CAUCASION CAUCASION LEGENDLEGEND

IMAM IMAM SHAMILSHAMIL

Mikhail NokhovMikhail Nokhov

Gymnasium # 1Gymnasium # 1

KhasavyurtKhasavyurt

Imam Shamil was born in 1797 Imam Shamil was born in 1797 in the small village of Gimry in the small village of Gimry which is in current-day which is in current-day Dagestan, Russia. He was Dagestan, Russia. He was Avar like Nurmagomedov Avar like Nurmagomedov Family. His father was a free Family. His father was a free landlord, and this position landlord, and this position allowed Shamil and close allowed Shamil and close friends Ghazi Mullah to study friends Ghazi Mullah to study many subjects including many subjects including Arabic and logic. Shamil also Arabic and logic. Shamil also joined the Naqshbandi joined the Naqshbandi Mujaddidy Khalidiya Sufi Mujaddidy Khalidiya Sufi order, and established himself order, and established himself as a well-respected and as a well-respected and educated man among other educated man among other Muslims of the Caucasus.Muslims of the Caucasus.

Shamil’s Street and Houses

The Village of Gimry

Shamil was born at a time Shamil was born at a time when the Russian Empire was when the Russian Empire was expanding into the territories expanding into the territories of the Ottoman Empire and of the Ottoman Empire and Persia (see Russo-Persian War Persia (see Russo-Persian War (1804-1813) and Russo-Turkish (1804-1813) and Russo-Turkish War). Following the Russian War). Following the Russian invasion, many Caucasian invasion, many Caucasian nations united in resistance to nations united in resistance to harsh Tsarist rule in what harsh Tsarist rule in what became known as the became known as the Caucasian War. Some of the Caucasian War. Some of the earlier leaders of Caucasian earlier leaders of Caucasian resistance were Sheikh resistance were Sheikh Mansur, and Ghazi Mollah. Mansur, and Ghazi Mollah. Shamil was actually childhood Shamil was actually childhood friends with Mollah, and friends with Mollah, and would become his disciple.would become his disciple.

In 1834, Ghazi Mollah died at the In 1834, Ghazi Mollah died at the battle of Ghimry, and Shamil took battle of Ghimry, and Shamil took his place as the premier leader of the his place as the premier leader of the Caucasian resistance and the Imam Caucasian resistance and the Imam of the Naqshbandi Mujadidyi of the Naqshbandi Mujadidyi Khalidiya Tariqat. In 1839 (June-Khalidiya Tariqat. In 1839 (June-August), Shamil and his followers, August), Shamil and his followers, numbering about 4000 men, women numbering about 4000 men, women and children found themselves and children found themselves under siege in their mountain under siege in their mountain stronghold of Akhoulgo, nestled in stronghold of Akhoulgo, nestled in the bend of the Andee Koisou River, the bend of the Andee Koisou River, about ten miles east of Gimry. This about ten miles east of Gimry. This epic siege of the war lasted eighty epic siege of the war lasted eighty days, resulting finally in a Russian days, resulting finally in a Russian victory. The Russians suffered about victory. The Russians suffered about 3000 casualties in taking the 3000 casualties in taking the stronghold, while the rebels were stronghold, while the rebels were almost entirely slaughtered after almost entirely slaughtered after extremely bitter fighting where extremely bitter fighting where typical of the war, no quarter was typical of the war, no quarter was either asked or giveneither asked or given

Ruins of Shamil’s Tower

Shamil and a small party of his Shamil and a small party of his closest followers, including closest followers, including some family miraculously some family miraculously managed to escape down the managed to escape down the cliffs and through the Russian cliffs and through the Russian siege lines during the final days siege lines during the final days at Akhoulgo. Following his at Akhoulgo. Following his escape he once again set about escape he once again set about regaining his following and regaining his following and resisting the Russian resisting the Russian occupation. Shamil was effective occupation. Shamil was effective at uniting the many, frequently at uniting the many, frequently quarreling, Caucasian tribes to quarreling, Caucasian tribes to fight against the Russians. He fight against the Russians. He made effective use of guerrilla made effective use of guerrilla warfare tactics and the warfare tactics and the resistance continued under his resistance continued under his leadership until 1859. On leadership until 1859. On August 25, 1859 Shamil and his August 25, 1859 Shamil and his family surrendered to Russian family surrendered to Russian forces and were jailed in the forces and were jailed in the Dagestan aoul of Gunib.Dagestan aoul of Gunib.

After his capture, Shamil After his capture, Shamil was sent to Saint was sent to Saint Petersburg to meet the Petersburg to meet the Emperor Alexander II. Emperor Alexander II. Afterwards he was exiled Afterwards he was exiled to Kaluga, then a small to Kaluga, then a small town near Moscow. After town near Moscow. After several years in Kaluga he several years in Kaluga he complained to the complained to the authorities about the authorities about the climate and in December, climate and in December, 1868 Shamil received the 1868 Shamil received the permission to move to permission to move to Kiev, a commercial center Kiev, a commercial center of the Empire's southwestof the Empire's southwest

In Kiev he was afforded In Kiev he was afforded a mansion at the a mansion at the Aleksandrovskaya Aleksandrovskaya Street. The Imperial Street. The Imperial authorities ordered the authorities ordered the Kievan superintendent Kievan superintendent to keep Shamil under to keep Shamil under "strict but not overly "strict but not overly burdensome burdensome surveillance" and surveillance" and allotted the city a allotted the city a significant sum for the significant sum for the needs of the exile. needs of the exile. Shamil seemed to have Shamil seemed to have liked his luxurious liked his luxurious detainment as well as detainment as well as the city as confirmed the city as confirmed the letters he sent from the letters he sent from Kiev.Kiev. A Memorial Boar on

a House in Kiev.

In 1869 he was given a In 1869 he was given a permission to take Hajj to permission to take Hajj to the holy city of Mecca. He the holy city of Mecca. He traveled there by ship from traveled there by ship from Kiev through Odessa and Kiev through Odessa and Istanbul. He died in Medina Istanbul. He died in Medina in 1871 while visiting the in 1871 while visiting the city, and was buried in the city, and was buried in the Jannatul Baqi which is also Jannatul Baqi which is also the site where many the site where many important personalities important personalities from Islamic history are from Islamic history are buried. His two sons buried. His two sons (Cemaleddin and (Cemaleddin and Muhammed Şefi) became Muhammed Şefi) became officers in the Russian officers in the Russian army, while two other sons army, while two other sons (Muhammed Gazi and (Muhammed Gazi and Muhammed Kamil) served Muhammed Kamil) served in the Turkish army.in the Turkish army.

Monument to Imam Shamil in Makhachkala