Battle of Khankala (1735)
Part of Ottoman–Persian War
Date 6 September 1735 Location Khankala Gorge, Chechnya Result Decisive Chechen victory End of the Chechen–Crimean conflict
Belligerents
Chechens Chechen-Aul Other Lowland Chechen militias Some Highland militias	Crimean Khanate Kuban people
Commanders and leaders
Aidemir Bardykhanov	Qaplan I Giray
Strength
2,000	80,000 60,000 Kuban peoples: 20,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown	~10,000

In September 1735, an 80,000 strong combined Crimean-Kuban army invaded the Chechen lowlands in order to impose taxation on the Chechens. Only managing to gather 2,000 fighters, prince Aidemir Bardykhanov, ruler of the town Chechen-Aul, managed to defeat the invaders by taking advantage of the terrain and weather.^[1][2][3][4]

The Battle of Khankala ended in a decisive Chechen victory and forced the Crimean Khan Qaplan I Giray to abandon his plans of conquering Chechnya.^[1][2][3][4]

Background

During the 1730–1735 Ottoman–Persian war, having received the "highest order" of the Turkish sultan to go to Persia through Dagestan, the Crimean Khan Qaplan I Giray, leading a 60,000 strong army, set off for his campaign on 15 May 1735. In the Northwest Caucasus, he was joined by another 20,000 strong detachments of the princes of the Trans-Kubanic people.^{[1] [4]}
Aim of the campaign was the subjugation of the North Caucasus and the imposition of heavy taxes on its native people. Before that, the Crimean Khanate made several of such attemptsand conducted devastating raids on the North Caucasus, Russia, Ukraine and Poland. The Chechens, who were also required to pay tribute to the Khan of Crimea, refused to accept these conditions. In retrobution, the Khan announced that he would soon punish the Chechen people.^[4][1]

In early autumn of 1735, leaving behind the lands of Kabardia, along the Cherkassky Road, Qaplan marched along the Sunzha River. After several days, the army reached North of Chechnya.^[1]

Prelude

Meanwhile, the Chechens expanded their diplomatic activities. Detachments from Chechen-Aul, Aldy, Gekhi, Starye Atagi and other villages were called to help, putting up no more than 2,000 fighters. Mountain militias were also called to help.^[1]
The Chechen army gathered in the Khankala gorge, Southeast of modern-day Grozny.^[1]
For several days, the Chechen militia stood and waited for the arrival of the Crimean army. In the gorge, between two low ridges was an impenetrable forest, the felling of which was prohibited.^[1]

Under pressure from the Chechen people, Qaplan's former ally, from the Turlov family and ruler of the Chechen plain, Aidemir Bardykhanov, did not surrender to the Khan. "Venerable Aidamir-bek, other military people and the entire Chechen people, thanks to God, we set out with a faithful army from Crimea and we intend to go to your lands... Upon arrival near the village of Kuban, a pilgrim, Hadji Suleiman was sent to your side. And when he comes to you, and listen to our order verbally, then you have every precaution and readiness to stay and await our arrival." The Crimean Khan failed to create civil strife among the Chechen militia. Prince Aidamir not only did not join the khan, but, on the contrary, was actively engaged in stealing the best horses from the herds of Kaplan Giray and "showed other sabotage to the khan."^[1]

On 6 September 1735, Qaplan sent the Chechens militia an ultimatum, which demanded annual tribute of the Chechens, and that the latter send 5 of the best women to the Khans Harem. The Chechens replied «Everything for the Khan.... But only, when we have all died.»^[1]

Battle

Anticipating the inevitable battle, the Chechens fortified the gorge, making a lot of blockages and pulling out a lot of ditches and traps. In the early morning, when thick fog was creeping over the land, the Khan's army crossed the Sunzha River on several fords and swam along the river. Wives and daughters were also gathered, to help wounded fighters during the battle as well as supplying the militia with water and food.^[1]

After the failed ultimatum, the Khan ordered 5,000 troops to enter the Khankala gorge to search for defenders, after which the remaining army could enter Chechnya. Previously, a dense fog set in, and as soon as the invaders entered the gorge, the Chechen militias rushed into battle and encircled the enemy army. A brutal massacre began, and the Chechen cavalry combined with archers, the effective usage of rifles and pistols, almost destroyed the Crimean detachment. Those who survived and managed to flee were pursued by Chechen cavalry.^[1]

After the news reached Qaplan I Giray, he was seized with anger, and again sent in 5,000 troops, but this time, the detachment was made up best murzas and two princes of the Khan, who ordered them to kill and destroy everyone that came in their way.^[1]

The new detachment managed to go deep into the gorge, reaching the town of Shovda without a fight (near the modern village of Gikalo). Then, the Chechen army once again encircled the detachment and completely destroyed it. Although superior, the Crimean cavalry proved inaffective in the rugged and densely forested gorge.^[1]

In total, up to 10,000 of the troops of Qaplan were killed. Although successful, the Chechen militia could hardly withstand another clash with the Crimean troops.^[1]

Qaplan feared Russian interevention, as he previously broke several treaties made with the latter. In addition to constant raids conducted by Chechen forces on his army's camp, it was decided by the Crimean military council to abandon the battle and go to Dagestan.^[1]

The Chechen victory was significant, as after the defeat, the Crimean Khanate forever gave up their claims in Chechen lands.^[2][3][1][4]

References