61-580: The Tabasaran Principality or Principality of Tabasaran was an independent monarchic state in southern Dagestan , existing from 1642 until the later 19th century. It emerged as one of many smaller states from the disintegration of the Shamkhalate of Gazikumukh in 1642. It was located in the Samur river valley, roughly coinciding with the region in which the Tabasaran people still reside today. Its location close to
122-601: A center of the 2022 North Caucasian protests against mobilization . In 2023, during the Hamas-Israel war , there were a wave of antisemitic attacks across the North Caucasus, including Dagestan. The parliament of Dagestan is the People's Assembly , consisting of 72 deputies elected for a four-year term. The People's Assembly is the highest executive and legislative body of the republic. The Constitution of Dagestan
183-620: A large wedge in to the relationship between the native peoples of Dagestan and the new Russian settlers. Discontent with the Tsarist government grew after the Russian governor Illarion Vorontsov-Dashkov attempted to instate the Russian language as the language of administration in rural Dagestan. This culminated in around 6,000 Dagestani protestors marching on the then local capital of Temir-Khan-Shurinsky to show their discontent in 1914, mere weeks before
244-459: A lengthy campaign in swaths of Dagestan in order to fully conquer the region, which was met with considerable success, although eventually he was forced to withdraw due to the extremity of the weather, the outbreak of disease and heavy raids by the various ethnic groups of Dagestan, forcing him to retreat with his army. From 1747 onwards, the Persian-ruled part of Dagestan was administered through
305-678: A vassal and eventually subordinate to the Parthian Empire . With the advent of the Sasanian Empire , it became a satrapy (province) within the vast domains of the empire. In later antiquity, a few wars were fought as the Roman Empire unsuccessfully attempted to contest Sasanid rule over the region. Over the centuries, to a relatively large extent, the peoples within the Dagestan territory converted to Christianity alongside Zoroastrianism . In
366-566: Is classified as a continental climate , with a significant lack of precipitation. It is among the warmest places in Russia. In the mountainous regions, it is subarctic . Dagestan is divided into forty-one administrative districts ( raions ) and ten cities/towns . The districts are further subdivided into nineteen urban-type settlements , and 363 rural okrugs and stanitsa okrugs . In the first few centuries AD, Caucasian Albania (corresponding to modern Azerbaijan and southern Dagestan) became
427-400: Is located about seven kilometers southwest of the peak. Other important mountains are Diklosmta (4,285 m (14,058 ft)), Gora Addala Shukgelmezr (4,152 m (13,622 ft)) and Gora Dyultydag (4,127 m (13,540 ft)). The town of Kumukh is one of the settlements on the mountains. Dagestan is rich in oil , natural gas , coal , and many other minerals. The climate
488-571: Is more scarce in this region when compared to other parts of Dagestan. This northern dry region of Dagestan is part of the greater Nogai Steppe region of Russia. Due to the harsh nature of Dagestan's climate, any available fertile soil was used for agriculture. Cattle herding was also common. Only 15% of Dagestan's land is usable for agriculture, so Dagestan's own agricultural output was often not enough to sustain its population. The region became reliant on trade with Chechnya and Georgia to prevent starvation. Changes in agricultural practices during
549-518: Is named after the Dagestan ASSR. Dagestan is divided into five different topographical regions of varying natural features. The furthest south is the region dominated by the Caucasus Mountains . This region contains Dagestan's highest point, Mount Bazardüzü , at 14,652 ft or 4,466 m. This region is somewhat arid and rainfall is scarce. However, it is home to many rivers which cut through
610-566: The 1917 Revolution and Russian Civil War , he was in charge of a Madrasa in his home village of Kumukh . His school provided education in Islamic religious studies, as well as different secular fields of science and math, instruction was also carried out in the Lak language. Although he was initially protected from the purges of the Stalin era due to his place as a chairman on a Soviet sharia court, he
671-619: The Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian Sea . This region contains rich deposits of Oil and Natural gas . The fourth region is made up of the swampy plain around the Terek River and its delta on the coast of the Caspian Sea. The fifth region of Dagestan is the semi-arid plain north of the Terek River. This region receives around 8–10 in or 20–25 cm of rain per year, so vegetation as a whole
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#1732855576599732-452: The Caucasus Mountains such as the Sulak River or the Samur river . The second region is north of the mountains, and largely consists of forested hills rising to around 2000–3000 ft or 600–900 m. This region receives around 25 in or 63 cm of rain annually, this allows for a more useful soil than in the arid mountainous region. The third region is the coastal plain found in between
793-615: The Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in 1921, with the incorporation of the eastern part of Terek Oblast , which is not mountainous but includes the Terek littoral at the southern end of the Caspian Depression . The republic is situated in the North Caucasus mountains. It is the southernmost part of Russia and is bordered on its eastern side by the Caspian Sea . There are over 1,800 rivers in
854-573: The Derbent Khanate , with its center at Derbent. The Persian expedition of 1796 resulted in the Russian capture of Derbent in 1796. However, the Russians were again forced to retreat from the entire Caucasus following internal governmental problems, allowing Persia to capture the territory again. It was not until the aftermath of the Russo-Persian War (1804–1813) that Russian power over Dagestan
915-710: The Islamic conquests , the Dagestani people (region of Derbent ) were the first people to become Muslims within current Russian territory, after the Arab conquest of the region in 643. In the 8th century Arabs repeatedly clashed with the Khazars . Although the local population rose against the Arabs of Derbent in 905 and 913, Islam was still adopted in urban centers, such as Samandar and Kubachi (Zerechgeran), from where it steadily diffused into
976-607: The North Caucasus of Eastern Europe , along the Caspian Sea . It is located north of the Greater Caucasus , and is a part of the North Caucasian Federal District . The republic is the southernmost tip of Russia, sharing land borders with the countries of Azerbaijan and Georgia to the south and southwest, the Russian republics of Chechnya and Kalmykia to the west and north, and with Stavropol Krai to
1037-655: The Russian Revolution due its people's discontent with being part of the empire. Although as part of its strategy to promote local languages and to discourage pan-Turkic and pan-Islamic movements, a half-dozen of these ethnicities were provided with schooling in their native language. At some point in Soviet history, Russian became the most widespread second language and gradually the lingua franca , especially in urban areas. The minor planet 2297 Daghestan , discovered in 1978 by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Chernykh ,
1098-650: The Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) , rising together against the Russian Empire . Chechnya rose again at various times throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries. On December 21, 1917, Ingushetia , Chechnya , Dagestan and the rest of the North Caucasus declared independence from Russia and formed a single state called the "United Mountain Dwellers of the North Caucasus" (also known as the Mountainous Republic of
1159-534: The 1720s, as a result of the disintegration of the Safavids and the Russo-Persian War (1722–23) , the Russians briefly annexed maritime Dagestan from the Safavids. The Russians could not hold on to the interior of Dagestan, and could only be stopped in front of Baku with the help of Ottoman forces under the command of Mustafa Pasha. With a treaty signed between Russia and the Ottoman Empire in 1724 , aimed at dividing
1220-436: The 18th and early 19th century caused a migratory crisis within Dagestan due to shifting norms of where different people resided within Dagestan. Before the Soviet era, identity in the region of Dagestan largely centered around clans and religion, rather than ethnicity or “nationhood” in the Soviet context. However, due to the diverse nature of Dagestan, social structures varied widely between people groups. Dagestani society
1281-465: The 1930s. Kumyk also had been an official language for communication of the Russian Imperial administration with the local peoples. The first Russian grammar written about a language from present-day Dagestan was for Kumyk. Author Timofey Makarov wrote: From the peoples speaking Tatar language I liked the most Kumyks, as for their language's distinction and precision, so for their closeness to
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#17328555765991342-722: The 5th century, the Sassanids gained the upper hand, and by the 6th century had constructed a strong citadel at Derbent , known from then on as the Caspian Gates , while the Huns overran the northern part of Dagestan, followed by the Caucasian Avars . During the Sassanian era, southern Dagestan became a bastion of Persian culture and civilization, with its center at Derbent. A policy of " Persianisation " can be traced over many centuries. During
1403-566: The Avar interpretation of Islam, which was now seen in the eyes of many Kumyk as too "Sovietized." Dagestan is home to many indigenous Northern Caucasian ethnic groups, such as the Avar , Dargin , Lezgin , and other groups such as the Kumyk , Nogai , and Azeri . The largest ethnic group in Dagestan, the Avar, are divided into about 15 subgroups. There are also many ethnic Russians in this region who arrived after
1464-567: The Chairman of the State Council was the highest executive post in the republic, held by Magomedali Magomedovich Magomedov until 2006. On February 20, 2006, the People's Assembly passed a resolution terminating this post and disbanding the State Council. Russian president , Vladimir Putin offered the People's Assembly the candidature of Mukhu Aliyev for the newly established post of the president of
1525-769: The European civilization, but most importantly, I take in account that they live on the Left Flank of the Caucasian Front, where we're conducting military actions, and where all the peoples, apart from their own language, speak also Kumyk. Religion in Dagestan (2012) According to a 2012 survey which interviewed 56,900 people, 83% of the population of Dagestan adheres to Islam , 2.4% to the Russian Orthodox Church , 2% to Caucasian folk religion and other native faiths, 1% are non-denominational Christians . In addition, 9% of
1586-467: The Great. Imam Shamil was one of Dagestan's first resistance leaders against Russian imperialism. Shamil was born in 1797 to a prominent Avar warlord, and he came of age during the first years of full Russian control of Dagestan. Shamil acted as a charismatic political leader as well as a religious one in his efforts to unite the diverse peoples of Dagestan who did not have a history of working together before
1647-504: The Mountains". The Turkish word dağ means "mountain", and the Persian suffix -stan means "land". Some areas of Dagestan were known as Lekia , Avaria and Tarki at various times. Between 1860 and 1920, Dagestan was referred to as Dagestan Oblast , corresponding to the southeastern part of the present-day republic. The current borders were created with the establishment of
1708-581: The Northern Caucasus ). The capital of the new state was moved to Temir-Khan-Shura . The first prime minister of the state was Tapa Chermoyev , a prominent Chechen statesman. The second prime minister was an Ingush statesman Vassan-Girey Dzhabagiev, who in 1917 also became the author of the constitution of the land, and in 1920 was re-elected for a third term. After the Bolshevik Revolution , Ottoman armies occupied Azerbaijan and Dagestan and
1769-557: The Republic of Dagestan . The People's Assembly accepted the nomination, and Mukhu Aliyev became the first president of the republic. On February 20, 2010, Aliyev was replaced by Magomedsalam Magomedov . Ramazan Abdulatipov then became the head (acting 2013–2017, following the resignation of Magomedov). On October 3, 2017, Vladimir Vasilyev was appointed as head. In the 2024 Russian presidential election , which critics called rigged and fraudulent, President Vladimir Putin won 92.93% of
1830-527: The Russian Interior as a collective punishment. The Tsarist Russian government often sent Cossacks and ethnically Russian settlers to pacify the peoples of Dagestan and other regions in the North Caucasus, however this often had the opposite effect. Cossacks and Russian land owners received the most arable land in the region, leaving indigenous Dagestani farmers with less available land in an already competitive region in regards to agriculture. This put
1891-664: The Russian Soviet federation but did not follow the other ASSRs in declaring sovereignty . On August 7, 1999, the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade (IIPB), an Islamist group from Chechnya led by warlords Shamil Basayev , Ibn Al-Khattab and Ramzan Akhmadov , launched a military invasion of Dagestan , in support of the Shura separatist rebels with the aim of creating an "independent Islamic State of Dagestan". The invaders were supported by part of
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1952-592: The Russian conquest. Through his ability to create unity among the various peoples of Dagestan, he was able to successfully conduct over two decades of Guerilla warfare against the Tsarist Russian army. Tsarist Russia spent decades in its conquest of the Caucasus region and the Caucasian war would not come to a full end until 1859. After the 1877 Dagestani Uprising, the Tsarist government deported many Dagestanis to
2013-516: The Stavropol Gymnasium. After his graduation, he moved to St.Petersburg, where he began writing a paper known as "The Dawn of Dagestan." This paper was written not only in Russian, but in the Dagestani languages of Lak and Lezgin . Ullubii Buinaskii was another Dagestani Bolshevik radicalized by secular education. Although originally from Dagestan, he received his education at Moscow University . Both Gabiev and Buinaskii quickly fell in with
2074-411: The beginning of World War One . Early Dagestani Bolshevik , Said Gabiev , was born to a Dagestani family who had suffered from deportation to the Russian Interior after an 1877 Dagestani uprising. Although his family was allowed to return to Dagestan, Gabiev was familiar with his family's stories of suffering at the hand of the Tsarist government. He was further radicalized by his secular education at
2135-410: The hands of the Soviet government, but also internally led by homegrown secular Dagestani Islamic scholars. Ali Kaiaev was a Cairo educated Dagestani Islamic leader who became a prominent figure in early Soviet Dagestan. Kaiaev's role as a reformer began from 1913 to 1916 when he edited a newspaper known as "The Rose of Dagestan," which promoted religious and political reform inside of Dagestan. After
2196-512: The highlands. By the 15th century, Christianity had died away, leaving a 10th-century Church of Datuna as the sole monument to its existence. In the second half of the 11th century, the Seljuk Turks took part of the region of Dagestan under their control. The Mongols raided the lands in 1221–1222 then conquered Derbent and the surrounding area from 1236 to 1239 during the invasions of Georgia and Durdzuketia . The Timurids incorporated
2257-406: The local population but were driven back by the Russian military and local paramilitary groups. In response to the invasion, Russian forces subsequently reinvaded Chechnya later that year . Dagestan has one of the highest unemployment rates in Russia . Dagestani soldiers participated in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , many of whom were killed in action. In September, Dagestan became
2318-399: The main road between Derbent and Shirvan gave it some strategic importance. The population of the principality was mainly composed of Tabasarans and Lezgins , and minor Caucasian tribes such as Tsakhurs , Rutuls and Aguls . The state was governed by two sovereigns, one of which was called Ghāzī , the other Ma‘ṣūm . It could mobilize an army of 500 cavalrymen. The independence of
2379-524: The main socio-organizational structure in Dagestan began to fade due to pressure both from rising Russian colonial presence in the region as well as internal economic and environmental causes. Dagestan's entry to the Russian Empire was finalized in 1813 with the signing of the Gulistan Peace Treaty. However, Russia's interests in Dagestan began in 1722 with the Russo-Persian War led by Peter
2440-555: The military equation. The Russian administration, however, disappointed and embittered the highlanders. The institution of heavy taxation, coupled with the expropriation of estates and the construction of fortresses (including Makhachkala), electrified highlanders into rising under the aegis of the Muslim Imamate of Dagestan , led by Ghazi Mohammed (1828–1832), Hamzat Bek (1832–1834) and Shamil (1834–1859). This Caucasian War raged until 1864. Dagestan and Chechnya profited from
2501-511: The mountainous region on the Dagestan-Georgia border. Prior to Soviet rule, the literary lingua-franca status to some extent belonged to Classical Arabic . The northern Avar dialect of Khunzakh has also served as a lingua franca in mountainous Dagestan where Avar-related peoples lived. And throughout centuries the Kumyk language had been the lingua-franca for the bigger part of the Northern Caucasus, from Dagestan to Kabarda , until
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2562-448: The northwest. Makhachkala is the republic's capital and largest city ; other major cities are Derbent , Kizlyar , Izberbash , Kaspiysk , and Buynaksk . Dagestan covers an area of 50,300 square kilometres (19,400 square miles), with a population of over 3.1 million, consisting of over 30 ethnic groups and 81 nationalities. With 14 official languages, and 12 ethnic groups each constituting more than 1% of its total population,
2623-766: The population identify as " spiritual but not religious ", 2% as atheist , and 0.6% as other and no answer. Dagestanis adherents of Islam are largely Sunni Muslims of the Shafii school. On the Caspian coast, particularly in and around the port city of Derbent , the population (primarily made up of Azerbaijanis ) is Shia . A Salafi minority is also present, which is sometimes a target of official repression. Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic The Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (1921–1991), abbreviated as Dagestan ASSR or DASSR and also unofficially known as Soviet Dagestan or just simply Dagestan ,
2684-599: The principality came to an end in the course of the Russian conquest of the Caucasus . Today the region is part of the Dagestan Republic within the Russian Federation . Dagestan Dagestan ( / ˌ d æ ɡ ɪ ˈ s t æ n , - ˈ s t ɑː n / DAG -i- STA(H)N ; Russian : Дагестан ; IPA: [dəɡʲɪˈstan] ), officially the Republic of Dagestan , is a republic of Russia situated in
2745-518: The region became part of the short-lived Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus . After more than three years of fighting the White Army and local nationalists, the Bolsheviks achieved victory and the Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed on January 20, 1921. As the newly created Soviet Union was consolidating control in the region, Dagestan declared itself a republic within
2806-657: The region into their realm following the Mongols. As Mongolian authority gradually eroded, new centers of power emerged in Kaitagi and Tarki . In the early 16th century, the Persians (under the Safavids ) reconsolidated their rule over the region, which would, intermittently, last till the early 19th century. In the 16th and 17th centuries, legal traditions were codified, and mountainous communities ( djamaats ) obtained considerable autonomy. In
2867-477: The republic is one of Russia's most linguistically and ethnically diverse, and one of the most heterogeneous administrative divisions in the world. Most of the residents speak one of the Northeast Caucasian , or Turkic languages; however, Russian is the primary language and the lingua franca in the republic. The word Dagestan is of Turkish and Persian origin, directly translating to "Land of
2928-544: The republic. Major rivers include: Dagestan has about 405 kilometers (252 mi) of coastline on the world's largest lake, the Caspian Sea . Most of Dagestan is mountainous, with the Greater Caucasus Mountains covering the south of the republic. The highest point is the Bazardüzü/Bazardyuzyu peak at 4,470 meters (14,670 ft), on the border with Azerbaijan . The southernmost point of Russia
2989-420: The rising Bolshevik underground in their respective cities, and would both eventually become pivotal members of their own local revolutionary movements. Due to this, they were often on the run from Tsarist authorities, and would relocate as need be to avoid arrest. The capital of Dagestan, Makhachkala, was originally named Port Petrovsk during the Tsarist period. However, during the early Soviet period in 1921 it
3050-661: The second highest life expectancy in Russia. Higher duration of life is observed only in Ingushetia . Source: Russian Federal State Statistics Service The people of Dagestan include a large variety of ethnicities . According to the 2021 Census , Northeast Caucasians (including Avars , Dargins , Lezgins , Laks , Tabasarans , Rutulians and Chechens ) make up almost 75% of the population of Dagestan. Turkic peoples, Kumyks , Azerbaijanis , and Nogais make up 21%, and Russians 3.3%. Other ethnicities (e.g. Tats , who are an Iranian people ) each account for less than 0.4% of
3111-469: The territories of Safavid Iran between them, Derbend, Baku and some other places in the region were left to Russia. Dagestan briefly came under Ottoman rule between 1578 and 1606. The territories were however returned to Persia in 1735 per the Treaty of Ganja . Between 1730 and the early course of the 1740s, following his brother's murder in Dagestan, the new Persian ruler and military genius Nader Shah led
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#17328555765993172-811: The total population. Such groups as the Botlikh , the Andi , the Akhvakhs , the Tsez and about ten other groups were reclassified as Avars between the 1926 and 1939 censuses. Ethnic groups in Dagestan (2021) More than 30 local languages are commonly spoken, most belonging to the Nakh-Daghestanian language family. Russian became the principal lingua franca in Dagestan during the 20th century; Over 20 of Russia's 131 endangered languages as identified by UNESCO can be found in Dagestan. Most of these endangered languages have speakers in
3233-418: The traditionally mountainous and more strictly Islamic Avar people, conflict began to arise. Initially, contact with the Avar drew many Kumyk towards the interpretation of Islam practiced by them. However, ethnic conflict began to arise during the late Soviet period when the economy began to worsen. This culminated in some Kumyk developing their own strict Wahabist interpretation of Islam. This conflicted with
3294-413: The vote in Dagestan. Because its mountainous terrain impedes travel and communication, Dagestan is unusually ethnically diverse and still largely tribal. It is Russia's most heterogeneous republic. Dagestan's population is rapidly growing. 3,182,054 ( 2021 Census ) ; 2,910,249 ( 2010 Census ) ; 2,576,531 ( 2002 Census ) ; 1,802,579 ( 1989 Soviet census ) . Dagestan has
3355-548: Was adopted on July 10, 2003. According to it, the highest executive authority lies with the State Council, comprising representatives of fourteen ethnicities. The Constitutional Assembly of Dagestan appoints the members of the State Council for a term of four years. The State Council appoints the members of the Government. The ethnicities represented in the State Council are Avars , Dargins , Kumyks , Lezgins , Laks , Azerbaijanis , Tabasarans , Russians , Chechens , Nogais , Aguls , Rutuls , Tsakhurs , and Tats . Formerly,
3416-403: Was an autonomous republic of the Russian SFSR within the Soviet Union . This "Land of Mountains" was known also for having a "mountain of peoples," with more than thirty ethnic groups indigenous to the territory. This region was absorbed in to the Russian Empire in 1813 after the signing of the Treaty of Gulistan , and subsequently became a breeding ground for early revolutionary fervor in
3477-424: Was confirmed, and that Qajar Persia officially ceded the territory to Russia. In 1813, following Russia's victory in the war, Persia was forced to cede southern Dagestan with its principal city of Derbent, alongside other vast territories in the Caucasus to Russia, conforming with the Treaty of Gulistan . The 1828 Treaty of Turkmenchay indefinitely consolidated Russian control over Dagestan and removed Persia from
3538-445: Was divided up in to socio-organizational units known as Jama'ats before Russian conquest. Jama'ats first originated in Dagestan between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, and they consisted of a well protected villages surrounded by agricultural fields. A Jama'at was divided further in to clans which were known as Tukkhums . Expulsion from one's Jama'at or Tukkhum was seen as a fate equivalent to death. The existence of Jama'ats as
3599-405: Was eventually arrested and deported to Kazakhstan, where he would spend the remaining years of his life. Migrations and social changes forced on the indigenous ethnic groups of Dagestan oftentimes led to conflict among these groups. Ethnic Kumyks originated in the plains region of Dagestan and were largely more secular due to Soviet Atheist influence, however due to forced displacement of many of
3660-430: Was renamed to Makhachkala. The 1917 revolution and Russian Civil War brought many Dagestani bolsheviks who had studied in the big cities of the Russian empire back home, including Gabiev and Buinaskii . This would lead to Buinaskii's death in 1919 as a result of participation in the civil war. The Soviet government promoted secular education, meaning the traditionally Islamic education which prevailed in Dagestan
3721-408: Was under threat. Beginning in 1938, Russian language instruction in non-Russian language schools became mandatory. Education in Russian and titular languages was mandatory, but in a region as diverse as Dagestan not all languages were taught and many Indigenous Dagestani languages were left with fewer speakers. The early Soviet period in Dagestan not only saw forced secularization from the outside at
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