The Caucasian War: Zigzags of Russian Historiography, by Said-Khasan Muskhadzhiev
The painting 'Battle with the Chechens near Akbulat-Yurt' (1849).
In May 2024 (20–23 May), the Abkhazian State University in Sukhum hosted a four-day International Scientific Conference titled ‘The Caucasian War: Lessons of History and Modernity,’ dedicated to the 160th anniversary of the end of the Russo-Caucasian War and the 110th anniversary of the renowned Abkhazian historian Georgy Alekseevich Dzidzaria (1914–1988). The conference featured scholars from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Stavropol, Grozny, Makhachkala, Cherkessk, and Maykop, who gathered to present and discuss their research on the complex history of the Caucasus.
The presentations from this conference have been published in the collection “Кавказская война: уроки истории и современность” (The Caucasian War: Lessons of History and Modernity). This collection is a valuable resource for historians, ethnographers, students, postgraduates, and anyone interested in 19th-century Caucasian history.
'The Caucasian War: Zigzags of Russian Historiography’ by Said-Khasan Muskhadzhiev, originally published in Russian and appearing on pages 130–138. This translation into English is provided by AbkhazWorld to ensure broader accessibility for an international audience.
Editorial Board: A.N. Gabelia, G.D. Gumba, D.D. Indzhgia, O.V. Mamedova, A.S. Mirzoev, S.Sh. Salakaya.
Abkhazian State University
Public Chamber of the Russian Federation
D.I. Gulia Abkhazian Institute for Humanities Research
State Committee for Repatriation of the Republic of Abkhazia
Sukhum, 2024
Said-Khasan Muskhadzhiev's article provides an in-depth historiographical analysis of the Russo-Caucasian War and its representation in Russian scholarship. The work explores the evolution of historical interpretations, highlighting ideological shifts from the pre-revolutionary to Soviet and post-Soviet eras. The article pays particular attention to the development of distinct regional historiographical schools, Adyghe, Dagestani, and Chechen, each contributing unique perspectives and research priorities to the understanding of the war. The Adyghe school focused on the liberation struggle and forced migration, the Dagestani school emphasized Shamil's military-political activities, while Chechen historians concentrated on the roles of individual leaders and religious-ideological aspects.
Muskhadzhiev underscores the complexity and challenges in achieving an objective understanding of the war, pointing out the persistent impact of political and ideological frameworks on its study. The article concludes by highlighting the opportunity for a new generation of Russian scholars, unburdened by old historiographical conventions, to develop fundamentally different perspectives and a qualitatively new system of professional thinking about the Russo-Caucasian War.
The full article in PDF can be downloaded by clicking here (202 KB)