Kumyks historically were related to the states of the
Caucasian Huns,
Khazars,
Cuman-Kipchaks, and the
Golden Horde. The beginning of the Kumyk nation is often considered to be in the Oghuric
Khazar Khaganate. The second wave likely traced origin to the infamous
Kipchak–Karluk war between
Tokhtamysh of the
Golden Horde and
Timur of the
Gurkani Empire; the Karluks largely destroyed the Kipchak state to a point it could not recover, causing some Kipchak soldiers to be lost in
Dagestan. Having carried on the deep
Turco-Mongol traditions and at the same time also Islamised religiously, these Kipchaks went on to completely Kipchakise the ancient Kumyks into the modern Kumyks, whose heritages remain deeply Caucasian but with a greater and more unique
Turco-Mongol Borjigin influence. Other Kumyk states included the Endirey Principality, Utamish Sultanate, Tumen Possession, Braguny Principality, Kaytag Uzminate and others. headed by a leader called the
Shamkhal (originally
Shawkhal, in Russian sources
Shevkal). The Kumyk polity known as the
Shamkhalate of Tarki was mentioned as early as the 14th century by
Timurid historians.
Expansion of the Russian state, Ottoman Empire, and Persia In the 16th century, Kumyk rulers tried to balance their relationships with their three neighbouring states, and as a result the Shamkhalate established itself as a considerable regional power. The two empires and yet-to-be one Russian state considered the Caspian area as their influence domain. Shamkhal Chopan became a subject of the
Ottoman Empire in the late 16th century, and participated in the
1578–1590 Ottoman-Persian War. The 1560s marked the start of the numerous campaigns of the
Imperial Russian Army against Kumyks, provoked by the requests of the
Georgians and
Kabardians. Commander Cheremisinov seized and plundered the capital of Tarki in 1560. The Tumen Khanate, allied with the Shamkhalate also resisted the invasion, but was conquered by Russia in 1588. The Russians established the Terki stronghold (Not to be mistaken for
Tarki) in its former capital. Tumen ruler Soltaney fled to the protection of Sultan-Mahmud of Endirey, recognized today as a pan-Caucasian hero. In 1594, the other campaign of Khvorostinin in Dagestan was organised, during which Russian forces and
Terek Cossacks seized Tarki again, but were blocked by the Kumyk forces and forced to retreat to Terki, which resulted in a stampede. In 1604–1605, Ivan Buturlin conducted one more campaign against the Kyumks, often known as the
Schevkal campaign. This also failed and resulted in a significant loss for Russia at the Battle of Karaman. The united forces of the Dagestani peoples under the banners of the Kumyk Shamkhalian, Prince Soltan-Mahmud of Endirey prevailed, and according to the prominent Russian historian
Nikolay Karamzin, stopped Russian expansion for the next 118 years until the rule of
Peter I. In 1649 and 1650,
Nogai leader Choban-murza sought the protection of their allies in the Shamkhalate. Russia, at war with the Nogais, sent 8,000 men in order to force the nomadic tribe to return to Russian territory. Surkhay-Shawkhal III attacked and routed Russian troops at the Battle of Germenchik. Kumyk military success continued from 1651 to 1653, when the Kumyks, this time in an alliance with
Safavid forces, destroyed the Russian fortress at the
Sunzha River. Shah
Abbas II intended to strengthen the Persian hold on the Kumyk lands, which didn't match with Surkhay's plans. In an alliance with Kaytag Uzmi Rustem, Surkhay III confronted Persians but was forced to withdraw. Nevertheless, the high losses disrupted the Shah's intentions of building fortresses in the Kumyk lands.
Resistance to Peter I In the 18th century, Russian Emperor Peter I organised the
Persian campaign of the 1722–1723. The Endirey principality was the first to oppose the Russian forces, and despite their defeat, caused great losses which shocked the Emperor. Kumyks of the Utamish Soltanate also fiercely resisted during the Battle at the River Inchge. Peter I stated afterwards: The Tarki Shamkhalate initially took a pro-Russian stance, but after a new Russian fortress had been built they confronted Russia again. However, this time the Shamkhalate could not unite the neighboring local peoples and remained alone in their struggle. Russian historian
Sergey Solovyov wrote:
Caucasian War Russian 19th century general Gregory Phillipson, known for his important actions in subjugating the Adyghe and
Abaza ethnic groups at the left flank of the Caucasian front in
Circassia, wrote: Kumyks were one of the major forces in the late 18th century
Sheikh Mansur's insurgence. Kumyk prince Chepalow, in alliance with Mansur made several attempts to attack the Russian stronghold of
Kizlyar. In the final battle, Mansur led the Kumyk forces himself. Despite the formal acceptance of the Russian sovereignty over the Shamkhals at the beginning of the Caucasian war (resulting from
the Treaty of Gulistan), there were numerous revolts in Kumykia. In 1825 the village of [Old] Aksay was destroyed and 300 men from the settlement were gathered for their participation in the insurgence against
Russian Empire led by the
Chechen leader Taymiyev Biybolat, and murdered when Ochar-Haji, one of the Kumyks, killed two Russian generals on the spot. In the same year the people of
Endirey joined forces with mountain communities against the Russians. In total, there were at least five revolts in Shamkhalate and on the Kumyk plateau (called also
Kumyk plains): the Anti-Russian revolt, resulting in the defeat of Northern Kumyks (Endirey and Aksay principalities) and the then-disestablished Mekhtula Khanate, the Shamkhalate Revolt of 1823, participation in Beybulat Taymiyev's revolt (who though recently had pledged allegiance to Russia), the Shamkhalate Revolt of 1831, the revolt at the Kumyk plains in 1831 and the Shamkhalate Revolt of 1843. There were also preparations for an insurgency on the Kumyk plains in 1844 and for a general Kumyk insurgency in 1855, which had been planned as a joined action with the advance of
Imam Shamil, but the advance didn't progress enough into the Kumyk lands. the Kumyk plains were also exposed to plundering forays from the neighboring tribes. For instance, in 1830, one Chechen leader, Avko, gathered forces in a call to allegedly join the troops of the leader of the Caucasian resistance, Gazi-Muhammad, but at the last moment declared the true reason "to use the opportunity to attack the city of Endirey and plunder Kumyks' cattle". However, the troops disbanded in disappointment. Gazi-Muhammad himself tried to make Kumyks resettle higher in the mountains from the plains and join his resistance by destroying Kumyk settlements, as stated in the Russian military archives: as well as his companion and the second pretender to the Imam's position Tashaw-Hadji. Also, Kumyks were the leaders of the earlier Dagestani revolts, such as Soltan Ahmed-Khan of the Avars, and Umalat-bek of Boynak (the heir of the Tarki throne), companion of the imam
Gazi-Muhammad Razibek of Kazanish, trusted companion of the Imam Shamil — Idris of Endirey. ==Genetics==