Faithful Gusein Khan Nakhichevanski

Anna Demchenko exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

Life of Gusein Khan Nakhichevanski was devoted to interests of the Russian Empire and the Emperor’s family. The interests of crown came first for him – even in the most dreadful days of the Tsar Family, he remained one of few devoted generals and didn’t want to escape Russia which was in fire of the revolution.

Gusein Khan who was the only Muslim among adjutant general of the Emperor was born in the family of Nakhichevan princes. His father was Major General of the Russian army Kelb-Ali khan Nakhichevanski, the first Azeri who graduated from the Pazheski Corps and his mother was Zari khanym Makinskaya, a native of the dynasty which ruled in the Makin Khanate in the 1920s.

Grandfather of Gusein Khan, Eskhan Khan, connected his life with the Russian Empire during the Russian-Iranian war in 1826-1828. Only his descendants were called Nakhichavanski. Other representatives of the family were called Kalbalikhanovy, Zelfugarkhanovy, and Kengerlinski.

Gusein Khan and his brothers Ragim Khan and Dzhafargulu Khan continued the family tradition of military service. When he was ten, he entered the Pazheski His Highness Corps in 1873. It was a prestigious cadet school preparing guard officers.

In 1883 he graduated from the corps as Kammer-Page. When Gusein Khan was 19, he was promoted to the cornet rank in the regiment where he has been servicing for all his life.

Gusein Khan married the daughter of the poet, literature expert, translator, and editor Nikolai Gerbel (the author of the translation of The Lay of Igor’s Campaign), Sofia. They had three children – sons Nikolai Khan and Georgy Khan, and daughter Tatyana.

In 1904 the Russian-Japanese war began. Even though Nikolai II prevented including the Horse Guard into fighting troops, Gusein Khan and some other best officers were allowed to shift to fighting troops. He commanded the Second Dagestani Horse Regiment which was formed out of volunteers. Gusein Khan got seven awards for bravery and efficient commanding.

Right after the end of the war Gusein Khan was appointed the commander of the famous Nizhegorodski Dragoon Regiment of the Caucasus Cavalry Division. This position was wishful for many top military officials, but Nikolai II personally followed the appointment of Gusein Khan.

In 1906 Gusein Khan was appointed the commander of the Life Guard Horse Regiment. For the first and the last time in the history of the Russian Empire the most prestigious and oldest guard regiment was under command of a non-Christian person. The chiefs of the regiment were all emperors of the Romanov Family – from Anna Ioanovna, except for Alexander I.

In 1907 Gusein Khan initiated collecting charity for construction of St. Olga Church in Krasnoe Selo as the 100th anniversary of the Friedland Battle was coming. The idea was supported by members of the regiment’s Officer Council. The church was founded on August 6, 1907, in presence of Emperor and his family. The project of the church was developed by architect Basin. Since 1914 and to his disappearance, Gusein Khan’s fate was connected with  the Wild Division.