Tughuzhuqo Kizbech movement

The Tughuzhuqo Kizbech movement was a major Circassian resistance effort during the Russo-Circassian War, led by the nobleman Kizbech Tughuzhuqo. Refusing Russian allegiance, he waged relentless guerilla warfare for 30 years until his eventual death in battle, becoming a symbol of Circassian defiance against the Russian conquest. His actions played a key role in further prolonging the Circassian resistance against Russian invasion.

In 1770, the free farmers of Abzakh Circassians revolted against the aristocratic class. Captured princes were killed. Those who escaped took refuge in other Circassian tribes. All privileges held by the princes, who were aristocratic and noble class, were abolished by free farmers.^[7] While many contemporary French nobles took refuge in Russia during the similar revolution in France, some of the Circassian nobles took the same path and refuge in Russia.^[8]

In July 14, 1791 the Natukhaj commoners peacefully took power from the aristocrats, declaring a republic.^[9] A similar attempt among the Shapsugs led to a civil war which the commons won in 1803. Famous Circassian writer and historian Amjad Jaimoukha says that from 1770 to 1790 there was a class war among the Abadzeks that resulted in the extermination of the princes and the banishment of most of the nobility.^[10] The three west-central "democratic" tribes, Natukhaj, Shapsugs and Abedzeks, who formed the majority of the Circassians, managed their affairs through assemblies with only informal powers. Sefer Bey Zanuqo, the three Naibs of Shamil and the British adventurers all tried to organize the Circassians – with limited success.^[11]

The Bzhedug tribe helped the exiled princes which further escalated conflicts.^[12] The newly established revolutionary states of Abdzakh and Shapsug attacked the Bzhedug in order to kill their former nobility.^[13]

Even though Tughuzhuqo was a noble, he still supported the revolution.

Prior to the battle, the Sheretlukov princes were expelled by the Shapsug peasants due to their attempt to impose serfdom-like obligations. Seeking support, the princes aligned themselves with Bzhedug nobles and landlords, which led to the escalation of the conflict.^[15]

The battle took place on the Nedzhyd (Negid) glade, a dry ravine in the Bziyuk River Valley. Initially, the Shapsug peasants gained the upper hand. However, the course of the battle changed when Black Sea Cossacks forces, equipped with artillery, joined the nobles. Their intervention turned the tide, leading to the defeat of the peasant forces.^[16]

Despite their defeat, the peasant uprising influenced the political landscape of the region. The involvement of Black Sea Cossacks in an internal conflict among the Circassians contributed to rising tensions along the Kuban River, leading to further hostilities between the mountain tribes and the Cossacks.^[17]

After the battle

After the revolution, Kizbech does not appear in any sources between 1796 and 1810. According to Circassian oral traditions, during this period Kizbech met with Hasan Pasha, the Ottoman governor of Anapa, and went on a pilgrimage to Mecca.^[18][19][20] He returned definitively in 1810 and began to appear again in written records. After this, he continued to fight for the Circassian army. ^[21] The Circassians believed that Kizbech had met Khidr (Alebiy in Circassian).^[22]

He gained fame between 1810 and 1839, and almost all major Circassian raids on Russian fortifications during this period are associated with his name ^[23] These songs were unusual because they were written while Kizbech was still alive and were known to him.^{[24] [23]}

Kizbech started his struggle once the Russo-Circassian War reached western Circassia. Between the years 1810–1840, he stormed the Russian garrisons and settlements with a volley of attacks. His main rival was the Cossack ataman Maxim Vlasov. He rose to fame by defeating Vlasov in 1820.^[21] During Vlasov's period, the violence against Circassian villages reached such proportions that Tsar Alexander I removed him from office in July 1826.^[18] In 1821, he defeated a Russian campaign on the lands of Shapsug.^[21] The Circassians believed that Kizbech had met Khidr (Alebiy in Circassian).^[22]

On 9 October 1823, Kizbech unsuccessfully tried ambushing Russian forces near the Alexandrovsky post. Two days later he launched a raid on Elizavetinskaya settlement, and his forces got into an engagement with the defending Cossacks. However, after receiving news of approaching Russian reinforcements, Kizbech hastily turned around, and headed back to Circassia. The Russians intercepted his forces twice, leading to heavy casualties on the Circassian side; however, Kizbech managed to get back to Circassia, heavily wounded and with 3 captives.^[25]

Sultan Khan-Giray had said the following about him:

All you need to do is send messengers in the name of Kizilbech – thousands will rush to serve under his command.

— Sultan Khan-Giray

Kizbech was part of the team that designed the Shapsug flag.^[24] Russia constantly tried to persuade the upper-class Circassians including Kizbech himself to switch sides, offering them high privileges. Kizbech resisted and rejected these offers.^[26] He punished those who accepted such proposals.^[23][26]

In a letter dated November 8, 1824, Colonel Matveyev wrote to Major General Vlasov:^{[18] [27]}

On October 31, the Abzakh held a meeting in the Zhebi River Valley. The famous Shapsug warrior Kizbech also attended this gathering, where they decided to attack us. To carry out this plan, they unanimously agreed that Kizbech would gather raiders in the area from the upper parts of Afipsip to Shebzh. The Abzakh living in the Tsafe, Zhebi, Akobish, and Sup valleys are ready. They are prepared to march in these days, joining forces with the Shapsugs under Kizbech's command. Their numbers reach around 1,000, dozens of cavalry and they have decided to launch simultaneous attacks on multiple locations, forts and Cossack strongholds.

— Colonel Matveyev

Englishman Favell Lee Mortimer said these:^[28]

There was a Circassian named Ghuz Bek (he might still be alive), and he earned the title "Lion of Circassia." He frequently directed groups of soldiers to attack the Russians. One day, he saw some Russian soldiers harvesting crops in a field, and he approached them. Just the sight of him caused the Russians to flee in fear, leaving behind two sickles in the field. He seized the sickles.

However, a great disaster befell this Lion. He had a son. The first time he took his son to war, he ordered him never to flee from the enemy, but to cut through the middle of their ranks. One day, Guzbeg charged into a group of Russian soldiers, when suddenly his horse was shot. Guzbeg was thrown to the ground.

The Lion lay among the hunters. If a second had passed, he would have been killed! But suddenly, a young warrior rushed to save him; it was his own son! But what could be done in such a crowd? A Circassian cavalry unit rushed to the scene and took Guzbeg away, but it was too late to save his son. They only carried the brave boy's body. Guzbeg was deeply moved, but he continued to fight for his country.

— Favel Lee Mortimer

In 1830, Kizbech attacked Elizavinskaya settlement and destroyed it, and in 1834, heading a force of 700 cavaliers along with Hawduqo Mansur, he brutally defeated a 14 thousand soldier Russian troops in the Battle of Abinsk. Again, in the same year, he headed 1,200 cavaliers to victory over 6 thousand Russian soldiers.^[21] In the same year, with 1,200 cavaliers, Kizbech encountered a Cossack detachment of less than 300 men. Admiring the courage and determination of the Cossacks, Kizbech withdrew some of his own cavalry to equalize the numerical advantage. The sides fought with equal numbers, and Kizbech's side won the battle.^[23][24] During the wars, he went on a pilgrimage to Mecca and also visited Egypt. The Egyptian rulers wanted to recruit him into the Egyptian army, but Kizbech rejected the offer.^[23][24]

Russian military historian Vasily Potto, who served in the Russian army in the Caucasus, said these about Kizbech:

Tughuzhuqo Kizbech fought like a madman himself: they cut his left temple and neck, and pierced his side with a spear. Yet, covered in blood, he returned to Kuban on a horse.

— Vasily Potto

Over many years, he raided several hostile Russian garrisons; Maryanskaya, Georgie, Afepskaya, Apenskaya, and in 1837 while crossing through a field, he was identified by Cossack peasants, who out of their great fear, fled the place leaving behind them 200 sickles. In the same year of 1837, Kizbech stormed the coastal castle of Nikolayev and seized all its properties.^[29] At the beginning of June 1837, he attacked the guards of the Nikolaevsky fortress (now Shapsugskaya village) alone, captured a soldier, and seized 9 rifles.^[23][24][21]

In 1837, accompanied by 250 men, he attacked the right bank of the Kuban Russian fort and captured 200 prisoners.^[24] As a warrior, Tughuzhuqo enjoyed great respect among opponents. Tsarist generals entered into negotiations with him and repeatedly offered him to join the service of Russia, he rejected all offers. After the failure of his generals to convince him, Tsar Nicholas I tried to personally approach Kizbech to dissuade him from continuing his acts. Kizbech rejected offers of money and continued his raids on Russian garrisons.

Kizbech was against any kind of compromise with Russia. In 1838, he launched an attack against the Zhaney Circassians of the Karakuban region, who had sworn allegiance to Russia. In October 1838, he received seven serious wounds, and his sons were injured and eventually died from the injuries. According to James Bell, who was present there, Kizbech was not affected by this and saw it as fate. In 1840, Kizbech, heading a group of Circassian cavaliers, captured the garrisons of Waya, Tuapse and Shaps.^[21]

The song written for Kizbech by Kör Osman, who was a contemporary of Kizbech, goes like this:

The full moon is the hilt of his helmet,

His bow is never broken.

Kizbech loves to fight with a sword,

He knocks down his enemies with a mighty spear.

He is fearless even against a great army,

Always a partner ready for victory.

He removes the wounded from the battlefield,

Among men, he is a lion.

He frees the prisoners, and his two sons are like eagles,

To see him is a dream of the Circassian princes.

The Russian Tsar hears of his glory,

The Sultan of Egypt sends him greetings...

Kizbech Tughuzhugo died of wounds received in action on February 28, 1840, during the Siege of Veliaminovsky.^[21][18] He had six different fatal wounds at the time.^[18] Some other sources claim he died in battle. According to other sources, he died on December 12, 1839 or March 12, 1840. Before his death, he made a speech:^[26]

I am content with the life I have lived. What I have witnessed here today is a great honor and immense happiness for me. With God's will, the work we have started will not remain unfinished. My life was not in vain. The Circassians have united. They have become one heart, one fist. The victory we have won here today is one of the greatest victories. I take the honor of swinging my sword in such a great victory. I have done all I could. My time has come. Without turning back from my cause, I am going to meet Allah as a martyr. The sea is salty, but the fish living in that sea has no trace of salt in its body. Do not be deceived by worldly goods and make a mistake. They will do everything they can to deceive you, offering you wealth and possessions. We must live our religion and customs in purity, without abandoning our ablution and prayer. They will ensure that we live as a nation. If our lands are occupied by the infidels, our sacred cause will not be realized. You see the lives of our brothers deceived by the infidels. They coveted worldly goods and abandoned Allah. Do not fear death, for it will come to everyone.