In September 1735, a combined Crimean–Kuban army led by Qaplan I Giray invaded Chechen lands in order to impose taxation on its people. Although several times outnumbered, the Chechen prince Aidemir Bardykhanov defeated the invaders by taking advantage of the weather and terrain.
The Battle of Khankala was a decisive Chechen victory and forced Qaplan I to abandon his campaign in Chechnya and continue to Dagestan. The crushing Crimean defeat also resulted in the end of the centuries long Chechen–Crimean conflict.
| Conflict: | Battle of Khankala |
| Place: | Khankala gorge, Chechen Principality (Near modern day Grozny, Chechen Republic, Russian Federation) |
| Partof: | Ottoman–Persian War of 1730–1735 |
| Date: | September 1735 |
| Result: | Decisive Chechen Victory
|
| Combatant1: | Chechens
|
| Combatant2: | Crimean Khanate Kuban people |
| Commander1: | Aidemir Bardykhanov |
| Commander2: | Qaplan I Giray |
| Strength1: | 2,000 |
| Strength2: | 80,000
|
| Casualties1: | Less |
| Casualties2: | ~10,000 KIA |
During the Ottoman–Persian War of 1730–1735, Qaplan I Giray received the "Highest order" from the Turkish sultan to invade the Safavid Empire through Dagestan. So, on the 15th of May, 1735, at the head of an army 60,000 strong, he set out to invade the North Caucasus. In the Northwestern Caucasus, he was joined by around 20,000 soldiers led by the Trans–Kuban princes.
The goal of the campaign, apart from the invasion of Persia, was the subjugation of the North Caucasian nations. The conflict between the Crimeans and North Caucasians had gone on centuries before that.
In early fall of 1735, Qaplan left Kabardia on the "Cherkassky road" and moved along the left bank of the Sunzha River. They camped at night, occupying a space stretching 7.5 kilometers. They stayed there for 5 days, waiting for the arrival of Kalmyk forces under Donduk Omb, with whom they were supposed to invade Persia together. However, through the diplomatic efforts of the Russian Empire (who was an ally of Iran during that time), they convinced the Kalmyks to abandon the campaign.
During that time, the Chechens prepared for the upcoming invasion. They gathered in the Khankala gorge (near modern–day Grozny) and called for help from other Chechen settlements and factions. Detachments from all across Chechnya began gathering in Khankala, including Chechen–Aul, Aldy, Atagi, Gekhi. Mountain militias were also called to help. Together, they numbered around 2,000 fighters.
The Chechens also dug ditches and constructed traps. The fighters also gathered their wives and daughters in order to take care of the wounded and supply the fighters.
On the 6th of September, Qaplan I Giray sent his messenger to the Chechen fighters with an ultimatum, in which he demanded annual tribute, 5 of the most beautiful Chechen women to be sent to the Khan's Harem and that the Chechens send their warriors to serve in the Crimean army. In case of refusal, he threatened them with a merciless punishment. The Chechens answered briefly:
«Everything for the Khan, tribute and women; But only after we have all died»
Aidemir, who was an ally of Qaplan I Giray, was forced to join the resistance under the pressure from his people. At the beginning of the campaign, Qaplan wrote to Aidemir: "Honorable Aidamir-bek, other military leaders and the entire Chechen people, we, thanks to God, with the faithful army from Crimea have set out and we intend to go to your lands... On arrival near the village of Kuban, we sent our messenger Hadji Suleiman to your side. And when it comes to you, and verbally you will listen to our order, then you will have every precaution and readiness to stay and await our arrival."
The plan of Qaplan was to create a strife among the Chechens, in which he failed however. Not only did Aidemir refuse to go over to the side of the Khan, but he also was engaged in raiding the Crimean camp, stealing the best horses from them and "Showing other sabotage to the Khan".
After the ultimatum was rejected, Qaplan decided to invade Chechnya through the Khankala gorge. He sent 5,000 men into the Khankala gorge in order to search for resistance, after which the main army could enter. The Crimean force invaded the Chechen plain and made its way to the gorge. As soon as the small Crimean detachment entered the gorge, near the modern village Prigorodnoe, the Chechen militias rushed into battle and almost completely encircled the invaders, after which a brutal massacre began. The Chechen cavalry combined with archers, the effective usage of rifles and pistols, almost destroyed the Crimean detachment. A dense fog had also set in previously. The Crimean forces were destroyed, dispersed and the fleeing were hunted down by the Chechen cavalrymen.
After the news of the defeat reached Qaplan, he, seized by anger, sent in another 5,000 troops, but this time the detachment was made up of the Khan's best Mirzas and princes. They were ordered to kill everyone who came in their way.
The Crimean force penetrated deep into the gorge, reaching the village Shovda (modern–day Gikalo) without a fight. Then, the Chechen forces attacked one again and completely encircled the force. Although superior in both numbers, equipment and recourses, the Crimean cavalry proved useless in the rugged and densely forested Chechen land. As a result, the second detachment was completely wiped out. This was the last major engagement of the battle.
In total, up to 10,000 Crimean soldiers were killed.
Qaplan feared that the longer he remained in Chechnya the sooner the Russian Empire would intervene. In addition to constant Chechen raids on the Crimean camp, it was decided by the Crimean military council to abandon the campaign in Chechnya and continue to Dagestan.
Despite their decisive victory however, it is unlikely that the Chechens would have survived another clash with the Crimean forces. Nevertheless, the victory ended the centuries long conflict between the two sides and forced the Crimean Khanate to give up their plans of conquering Chechnya forever.