DOI: 10.25136/2409-868X.2022.12.39526

Abstract: The object of research in the article is a historical and architectural monument located near the tower village of Keshta in the Zumsoy region (Itum-Kalinsky district of the Chechen Republic), on the edge of the Bavn-Duk ridge, washed on both sides by the Zumsoy-erk and Keshta-erk rivers. According to oral data and the Kitab narrative, the investigated object (the wall) is a remnant of the former barracks complex, destroyed by the Asian conqueror Amir Timur during the campaign against the Simsim ulus (Chechnya) in 1395–1396. We carried out reconnaissance work to identify the existing traces of the foundation and the wall of the desired complex of stone structures using a geodetic device and plotting coordinates on a satellite map; the obtained data was plotted. The towers of the village of Keshta were also investigated, as a result of which it was revealed that some stones used in construction (in particular, fragments of arched window-sill stones) have signs of secondary, moreover, non-targeted use in construction.

DOI: 10.25136/2409-868X.2022.10.39000

Abstract: The article considers thirteen memorial gravestone stele-churts as epigraphic sources of Chechnya. The author's task is to introduce these sources into scientific circulation with the subsequent introduction of the revealed information into secondary historical research. The list of works devoted to epigraphic monuments of the Chechen Republic is considered; the weakness of the existing base on the topic under study and the need for a wider study of the surviving objects and their epitaphs are noted. The evolution of the burial culture is briefly noted, which is also expressed by the change of accompanying the deceased with objects of weapons, worship and everyday life to their display on the funeral tombstone. The role of cruciform tombstone in early Muslim single burials is noted according to those monuments that have survived to the 20–21th centuries. Translations of the epitaphs of the considered tombstone are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. The results of the work show that Chechen churts (tombstones) are often used not only to depict texts of epitaphs dedicated to the buried, but also to reflect their genealogical tree, social status and memorable events. At this stage of the study, we can only talk about preliminary conclusions, which, however, allow us to conditionally divide the Chechen stelae-churts (in terms of functionality) into tombstones, border, memorial and cult ones. The review also reflects the need for a careful attitude to the cruciform tombstone of Chechnya, which do not always (and not necessarily) indicate the religious affiliation of the buried, although they may reflect the likely continuity and transitional "dual faith" during the period of Islamization of the region.

DOI: 10.25136/2409-868X.2022.8.38654

Abstract: The article discusses the abstract compiled by the Jordanian military and researcher – Abd-ul-Ghani Hassan al-Shiishani (1924-2001) – to the manuscript of the medieval theologian and preacher Azdi Wazar, kept in the archive of Sheikh Bahal Tolmirzi az-Zandaki (1784-1884). The text of the Arabic-language document was sent in 1990 by letter to the Chechen ethnographer and writer A. S. Suleymanov, stored in the manuscript fund of the museum of the same name. According to the contents of the document, Azdi Vazar (1395-1460) was born in the family of the Tatar officer Vazar Andarbi, studied in the countries of the East and visited Chechnya with a preaching purpose.   The text lists forty-eight sub-ethnonyms, declared as a list of tribes known to Azdi Vazar at the time of his arrival in his homeland. A number of toponyms are given, as well as brief background information on the religious picture and geographical boundaries of the region. The document is being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. The article is divided into three parts and represents the history of the document, the comments of the author of the publication regarding certain points from the annotation and the actual text of the translation of the annotation by A.-G. H. Ash-Shiyshani. Some points reflect additional information gleaned from his own (Al-Shiishani) Chechen-language translation of the Arabic annotation.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0609.2022.5.39028

Abstract: The article discusses the headdress found during the study of the tower-shaped crypt of the village of Korotakh in the historical-geographical region of Malkhist (Itum-Kalinsky district of the Chechen Republic) and stored since 2016 among the exhibits of the National Museum of the Chechen Republic. The subject was introduced into scientific circulation in 1977 by R. A. Dautova and was repeatedly mentioned in scientific publications later. The fabric from which the cap is sewn was made in Italian weaving centers, and, according to radiocarbon dating, was made between 1430–1480. A certain discussion in the circles of researchers was caused by the origin of the dress and the circumstances under which it ended up at the disposal of the buried. The most plausible was the version of the capture of Italian fabric with Christian symbols as a trophy, followed by a deliberate partial trimming of the halo of Christ and the figures of the archangels. The author of the article for the first time provides a translation of the surviving part and a restored version of the text-embroidery on the headdress, which was identified by an associate professor of Ilia state university Temo Dzhodzhua as an old Georgian text composed in the Asomtavruli script. In the light of these data, the author examines the epigraphic monuments of the Argun Gorge and historical information reflecting close Chechen-Georgian cultural and religious contacts, which, in combination with the translation of the inscription on the headdress and the place of its discovery (on the border with Georgia), rejects, in the opinion of the author of the article, the version about the trophy origin of the headdress, and at the same time, perhaps, the opinion about the deliberate deformation of part of the Christian symbolism when sewing the cap. It is assumed that we can talk about technical reasons or not so reverent attitude of the local population to Christian symbols after the destructive campaigns of Timur.

DOI: 10.25136/2409-868X.2022.4.37879

Abstract: The article examines the content of two of the four narratives of the Gunoic collection of works of the late 19th century. The first work devoted to the activities of the three imams – Gazi-Muhammad, Gamzat-bek and Shamil – received the conditional name «History of the Imams»; the second is dedicated to the ancestor of the Chechen community Gunoy, his descendants and their movements in the region – «History of Gunoys». The material is written in Arabic graphics with elements of adjam. Compiled, according to the colophon, in 1316 AH (1898–1899) for Mazhir Ganukaev, a native of Gunoy. Before the direct translation of the texts of the essays, the author of the article carried out a brief analysis of the content of the sources, based on a comparison of their content with the data of documents or legends. The information in the «History of the Imams» was compared with the data from the reports of the tsarist officers – direct participants in the events described in the essay – or the commanders of the Caucasian army and confirmed by them, with the exception of the cases indicated in the author's analysis. The content of the «History of the Gunoy» is supported by references to other researchers, including pre-revolutionary (Iv. Popov). The publication of the translation and the study of the content of these narratives are being made for the first time. The sources reveal previously known historical information and supplement them with new details, acting as an additional source on the history of the North Caucasus and Chechnya, in particular.

DOI: 10.25136/2409-868X.2021.3.35299

Abstract: The chronicle “History of Giray Khan” is a valuable source on the history of Caucasus of the XV century. The text of the chronicle mentions the vilayet – the administrative divisions of Girim, Charkas, Chachan, Dagestan, Ganja and Shamakhi; the region Chachan alongside other domains is conquered by Giray Khan – the representative of Giray Dynasty and leader of the Circassians. This substantiates the need for studying the text to determine the time of the conquest of Chachan, as well as other areas of the region, which would allow studying the history of the region more thoroughly. Comparative analysis is conducted on the events described in the chronicle and the overall historical picture of this period. The author draws parallel, and in some instances direct identification of the known events and dynasties with the episodes and characters from the chronicle. An attempt is made to dateline all key events associated with the activity of Giray Khan, including the conquest of the Chachan Vilayet. The dates acquired in the course of analysis give a more detailed perspective on the history of Central and Norteast Caucasus, including the Chechen Republic. The historical analysis proves the facts described in the chronicle and reveals the circumstances of the conquest of North Caucasus. There is no sufficient grounds to fully identify Giray Khan with Khan Nur Devlet. However, the image of Giray Khan encapsulated part of the biography of the Crimean khan, and perhaps depicts the story of the son, one of the brothers, or a close relative of Nur Devlet, who became the ruler in Caucasus, and possibly, founded one of the Kumukh Shamkhal dynasties. The Giray Khan’s conquest of the Chachan vilayet the author dates to 1452-1459, with a remark that the entire process has taken place in three or four waves during the last third of the XIV – mid XV century.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0609.2021.1.35083

Abstract: This article is first to examine one of the lists of chronicle that goes under the code name “The Chronicle of the Exodus of the ancestors of the tribe Nahci from the Settlement of Nahcivan" (N. S. Semenov). Iznaur Nesserhoev – scribe of the list – names the chronicle “Tarikh Chachan”, which is taken as the basis in this article. H. U. Basnukaev translated the text of this list of manuscript; Z. A. Tesaev compiled the commentaries on the translation and conducted scientific research relying on analysis of the contents of manuscript and its comparison with other lists. The author carries out a comparative analysis between this version of “Tarikh Chachan” and the previously published materials (N. Semenov, P. Takhnaeva, A. Salgiriev, etc.) is carried out. Publication of the translation and examination of the contents of the manuscript “Tarikh Chachan” are performed for the first time. This article reveals the similarities, discrepancies and new records on the content of a number of other lists of the chronicle under review. The examined text of “Tarikh Chachan” indicated the new, previously unpublished details in the narrative dedicated to the personalities of the Kalmyk Khan – Nowruz Khan along with other Caucasian rulers of Kakhar and Surakat. The author observes the identity of the introductory part of the text and the main plotline in the lists of the aformentioned authors (N. Semenov, P. Takhnaeva, A. Salgiriev, etc.). The conclusion is made that this list of the chronicles "Tarikh of Chachan" is an additional source on the medieval history of the North Caucasus.