Kabardian Civil War (1720–1736)

Assassination attempt

Recognizing that the Qeytuqeys and Bekmirzeys formed the obstacle to achieve control over Kabardia, the Crimean leadership resolved to neutralize them through a targeted political assassination. The plot was masterminded and executed by Sultan Salikh-Giray, the son of Khan Saadet-Giray. Salih-Giray maintained deep political ties within Kabardia, having been raised by the Misostey family under the traditional institution of Atalyk (foster-brotherhood).^[15]

In the summer of 1720, Sultan Salikh-Giray launched the operation, attempting to ambush and assassinate Prince Aslanbech Qeytuqo and members of the Bechmirza dynasty while they were within central Kabardian territory. However, the operation failed to achieve total surprise. Due to either tactical errors by the attackers or timely intelligence received by the targets, Aslanbech Qeytuqo and the Bechmirza leadership successfully evaded the trap and survived the assassination attempt completely unharmed.^[16][15]

Saadet Giray avoided further incursion into Kabardia due to a plague outbreak and withdrew to Crimea. Meanwhile, the Kashkatau faction, confined in the Cherek valley, appealed for Russian support. Yislambech Misost, relying on Crimean backing, attempted to blockade the settlement and cut off supply routes.^[16]

In spring 1721, Moscow dispatched Don Cossack forces in support of the Kashkatau party, which, together with Aslanbech's forces, defeated the Bakhsan faction on Nogai territory. On 16 May 1721, the Military Collegium raised the Kabardian issue before the Senate, seeking to determine whether aid could be provided without provoking conflict with the Ottoman Empire.^[16]

Only in mid-January 1721, after the battle on the Nalchik River, during which most of the Bakhsan nobles went over to the side of Qeytuqey village, were the Crimean troops expelled from the center of Kabarda. In this battle the Crimeans lost no fewer than 360 men killed. Despite the apparent success of the Kashkatau party, Crimea resumed its offensive against the descendants of Jembulat (the Bechmirza's and Qeytuqo's) in the spring of 1721.^[18]

Later that year, Astrakhan Governor A. P. Volynsky arrived in the Greben region with Cossack and Kalmyk detachments. He attempted to reconcile the warring Kabardian factions, secure oaths of loyalty, and obtain hostages. Yislambech Misost was taken into custody. In April 1722, Yislambech Misost sent a letter to the Russian Emperor pledging allegiance and offering his son and nephew as hostages. However, after his release, he resumed his alliance with the Crimean Khanate. He later reaffirmed his allegiance to Crimea and strengthened ties through marriage alliances, including the marriage of his daughter to Salih-Girey, then Kuban serasker.^[16]

Subsequently, Yislambech, Salih-Girey, Bemat Kurghoqo, and other leaders raised a joint force and attacked territories held by the Kashkatau faction. On 9 March 1723, the Collegium of Foreign Affairs reviewed Misost's case after reports confirmed his violation of oaths and collaboration with Crimean forces. Letters sent by Kashkatau leaders to Astrakhan Governor Ivan Kikin described ongoing sieges and requested Russian military assistance. Orders were issued for support from Kalmyk Khan Ayuka and the Don Cossacks, and diplomatic correspondence was sent to the Russian court. Despite these measures, relief was limited, and the Cherek settlement remained under siege.^[16]

Aslanbech's exile

Without the support of the Kabardian princes, Aslanbech Qeytuqo quickly lost his authority. Hoping to preserve his position, he requested a redistribution of lands and subjects from the ruling princes, but his request was rejected. Isolated politically and left without allies, Aslanbech fled Kabardia together with his brother and son, seeking refuge in the Crimean Khanate. Aslanbech's departure temporarily ended the open conflict between the Bakhsan and Kashkatau factions. In the following years, the Hatokhshoqo dynasty, Misost dynasty, and the Bechmirza dynasty formed a stable alliance that helped bring a period of relative unity and stability to Greater Kabardia during the late 1720s and early 1730s. This coalition allowed Kabardia to resist major external threats until the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War in 1735.^[21]

After his exile, Aslanbech turned to the Kuban sultan Bakhti Giray for help, swore allegiance to him, and gave his daughter in marriage. Bakhti Giray, relying on the Crimean Khan's power, ravaged Greater Kabardia and began forcing the Kabardian princes to submit to his authority, demanding their resettlement to Kuban. In 1729, during another campaign against Kabardia, the Kuban serasker Bakhti Giray was killed in battle together with his brother Murad Sultan.^[22]

In 1730, the Ottoman Sultan removed the Crimean Khan Mengli Giray from power and reinstated Qaplan I Giray. His rival for the Khan's throne, Salih Giray, fled to his father-in-law, Prince Yislambech Misost. He took with him 2,000 Nogai families, approximately 35,000-40,000 people. Qaplan Giray, in turn, recognized Aslanbech Qeytuqo as the sole claimant to the throne of Kabardia, who in turn received a 19,000-strong army from the Khan. Aslanbech, in turn, swore allegiance to the Khan and promised to bring the entire region into submission.^[22]

Wars of Islambech

In 1729, Bakhty-Girey demanded renewed tribute in the form of yasyr (captives). He was later killed in a skirmish, after which Kabardian sources state that the annual obligation to provide captives to the Crimean Khan was effectively ended. E. J. Naloeva provides a more detailed account of the death of Bakhty-Girey and his brother Shabaz-Girey. According to her, in the spring of 1729, the forces of Deli-Sultan advanced toward the borders of Kabarda. During a fierce battle, Yislambech Misost struck Bakhty-Girey down with a saber. Naloeva further notes that this event had long-term consequences for Kabarda, stating that revenge "for the blood of two sultans" thereafter hung over the Kabardians like a prolonged threat, continuing for more than twenty years.^[16]

After entering Kabardia in late September 1731, the Crimean army under Arbibet Giray and Aslan Giray demanded that the Kabardians surrender the Nogai families who had fled from Kuban, hand over the retainers of the exiled prince Aslanbech Qeytuqo, and submit to retribution for the deaths of several Giray princes killed during previous Crimean invasions. The Kabardian princes rejected these demands and withdrew the population and livestock into the mountains while preparing for resistance. Unable to force a decisive engagement, the Crimean forces devastated the countryside by burning crops and hay supplies, taking captives, and ravaging settlements as they advanced deeper into the principality.^[23] Aslanbech himself was in the Crimean army during this attack.^[22]

Rather than remaining in central Kabardia, the Crimean army then marched east toward the Terek River, reportedly intending to attack the Terek Cossack settlements near Tatartup. Yislambech Misost, as the Grand Prince of Kabardia, seized the opportunity to pursue the retreating force.^[23] The Kabardian army, which numbered about 12,000 men,^[24] caught up with the Crimean host at the Zhyryshty crossing on the Terek River in early October 1731. As the Crimean troops attempted to cross the river, the Kabardians launched an attack, taking advantage of the difficult terrain and the disorder caused by the crossing. The battle ended in a decisive Kabardian victory. The Crimean army was routed at the crossing and forced to abandon its campaign, preventing its advance toward the Terek frontier.^[23][25][26]