The Battle of Khachara was a confrontation between Chechens led by Aldaman-Gheza and the

Avar Khanate The Avar Khanate, the Avar Nutsaldom ( av, Avar Nutsallhi; russian: Аварское ханство), also known as Khundzia or Avaria, was a long-lived Avar state, which controlled mountainous parts of Dagestan (in the North Caucasus) from the ...

led by Mohammad Khan. The battle took place in the Khachara gorge in Chechnya during the 17th century.

Background

According to the historian Amin Tesaev, the Avar khan Dugri was provoked by the

Muscovy Muscovy is an alternative name for the Grand Duchy of Moscow (1263–1547) and the Tsardom of Russia (1547–1721). It may also refer to: *Muscovy Company, an English trading company chartered in 1555 * Muscovy duck (''Cairina moschata'') and Domes ...

Tsar to invade

Chechnya Chechnya ( rus, Чечня́, Chechnyá, p=tɕɪtɕˈnʲa; ce, Нохчийчоь, Noxçiyçö), officially the Chechen Republic,; ce, Нохчийн Республика, Noxçiyn Respublika is a republic of Russia. It is situated in the ...

due to

Chechens The Chechens (; ce, Нохчий, , Old Chechen: Нахчой, ''Naxçoy''), historically also known as ''Kisti'' and ''Durdzuks'', are a Northeast Caucasian ethnic group of the Nakh peoples native to the North Caucasus in Eastern Europe. "Europ ...

forcing heavy taxes on

Russian Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including: *Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...

ambassadors that traveled through

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, an important ally to Russia at the time. However, the Avar writers of the 17th century claim this expedition was a religious

Jihad Jihad (; ar, جهاد, jihād ) is an Arabic word which literally means "striving" or "struggling", especially with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it can refer to almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with Go ...

to convert the "Infidel Chechens" to Islam. 19th century Russian-German historian and officer A. P. Berzhe claims that the invasion happened due to the fertile and rich lands of the lowland Chechens. However, he refers to the invaders as "Tavlins" (Highlanders in Turkic) and not Avar. Only the Avar reports from the 17th century by the scientist Malla-Muhammad give an actual date of the battle and exact location.

Battle

Malla-Muhammad mentions famous Avar chronicler such as Atanasil Husayn as taking part in the command of the army alongside the son of the Avar khan Dugri named Muhammad Khan. Malla-Muhammad describes how the Avar army gathered in their capital,

Khunzakh Khunzakh ( av, Хунзахъ, , russian: Хунзах) is a rural locality (a '' selo'') and the administrative center of Khunzakhsky District in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia, located in the North Caucasus mountains above sea level. Populati ...

, and marched to the Chechen mountains. He notes that they spread Islam successfully at first until they reached the Khachara gorge where the "Chechen infidels" gave the Avar army a fierce battle which killed Atanas Husayn. Chechen folklore also refers to this battle and describes how the Chechens under the command of the Mehk-Da Aldaman-Gheza managed to trick the Avar army into a mountainous pass by feinting a retreat. This description is similar to the A. P. Berzhe description of the battle where a Highland army descended into the lowlands but was tricked into the Argun gorge by the enemy that feinted a retreat. Berzhe also describes how half of the Highlander (Avar) army was exterminated and how Chechens as a result of this battle developed a saying to evoke the idea of a huge number of worthless things: "it is cheaper than Tavlin (Avar) hats in the Argun."

References

{{reflist Khachara Khachara

Background

Battle

See also

References