Misost Bematiqwa (; ; ? — 1788) was a member of the Kabardian royal family and the Atajuq family. He was the Grand Prince between 1785 and 1788.

Life

He opposed the construction of the

Mozdok Mozdok (russian: Моздо́к; os, Мæздæг, ''Mæzdæg''; Kabardian: Мэздэгу) is a town and the administrative center of Mozdoksky District of North Ossetia – Alania, Russia, located on the left shore of the Terek River, n ...

fortress on Circassian lands, and saw it as a

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

invasion of

Circassia Circassia (; also known as Cherkessia in some sources; ady, Адыгэ Хэку, Адыгей, lit=, translit=Adıgə Xəku, Adıgey; ; ota, چرکسستان, Çerkezistan; ) was a country and a historical region in the along the northeast ...

. In January 1764, Kabardian nobles including Bematiqwa met with the representative of the Russian Kizlyar, commandant Major General N. A. Potapov, and unsuccessfully demanded the demolition of the fortress. The Kabardian princes threatened to seek an alliance with the Crimean Khan against Russia.''Мальбахов Б. К.'' Кабарда на этапах политической истории (середина XVI — первая четверть XIX века). — Москва: «Поматур», 2002. — С. 293. — ISBN 5-86208-106-2. In June 1767, Bematiqwa, then a military commander, launched a military operation against Russia, but many other Kabardian nobles preferred to surrender.''Мальбахов Б. К.'' Кабарда на этапах политической истории (середина XVI — первая четверть XIX века). — Москва: «Поматур», 2002. — С. 299. — ISBN 5-86208-106-2. In the middle of 1768, fifteen Kabardian princes reported to Kizlyar that they were ready to "take an oath" of allegiance to Russia. Misost Bematiqwa, not wanting to surrender or convert to

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

, refused.''Мальбахов Б. К.'' Кабарда на этапах политической истории (середина XVI — первая четверть XIX века). — Москва: «Поматур», 2002. — С. 301. — ISBN 5-86208-106-2. Bematiqwa's resistance was strengthened on October 18, 1768, when the

Ottoman Sultan The sultans of the Ottoman Empire ( tr, Osmanlı padişahları), who were all members of the Ottoman dynasty (House of Osman), ruled over the transcontinental empire from its perceived inception in 1299 to its dissolution in 1922. At its hei ...

, who had declared war on Russia, sent a letter to Bematiqwa stating that he, as

caliph A caliphate or khilāfah ( ar, خِلَافَة, ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph (; ar, خَلِيفَة , ), a person considered a political-religious successor to th ...

, ordered that the Muslim peoples of the

Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range, have historically ...

should officially go to war with Russia, obey the Crimean Khan as their commander, and together with the

Nogais The Nogais ( Nogai: Ногай, , Ногайлар, ) are a Turkic ethnic group who live in the North Caucasus region. Most are found in Northern Dagestan and Stavropol Krai, as well as in Karachay-Cherkessia and Astrakhan Oblast; some als ...

, defeat Russia.''Мальбахов Б. К.'' Кабарда на этапах политической истории (середина XVI — первая четверть XIX века). — Москва: «Поматур», 2002. — С. 302. — ISBN 5-86208-106-2. In December 1768, Muhammad-aga, the personal envoy of the Crimean Khan, arrived in Kabarda. The Crimean Khan asked the Kabardian princes to help the

Kuban Kuban (Russian language, Russian and Ukrainian language, Ukrainian: Кубань; ady, Пшызэ) is a historical and geographical region of Southern Russia surrounding the Kuban River, on the Black Sea between the Pontic–Caspian steppe, ...

Seraskir in the upcoming campaign. In January 1769, the Kizlyar commandant, N. A. Potapov, wrote to Bematiqwa.''Мальбахов Б. К.'' Кабарда на этапах политической истории (середина XVI — первая четверть XIX века). — Москва: «Поматур», 2002. — С. 305. — ISBN 5-86208-106-2. In June 1769, most Kabardian nobles opposed to war with Russia surrendered. However, Bematiqwa, along with some others, refused.''Мальбахов Б. К.'' Кабарда на этапах политической истории (середина XVI — первая четверть XIX века). — Москва: «Поматур», 2002. — С. 307. — ISBN 5-86208-106-2. The anti-Russian group was headed by Bematiqwa. He and his supporters moved to the upper reaches of the Kumy river. Bematiqwa and his associates, in need of allies, turned to Crimean Khan Devlet VI Giray for help. Khan sent a small

Tatar The Tatars ()Tatar
in the Collins English Dictionary is an umbrella term for different

detachment to help them, commanded by the son of the Kuban Seraskir Kazy Giray. The detachment of Crimeans arrived late, as Russian lieutenant general Johann de Medem sent detachments of

Cossacks The Cossacks , es, cosaco , et, Kasakad, cazacii , fi, Kasakat, cazacii , french: cosaques , hu, kozákok, cazacii , it, cosacchi , orv, коза́ки, pl, Kozacy , pt, cossacos , ro, cazaci , russian: казаки́ or ...

and Kalmyk cavalry armed with guns against the Kabardians. In an unequal battle on the river Eshkokon, Russian forces defeated the Kabardians. In 1771, envoys arrived in Kabarda from the Crimean Khan, who met with Bematiqwa.''Мальбахов Б. К.'' Кабарда на этапах политической истории (середина XVI — первая четверть XIX века). — Москва: «Поматур», 2002. — С. 311. — ISBN 5-86208-106-2. They reported false information about the allegedly successful affairs of the Turkish troops in other theaters. In 1772, Kabardian princes Misost Bamatov and Khamurza Aslanbekov sent an envoy to Devlet-Girey, calling him to their place in Kabarda for joint actions to “exterminate” the fortress of Mozdok and the entire Caucasian line. In June 1774, the Crimean Khanate attacked Circassia. A large Crimean army led by Devlet-Girey and Kalga Shabaz-Girey attacked Kabarda and the

Battle of Beshtamak The Battle of Beshtamak was a military conflict between the Crimean Khanate and the Kabardian Principality.Malbakhov B. K. ''Kabarda at the stages of political history (mid-16th - first quarter of the 19th century)'', Moscow, Pomatur, 2002. , art ...

took place. The Crimean horde entered Mozdok and devastated nearby villages.''Мальбахов Б. К.'' Кабарда на этапах политической истории (середина XVI — первая четверть XIX века). — Москва: «Поматур», 2002. — С. 316. — ISBN 5-86208-106-2. In 1785, after the death of the previous prince, Misost Bematiqwa was elected as the supreme prince of Kabardia. In April 1788, Misost Bematiqwa surrendered to Russia.

References

{{Reflist 1788 deaths People of the Caucasian War Circassian military personnel of the Russo-Circassian War