The Seven Months' War (, ); also known as the Prince-Noble War (, ) or the Qurey War () was a stage on the eastern theater of the Russo-Circassian War (1763-1864) in 1779 between the Russian Empire and the Grand Principality of Kabardia. It was the largest conflict in the war up to that time. The Circassians referred to it as the "Seven Months' War" because they considered the war to have lasted from its beginning in March until the final major battle in September.
Background The foundation of Mozdok Fortress in 1763 marked the beginning of Russia's conquest of the Caucasus. The free use of migration routes was crucial for the Kabardians, Abazins, Ossetians and Balkars, who mainly made their living from animal husbandry. However, Russia’s expansionism that started with Mozdok Fortress was cutting off these vital routes, causing the Kabardian economy to collapse, leaving the people impoverished and under harsh living conditions. Two aristocratic factions of Kabardia, Baksan and Kashkhatau, united against the Russian threat. In 1774, Russia pursued to take over the northern lands of Kabardia and continued to build the Kizlyar-Mozdok Line, citing the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca as the reason. Although the Kabardian independence had earlier been recognized by the two states, the Ottoman Empire under the Russian pressure agreed to cede Kabardia which had never been subject to it. Thus, the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca allowed Russia to strengthen its claims over Kabardia's territory by political means. This occupation worsened the socio-economic situation of the Kabardian people. All diplomatic efforts to stop the invasion were unsuccessful.
On May 21, 1777, Russian General was appointed as the commander of the Caucasus Corps, replacing General . In the same year, Russia started to build ten fortresses along the new line from Mozdok to Azov in a distance of 500+ kilometers with the order of President of the College of War, Grigory Potemkin. In a letter written by the Kabardian leaders to Catherine II in 1782, the main reason for all their disaffections and clashes was cited as the Russian fortifications along the Azov-Mozdok Line.
Along with the fortresses; outposts, forts, redoubts and stanitsas were also established. Cossacks were resettled on the line including the Volga and Khopyor Cossacks who participated in the Pugachev's Rebellion and exiled there. Russia continued to invade the northern Kabardian lands. This line deprived the Kabardians of their northern territories, which not only served as prime wintering grounds for their horse and cattle herds but also contained valuable arable land. As a result, the lack of sufficient pastureland at certain times caused widespread unrest among the majority of the population. The most significant lost grazing areas was the Qurey Plain ().
The Kabardians attempted to several attacks to prevent the construction of the fortresses. By the order of Yakobi, the Khopyor and Volga Cossack regiments were established, which were tasked with permanently guarding the line. was built by Russian and Cossack troops, with the involvement of subjects loyal to the Russians. Durable and expensive materials were used in the construction of the fortresses. To accelerate the construction, serfs faced increased pressure. The Azov-Mozdok Line's functions and objectives were as follows:
Protection of the southern provinces from attacks by the North Caucasian groups, including the protection of the territories of the North Caucasus. Subjugating the North Caucasians and repelling any enemy force including the Ottoman forces. Ensuring connection with South Caucasus (protection of the Georgian Military Road). Deploying reserve and outpost units to the south of Russia.
Potemkin also stated that the new line would benefit groups under Russian protection, while isolating the Circassian and Abaza tribes from their usual trade routes and grazing lands. He included saying that these lands should be used by Russians and their subjects instead. He described the region as economically valuable, suitable for farming, livestock, and other production. The line was also meant to reduce smuggling, improve tax collection, strengthen military security, and shorten transport routes between key areas of Caucasus.
By 1779, the fortresses built along the Azov-Mozdok Line on Circassian territory were: Yekaterinograd, Pavlovsk, , Georgiyevsk, Alexeyevsky, Alexandrovsky (Andreyevsky), and Stavropol. Pavlovsk also served as General Yakobi's main headquarters. After the fortresses were built, Cossack stanitsas were established in the new Russian territories. Stanitsas bearing the same names as the fortresses were also established in their vicinity. The Russian government frequently used the Cossacks to colonize Circassia and consistently ignored the acts of plunder and massacre the Cossacks committed against the local population throughout the century-long Russo-Circassian War. The main and the most guarded fortress of the line was the Marinskaya Fortress (near the present-day Fazannyi village). The Marinskaya, Georgiyevsk, and Pavlovsk Fortresses were built in the main Kabardian regions, restricting their movement with herds to the Setey and Qurey Plains, and the Kabardians, particularly sought to destroy these fortresses. In 1779, the Moskovskaya and Donskaya Fortresses were built to strengthen the western part of the line. The Kabardian princes were secretly forming an alliance with the neighboring tribes. Early Clashes Signs of unrest in response to the growing Russian presence began to surface in October 1777. Shortly after the construction of the line had begun, General Yakobi received reports that the Besleney and Chemguy Circassians had gathered near Beshtau. Unidentified Circassian groups were also reported to have attacked Cossacks near Madzhar. According to Colonel Dmitry Tuganov, 800 Besleney, Chemguy, and Abaza warriors under the command of Kaziy Giray Sultan joined forces with approximately 4,000 Kabardians with the intent of launching attacks on Russian positions along the line.
The Russians intercepted a letter from the Kuban Nogai princes of Akhlov to Prince Misost Bematuqo, falsely claiming the fortifications were built against the Czarina's will and urging their destruction.
Diplomatic efforts yielding no results with the Russians, in 1778, the Kabardians and their allies started their attacks on the line to stop the Russian expansion. In January, 3,000 Kabardians were going to attack the Petrovsk Fort, but the garrison abandoned the fort when they received the possible Kabardian attack and the Kabardians captured the fort without fighting. Kabardian forces, consisting of 4,000 cavalry commanded by Prince Dulak (or Chulak Sultan) attacked the Pavlovsk Fortress in June but was repelled by Colonel Baron Wilhelm von Asheraden, Russians lost 40 men. After this attack, the units on the fortification line were reinforced. On June 4, Kabardians launched an assault on Stavropol Fortress but repelled. On September 23, under the command of Dulak Sultan, they attacked the Arkhangelsk Redoubt. In December, the Kabardians looted a Russian fortress. At the end of 1778, Kabardians tried diplomatic solutions again, but they were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile in Kuban, General Suvorov's army frequently clashed with local Circassian tribes. In April 1778, Suvorov’s successor noted that the region was becoming increasingly dangerous and requested reinforcements from Yakobi.
The National Congress On March 29, 1779, the Kabardian nobles and princes held a nationwide congress with the participation of Chemguy and Besleney princes. Prince Hamirza Qeytuqo, one of the main organizers of the war against the Russians, rallied the Kabardians, and other Circassian groups, while part of his own lands had also fallen into Russian hands.
The leader of the anti-Russian Kabardian aristocrats was Prince Misost Bematuqo. Grand Prince Tatarkhan Jankhot took an anti-war stance and stated that the Kabardians could not confront Russia. Tatarkhan acknowledges his status as a vassal under political pressure and acts in alignment with Russian authority. However the most of the aristocrats were determined to fight until the lost territories were regained. Details of the congress were conveyed to the Russian authorities by the agent Murtaza Abregov.
In accordance with a decision made by the congress, an old tradition was reinstated: those who refused to take part in the war would be punished by being wrapped in wet black felt. According to Circassian oral sources, which are mentioned in the folkloric Night Assault song created by the chief bard of the Qeytuqo princely family, Tawqo Tlepshiqo, the Grand Prince's words during the congress were as follows:
The Kabardians responded as follows:
During the congress, a letter was written in Tatar—the lingua franca of the region—to the commander of the Mozdok Fortress Dmitry Tuganov, signed by prominent Kabardian princes:
The names of the prominent princes who signed the letter were: Aliy, Misost Bematuqo, Temryqo Haji Qilishoqo, Kartul (son of Islam), Beslan, Kurghoqo (son of Qaramirza), Qanemet Yelbezduqo Qeytuqo (son of Qanemet Qeytuqo), and Qaramirza Misost (son of Islam Misost). During the congress, the Circassians swore an oath that they were ready to fight and die if the Russian fortifications were not removed. The Lesser and Greater Kabardians crossed the Malka River and settled 7 kilometers away from Marinskaya Fortress with other Circassians and demanded the destruction of all the fortresses in sight, but the Russians rejected.
On April 28 the letter was translated into Russian. Then on May 1, Russian Lieutenant Colonel Yakim Chornin who was the adjudant to Dmitry Tuganov met with the Kabardians because Tuganov was afraid that the Kabardians may capture him. The Kabardians declared that any correspondence or letters from the Russians would not be acknowledged buildings. All diplomatic relations had been severed. They expressed that they don't want to see anyone from the Russians.
War preparations In the spring of 1779, the Kabardians settled in Qeytuqo Tuasha ()—at the present-day —in the Qurey Plain between the Malka and Qeytuqo rivers, where all the war preparations were made in this forest; they began producing equipment and weapons, as well as constructing small defensive structures. The Kabardians were joined by their allies from neighboring regions. Circassians had a total of 15,000 cavalry (10,000 in other sources, including the at least 3,000 from other Circassian tribes) in the Russian sources. Contrary to common writing, the commoners participated in the war too, typically served as infantry, as indicated in oral sources.
According to tradition, the Grand Prince of Kabardia would be the commander-in-chief during wartime. However, since Tatarkhan Jankhot did not participate in the war, Prince Misost Bematuqo, known for his military skills and anti-Russian stance, was elected as the commander-in-chief during the congress. He participated in numerous battles and was highly esteemed by the people. His grandfather, Kurghoqo Hatokhshoqo, was the former Grand Prince.
The Kabardians were divided into three main armies: Misost Bematuqo (from the Hatokhshoqo dynasty) directly commanded one, Prince Hamirza Qeytuqo which was the son of Aslanbek Qeytuqo (from the Jembulat dynasty) led the second, and Prince Qaramirza Misost (from the Misost dynasty) commanded the third army. Prince Qanemet Yelbezduqo (cousin of Hamirza Qeytuqo) was responsible for intelligence affairs.
The war