Mountain dwellers servicing Russia

By Vestnik Kavkaza

After some regions of the Caucasus had joined the Russian Empire in the 1800-1810s, the necessity appeared to integrate new residents and effectively involve them in settling tasks important for the whole state. It should be noted that the Russian authorities succeeded in this sphere, managing to respect the ethnic, cultural, and social identities of the Caucasus people.

The Russian authorities followed reasonable policies and attracted mountain dwellers by gentle means. Many Caucasian residents didn’t speak Russian or spoke it poorly. They knew nothing about regular service. In August 1829, 17 people were selected from mountain dwellers and sent to the regiment of the nobility for training. The main target was not training, but adapting to the orders and customs of the army and the court. "Nikolai I had always emphasized the necessity of strictly following the traditions, orders, peculiarities of their household, as he understood that was a guarantee of the peaceful life of Russia and the Caucasus. Of course he had prominent aides and consultants: his childhood friend Baryatinsky, who knew the Caucasus well. All steps taken by the emperor indicate that he knew the characteristics of the mountain peoples very well," Anatoly Korkmasov, historian-Caucasiologist, states. Officers of the noble regiment were given special orders about the Caucasians. Alexander Benkendorf developed special rules himself.

"They were provided with food according to their religious beliefs: pork and bacon were forbidden, as well as alcohol. They had time to pray five times a day," Yavus Akhmadov, professor, PhD (history), says. "However, despite less stringent conditions, not all mountain dwellers liked studying and serving in the noble regiment. Soon they began to request to return to their motherland. Meanwhile, the command of the noble regiment sent numerous complaints about the mountain dwellers for their restless character. But Nikolai I didn’t let the civilizations clash. The emperor responded to officers’ complaints about rowdy Chechen behaviour: “The Chechens' restless nature is not a crime, but an ethnic drawback.”" Nobody dared contradict the emperor. All mountain dwellers were able to return home if they wished.

"Every mountain officer had a vacation. He came home and told about exotic meetings, exotic sights, St.-Petersburg, which was exotic for mountain dwellers in Dagestan. He would tell impossibly fantastic things about the Winter Palace, Kronshtadt, the St.-Petersburg streets, coaches, people, artillery, and so on. Of course these things impressed people in Dagestan," Khadzhimurat Donogo, expert on the Caucasus War, says.

In 1830 the staff of the regiment was defined. It was called the Caucasian Mountain Semi-Squadron of His Imperial Majesty's Convoy. Along with officers, armour-bearers and servants the semi-squadron comprised 90 people. The mountain dwellers got considerable wages: from 300 to 3000 rubles annually – big money at that time. They also had a daily allowance. The convoy was a rather big structure with representative functions.

After the Polish Campaign of 1830-31, mountain dwellers became popular in St.-Petersburg. Young, handsome, black- and red-haired horsemen in unusual clothes attracted the gazes of the capital's girls and residents.

"It would be enough to look at the ammunition of the convoy officers. Their uniform and armaments were unique. When the convoy officers had a vacation in the city and walked around in St.-Petersburg they attracted the attention of all the people on the streets with their height, bravery and unusual uniform. From the list of required property and armaments of the Mountain Semi-Squadron Convoy: “Officers’ uniform: black mutton hat with blue top, Circassian woolen hood, blue Clokha decorated with silver with black under-tunic, red jacket with white under-tunic, trousers with wide silver stripes, cloak and overcoat,” Khadzhimurat Donogo states.

The armaments for the Mountain Semi-Squadron were forged at Tula factories, according to a special order. Anlaces were made by armament artists from England. Everybody admired the convoy officer’s armaments.

The mountain officers were present everywhere where the emperor and members of his family appeared, guarded the Winter Palace and other imperial residential areas. When the emperor went anywhere they followed him. They also looked after children and wives. Usually the convoy participated in battles, but to a lesser extent.

In 1832 first change of mountain officers took place in the convoy. The former convoy officers were sent to the Caucasus by command of the tsar's envoy. After four years of service under the emperor they had to promote peaceful ideas of the state in their motherland. Therefore, their service didn’t stop.

"The tsar obtained dedicated supporters of Russia in the Caucasus; people who shared a pro-Russian political course and saw huge opportunities for the great country. They compare the sizes of their own countries with Russia, the opportunities for their nations with Russia. Of course, from these people the Russian (in the best sense of the word) political party in the North Caucasus appeared,"  Yavus Akhmadov states.

To be continued