aukh (present-day Kalininaul).

Inception of the union with Ivan IV
Probably, the first contacts and the basis for cooperation between the leaders of the Aukhovites and the Russian Tsardom were laid by the father of Shikh-murza, Ushary-murza. He entered into a subject relationship with the Russian authorities during the founding of the first fortified towns in the Terek valley by Ivan IV the Terrible. In 1567, in the area of ​​the confluence of the Terek Sunzha, the Russians built a prison - the first Terki ambassadors were therepresentatives of Moscow - Prince A.S. Babichev and P. Protasiev. Around 1572 under pressure from the Ottoman Empire, the fortification was abandoned; in 1577 or 1578, the second Terki were built in the same place (the representative of Moscow - voivode L.Z. Novosiltsev), however, in 1579 the prison was again abandoned. In the letter brought from Shikh-Murza to Moscow in 1588 it is reported that during this period he and his father "faithfully and truthfully" served the interests of the Russian sovereign.

After the death of Ivan IV, during the period of the weakening of Moscow's positions in the North-Eastern Caucasus, Shikh-Murza thought about moving to the Russian state. In 1586, he came to the Terek settlements of the Cossacks to agree on the acceptance of Russian citizenship and departure to Astrakhan as a private person (Old Russian - go to the sovereign's name). Also, for negotiations about this, he sent two of his people (in the Russian document - Urak and Byazia) to the Astrakhan voivode F.M. Lobanov-Rostovsky. The reason for the desire to move was the intensification of Shikh-Murza's confrontation with the neighboring Shamkalate of Tarki and the "mountain people" (probably some Avar and Vainakh societies) - they "cross over the roads and want to kill him." However, despite the consent of F. Lobanov-Rostovsky, for some reason the departure of Shikh-Murza did not take place.

Contacts with the embassy of R.P.Birkin and P.Pivov
See also: Russian embassy of Birkin and Pivov to Kakheti (1587-1588)

In April 1587 Shikh-Murza accompanied the ambassadors of the Russian state R.P.Birkin and P.M.Pivov, who were carrying out diplomatic and intelligence missions to Kakheti to Tsar Alexander II.

Renewal of the union during the construction of Terkov. The reign of Fedor I
The fortresses at the mouth of the Sunzha were built and abandoned by the Russian authorities several more times, but later they were called Sunzhensky, and Tersky/Terki began to be called a fortified city in the Terek delta on its channel - the Tyumenka River, built on the site or near the abandoned city of Tyumen (from - why the first Russian prison was first called Tyumen); it was founded in 1588 (representatives of Moscow - the governors MI Burtsev and IP Protasiev / "Kelar"). In a letter of 1588 Shikh-Murza informs the Russian Tsar Fyodor I Ivanovich that as soon as he learned about the construction of a new Russian fortification, “at that very hour in that new city, having arrived to your sovereign governors, in front of them, he gave you the truth to the sovereign. have taken the oath”.

During the period of confrontation between the Russian state and Shamkalate of Tarki, in an atmosphere of coordination of military actions between Moscow and the Kakhetian kingdom, the question arose of the shortest and most strategically most convenient way from Terek to Kakheti.

At one time, without any official support from Moscow, a detachment from Terke, numbering more than 1,500 people took place.

Ties with Moscow
In an excerpt from Shikh Okotsky's letter, given to the Russian Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich by Shikh's ambassador, Batay Shikhmurzin, during a reception in Moscow in 1588, evidence of the stable and traditional nature of the development of the economic life of the Aukhovites(Eastern Chechens) was documented. In the letter, Shikh Okotsky notes his assistance in the construction of royal fortresses on the Terek River, not only in the diplomatic and military-political field, but also assistance in the form of supplying supplies :

"And when it comes to the warriors on the Terek, I gave them honey, wine, 10 sheep, chickens and rye"

- Shikh Okotskiy

Already in this excerpt, a wide range of economic activities of the Aukhites is presented. Naturally, the population of Aukh supplied goods and products not for free, but in exchange or selling it to service Cossacks and builders of fortress-towns on the Terek River.

With the appearance in the Tersk town on the Sovereign realm of Aukh, the Aukhovites, along with other North Caucasian peoples, began to be drawn into the all-Russian trade, in particular, with cities such as Astrakhan and Moscow. The son of the Aukh leader Shikh Okotsky, Batay, who visited Moscow in 1605 with a diplomatic mission, was also engaged in trade, having bought fifteen sets of military equipment there. For that time, very expensive goods demanded serious costs. When Batay subsequently broke the oath given to the Russian tsar and was forced to flee from the Tersk city to the land of the Aukhs(referred to in Old Russian as the land of Okotsk), all his property seized by the Russians was transferred to the residents of the Tersk city and the Cossacks.

The first envoys to Moscow were from Okoks (Aukhovites). Okotskaya land, apparently, the earliest plain settlement of a part of the Chechen people - Aukhovites(Old Russian:Ококи ). The very convenient location of the Okotsk land in close proximity to the most important strategic North Caucasian route along the Terek and Sunzha rivers deep into Dagestan and, further, into the Transcaucasus, with the possibility of seizing control over a significant part of it, next to the villages of the Greben Cossacks, directly near the first Russian fortresses in Tersko -The Sulak interfluve, as well as, in the vicinity of the lands of the Kumyk princes, contributed to the vigorous activity of the leaders of the Aukhovites, Ushary(as he was referred to in medieval Russian documents) and his son Shikh-Murza Okotskiy. The Okotsk princes saw support in the defense of their feudal lands from the claims of the more numerous and powerful Kumyk and Kabardian rulers partially in alliance with the Russians, who were consolidating in the first Russian fortresses between the Terek and Sunzha rivers in 1567, 1578, 1589.

It is these facts that explain the political orientations of the leaders of the Aukh towards the Russian Empire. This is evidenced by two letters of the Moscow Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, dated 1587 and 1588. In 1588, Shikh-Murza, as a sovereign person, sent an embassy to Moscow to conclude a political alliance. Moscow's recognition of "citizenship", in fact. was a personal obligation of Shikha-murza to the king, personal service to him, for which a personal salary was assigned. Similar political alliances were also concluded by the Moscow tsars with the Kabardian and Dagestan rulers. Such "citizenship" had no real impact on the internal affairs of North Caucasian societies; their main goal was to support the Russian political line in the Caucasus, as well as to jointly act against opponents.

In this vein, the relationship between Shikha-Murza and Moscow continued to develop after 1589 until the mid-90s. XVI century, before the assassination of Shikha Okotsky by Ahmed Khan for his consistent commitment to Russia. 160 families from Shikh-Murza Okotskiy inner circle immediately left the Okotsk land(Aukh) and settled in the Tersk fortress as sovereign servants under the protection of the tsar's governors. Among the servicemen, there was also the son of Shikh-Murza Okotskiy, Batay-murza, who most likely, for some time headed the Chechen society of Aukhovites in the Tersky city as a governor on behalf of his father. The feudal Aukhovite elite Batay-Murza, then Kokhostrov-Murza Biytemirov, his sons Albir-Murza and Chapan-Murza and their descendants, along with the Kabardian Murza, become direct and active conductors of Russian policy in the Caucasus throughout the 17th century.

The Okotsk princes in the Terek fortress, occupying an advantageous position, sought to consolidate their status, supporting it with tsarist letters and a "sovereign salary" worthy of their Russian service. So, at the royal receptions in Moscow in 1605, 1614, 1621, 1636, 1648. the Okotsk princes, representatives of the noble part of the Aukhovites and the "best people" from the Aukhovites visited. Two letters of Shikh-Murza Okotsky in 1588 survived only in Russian translation. Complaints of the Terek town of the 17th century. were written by Terek clerks.

Shikh Okotsky maintained friendly relations with the western ruler of the Vainakh community, their leader Sultan-Murza calls Shikh Okotskiy his brother, but he had no kinship ties with Shikh-Murza. Sultan-Murza, calling the Okotsk owner Shikha-Murza "his brother" (this is a term of social equality, not family kinship, as some authors are mistaken), clearly defines the motives of his political orientation. Sultan-Murza was a devoted friend and associate of Shikh Okotsky. Sultan-Murza called himself Shikh-Murza's brother for tactical reasons, for the role of Shikh Okutsky in the political life of the Caucasus at the end of the 16th century was great. He was well known at the courts of the Moscow and Georgian tsars, the Crimean khan, mountain feudal lords. According to the documents of the turn of the 16th-17th centuries, Shikh-Murza Okotsky (Aukhovsky) enjoyed great confidence of the Terek voivode, and also "made friends with the Avar rulers".

Military history
As Russian documents show, in the possession of Shikh Okotsky, together with free Cossacks. Judging by Shikh's letter, a rather large group of Cossack warriors was left under his leadership and command: Shikh, in his letter to the king, claims that their number was "500 people were Cossacks", plus "my servants, 500 people." The historian T. A. Isaeva gives an additional figure on the number of Shikh's troops at 100 horsemen, 1000 foot soldiers, it must be assumed that apart from "500" his servants. Consequently, under the command of Shikh Okotsky at that time, there was a rather impressive force at that time, in 1000-1500 soldiers.

From Russian sources of the end of the 16th century, it is clear that the Aukhites, led by Shikh Okotsky, launched a wide military-political and diplomatic activity, covering, in fact, the entire North-Eastern Caucasus from Daryal to the city of Derbent. It is quite obvious at the same time that in view of the impossibility of providing direct assistance from Russia, Shikh Okotskiy operated from 1578 to 1588, independently, which once again shows his political weight in the province. Not forgetting to render service to Russia and taking an active part in the struggle of the North Caucasian peoples against the plans of Turkey, Iran and Crimea, Shikh Okotsky at the same time, presumably, sought to strengthen his political influence in the region, which, as the historical sources of that period show, often succeeded.

Faced with the threat of the Turkish conquest in 1582, the rulers and rulers of Iran, Georgia, Shirvan and Dagestan unite in a military alliance that remained until the mid-80s of the 16th century. Shikh Okotsky was one of the active participants in this union. In his address to the Russian Tsar, Shikh informs about the struggle for Derbent and his role: "For you, the Yaz in the Iron Gates endured a lot of need, and you brought a saber for you." In the same period, Shikh's detachments, consisting of Aukhs and Cossacks, blocked the main highway passing through the North Caucasus - from Crimea and Azov to Derbent, about which the Turkish sultan wrote with irritation to Moscow that “russian cossacks that live on terek, keep on ransaking them."

Since on the Terek River there were only military detachments of the Cossacks who fought as part of the troops of Shikh Okotsky and under his direct leadership, it is clear that the message of the Sultan speaks of joint actions of the Aukhovites and the Cossacks.

In 1583, the detachments of Shikh Okotsky, which included the Aukhs and Cossacks, attacked the Ottoman army, which moved from the city of Derbent to the Sea of ​​Azov and, although the forces were unequal and the attackers suffered losses, they were able to inflict significant damage on the Turks, and at the same time set fire to the steppe, which significantly made it difficult for the enemy to move to the Sea of ​​Azov. This time the Crimean Khanate could not help in any way, since in the Khanate itself, as S.M. Solovyov noted, a period civil strife broke out, during which the Crimean "Khan Magmet-Girey was killed by his own brother Islam-Girey", and the princes - the sons of the killed khan had to flee, and Prince Murat "began to live in Astrakhan."

Under the influence of the power of Ottoman Empire, the role of Shamkhal increases and the latter proposes to Turkey to build a city on the Terek. In fact, the only opposition to the Shamkhal at that time in the entire North Caucasus was Shikh Okotsky with his combined troops, who, apparently, greatly interfered with the opponents of Russia, the Kabardian prince Aslanbek and the Kumyk shamkhal, who hunted and tried to kill Shikh Okotskiy. Russia took advantage of the fact that Turkey and Iran were weakened by the war, and Crimea had no time for the Caucasus: formally taking advantage of the request of the Georgian Tsar Alexander to reopen the Tersk city, Russia sent the governor M. Burtsev and Protasyev, who during 1588-1589 installed a new Tersk city in the lower reaches of the Terek, on one of tributaries of the Tyumenka River.

By the end of the 80s of the 16th century, the Russian citizenship of the Aukh owner Shikh Okotsky was registered. Carrying out the order of his father Ushary-Murza, Shikh Okotskiy, together with his subordinate people, comes to the Tersk city located on the Tyumenka River.

Undoubtedly, the Russian government knew about the actions of Shikh Okotskiy and his "wards" Cossacks even before the construction of the new Tersk city and that is why, when the embassy in 1587 headed by R. Birkin and P. Divov was sent to Georgia, ensuring a safe passage from Terek to Georgia was entrusted to Shikh and the Kabardian prince Alkas; Kakhetian Tsar Alexander also sent his ambassadors to Shikh. Shikh Okotsky brings into Russian citizenship the ruler of the Avar Hanswa with the "Black" prince. These and other events and actions of Shikh Okotsky clearly prove that before and after the construction of the Terek city, the role of Shikh Okotsky in North Caucasian affairs was the most significant.

In October 1588, ambassadors from Shikh Okotsky and Kabardian prince Alkas arrived in Moscow. Batay Shikhmurzin - the envoy of Shikha Okotsky - together with the envoy of Alkas were received by the Russian tsar.

In a letter to the Russian tsar, Shikh Okotsky reports that they took 7 cities, including Endirey :

"For your sake I had to endure non comfort in Iron Gates and had to use my sabre instead of you. Not our fault: 500 cossacks there were headed by I, Shikh-Murza. We took 7 town along with town of Indili. I serve you a lot. Tell me where to serve you - I will take my men to serve as well. If a town on Terek will need a garrison or goods, I will do it too"

- Shikh Murza Okotskiy

Shikh Okotsky writes to the tsar about his past service:

""And then we with your other servants of terek atamans and kazaks, served your state and gave it glory, we didnt give trouble to Tursk and Crimean Khanates and to those with whom your cossacks fought""

- Shikh Murza Okotskiy

The Terek free atamans and Cossacks also reported about Shikh Okotsky's service in Russia; Shikh himself enjoyed great confidence in the governor of Terek A. I. Khvorostinin. A pre-revolutionary researcher, on the basis of documents, noted that simultaneously with the embassy of Shikh Okotsky and the Kabardian prince Alkas, a petition for the Terek free atamans and Cossacks was delivered to Moscow, in which they stated that

"Previously, they served the sovereign on Terka and traded in every sovereign business along with Shikh Murza Okotsky."

The Crimean prince Murat, who fled from the Crimea and lived in Astrakhan, also tried to take Shikh into Russian citizenship.

In a letter from the tsar it was reported that the tsar knew about the service of Shikh Okotsky: "And we want to pay you for your service with our great salary and keep you in alliance, we want your yurt under our tsar's hand and we want to keep you in defense from all your enemies" [25 ]. Upon receipt of the royal charter, Shikh Okotsky confirmed his oath of allegiance to Russia and brought his son Batay Shikhmurzin to the Tersk city.

In 1587, "Okotskoye possession", that is, Okotsk/Aukh is mentioned as "newly profitable" lands of Russia in a letter to the Austrian emperor: "And many states: ... Shevkal prince ... and the Tyumen state and Okotskaya land/emphasized by us. - A. A. /, and the Highlanders. all the lands venerated our state ... ". Two years later, the ambassador of the same state was again announced about the "new profitable" lands, including the "Okotsk" princes. These facts, make it possible to suggest that it is quite likely that the Chechen princes appeal to the question of Russian citizenship or any allied or allied-vassal relations is quite likely earlier than 1588.

By the construction of the Terek city, the Cossacks again fell under the control of the Terek voivods, and by 1590, at the confluence of the Sunzha and the Terek, the Russian state was building a prison, which was named Sunzhensky.

The 90s of the 16th century were marked by Russia's desire to weaken Turkey's influence in the North Caucasus, to shift its influence to Shirvan and the Transcaucasus. In 1591, the tsarist government organized a campaign against Shamkhalism, which was repeatedly requested by the Georgian envoys under the pretext that the Shamkhal detachments were constantly robbing Georgia.

The tsarist troops were to include the North Caucasian military detachments. In 1591, the Russian embassy headed by V. Pleshcheev and T. Kudrin, who were heading to Georgia, was instructed to convey that “Alkas with Shikh-Murza should send their sovereign ambassadors to see them off in good condition; but they themselves would have gone to Shevkala. "

During the hostilities in the winter of 1591, the combined Russian-North Caucasian troops, according to the assurances of Russian sources, defeated the Shamkhal's troops:

“Shevkala the prince fought and the city of Shevkal was taken Ondreevsky and burned”.

G. Zasekin did not have enough strength for further actions. In 1594, Russia again organized a campaign against Shamkhal, the purpose of which was to capture Tarki and open a road to Transcaucasia. The Russian detachments, which captured Tarki, were soon blocked by the Shamkhal troops, were forced to flee and reach the "Koisu River, where Shamkhal stopped pursuing in view of the proximity of the Russian garrison, which was sitting in prison with Prince Dolgoruky." Russian sources from the period claimed that

"Voivodes fought on Shevkalskaya land and towns of Tarki, Tarkali, and Andreev vilage ( Endirey) and Saltaneev tumen place, and warrios took those town, ransaked them and burned to the ground and built new ones on Koysa"

- ol

After the unsuccessful campaign of the tsarist troops under the command of A.I. Khvorostinin, many owners of the North-East Caucasus went over to the side of the Shamkhal, whose influence in the North Caucasus increased. Apparently, one of the consequences of the defeat of the combined Russian-North Caucasian military detachments in 1594 was the tragic death of the Aukh leader Shikh Okotskiy. For the first time, the name of the Okotsk leader Shikhi is not mentioned in the embassy documentation of 1596, and the reference point to the Chechen Aukh(“Okotskiy land”) disappears.

The threat to Shikh from hostile North Caucasian feudal lords arose not only due to the fact that he was an ally of Russia in the North Caucasus for a long time, but also due to the fact that the influence of Shikh Okotsky himself in the region at that time was increasing and could not but cause irritation and attempts to assassinate him. After the 1594 campaign, it is assumed that Shikh Okotsky did not change his attitude towards Russia and did not fall under the influence of the Shamkhal, therefore, he posed a real threat.

Significant in this respect is the question of the relationship between the Aukhs, the Kumyk Shamkalate and the prince Sultan-Mahmud, who settled in Chir-Yurt. Of course, Shamkhal and his associates saw Shikha Okotsky and Aukhs as their main rivals on the path of establishing their leadership in the North-Eastern Caucasus. The rivalry of local feudal lords for the expansion of spheres of influence in the North Caucasus was no less acute, in particular in its eastern part, than the struggle of the great powers for the entire Caucasus. Here Shikh Okotskiy and Shamkhal came into direct collision.

According to field data, Sultan-Mahmud, expelled from the Shamkalate of Tarki, received the support of a part of the population of Greater Aukh(Modern Leninaul and Kalininaul), headed by Shikh Okotskiy. After the settlement of Sultan-Mahmud in Chir-Yurt and the allocation of lands to him. on the right bank of the Sulak, Shikh Okotsky with his people participated in the congresses of the Kumyk feudal lords, helped Sultan-Mahmud in negotiating with brothers and other Dagestani owners. After a certain period, having established himself in Chir-Yurt, Sultan-Mahmud repeatedly made attempts to settle in Endirey(Indri) under the pretext of inviting his village residents, but each time he was expelled by the Aukhovites, since he had lands on the other side of Sulak and permission for him to cross the left bank was not given by the Aukh princes.

Until the beginning of the 17th century, there is practically no information about Prince Sultan-Mahmud and Endirey in the sources, which can be explained by the insignificant role of the "chunk" in North Caucasian affairs. Until the defeat of the tsarist troops in 1604 in Dagestan, according to "Gulistan-Iram", Sultan-Mahmud lived in Chir-Yurt and had nothing to do with Enderi and only after that he moved there.

Information about attempts at the end of the 16th century to transfer the residence of Sultan Mahmud to Enderi, collected from local residents, was also reflected in Russian sources. In his address in 1588 Shikh informs about the time before the construction of the Terkov on Tyumenka: “Indili spoke the city and with those 7 cities they took you”; the same name "Indili" is also given in the embassy documentation of 1587-1588. "Or" Andreev ".

During the 1591 campaign of the year, the combined Russian-North Caucasian troops “took Ondreevsky and burned the city near Shevkal”; the same was done in the 1594 campaign. As is known, Shikh Okotsky and his troops took part in both campaigns. The deviation from the main route (to Tarki) for the capture and burning of "Ondreev" was completely "merit" of Shikh Okotsky: it was he who used Russian troops, as before (on "Indili"), in the fight against the Kumyk princes and in particular against the Sultan -Mahmud trying to move to Enderi (Indri). After another defeat, the Kumyk princes had to return to Chir-Yurt and after waiting for the right moment to start the offensive again, this statement is fully consistent with local field materials.

A significant moment of the 1594 campaign is the message of the source, which says that Prince Sultan-Mahmud did not settle in Endirey alone: ​​“in the Ondreeva village of Shevkalov, the children of Saltan-Magmut and his brothers”. The confrontation between the Aukhovites led by Shikh and the Kumyk princes in the North-Eastern Caucasus repeatedly led to their clashes. This happened after 1594: Shikh Okotsky and Sultan-Mahmud with their brothers became irreconcilable enemies not only in the struggle for influence in the North-East Caucasus, but also for the possession of Endirey. The struggle ended with the murder of Shikh Okotsky, and the murderers of the Aukh leader were named “Prince Akhmatkan with his brothers”, that is the children of Shamkhal Chupan.

In a letter from an oriental merchant in 1596, it is said: "and Hakami and Shikh Murza were killed ... and the road was obstructed"; “I wanted to come along the road Aksukh; Sheikh Murza was killed ... Now I have come to K (?) uyunsu. ”, that is, the roads through the lands of Okokh (interfluve) became unsafe for caravans. This record confirms that the Aukhs controlled the interfluve of the Terek and Sulak.

As a result of the murder of Shikh Okotsky, a part of the Aukhovites closest to him went to Terki; however, Sultan-Mahmud could not subordinate the Aukhites to his power, just as he could not settle in Endirey. Moreover, even in the first decades of the 17th century, Sultan-Mahmud and his brothers were left without land and a village: “And Saltan-Magmut and his brothers are without yurt, they have no taverns”.

The international significance of the North Caucasus increased at the beginning of the 17th century. The struggle continues between the major powers like Russia, Iran and Turkey for influence in the Caucasus, placing the main sea and land routes under their control. In the policy of Russia, these tasks remained, in essence, the main ones in relation to the Caucasus.

From the beginning of the 17th century, the tsarist government began to prepare a new campaign against Shamkalate. In 1601, the Terek voivode sent the "Tersk Zhiletsk Cherkas, Okotsk natives of Yanai, Akhin, Didy, Mostoparov" "from Terka to Iversk to Oleksandr Tsar in Georgia", who, having found out the political situation in Kakheti and passed the tsar's letter with a proposal for a campaign, returned to Tersk city.

Under the threat of a new campaign against shamkhalism, a number of Dagestan rulers and princes of Kabarda, according to researchers, arrived in Moscow for a reception: they were received and presented with gifts (among them were Sultan Makhmud and Sunchaley Cherkassky). Nevertheless, in the winter of 1604, the final decision was made to "fight Shamkhal", which was reported to the Georgian embassy in Moscow in April 1604.

In the spring of 1604, the tsarist army arrived in the North Caucasus, where they were joined by local archers and Cossacks, detachments of the Nogai Murzas, as well as serving Circassians and Tersk Aukhovites, led by Sunchaley Cherkassky(Circassian noble) and Batay Shikhmurzin(Chechen Aukhovite noble). Voivode I.M.Buturlin began the main military operations against Shamkhal in the autumn of 1604. In a short time, they set up several fortresses on the banks of the Sulak and Aktash rivers, captured the villages of Enderi, Teply Vody and Tarki. Near Tarkov I.M.Buturlin began to build a fortress with the idea of ​​wintering his troops. In total, three fortresses were built in Dagestan: the first was built “in the same place, near Tarkhu, the other in Andreeva's village, and the third is unknown where. Garrisons were left in all these fortifications”.

However, the first successes of I.M.Buturlin were soon replaced by failures. Among the highlanders, dissatisfaction was growing that the invaders "captured people in the villages, took bread, drove away herds and herds" 6. After the death of Shamkhal Surkai, Tarkovsky Girey and Sultan-Mahmud stood at the head of the mountaineers: “Sultan-But brought 13,000 Circassians, who, being reinforced by the Crimean Tatars and Girey Khan Shamkhal, the son of Chuban Shamkhal, united with the Dagestanis and attacked all three fortifications ".

Voevoda I.M.Buturlin was in an ambush, without the help of Russia. The detachments were melting from disease, and the strength of the mountaineers increased. Soon the tsarist troops were driven out of the fortresses on Aktash and Sulak; IM Buturlin found himself in a deep encirclement and went to negotiations, during which it was agreed that the tsarist detachments would be given the opportunity "to retreat freely, to leave behind Koisu / Sulak /" 1. “But when the Circassians,” it is noted in “Gulistan-Iram,” “contrary to their word, wanted to take them prisoner, the Russians began to stubbornly defend themselves and everyone died”.

The defeat had grave consequences for the Russian presence in the North Caucasus: the Tersk city was closed, and the inhabitants were in fear of the attack of the mountaineers; the Sunzhensky prison was also burned. The failure of the tsarist troops coincided in time with the death of Boris Godunov and the beginning of the Time of Troubles in Russia, which led to a weakening of ties with the Caucasus and Terek residents (Cossacks and city dwellers), although the Terek city itself and the Russian population were steadily provided by the mountaineers with food, as was said above.

As you know, after the death of Shikh Okotsky, his son Batay Shikhmurzin played an important role in the Okotsky land and in the Tersky city. In the summer of 1605, Bataille, together with the Kabardian prince Sunchaley Cherkassky, attended a reception at False Dmitry I, from where both with their bridles, affectionately received and gifted, were released in March 1606.

In the middle of 1606, the henchman of the boyars, Vasili IV, ascended the Russian throne. Some researchers point out that Sunchaley and Batay again went to Moscow, but returned dissatisfied, as they received a "small" reward, as a result, the Cossacks and "mountain service people" Terkov refused to recognize Shuisky as tsar. Attempts by Shuisky himself to establish contacts with the North Caucasus and Terki were unsuccessful, since the embassy of I. Ro-modanovsky to Iran did not reach Iran: the message said about the citizenship of Kakheti, the Cherkasy and Okotsk people with proof of arrival in Moscow with congratulations to Batay and Sunchaley. The connection between the center and the Tersk city was, in fact, limited to this.

The position of Batay Shikhmurzin in the Tersk city and in Aukh(Okotsky land) itself is not clear in everything. During the life of Shikh, he was a conductor of his uncle's ideas and was closely connected with Terks, for a long time he lived here as an amanat(hostage). Apparently it was no coincidence that after the death of Shikha Okotsky, his successor Batay ended up in the Tersk city: it seems that he was not recognized by the Aukhovites and was forced to leave for Terki. Russian sources of those times show that only after the embassy in 1605, he received actual power in the Tersk city itself. But even then, as you can see, Batay Shikhmurzin's position in the city was fragile, which resulted in his flight from Terkov in 1609. Together with the Tersk centurion L. Vysheslavtsev, the Sunchaley bridles and Okotsk people went to capture Batay. Sunchaley was Batay's main rival among the contenders for supremacy over the Aukhites and Cherkasy residents of the Terek city, and it is no coincidence that soon after Bataille fled from one of Russia's loyal allies, he turned into a “traitorous sovereign”.

Apparently, after fleeing from the Tersk city, Batay was not accepted by most of his fellow tribesmen in Okokh, which is why he immediately ended up in the camp of the ardent enemy of Russia - Sultan Makhmud. After the death of Shamkhal Surkai, the struggle for the throne flared up with renewed vigor. Part of the Dagestani feudal lords, hoping for military support, accepted Russian citizenship in 1610, but Tarkov's Andiy and Sultan-Magmut were not among them. The appeal of the Dagestani feudal lords to help Russia against Andy and Sultan-Makhmud played into the hands of the Terek governors, since at that time the main goal for them was "to cause strife between them and the sovereign of the Terek city would protect them from their arrival".

In 1610, the detachments of Giray, the prince of Tarakov and the Terek governors attacked the dwellings of Sultan-Makhmud: they captured the cattle and “Ondreev's village was ruined from him. And they drove him out of the Ondreev village. And that Saltan-Magmut with his brothers and with your sovereign traitor with Botai Murza. from that ruin I would have lived in the mountains in Okotsky taverns”.

A new campaign "on petition" by Giray was made in 1611-1612. to the "Okotsky evo taverns". Sent troops “near Saltan-Magmut Murza Okotsky taverns fought and burned everything; they fought against Saltan-Magmut and from his bridle and the Okotsk people and drove him out of the taverns; the defeated Sultan-Mahmud, together with his brother Nutsal-Murza, gave "wool according to his own Muslim faith".

A significant role in the preservation and restoration of good-neighborly relations between Russia and the peoples of the North Caucasus was played during this period by the Terek Aukhovites-Okochans and Sunchaley Cherkassky. With a special letter dated March 21, 1615, the tsarist government created in Terki a special vassal "Cherkasy principality" headed by Sunchaley and subordinated the Circassians and servicemen of Terek okochans to it. At the same time, the tsar and his administration did not pay any attention to the petition of the Okotsk people with a request to get rid of them from the "guardianship" of Sunchaley, who was trying to turn them into serfs; the answer was quite expected: “their Syuyunchaley was ordered to vedati by service, and if Syuyunchalei would fix some tightness for them, they would beat the emperor with their foreheads”.

At the same time, the events that took place in the North-Eastern Caucasus in the winter of 1614-1615. forced the tsarist government to take direct military participation in the civil strife of the Dagestan feudal lords, who were fighting for shamkhalism.

At the end of 1614 - beginning of February 1615 "Saltan-Magmut z brothers", as the Tarkovsky shamkhal complained to the Terek governors, "sat down with their taverns close to the Kumyk land in the Okotsk taverns and took the Michkiz and Kabardian road from them" and started the war with the help of the Aukhovites and Avars; therefore, the Tarkov shamkhal and the owners asked the Terek governors "to go to the Okotsk taverns to ravage them and to clear their Kumyk land".

In February 1615, a battle took place. Voivode P. Golovin reported that his troops / 400 people and guns / “fought with the Saltan-Magmutovs and Michkiz and Okotz people” and “in that battle the Saltan-Magmutovs and Turlov, the Prince of Michkiz people, killed 140 people, and others relocated and caught alive ”6. It is noteworthy that this time "Ondreeva village" is not mentioned: probably after the expulsion in 1610-1612. Sultan Mahmud no longer lived there.

The next acceptance of Sultan Mahmud into Russian citizenship was delayed, since the Dagestan feudal lords opposed the reconciliation; besides, the tsarist government remembered that in the past years Saltan-Magmutovo. petition was and wool gave and not alone; and he de only laughed: there is nothing to blame for the quarrels in Saltan-Magmut. " In December 1616, the Boyar Duma nevertheless decided to accept Sultan-Magmut into Russian citizenship, but without accepting an amanat, until he “showed” his loyalty.

After the death of Shikh Okotsky, a split occurred within the Aukh society in relation to tsarist Russia. If a part of the population of Okokh, probably represented by the Gachalkoevites, was still committed to Russia and residents from this society still continued to arrive in Terki, then most of the Chechen society of the Aukhovites-Pharchkhoevites, headed from the end of the 16th to the middle of the 17th century. Maadiy stood, first in some cases, and then increasingly began to support Russia's opponents (including Sultan Mahmud). This partially explains the fact that Batay Shikhmurzin was not accepted by his fellow tribesmen and went to the Tersk city, and after fleeing from Terkov he joined Sultan-Mahmud.

The loss of the leaders - Shikh and Batay - and along with them the support of Russia on Okoh, led to the fact that the Terek voivods ceased to show their former trust in the Okohs and transferred them to the subordination of Sunchaley Cherkassky. Starting from 1610, Russian sources record that in case of danger Sultan-Makhmud runs to the foothill Aukhites: "from that (1610 - A.A.) ruin, he began to live in the mountains in Okotsk taverns" Sultan-Makhmud and Batay Shikhmurzin.

The alliance of Sultan-Mahmut and the Aukhs represented, apparently, a great power, confirmation of this is the fact that never the Dagestan feudal lords independently, without the help of the Terek military detachments, crossed Sulak and did not act against them (the Aukhs and Sultan-Magmut).

Changes in the attitude of the Terek governors to the Aukhovites can be seen already from the reports of campaigns against Sultan Mahmud. Supporting the Dagestani feudal lords, the tsarist government sends troops "to the Okotsk taverns," which Terek detachments, together with the Kumyk princes, "fought and burned everything; they fought with Okotsk people. " During 1614-1615. tsarist troops continue to attack, plunder and ravage the villages of the Aukhites located in the foothills of Okokh, which, naturally, could not but affect the socio-economic and political situation in Okokh (Aukha).

However, it can undoubtedly be argued that the Aukhvites, being for some time in a military alliance with the prince Sultan-Mahmud, fought not for the growth of his power, but for the preservation of their independence. All this will be evident later, when Sultan-Mahmud, having finally established himself in Endirey, will attempt to subjugate the Chechen society of the Aukhs-Pharchkhoevites(Chechen clan from Aukh) who lived in Greater Aukh(modern Leninaul and Kalininaul).

The assassination of Shikha Okotsky and the flight of his successor Batay showed that an intense struggle was taking place inside Aukh, which created instability in the entire Terek-Sulak interfluve. Hence the policy of Russia, which was now trying to subordinate local societies to the more reliable feudal circles of Kabarda and Dagestan. If in the Tersk city they managed to do this relatively peacefully and quickly, "entrusting" the mountaineers to Sunchaley, then in relation to the Aukhites, especially the foothill Chechen settlements living in Okokh, they had to use military force, but these actions did not bring significant success for tsarist Russia.

Death
Shikh Okotsky died in 1595 in a clash with the Kumyk prince Akhmat Khan, who tried to take the place of Shikhi and establish himself as the ruler of Aukh. According to Chechen oral legends, Shikh was buried in a cemetery called Shikh-Keshnash ("Shikh's cemetery"), which later received its name from his name Shikh, a cemetery is located on the eastern outskirts of the village of Shircha-Aukh(present-day Kalininaul).