Pavel Matrynov exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
This year marks 140 years since the Khiva military expedition of Russian troops, which became the culminating point of Central Asia becoming part of Russia. At the same time, in 1883 Merv was recognized as the center of plunder and destruction, which hindered the development of all Central Asia. It was staff-captain Alikhanov who played a major role in annexing Merv to the Russian Empire. There has been much written about this courageous warrior, the statesman, writer, artist and diplomat, Maskud Alikhanov. He demonstrated his excellent tactical and strategic thinking in several wars that Russia waged in the 19th century.
The battle cry "for Khiva" had great importance among the military youth of the Caucasus at the beginning of 1873. Alikhanov wrote that many wanted to join the military expedition to Khiva as tourists. He also read that the Khiva expedition was one of the most difficult known military expeditions in the history of mankind, which bewildered even the enemies of Russia who considered it more difficult than the famous campaigns of Hannibal and Napoleon. According to Alikhanov, Europe was closely following the events of the campaign, the results of which exceeded all their expectations.
Alikhanov joined the Mangyshlaksky Expeditionary Unit, which participated in the conquest of Central Asia, on the personal order of a younger brother of Emperor Alexander II, commander of the Caucasian army, Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich.
At the storming of Khiva, Alikhanov was wounded twice, but already two years later he went back to Central Asia as a member of a reconnaissance expedition. On the way back, Alikhanov quarreled with a senior-ranking officer and challenged him to a duel. The result of the duel is not known for sure, but the military court cashiered him, stripped him of all military medals and transferred him to the Pereyaslavl Dragoons.
Three years later, Alikhanov was promoted to the rank of warrant officer due to his active participation in the Turkish campaign. Later he was promoted to second lieutenant and spent two years in the Caucasus. After that he returned to the Trans-Caspian steppes. There Alikhanov became familiar with the life of the Merv community, became friends with many local elders, wrote for "Moskovskiye Vedomosti" and "Russkiy Vestnik." Having developed good relationships with the locals and having acquired a knowledge of local customs, Alikhanov developed a plan for the peaceful accession of the Merv community to Russia. He persuaded the Moscow Konshina firm to send a caravan with goods for sale to Merv. When all the goods were sold, representatives of the Merv community including elders and honorable citizens went to Russia with the caravan to swear allegiance to the Russian Tsar. The peaceful annexation of Merv was the greatest achievement of Alikhanov. Alikhanov was again made a Major, all his medals were returned to him and he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, as well as being appointed first chief of the Merv district.
During the revolutionary events of 1905, Alikhanov was sent to Guria and Yerevan to crack down on revolts. When an armed revolutionary force, captured the railway and Tiflis, and almost deposed the governor of the Caucasus, Alikhanov was appointed interim Tiflis Governor-General. Order was restored, but Alikhanov amassed a lot of enemies. Everyone knew that the general's life was in danger. Once, when the general was getting into a carriage in Kutaisi, he was advised to put in front of him an empty chaise with a Cossack escort to simulate his departure. Alikhanov refused and was severely wounded. Luckily the wound was not fatal and soon he became the head of the Second Cossack Division, stationed in the South Caucasus.
The general realized that an attempt on his life was being prepared by Dashnak revolutionaries. By that time they already controlled Alexandropol (present-day Gyumri), which at that time was the third largest cultural center in the South Caucasus after Tiflis and Baku. After all the battles, campaigns and dangerous encounters, Alikhanov died from a bomb thrown by Dashnaks in the summer of 1907. Alikhanov's widow, a daughter of an Azerbaijani sovereign prince, Zari-Bek, brought Alikhanov's body back to his fatherland, Dagestan. Alikhanov's gravestone read: "Allah likes the brave. He does not allow them to die peacefully in their beds."
After his death, a newspaper wrote: "An honest and loyal heart was beating in his chest and with him Russia has lost a faithful and useful servant... Being a good Muslim, who dearly loved his gloomy Dagestan, with its wild folk poetry and history full of heroic deeds, his own language, Alikhanov at the same time was a fervent Russian patriot, perfectly mastered the Russian language and knew it better than many native Russians do, the Russian civilization."
This article is based on materials taken from the cultural heritage portal tsumada.ru, website gazavat.ru, a book by R.N. Ivanov, The Taming of the Mountain Unkratl and Alikhanov's Work, The Military Campaign in Khiva (of the Caucasian Army).
