Title Bitter choices : loyalty and betrayal in the Russian conquest of the North Caucasus / Michael Khodarkovsky

Published Ithaca : Cornell University Press, 2011

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Description 1 online resource (xii, 200 pages) : illustrations, maps Contents The frontiers of the North Caucasus -- Atarshchikov's childhood -- Journey through the northeast Caucasus -- Inside Ermolov's "iron fist" -- St. Petersburg and Poland -- Return to the North Caucasus -- Interpreter and administrator -- Russian policies and alternatives -- The first desertion -- From Semën Atarshchikov to Hajret Muhammed Summary This book tells the story of a single man with multiple allegiances and provides a concise and compelling history of the mountainous region between the Black and Caspian seas. After forays beginning in the late 1500s, Russia tenuously conquered the peoples of the region in the 1850s; the campaign was defined by a cruelty on both sides that established a pattern repeated in our own time, particularly in Chechnya. At the center of Khodarkovsky's sweeping account is Semen Atarshchikov. His father was a Chechen translator in the Russian army, and Atarshchikov grew up with roots in both Russian and Chechen cultures. His facility with local languages earned him quick promotion in the Russian army. Atarshchikov enjoyed the confidence of his superiors, yet he saw the violence that the Russians inflicted on the native population and was torn between his duties as a Russian officer and his affinity with the highlanders. Twice he deserted the army to join the highlanders in raids against his former colleagues. In the end he was betrayed by a compatriot who sought to gain favor with the Russians by killing the infamous Atarshchikov. we learn a great deal about the region's geography, its peoples, their history, and their conflicts with both the Russians and one another. Khodarkovsky reveals disputes among the Russian commanders and the policies they advocated; some argued for humane approaches but always lost out to those who preferred more violent means. Like Hadji Murat--the hero of Tolstoy's last great work--Atarshchikov moved back and forth between Russian and local allegiances; his biography is the story of the North Caucasus, one as relevant today as in the nineteenth century Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Print version record Subject Atarshchikov, Semën, 1807-1845. SUBJECT Atarshchikov, Semën, 1807-1845 Atarshchikov, Semën, 1807-1845 fast Atarščikov, Semën 1807-1845 gnd Atarščikov, Semën. idszbz Atarščikov, Semën. (DE-604)BV0089194 swd Subject Revolutionaries -- Russia (Federation) -- Caucasus, Northern -- Biography Cossacks -- Russia (Federation) -- Caucasus, Northern -- Biography HISTORY -- Europe -- Russia & the Former Soviet Union. BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY -- Historical. HISTORY -- Europe -- Eastern. HISTORY -- Europe -- Former Soviet Republics. Autonomy and independence movements Cossacks Revolutionaries Eroberung Eroberung. Kosacker -- Ryska federationen -- Nordkaukasien -- biografi. Revolutionärer -- Ryska federationen -- Nordkaukasien -- biografi. SUBJECT Caucasus, Northern (Russia) -- History -- Autonomy and independence movements Caucasus, Northern (Russia) -- History -- 19th century Subject Russia (Federation) -- Northern Caucasus Kaukasus -- Nord Russland Russland. Ziskaukasien. Nordkaukasien -- historia -- 1800-talet. Genre/Form Electronic book Biographies History Biographies. Biographies. Form Electronic book ISBN 9780801462894 0801462894 0801449723 9780801449727

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