RUSSO-OTTOMAN WARS IN THE 19TH CENTURY AND ABKHAZIA

Abstract

One of the most important problems of modern Georgian statehood is the reintegration of the indigenous historical part of Abkhazia. To solve this issue, first of all, it is necessary to conduct an objective and in-depth study of the aspects of political, socio-economic, demographic, and cultural-religious development of this region. From this point of view, the history of Abkhazia in the 19th century is a defining period, when after a long rivalry between Russia and the Ottomans, the fate of the principality of Abkhazia was decided. Soon this was followed by the mass emigration process of the tragic event of the Abkhazian nation with the concerted action of the empires. The Russo-Ottoman wars of the 19th century and the events that took place in Abkhazia during their course were touched upon by many historians from different angles.

Since the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire and Iran, which have been competing for influence in the Caucasus, have a new rival in the form of a strengthened Russia. Russia had great military-strategic and economic interests in the Black Sea and the Caucasus. He took advantage of the difficult situation of the Caucasian people, who could not repel the aggressors with their forces and necessarily thought of finding a common protector or protector. Russia, which had not yet shown its true face, was perceived as such an ally. The Georgian kingdoms, in particular the Kingdom of Kakheti, showed exceptional activity in their relations with Russia. During the 16th-18th centuries, Russia gradually became stronger, while its rivals became weaker, which was followed by the conquest of the kingdoms of Kartl-Kakheti, and soon Imereti, using very favorable international conditions at the beginning of the 19th century. Such a development of events led to a revision of the orientation of the principality of Abkhazia under Ottoman rule. Chief Kelesh-Beg Sharvashidze applied to Russia in 1806 for protection. Ottomans did not want to lose their influence in such a strategic region and used all measures to preserve it. Both sides tried to multiply supporters and gain success based on them. All this made the situation in Abkhazia very tense, confrontations started even in the princely house, which resulted in some tragic incidents. Events in Abkhazia became dramatic during the Russo-Ottoman wars, and four such wars broke out in the 19th century. Rivals did not shy away from anything, the scales of victory sometimes tilted to one side, to the other. It should be noted that no one was interested in the fate of the local population, on the contrary, they tried to use them. In the end, Russia won the victory, in which the support of the rest of Georgia played an essential role. Mikheil Sharvashidze, the last head of Abkhazia, was distinguished by his pro-Russian policy. However, this did not prevent tsarism from carrying out a large-scale colonization policy in Abkhazia, which resulted in the emigration of tens of thousands of people of Abkhaz nationality.

Keywords: Russia; Ottoman Caucasus; Abkhazia; colonization; Muhajirs;