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Muhammad-Mirza Anzorov

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Muhammad-Mirza Anzorov
Андзор Мухьэмэд-Мырзэ
Naib of Imamate Province of Vilayet Kalay
In office
1848–1851
Preceded byNaib Dudarov
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Naib of Imamate Province of Vilayet Arshtkhoy
In office
1848–1851
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
BornMuhammad-Mirza
1804
Anzorei, Kabardia
Died19 June 1851(1851-06-19) (aged 46–47)
Gekhi, lesser Chechnya, Caucasian Imamate
Military service
AllegianceKabardia Kabardia
Russian Empire Russia (formerly)
Caucasian Imamate
Branch/serviceArmy
Years of service1825-1851
RankGeneral
CommandsCavalry
Battles/warsCaucasus War

Muhammad-Mirza Anzorov (Kabardian: Андзор Мухьэмэд-Мырзэ) was a Kabardian military and political figure, a mudir (general-naib) of the Caucasian Imamate, and a leading figure in the resistance against Russian imperial expansion during the Caucasian War. Coming from the noble Kabardian Anzorov family, he played a critical role in uniting Circassian and Chechen forces against Russian colonial policies.

Early life and background

Born in the village of Anzorei in Kabarda in 1804, Anzorov belonged to a prominent Kabardian noble family that held significant land near the confluence of the Terek and Uruq rivers. During the Russian conquest of Kabarda, he was taken as a hostage (amanat) in 1822. By the 1840s, Anzorov served as a Russian officer, holding ranks up to lieutenant and serving on the Kabardian court and in delegations to the Russian Emperor.

Despite his formal ties to the Russian administration, Anzorov opposed Russian colonial expansion and increasingly identified with the cause of resistance led by Imam Shamil.

Defection to the Imamate

In April 1846, Anzorov joined Imam Shamil, the leader of the Caucasian Imamate, accompanied by 37 Kabardian princes, nobles, and a large group of peasants. His defection marked a turning point, signaling the discontent of Kabardian elites with Russian rule. Anzorov and his followers moved to Chechnya, where they reinforced Shamil's forces.

On August 22, 1846, Anzorov was appointed naib (governor) of the Gekhi district in Lesser Chechnya, and he became the leader of a hundred Circassian (Kabardian) muhajirs. His appointment demonstrated Shamil's trust in him as a capable military and administrative leader.

Role in the Caucasian War

Anzorov's tenure as naib coincided with one of the most challenging periods of the Caucasian War. Russian forces intensified their campaigns, isolating mountain societies and constructing military lines to cut off supplies and reinforcements. Despite these challenges, Anzorov led fierce battles to defend villages, particularly in the Arshtkhoy and Gekhi regions.

In March 1849, Imam Shamil elevated him to the position of mudir (governor) of Lesser Chechnya. Under his leadership, Circassian and Chechen fighters carried out daring raids, including repeated breaches of the Russian fortifications along the Sunzha line. These operations inflicted heavy losses on Russian forces and underscored Anzorov's military prowess.

Death and Legacy

On June 15, 1851, during a battle near Nurikoevskaya Polyana against a detachment led by Major General Nikolai Sleptsov, Anzorov sustained severe injuries. He succumbed to his wounds four days later, on June 19, 1851. His death marked the loss of a key leader for the Caucasian resistance.

Anzorov remains a symbol of Kabardian resistance and a testament to the unity among North Caucasian peoples during the struggle against imperial domination. His efforts to protect the autonomy of his homeland and his commitment to the cause of the Imamate are remembered as significant contributions to the history of the Caucasian War.

References

  1. "Наибы Чечни — Нохчалла.com — Чечня, чеченцы, обычаи, традиции, история и многое другое" (in Russian). 2014-03-12. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
  2. Richmond, Walter (2008-06-11). The Northwest Caucasus: Past, Present, Future. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-00249-8.
  3. Письменные памятники Востока (in Russian). Наука. 1974.
  4. "Анзоров Мухаммед-Мирза » Адыги .RU - Новости Адыгеи, история, культура и традиции адыгов (черкесов)". Адыги .RU - Новости Адыгеи, история, культура и традиции адыгов (черкесов) (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-12-01.
  5. Аджаматов, Багаутдин (2022-05-15). История первой Кавказской войны. Султан-Мут Великий (in Russian). Litres. ISBN 978-5-04-256764-3.
  6. "Газават.ру :: История - Кавказская война - ПОЧЕМУ МАГОМЕТ-МИРЗА ПЕРЕШЕЛ К ШАМИЛЮ". www.gazavat.ru. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
  7. Национально-освободительная борьба народов Северного Кавказа и проблемы мухаджирства: материалы всесоюзной научно-практической конференции, 24-26 октября 1990 г (in Russian). Эльбрус. 1994. ISBN 978-5-7680-0918-2.
  8. Ашаханов, Тайгиб (2023-09-01). Великие Имена Кавказа (in Russian). Litres. ISBN 978-5-04-574369-3.
  9. Gammer, Moshe (2003-07-30). Muslim Resistance to the Tsar: Shamil and the Conquest of Chechnia and Daghestan. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-7146-8141-2.
  10. B.Z. Mansur, History of the Caucasian Imamate and Its Leaders, pp. 97-105.
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