The Crimean-Circassian wars refer to a series of military conflicts between the Crimean Khanate and the Circassians. Other than the Crimean–Circassian War (1479), Crimean–Circassian War (1539–1547), Kuban War (1571) the conflics ended in losses for the Crimeans, which were declining because of the Russo-Turkish wars.
History
editCrimean-Circassian Wars | |||||
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Belligerents | |||||
Crimean Khanate | Circassia | ||||
Ottoman Empire | Russia | ||||
Crimea | Kabardia | ||||
Nogai Horde | Zichia |
Conflict begins: (1479-1490)
editIn 1479, a campaign of the Crimean Tatars took place on the lands of the Circassians. They outnumbered the Kabardians and captured the fortresses of Kopa and Anapa, where many Turkish garrisons were left. Some Circassians were captured and sold into slavery meanwhile others kept on fighting.
At the very beginning of the 1490s, the Crimean Khan Mengli Gerai undertook a campaign against the Circassians. This was the first campaign of the Crimean Khans in a series of numerous campaigns against the tribes of the Circassians and Kabardians in order to conquer and subdue them, resulting in an decisive victory for the Crimeans.