"FIRST PRECEDENT": OSSETIANS IN THE RUSSIANTURKISH WARS OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE XIX CENTURY

Abstract

The article examines the multifaceted process of voluntary entry of Ossetia into the Russian state. Based on numerous archival sources, the author concludes that the annexation of Ossetia to Russia was the only possible positive vector of development for it. At an early stage in the formation of Russian-Ossetian relations in the second half of the 18th century, cooperation in the military sphere was especially fruitful. During the Seven Years' War in 1760, by decree of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, a detachment was formed from the Caucasian highlanders, among whom were Ossetians. In 1763, in Mozdok, a mountain team of ―Mozdok Cossack Brothers‖ was formed from Ossetians and baptized Circassians, numbering 214 people. A significant military detachment of Ossetians as part of the regular units of the Russian army took part in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Caucasian squadron was formed in St. Petersburg, in which, along with other highlanders, there were Ossetians. In 1828, on the initiative of the Ossetians themselves, a military detachment was formed, the members of which heroically proved themselves during the Russian-Turkish war. The creation of the Ossetian military detachment was the first event of its kind in the Caucasus, which makes this fact of particular importance in the context of the entire history of Russian-Caucasian relations.

Keywords

• russia
• ossetia
• volunteers
• crimean war
• highlanders
• duty
• north caucasus