Sultan-Murza

Background

Based on the assertion that Sultan-Murza called Shikh Murza [ru] "brother", historians like Nataliya Volkova [ru] concluded that he was of Vainakh stock, in this case, of Ingush stock as until the 18th century, the Darial Gorge was inhabited by the Ingush.^[3] Number of other historians also mentioned him as Ingush.^[4][5] In other words, Sultan-Murza was a representative of the ethnic group referred in the Old Russian sources as the Kalkans (Ghalghai).^[2]

Appearance in the Russian Reports

After Shikh Murza Okotskiy received different gifts like a royal charter, Sultan-Murza requested Russian citizenship from Russian officials. The village of Lars had a strategic position, controlling an important section of the road in the Darial Gorge. Sultan-Murza, motivating his desire to enter into Russian citizenship, stated: "I want to serve the sovereign in my own way death, as my brother Shikh-Murza Okotskiy."^[6] In 1589, Sultan-Murza swore allegiance to the Russian Tsar Feodor I as part of the Georgian embassy sent to Moscow.^[7]

Sultan-Murza's position was very difficult in region as he was in middle of the most important point in military and trade relations. Therefore, he was (mainly) pressed by lowland feudal lords of Tarki Shamkhalate and Kabardia who had superior military force.^[6]

War with Kabardians

In 1596, Kabardian forces led by princes Sholokh I of Kabardia and Aitek-Murza advanced through the Daryal Gorge, seizing fortified settlements (’‘kabaki’’) belonging to the noble Sultan-Murza. After establishing control in the highlands, they moved southward into Kartli's mountainous borderlands, specifically targeting the Sioni and Ksani regions.^{[8][9][10][11][12]}