A Truthful History

Հեղինակ

Բաժին

Թեմա

(103a) MAJOR GENERAL LAZAREV'S WAR AGAINST OMAR KHAN, THE GOVERNOR OF AVARIA AND DEFEAT OF THE LEZGHIN TROOPS

A year after the entrance of Russian army into the lands of Tiflis, in1800/1216 Omar Khan, the governor of Avaria, recruited an army of 20000 men from Daghestanand other regions. Then under the motivation, that:

-As Vali has put aside our friendship and taken shelter underRussian State's protection, we shall go and push them [Russians] out. Then we shallplunder Tiflis as we did previously.

When Vali received these news, grew very anxious and quiveredlike a fish in a net. He and his people were scared and thought of flight, since they hadexperienced the abuses of Aqa Muhammad and his troops in Tiflis. They thought it better torun away and save their lives, seeking refuge at various places.

When General Lazarev was informed about this, he made every effort toconvince and hold them back from unworthy actions. But Vali and the people refusedto listen to him, because at that time they had not yet seen the skill of the Russianarmy. They did not believe that general Lazarev could overcome the Lesghin army of 20000warriors with his few troops. The general soon understood that his persuasions would notbe effective for the people. (103b) That is why he had to address them:

-Don't leave your town and your motherland. I will fight aloneagainst the enemy. Whenever I gain a victory, I'll be praised by you and if, Godforbid, I suffer a defeat, you all can make your escape.

The people of Georgia calmed down a little. Then general Lazarev withgeneral Guliakov (Qulaqov) took the army and went to war against Omar Khan. Theblood-sucking rival armies met at the place below the Saqarejo village, near to the Iori(Qibir) River at sunset. Seeing the small Russian regiment, the Lesghins were astonished:

-How do they dare to fight with such a small group?

Some of the Lesghin chiefs suggested to follow the proverb:

-The evil of the morning is better than the good of the night.

Its better to wait the night until in the morning the Russians maywithdraw.

Omar Khan and other chiefs said:

-The Lord only knows, what tricks Fate will play with us tomorrow. Sowe'd better start the battle now and fight bravely, filling the battlefield with thenoise of guns and cannons and dimming the daylight in the eyes of our enemy.

Then he ordered the half of his army to surround the Russian troops, sothat nobody could escape, imprison all of them and bring to him.

The Daghestan army made efforts and sought to fulfil the order of itsleader. When they approached the Russian regiment, General [Lasarev] ordered to fire fromtheir dragon like cannons with utmost courage. So the brave Russian soldiers immediatelyattacked [the Lesghins]. Soon the Daghestan troops noticed that the noisy world was caughtwith the fire of the cannons and the heads of the Russian soldiers were red from theirblood. They resisted no more, fled away leaving the battlefield. All their booty andbaggage were left. The number of their killed was countless and out of imagination. Thosewho escaped and joined the other group [of Lesghin troops], told them about the accident, so that they fell in despair. They thought:

-We must protect our dignity. Let's ride on our horses to fightand smash our enemy with swords and guns.

The general took his victorious army to an assault upon thefortifications of that group and scattered its firm rows like the hair of a beauty. Thegreat attempts made by Omar Khan and other commanders to rearrange and calm down theirarmy to give a final battle and restore their dignity were useless. They were sofrightened from the first blow of Russians, that only the name of Russians was enough tomake them flee without any resistance. As the night drew near, the Lesghins escaped to theterritory of Ganje without stopping at any place.

Thence they intended to go to Karabagh and spend the winter there, asthe mountains were covered with snow and it was impossible to pass through them. Hearingthis the population of Ganje, took their swords, which could kill only the weak, attackedthem and murdered a greater part of them. The Lesghins stopped nowhere and were forced toescape to Jar, which they made their winter camp. These misfortunes made Omar Khan sickand he died. His body was buried there.

General Lazarev sent a messenger to Tiflis with cheerful news. Butnobody believed [him], until he sent a few heads of the murdered [Lesghins], and everybodycalmed down. (105a) Some days later [Lazarev] himself arrived with triumph and victory at Dar-al-Sorur Tiflis. Its population celebrated the event with merry feasts and revelries. Their faithin the courage and power of the Russian army rose. H. M. the Emperor of Russia, graciouslygranted the regiment honor and numerous presents. In fact, it seldom happened and was verystrange to have such a small detachment gain victory against a big army.

Thus, the honor of General Lazarev increased, and the fame of hisarmy's courage and skill spread everywhere.

Two years later, in 1800/1216 King Georgi died. David Mirza wasappointed Vali instead.