Misost Bematiqwa

He was strictly against the construction of the Mozdok fortress in Circassian lands, and saw it as an invasion of Circassia by Russia.

In January 1764, several Kabardian nobles including Bematiqwa met with the representative of the Russian Kizlyar commandant N. A. Potapov and unsuccessfully demanded the demolition of the Mozdok fortress built by the Russians. If the Russian government refused, the Kabardian princes threatened to seek alliance with the Crimean Khan against Russia.[1]

In June 1767, Bematiqwa, then a simple commander rather than the prince of Kabardia, by himself, started a military operation against Russia, but many other Kabardian nobles did not want a war and wanted to surrender.[2] In the middle of 1768, fifteen of these Kabardian princes who decided to surrender reported to Kizlyar that they were ready to "take an oath" of allegiance to Russia. Misost Bematiqwa, not wanting to surrender or convert to Christianity, refused.[3]

Bematiqwa's resistance was strengthened when on October 18, 1768, the Ottoman sultan, who had declared war on Russia, sent a letter to Bematiqwa stating that he, as caliph, orders that all the Muslim peoples of the Caucasus should officially rise to war with Russia, obey the Crimean Khan as their commander, and together with the Nogais, defeat Russia.[4] In December 1768, Muhammad-aga, the personal envoy of the Crimean Khan, arrived in Kabarda. The Crimean Khan asked the Kabardian princes to help the Kuban seraskir in the upcoming campaign to Russia.[5]In January 1769, the Kizlyar commandant, Major General N. A. Potapov, sent a letter to Bematiqwa Putting pressure on him.[6]

In June 1769, most Kabardian nobles, against a war with Russia, surrendered. However, Bematiqwa, along with some others, refused.[7]

The anti-Russian group, which refused to cooperate with the tsarist government, was headed by Bematiqwa. He and his supporters moved to the upper reaches of the Kumy river.[8]Bematiqwa and his associates, in need of allies, turned to the Crimean Khan Devlet Giray for help.[9] Khan sent a small Tatar detachment to help them, commanded by the son of the Kuban seraskir Kazy Giray. However, the detachment of Crimeans was late, as the Russian lieutenant general Johann de Medem sent detachments of Cossacks and Kalmyk cavalry armed with guns against the recalcitrant Kabardians. In an unequal battle on the river Eshkokon, the superior Russian forces defeated the Kabardians.[10]

In 1771, envoys arrived in Kabarda from the Crimean Khan Devlet Giray, who met with Bematiqwa.[11] They reported false information about the allegedly successful affairs of the Turkish troops in the theaters of military operations.

In 1772, the Kabardian princes Misost Bamatov and Khamurza Aslanbekov sent an embassy to the Crimean Khan Devlet-Girey, calling him to their place in Kabarda for joint actions to “exterminate” the fortress of Mozdok and the entire Caucasian line.In June 1774, despite being allies against Russia, the Crimean Khanate attacked Circassia. A large Crimean army led by Khan Devlet-Girey and Kalga Shabaz-Girey attacked Kabarda and the Battle of Beshtamak took place. The Crimean horde entered Mozdok and hit the nearby villages, which were occupied and ruined by him.[12]

In 1785, after the death of the previous prince, Misost Bematiqwa was elected as the supreme prince of Kabardia.

In April 1788, Misost Bematiqwa surrendered to Russian command.