"კავკასიის დაპყრობა" – გამოყენებული მეთოდები და საშუალებები (თანამედროვეთა შეფასებები)

Abstract

In the article we discuss the different methods and means used by the Russian troops while the conquest of the Caucasus as well as contemporary estimation of that event. The lessons of the past give us the best opportunity to analyse the specific conflicts of the Caucasus. The 19th century Russian historiography paid prominent attention to the military operations in the Caucasus, its forms, strategy, administrative system was also the subject for analysis. The contemporary scholars who were working over these issues may be divided in two groups: the first group describes the process of the warfare. The second group involves the historians whose goal is not only to describe the details of the military operation but also to learn about the reasons of the events. Both groups have a single common feature – they have explored the rich and the diverse historical materials which they used in their research: the archival materials, the memories, official letters etc. According to their research, it is established that Russia had used the following system for the conquest of the Caucasus (mainly for the northern part of it): 1. development of peaceful trade relationship with the loyal population (ex. with the Kara-Nogai people). 2. foundation of the settlements for the defence of the inner part of the country. 3. construction of the roads, deforestation and the construction of the fortified camps. 4. military operations and other essential measures (divide et impera); deportation of disloyal population and resettlement of the loyal population (ex. Armenians, Greeks, and according to Grigol Orbeliani’s project – Montenegrins and Bulgarians). For more accuracy, the work includes also two documents. The first is the report of A. Yermolov to the Emperor of Russia, dated by 20th of May, 1818, where the main principles are documented about the above discussed issue. Another document is an extract from the report of 18th-20th January, 1862, written by the commander-in-chief of the Caucasian army Grigol Orbeliani to military minister D. Milyutin which includes the project about resettlement in the Caucasus of those people who left Turkey. Both documents include the evidences for the confirmation of above stated methods of the Russians towards the Caucasus.