Aslanbech Qeytuqo, also known to Kabardians as Aslanbech the Red-Mustached, Aslanbech the Bear, and Aslanbech the Great, and referred to as Aslanbech the Red in Balkar and Ossetian folklore, was the Supreme Prince of Kabardia between 1737 and 1746. He was the eldest son of Prince Qeytuqo Jambot. His younger brothers were Qanamet and Jembulat.Doğbay, Orhan. "Türkiye'de Çerkes diasporasının siyasi tarihi" üzerine notlar.Мальбахов Б. К. "Кабарда на этапах political истории (середина XVI — первая четверть XIX века), Москва, «Поматур», 2002 г.
Biography Early life
In his youth, he was educated by Jabagh Qazanoqo. Aslanbech's views and policy were influenced by his teacher.
Since the early 18th century, the North Caucasian peoples and their territories remained the subject of political and military struggle between Russia, the Ottoman Empire, and Persia. In 1696, Russia annexed Azov, and from 1700 onward, it waged the Great Northern War for access to the Baltic Sea, attempting to strengthen its position on the Black Sea and the Caspian coast. The conflict between Russia and the Ottomans over influence in Kabardia became acute in the early 18th century. The Ottoman Empire attempted to seize Kabardia. Thus, on the orders of Sultan Ahmed III, the Crimean Khan Qaplan I Giray deployed large military forces there in 1708. Ahmed III also demanded that Peter I destroy the newly built ports in Taganrog and on the Don, where Russian warships were stationed to avoid Russians protecting Kabardians.
After the Kabardian victory at the Battle of Kanzhal, Peter I, who wanted to prevent another Crimean invasion, sent Prince Alexander Bekovich Cherkassky, a noble Kabardian aristocrat in Russian service, to Kabardia. Cherkassky swore allegiance to his fellow Kabardian princes; the governor of Azov, F. M. Apraksin, followed suit, promising that Russia would protect them and defend them from invaders. Thus in 1711, the Russian Tsar Peter I The Great sent a letter to Kabardia, proposing for Kabardians to become a Russian subject just like the Kalmyk Khanate, knowing about the friendly relations between Kalmyks and Kabardians. In the letter, the Tsar said:
"And if you become our subjects, then not only will we not demand any taxes from you, but we will also determine the annual salary to give you, as our subject Ayuka Khan receives from us and as you were previously subjects of our ancestors and received a salary from them; and we will order you to assist him, Ayuka Khan, with the Kalmyks and the Don, Yaik and Greben Cossacks"
This offer was accepted and Kabardians, Russians, and Kalmyks formed an alliance. Aslanbech's advisor Jabagh Qazanoqo opposed the idea of Circassians living under another country, and believed that the Tatars wished to eventually annex Circassia, so he suggested Russia as a possible defensive ally. In 1722, there were further diplomatic meetings with Russia, and Qazanoqo represented Aslanbech.
Aslanbech believed that the struggles between princes, lords and khans must end and the unity of the tribes should be ensured in order to gather first Kabardia and then the whole Caucasus under a state roof. He gained the support of Jabagh Qazanoqo in this endeavor. In pursuit of this, Aslanbech, with assistance from his allies, conducted several successful campaigns on Kabardia's neighbors, including Ossetians, Chechens, Balkars, Abazins, and other North Caucasian peoples to strengthen his presence in the region.
In 1711, the Governor of Astrakhan, P. M. Apraksin, led a campaign against Kuban together with Kalmyks and Kabardians. On August 30, five thousand Kabardians under the command of Princes Tatarkhan Bechmirza and Aslanbech Qeytuqo, marched one hundred versts and, after a short battle on the banks of the Kuban River, routed a 10,000-strong army of the Nureddin and about 150 Nekrasovites. They pursued the enemy for two hours, killed 359 and captured 40 men, and seized 2,700 horses. Many Nogais drowned trying to escape across the river. The Nureddin, wounded in the leg, escaped with only a small number of people. Few Nekrasovites survived. The Kabardians lost 70 killed and 120 wounded. In 1712, the Posolsky Prikaz rewarded both princes with furs worth 3,000 rubles and 2,000 rubles in cash, and on May 16, 1713, Peter I sent a letter of gratitude.
In August of 1720, Aslanbech, along with princes like Tatarkhan Bechmirza and Batoqo Bechmirza, led a Campaign against the Chechen clans on the lower Sunzha. Aslanbech ravaged the lands of the Chechens until he had to retreat because of a low supply caused by the Crimean raids on Kabardia.
Civil War in Kabardia
As a successor state to the Golden Horde, the Crimean Khanate claimed sovereignty over Circassia. This political relationship was characterized primarily by the obligation of Circassian princes to pay tribute to the Crimean Khan, predominantly in the form of slaves. This tribute was demanded upon the ascension of a new Khan to the throne or levied as fines for crimes committed by Circassian subjects. When Circassian leaders refused to deliver the required number of captives, the Crimean leadership launched punitive military expeditions to enforce payment. These raids were justified by labelling the Circassians as "infidels". This justification became complicated from the 16th century onward as the Circassians increasingly converted to Islam; however, Crimean Khans often ignored these conversions and rejected negotiations with Circassian envoys who pleaded over their shared religion.
Despite the presence of Islam, there was debate over whether the region was Dar al-Harb (the Abode of War), where slaves could be taken, or Dar al-Islam (the Abode of Islam), which would prevent enslavement. Despite some legal rulings (kanunname) suggesting Sharia should apply to certain tribes (which would protect them), the Ottoman state supported the Crimean Khan in enslaving Circassians, treating the region effectively as a source of slaves regardless of religious affiliation. It was not possible to determine whether the Circassians entering the Ottoman market were from Dar al-Harb or not, as both allied Muslim Circassians and non-Muslim Circassians were raided by the Khanate. The Circassians were described as "neither Christians nor Muslims" by a courtier of the Crimean Khan. Some Ottoman chroniclers mention that the Circassians fought against the Crimean Khanate because they could not stand the "Tatar tyranny and oppression" (). In some cases, the Circassians pleaded with the Ottoman sultan directly, arguing that they were fellow Muslims, thus it was therefore "against the sharia to turn them into slaves". The Sultan withdrew permission for the Khan's campaigns based on this argument, although the Khan proceeded regardless.
In 1720, the Crimean-Circassian war of 1720-1726 started, complicated by the civil strife between the Anti-Crimean Kashkatau Party, which Aslanbech was a part of, and the Pro-Crimean Bakhsan Party.
In 1720, Saadet IV Giray (as revenge for the Kabardian invasion of Kuban and Chechnya) invaded Kabardia with 40,000 troops, demanding allegiance to the Ottoman Empire and Crimean Khanate, 4,000 jasyrs, and restitution for past losses. Pro-Crimean princes capitulated, while Kashkatau party leaders fortified the Cherek Fortress. A khasa was convened, attended by princes, Tlekotlesh, and representatives of the peasants. They discussed the current situation and the dispatch of an embassy to St. Petersburg. The Misosts' supporters prevailed at the meeting; reasonable proposals were rejected, and it was decided to accept the Crimean terms and pay a shameful tribute of 1,000 yasyrs "for the dishonor" of Kaplan Giray, "and if he, the khan, were to march on Kabardia, they would give nothing." They sent ambassadors with this proposal to the khan, who executed them and moved his troops across the Kuban. Those who disagreed with Yislam Misost's decision united around Aslanbech and his supporters and retreated into the mountains.
The Qeytuqo and Bechmirza families, representatives of the Jambot clan, according to V.N. Sokurov, left with their people for Kashkatau. In other words, Aslanbech returned to his former possessions and built the Cherek town.
The Crimean Khan sent a thousand well-armed seimen soldiers to Kabardia under the command of Salih Giray, the Sultan. By mid-June 1720, the Crimeans were encamped on Kyzburun. Salih Giray accepted the oath of allegiance to Crimea from the Misost and Hatokhshoqo families, in confirmation of which he demanded hostages and the payment of tribute in slaves.
Saadet Giray IV presented the following demands to the Jambot clan: Severance of relations with Russia Acceptance of Crimean citizenship and payment of a tribute of one yasyr from each household Relocation to the Kuban region
The first three points were mandatory; if they were not fulfilled, the khan threatened to destroy their homes, burn them down, and execute everyone. However, the Kabardians categorically refused all demands. Aslanbech's group declared that the Kabardian princes had never been under Crimean rule, but had long been allies of Russia and served it faithfully. After this, Salih Giray Sultan gave the order to attack Kashkhatau. On June 24, 1720, the Crimean detachment stood at Tatartu.
At the end of June, the Crimeans attacked the lands of the Kabardians. They destroyed villages, trampled crops and "burned the hay in stacks". The fortress "Chereksky Gorodok", built in a relatively short time in the Kashkatau tract, was besieged. Kabardians also took part in the attack and siege; Pshipshoqo Hatokhshoqo led 1,000 horsemen against Aslanbech. The besieged found themselves in a difficult situation. While there is no definitive information about losses in manpower, it is known that the Crimeans stole about three hundred horses, a thousand cows, and five thousand sheep. Soon, serious disagreements arose between the Jambots. The Bechmirzas proposed reconciliation with the khan, the Misosts, and the Hatokhshoqos. Aslanbech categorically objected, but the majority sided with the Bechmirzas. Then Qeytuqo declared that he himself would immediately go to the Russian Tsar for help. On the way to Terek, Aslanbech managed to conclude a military-political alliance with the Shamkhal of Tarki, Adil Giray, and the Kalmyk Khan, Ayuka Khan, about which he notified the Terek commandant, V.I. Zaozersky. On July 4, 1720, upon arrival in Terek, Qeytuqo submitted a letter to the commandant in which he stated:
“The Kabardians have all joined forces and driven me out of Kabardia, and if your grace writes about me, do not trust them and do not separate me from the great sovereign.”
The Bechmirzas soon revised their decision: they sent for Aslanbech and brought him back. By mutual consent, at the end of July 1720, Prince Sultanaliy, Aslanbech's maternal brother, was sent to St. Petersburg to see the tsar. Sultanaliy's departure soon became known in the enemy camp. A visit by the khan's envoy, Agha Ismail, to the Cherek town followed. He was primarily interested in the reason for sending an ambassador to the tsar. The answer was straightforward: for help. An argument ensued, and ultimately Agha Ismail's diplomatic mission failed.
Soon the Crimeans launched another attack, prompting the Jambots to appeal to the Russian government to expedite military assistance. The princes' message, as well as the testimony of Kabardian ambassadors taken before the Collegium of Foreign Affairs, detailed the disasters and devastation brought by the Crimean Khan and urgently requested the construction of a Russian fortress in the Beshtamak tract of Kabardia. Informing the government of the impending danger, the princes wrote: