The Circassian horse regiment: recruitment of sotnias and combat training of the first horsemen (August – October 1914)

Abstract

The article considers the activities of the Viceroy in the Caucasus, the authorities of the Kuban region and the command of the Circassian horse regiment in recruiting hundreds and combat training of horsemen of the Circassian horse regiment going to the battlefields of the First World War. Great importance is attached to the study of specific events that took place in the aul communities of the Kuban region during the formation of sotnias of the Circassian horse regiment.The author used the appropriate range of materials on the history of the Caucasian Native Cavalry Division, which included a large amount of archival material, suggesting a comprehensive coverage of his- torical facts on thу issue. The use of the principle of historicism has made it possible to consider the activities of the Viceroy in the Caucasus, the Head of the Kuban region, atamans of departments and the command of the Circassian horse regiment in dynamics from actual events in specific historical conditions in close connection with the administrative policy of the state to discussions about their causes and consequences.The article consistently describes the events that took place during the recruitment of sotnias and combat training of horsemen of the Circassian horse regiment, which made it possible to iden- tify the important role of the Viceroy in the Caucasus, the authorities of the Kuban region and the officers of the regiment.The author has come to the conclusion that in the course of recruiting sotnias of the Circassian horse regiment, the head of the Kuban region, atamans of departments, foremen of auls, the Muslim clergy and honorary elders used all the positive experience in recruiting irregular mountain cavalry units accumulat- ed during the previous wars of the Russian Empire. At the same time, the commander of the Circassian horse regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Prince Chavchavadze solidated the regiment with a common faith in its officers, discipline, mutual respect and a firm belief in success from the beginning of its formation.