Russian invasion of Circassia (1711)

On 13 May 1711, Tsar Peter I ordered Araksin, Governor of Astrakhan, to pillage Circassia. Araksin moved with 30,000 strong Russian armed forces and, on 26 August 1711, broke into the lands of the Circassians, and captured Kopyl town (now Slavianski). From there, heading towards the Black Sea, he seized ports on the Kuban and looted and pillaged them. Then, he marched up along the Kuban River, pillaging villages. During this single invasion in Circassia, the Russians killed 43,247 Circassian men and women, and drove away 39,200 horses, 190,000 cattle and 227,000 sheep from Circassia.

Russian invasion of Circassia
Part of Russo-Circassian War
Location Circassia Result Unconvincing Russians managed to plunder Circassia Russians continued to wage this type of war until 1764 Russians leave Circassia
Belligerents
Circassia	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Atajuq III Misewestiqo	Fyodor Apraksin
Strength
7,000	30.000
Casualties and losses
Heavy	Heavy

History

On May 13, 1711, Godard Peter and Alexander Fedorovich, better known as Peter the Great, told Araksin, the governor of Stragan, to invade Circassia. Araksin moved with 30,000 Russian armed forces and on August 26, 1711, broke into the Circassian lands, 100 km north of the Kuban River, and captured the city of Kopyl (now Slavyansky). From there, heading for the Black Sea, he seized the ports in the Kuban and plundered them. Then he walked 86 km along the Kuban River, plundering villages, ravaging the land and killing residents.

Naturally, this sudden attack initially confused the Circassians. However, they soon recovered from the shock and sent 7,000 Circassian cavalry, which engaged enemy forces at the Chalou River, but, lacking cannons, they were defeated there on September 6.

During this single invasion of Circassia, the Russians killed 43,247 Circassian men and women and stole 39,200 horses, 190,000 cattle and 227,000 sheep from Circassia. Russia continued to wage this type of war against Circassia in the period from 1716 to 1763, but the motive for its insane impulse was not only material gain. It was only a prelude to the terrible war she had to unleash against Circassia in order to implement a secret plan that she was trying to hide from the other great powers of the world.