What General Yermolov knew about the Chechens

Analyzing the causes of the Caucasian wars that occurred after the collapse of the USSR, one should take into account their historical background and the experience of the settlement of armed conflicts accumulated in previous centuries. General Ermolov deserves special attention.

Chechnya, which he arrived in 1818, was a territory almost beyond the control of the empire. Villainy and robbery were the usual way of earning a livelihood, and that, in turn, was the cause. The soils did not have agricultural value, the customs of the Highlanders were distinguished by cruelty and savagery. Criminals from other lands arrived here and hospitably accepted.

The words that General Yermolov spoke about the Chechens may now seem insulting to the representatives of this people. The methods of bringing order and legality to our times seem inapplicable because of their extreme cruelty. However, when evaluating this outstanding personality, many aspects should be taken into account: both foreign policy and historical.

The way of life that was formed in Chechnya at the beginning of the nineteenth century did not allow us to hope for the possibility of its peaceful coexistence with states in which any civilized legislation operated. The southern border of the Russian Empire was under constant threat from Persia and, primarily, Turkey. The existence of areas where robbery flourished aroused Alexander I's concerns, but it should be assumed that if they were captured by their southern neighbors, they would inevitably face the need to restore order to them, and most likely in more violent ways.

What opinion could General Ermolov have about the Chechens? In his letter to Alexander I he calls them "all abomination", and the lands inhabited by them define as "the nest of all robbers". At the same time, having started to fulfill the duties of the governor of the province, this combat general took pains to study the customs and customs of the people with whom he was to fight. The result of these studies was the knowledge of the structure of enemy control and the decision-making mechanism, which later proved to be very important.

What General Yermolov learned about the Chechens allowed him to conclude that it was inexpedient to negotiate. Any concessions, payment of ransoms for the amanates and all sorts of gestures of goodwill turned out to be completely useless, moreover, they were harmful, since they were perceived only as a manifestation of weakness. The answer was hostage taking of local spiritual leaders and ultimatum demands to lay down their arms. Several illustrative reprisals, accompanied by mutual brutal bloodshed, showed that the words of the general do not differ from the case.

With all the hatred that the Highlanders felt for Ermolov (and even frightened children with his name), he enjoyed a certain authority and respect from them. In 1825, General Grekov (whom the poet and diplomat AS Griboyedov called "robber") provoked a revolt by his senseless brutality. Only General Ermolov could suppress the insurrection. He knew enough about the Chechens to understand their national psychology, which allowed him to alternate rigidity with magnanimity, which the Highlanders appreciated. Much has been done by him for enlightening the local population, for bringing cultural practices to life and relationships.

Was General Yermolov a bloody colonizer? Quotes, jammed from his letters, do not give an objective idea of the relationship with the local population. Suffice it to mention that three of his sons, born of female Circassian women, also bore Muslim names (Bakhtiar, Allyakhar and Omar), besides Christian ones. Recognizing the bravery of Chechens and their high fighting qualities, he did much to attract highlanders to the tsar's service.

In the end, it was precisely the tough policy in the Caucasus that paradoxically created conditions for the survival of entire nations. There were barriers to suicidal practices of blood feud and civil strife, the war was stopped for a long time.

The first one whom the captive Shamil wanted to see in St. Petersburg was General Yermolov.