Chapter Three. State Building In The North Caucasus

Abstract

The state building process in the North Caucasus since the domination of the Russians in the area started in the 19th century is helpful in understanding territorial claims of North Caucasian peoples since 1991. It also clarifies the relation between the central authorities in Moscow and the authorities in the North Caucasus. On 21 March 1838, General Golovin was appointed the new Russian chief commander for the Caucasus. His plan of action for the Caucasus was comprising, a descent on the Black Sea coast, the final subjugation of the Upper Samur communities and the conquest of Chechnya and Northern Daghestan. The Circassians are thus one of the biggest minorities in the former Ottoman Empire. Amjad Jaimoukha estimates that there are about 600 Circassian villages in Central and Western Anatolia.Keywords: Black Sea Coast; Chechnya; Circassians; North Caucasus; Northern Daghestan; Ottoman empire; state building