THE FIRMANS FROM OTTOMAN STATE TO THE NAMES OF THE KAYTAG UTSMIES

Abstract

İn this work presents epistolary sources in the Ottoman language from the collection of the firmans of the Ottoman sultans and viziers in the name of the Kaitag Utsmians. The Fund of Oriental Manuscripts of the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the DPhIC RAS contains microfilms of these firms, obtained from the National Library of France, where the Utsmi collection came in the second half of the 20th century. Some copies of the firmans of the Ottoman leaders in the name of the Kaitag Utsmians are also available in the book depositories of Georgia. They were published by Georgian scientists, with transcript and translation into Georgian and Russian. A comparative analysis of the documents revealed that the Georgian collection is more complete than the Parisian one, the collections contain copies made by different authors, there are textual inconsistencies and discrepancies in the dating of the firms. In this article, we present facsimiles of Ottoman firmans in the names of the Dagestan rulers of the second half of the 15th century. and the first half of the XX century. Kaitag utsmievs of Ahmad Khan, Khamzat Khan and Ustar Khan. We present their content, providing the appropriate comments. The documents are of high scientific value, shedding light on the policy of the Ottomans in the Caucasus, on the historical events associated with the liberation struggle of the Dagestan peoples, the policy of the Dagestan rulers. Indeed, quite recently, the struggle of the Dagestani highlanders with the Iranian shah, which went on for several years, was successfully completed. The decisive victory over Nadir Shah was won when, in the fight against the enemy in 1741-1742. The united forces of Avars, Kaitags, Akushins, Kumukhs, Rutuls and other Dagestan peoples took part. Firmen convey the atmosphere of historical events, the praise of valor addressed to the recalcitrant mountaineers is heard more and more often, the tone of the letters of the Ottomans, promising endless favors in exchange for obedience to the Muslim Caliph, is replaced by a call to receive retribution from the Almighty for the sacred struggle against foreign invaders.