Gunib – The Last Bastion Of Imam Shamil

Gunib – the Gunib – the Last Bastion of Last Bastion of Imam ShamilImam Shamil

Mikhail NokhovMikhail Nokhov

Gymnasium # 1Gymnasium # 1

KhasavyurtKhasavyurt

The Gunib plateau is The Gunib plateau is one of the most one of the most picturesque places in picturesque places in the Inner Dagestan. the Inner Dagestan. The region is The region is considered to be a considered to be a very nice mountain very nice mountain health resort as health resort as there are practically there are practically no frogs and strong no frogs and strong winds here, there are winds here, there are about 300 sunny about 300 sunny days in a year here. days in a year here. Near this plateau at Near this plateau at the height of 1554 m. the height of 1554 m. there is a famous there is a famous Avar aul Gunib. Avar aul Gunib.

Not much is known from the history of this aul, Not much is known from the history of this aul, it became famous because it was the place of it became famous because it was the place of the final battle between Imam Shamil and the the final battle between Imam Shamil and the Russian troops and his successive capture. Russian troops and his successive capture.

In the picturesque In the picturesque Nizhny Gunib there Nizhny Gunib there preserved the remains preserved the remains of the Russian fortress of the Russian fortress of the times of the of the times of the Caucasian War. There Caucasian War. There remained the Walls of remained the Walls of the fortress, curved by the fortress, curved by the protuberance of the the protuberance of the plateau, the building of plateau, the building of the commandant's the commandant's office, and the office, and the monument on the grave monument on the grave of the soldiers of the of the soldiers of the Apsheron platoon killed Apsheron platoon killed during the siege of during the siege of Shamil’s troop. Shamil’s troop.

The conquest of aul The conquest of aul Gunib by the Russian Gunib by the Russian troops under the troops under the command of general command of general Baryatinsky was a Baryatinsky was a great political event great political event of that time. of that time.

Gunib was defended Gunib was defended byby 400 400 murids led by murids led by Imam ShamilImam Shamil. . Among them there Among them there were really devoted were really devoted to Shamil to Shamil mountaineers, run mountaineers, run away Russian away Russian soldiers. soldiers.

They had four cannonsThey had four cannons. . The amount of the The amount of the defenders was not large defenders was not large but quite enough to but quite enough to defend such a well defend such a well protected by nature protected by nature place. The only way to place. The only way to the top of the mountain the top of the mountain was by the steep was by the steep mountain pass which mountain pass which led from the bank of the led from the bank of the Koisu river to the Koisu river to the eastern slope of the eastern slope of the mountain. Shamil took mountain. Shamil took all precautions to all precautions to prevent the Russian prevent the Russian troops using it. From troops using it. From all other sides Gunib all other sides Gunib seemed to be seemed to be inaccessibleinaccessible. .

In spite of the fact In spite of the fact that the aul was that the aul was situated situated practically on the practically on the cliff, the Russian cliff, the Russian troops began the troops began the assault. The assault. The skilled soldiers of skilled soldiers of Apsheron and Apsheron and Shirvan platoons Shirvan platoons cliff hanged the cliff hanged the mountain and mountain and after a short battle after a short battle took the aul by the took the aul by the storm. Imam storm. Imam Shamil gave Shamil gave himself up. himself up.

In the Upper In the Upper Gunib there are Gunib there are the ruins of the the ruins of the village where on village where on August 23, 1859 August 23, 1859 Shamil gave Shamil gave himself up to the himself up to the Russian Troops. Russian Troops. There was erected There was erected a rotunda in this a rotunda in this place to place to commemorate this commemorate this great historic great historic event.event.

It was followed by a It was followed by a famous order of famous order of prince Baryatinsky, prince Baryatinsky, which put an end to which put an end to that war of many that war of many years in Chechnya years in Chechnya and Dagestan: “Gunib and Dagestan: “Gunib is seized. Shamil is a is seized. Shamil is a prisoner of war. prisoner of war. Congratulations to the Congratulations to the Caucasian Army!”Caucasian Army!”

Seizure of Gunib is Seizure of Gunib is considered to put an considered to put an end to the military end to the military actions in the eastern actions in the eastern part of the Caucasus, part of the Caucasus, which from that time which from that time on was under the on was under the Russian control. Russian control.