Draft:Conquests of Inal the Great

Conquests of Inal the Great
Part of Circassian-Turkic conflicts
Date 1414-1448 Location Caucasus Result Circassian victory Territorial changes The unification of the Circassian lands, the expansion of the territory to the Don and Kuban, the conquest of Abkhazia, the confrontation with Georgia and Genoa, the creation of new regions.
Belligerents
Crimean Khanate Golden Horde Kingdom of Georgia Kingdom of Abkhazia (before 1438) Genoa Turkic nomads	Circassia Kingdom of Abkhazia (after 1438)
Commanders and leaders
Hacı I Giray Küchük Muhammad Mamia II Dadiani  † Liparit I Dadiani George Dadiani † Ozdemir  †	Inal the Great of Circassia
Strength
8,000-12,000	17,000-22.000
Casualties and losses
2,500-5,000	2,300-4,000

Inal the Great, who then ruled Western Circassia, organized a campaign to Eastern Circassia in 1434 and established the Kabardia province, named after his military general, Kabard. Inal organized a new campaign to the north in 1438 and drove out the Turkic nomads near the Circassian settlements north of the Kuban River along the Ten River and expanded his borders to modern-day Azov.

Rise to Power

Circassia during the reign of Inal

Inal the Great was a prominent leader in the early 15th century, initially holding land in the Taman Peninsula. He is first documented in 1427, according to Shora Nogma, and later sources, such as Richmond's Northwest Caucasus, recount a legend that he reunited the Circassian princedoms after they had been driven into the mountains by the Mongols. The name "Inal" was also a royal title among the Oguz Turks. In the early 1400s, Inal established an army predominantly composed of the Khegayk clan with the objective of uniting all regions with Circassian settlements into a single state. Gradually, various Circassian lordships fell under his control. Despite resistance from Circassian nobles and lords, Inal secured a decisive victory near the Mzymta River, where he defeated thirty Circassian lords. Following this battle, ten of these lords were executed, while the remaining twenty pledged allegiance to Inal, solidifying his power and influence over the region.

Conquests

Siege of Khumaran

Inal the Great captured all the Genoese fortresses except for their strongest, Khumaran. Despite damage from Timur's invasion in 1396, Khumaran remained a strategically significant fortress controlling the passes along the Kuban, Mary, and Teberda rivers. The fortress was situated atop Mount Kalezh, featuring robust stone walls approximately 1,900 meters long and covering an area of 5 hectares. Access was limited to a winding road from the east. Initially, Inal faced failures in his assaults, suffering heavy losses, but ultimately captured the fortress after a prolonged siege. Exhausted by the blockade, the Genoese agreed to abandon Khumaran on the condition of safe passage. However, upon their withdrawal, they were ambushed by a cavalry detachment led by Tambi, resulting in their annihilation.

Conquest of Kuban and Eastern Circassia

Inal, ruling Western Circassia, organized a campaign to Eastern Circassia in 1434 and established the Kabardia province, named after his best military general, Kabard. In 1438, he led a new campaign northward, driving out the Crimean Turkic nomadic tribes from Circassian settlements north of the Kuban River to the Ten River, thereby expanding his borders to modern-day Azov. Thus, he effectively took control of all Circassian lands. The capital of this new Circassian state became the city of Shanjir, founded in the region where Inal was born and raised.

Conquest of Abkhazia

As the Circassian provinces began to unite under him, Inal turned his attention to Abkhazia, where ethnic ties to the Circassians existed. The Abkhazian clans Anchabadze and Shervashidze declared fealty. Together, they defeated the opposing Mingrelians and unified Northern Abkhazia with Circassia. The Abkhaz people recognized Inal's rule, finalizing his dominance in Abkhazia.