Zaur or Zaurovo was an Ingush village that existed in the 18th–19th centuries on the right bank of the Terek River and in the Tarskoye Valley.

According to most sources, the fortress Vladikavkaz was founded on its territory in 1784, while according to other sources, Vladikavkaz was built near Zaur.

Etymology The Ingush name of the village, Zovr-Kov, translates as "the yard/settlement of Zaur". According to Russian historian Pyotr Butkov, the village was known by the Armenians as Zura (), by the Byzantines as Tzur (), by Arab writers as Suariag and Saul.

+ Orthography of the name Name Author Source Date Zaur/Zaur-kabak Johann Güldenstädt : "Нижний Чим, по имеющимся измерениям полковника фон Ливена, находится от Моздока на юг через Кургокин кабак 31 верста 320 саженей) и Заур-кабак 51 верста 220 саженей (...) то мы еще сегодня поехали обратно к селу Заур, которого мы достигли через 1½ часа. (...) Низкие осетинские горы перед селами Заур, Барукма, Флумирсина и Кубатер." 1770s Zaurov L. Shteder : "Наконец я оставил ингушей, пошел по Кумбелею на запад под горами трех рек, текущих в узких берегах, и через 7 верст пришел в деревню Зауров. Она лежит на более высоком правом берегу Терека, в 2 верстах под предгорьями. Старшина Гетта, родственник моего хозяина Сайку, считается здесь самым знатным; он принял меня наилучшим образом. У него только одна башня и дом из камня, другие постройки деревянные, а двор обнесен забором." 1781 Saukqua/Ssaurowa Julius Klaproth : "On the 24th of December we continued our route along the right bank of the Terek. We left Vladikavkaz with a far smaller escort than had attended us thither, being accompanied by no more than 30 Cossacks and 12 Jägers. After proceeding four versts we had the Ingush village of Saukqua, now called by the Russians Ssaurowa, on our left. It is seated on the steep bank of the Terek, about two versts from the first range of the Caucasus. No part of this village is to be seen from the valley, except a lofty conical tower built of very white calcareous stone. I rode up the hill to it, in order to examine it more closely. It had no door at the bottom, but a large oblong aperture at the height of about 12 feet, to which it was impossible to ascend without a ladder." 1807

History Foundation

Based on the analysis of maps of the 19th century, historian and caucasologist concluded that the village was founded in the period of the 1730s to 1760s, the same time that Ingush migrations to the right bank of Terek River occurred.

Reportedly, the village was built by Zaur, a representative from either the branch of the Thargimkhoy clan (teip) or the Dolgiyev branch of the Thumkhoy clan.

The village was an important center of the Ingush and served as one of the meeting places for the ( 'Country's court').

Later history

According to a report by General dated 2 September 1773, the position of Zaur had important military-strategic significance due to its ability to control the surrounding territory, mountain routes, and lines of communication:

The Russian authorities felt the need to establish reliable communication routes with the territory of Georgia. Hence why, in May 1784, 4 versts away from the village of Zaur, the was founded. At that time, there were 30 households in the village.

The Ingush, who had their villages often attacked by Kabardian and Kumyk well-armed and numerous squads, needed the help of the Vladikavkaz's Garrison troops. At the first call for help, the Ingush also appeared under the walls of the fortress. Getta, the foreman of Zaur, was among the Ingush as attested by the Vladikavkaz's commandant's reports and other documents. Getta owned the single Ingush tower of the village.

Outside the fortress walls, in its immediate vicinity, were the auls of Toti, Temurki, and other Ingush settlements, whose inhabitants were subsequently relocated to the mountainous regions. Soon after the fortress was constructed, Ossetians descending from the mountains began settling in the surrounding area. They were later joined by Cossacks, whose settlement, like that of the Ossetians, took place under military protection. At the same time, the Ingush population was gradually displaced from the neighboring auls. The auls of Zaurovo and Toti eventually ceased to exist, while Temurkovo remained inhabited until the mid-19th century.

Modern localization Johann Güldenstedt notes that Zaur is located opposite the low Ossetian mountains. Butkov mentions that Zaur is located approximately 6 km from Vladikavkaz.

Notes

References

Bibliography

English sources

Russian sources