Seferbiy Zaneqo[2][a](1798 – 1 January 1860), orSefer Pasha,was aCircassiandiplomat and military commander who served as the5th leaderof theCircassian Confederationfrom 1859 to 1860. He took part in theRusso-Circassian Warboth in a military and a political capacity. Advocating for the Circassian cause in the west and acting as an emissary of theOttoman Empirein the region. By the end of his life Zaneqo had emerged as the leader of the Circassian resistance.
 Sefer Bey Zaneqo | |
|---|---|
| Занэкъо Сэфэрбий(Adyghe) | |
 An illustration of Zaneqo in daily wear, 1845. ByMiner Kilbourne Kellogg | |
 Confederate LeaderofCircassia | |
| In office 1859–1860 | |
| Preceded by | Muhammad Amin |
| Succeeded by | Qerandiqo Berzeg |
| Ottoman ambassador to Circassia | |
| In office 1829–1860 | |
| Appointed by | Abdulmejid I |
| Preceded by | Ferah Ali Pasha |
| De factoCircassian ambassador to the Ottomans | |
| In office 1831–1860 | |
| Appointed by | Himself |
| De factoCircassian ambassador to Britain | |
| In office 1831–1860 | |
| Appointed by | Himself |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1798 Anapa,Circassia |
| Died | 1 January 1860(aged 61–62) Shapsug province,Circassia |
| Resting place | Vordobgach valley |
| Children | Qarabatir Zaneqo |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Circassian Confederation
 Ottoman Empire |
| Battles/wars | Russo-Circassian War Muhammad Ali's seizure of power Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829) Crimean War |
Early life
edit
Sefer Bey Zaneqo was born nearAnapa.He descended from theCircassiannoble family of Zan. His tribal affiliation is disputed, his ancestors are variously believed to beKhegayksorNatukhajs.His father Mehmed Giray Bey, a business owner and one of the richest men in Circassia, died when he was young.
In 1807, the fortress of Anapa was captured by Russian troops during the course of theRusso-Circassian Warand Zaneqo was given as a hostage to the Russians by the local population.[4]He was then sent toOdessa,where he was educated in the Rishelevski Lyceum.[5]His service in the Russian army ended abruptly when he fled to the mountains after a personal conflict with his regiment's commander.[6]According to British adventurerJames Stanislaus Bell,he soon sailed to Egypt where he lived among the CircassianMamluksuntil theirfall from power.Whereupon he returned to his homeland and married aNogaiprincess.
At that time Anapa had been conquered by theOttoman Empire,prompting Zaneqo to travel toConstantinoplewhere he entered into Ottoman service. He became the deputy of Anapa governor Hajji Hassan Pasha, receiving the rank of colonel. During theRusso-Turkish War (1828–1829),Anapa was recaptured by the Russians and Zaneqo was taken prisoner. He remained in Odessa until the end of the war, and once freed he returned to Circassia, taking the role of an ambassador.[7]
With the emergence of multiple resources on Circassian history, the widely spread notion of a scattered and fragmented nation is now refuted. Zhanoko, a high profile Circassian leader during the struggle for independence and a keen diplomat who built channels with the Russians, Turkish and British diplomats is one of Circassia's main figures during the peak of the Circassian-Russian war.[citation needed]
Beginnings
editThe young Sefer Bey was sent to study at the Richelieu Lyceum inOdessa.There, he larned speak, read, and write inRussian,and was assigned as a cadet at theRussian22nd Jaeger Regiment, stationed inAnapa.After quarreling with the regiment commander, A.Ya. Rudzevich, Sefer Bey fled to the mountains, and then discreetly sailed forTurkey.[8]
Back home
editAfter arriving in Istanbul, Sefer Bey was able to quickly ascend to a position of influence due to his astute character. Eventually, Sefer decided to return toCircassia,he was able to fill the position of being the assistant to theOttomanpasha atAnapa. Sefer Bey won authority among theNatukhaiprinces and otherCircassiansoften acting as an intermediary between theOttomansandNatukhai. Sefer Bey reached the rank of Colonel in theTurkish armyduring the summer of 1828, when theRussian armysieged the fort ofAnapa. Osman Pasha, theTurkishcommander of Anapa, had decided to surrender the fort, and Sefer Bey himself led the negotiations to avoid potential bloodshed. Sefer Bey's former comrade Lieutenant-Commander and fellow Graduate of the Richelieu LyceumL.M.Serebryakovwas on the opposing side of the negotiations on behalf of theRussiansand would later recall that this deal was not possible without Sefer Bey's involvement. TheBritishspyJames Bellwould later write that if Sefer bey had decided not to surrender, opposing Osman Pasha's decision, then the garrison would have followed his example and could not have been taken by theRussian armyeasily.[9]
Great Britain
editIn early January 1831, Sefer Bey organized several general meetings with the elders of theShapsughs(Circassian:шапсыгъ) andNatukhais(Circassian:Hэтхъуае) on theAhops( Circassian:Ахупс,Афыпс)Sukko(Circassian:Сукъо) andAdagum(Circassian:АтIэкIумэ) rivers. Among other things, he put forward the idea of a possible reconciliation between theCircassiansandRussia,on the stipulation that theRussiansretreated behind theKuban,however, this proposal was rejected. Negotiations with theOttomanson the other hand were largely unsuccessful due to tightly bound terms of the Adrianople peace treaty of 1829. During the same year, the Russian ambassador sent a letter back home reporting that Sefer Bey with the authority of 200 variousCircassianprinces and elders, negotiated a possibleBritish alliancewith the ambassadorJohn Posonby.Undeterred, Sefer Bey continued the negotiations with the British, eventually organizing a trip to Circassia for theBritishdiplomatDavid Urquhart.David would inspire theCircassiansfurther in their resistance, by promising the help ofGreat Britain.[10]
In the British embassy
editSefer Bey received an invitation to the British embassy in Istanbul, where otherCircassiandeputies were invited as well. Upon arrival he reassured his countrymen that his current exile was only temporary and only to deceive theRussianauthorities. He proposed a strategy for the deputies, suggesting that leaders with influence over the populace should relocate with their subjects to the bay of Tsemez. Where Sefer Bey would return to with a fullBritishexpedition. The news was carried by the deputies back home toCircassia,and as a result theShapsughsandNatukhaisheld a council which electedMohammed-KassandKushtanoko-Khasheshas deputies with full consent. With this new strengthened position which had been negotiated at the British Embassy in Istanbul, theBritishalso took advantage of the situation. British ships in the following period frequented the shores ofCircassia,not only carrying agents and diplomats but also cargo filled with provisions and more importantly,gunpowder.[9][11]
The Vixen Affair
editThe Russians were forced again to take increased measures in order to weaken the Circassian war effort, and as a resultBaron Grigory Rosen,commander of the SeparateCaucasianCorps, ordered an increase in the supervision of theCircassiancoastline. Eventually, a year later, the Russians were able to capture a British vessel. In November 1836, the Russian Ajax brig detained the British schoonerVixenin the Bay ofTsemezunder the control ofJames Belland his brother George, which was unloading 100 tons of gunpowder ashore. This incident led to a rapid deterioration of British-Russian relations and almost led to an armed conflict, but by April 1837 the situation had normalized, and David Urquhart was recalled fromIstanbul.This whole episode was dubbed “The Vixen Affair”. In 1837 D. Bell arrived again in Circassia, accompanied by theEnglishjournalistJohn Longworthand Sefer Bey's envoy Naghwa Ishmael, who handed letters to theCircassianson behalf of Sefer Bey and theBritish government.Until 1839, theBritishD. Bell and D. Longworth were in Circassia, organizing the delivery of military supplies for the Circassians accompanying them in raids beyond the Russian lines, and coordinating their actions. Due to increased militancy and effective diplomacy between Zhanonqo and the British, the Russians changed their strategy into a prioritized control ofthe Black Seathrough building multiple forts in an attempt to minimize the aid received by Circassians. This coupled with the increased bureaucratic obstacles that Zhanonko had faced trying to get further involvement fromthe Ottomans,led him to send a letter to the leaders of the Circassian resistance explaining that nothing could be done so far under the existing agreements between Russia and Ottomans. On the other hand, he urged them not to lose hope. Few Circassian leaders decided to cease resistance, however the vast majority decided to continue the struggle, sending a clear message that the Circassians were not going to accept Russian citizenship under any circumstances.[12]
Ambassador in the Ottoman Empire
editTheTreaty of Adrianople (1829)marked the beginning of the Russian colonization of Circassia through the establishment of military outposts andstanitsas.An assembly of Circassian tribes declared Zaneqo as their representative, dispatching him to Constantinople at the head of 200 man delegation in the spring of 1831. The Ottoman agreed to secretly supply the Circassians with weapons and ammunition, whileMuhammad Ali of Egyptrefused to provide any assistance. Zaneqo settled inSamsunwhere he continued his advocacy.[13]There he metDavid Urquhart,one of the first people to espouse the Circassian cause in the west and major contributor to the rise of Rusophobic attitudes in British society. In the summer of 1834, Urquhart visited Circassia where he received a petition signed by 11 chiefs requesting the British king to intervene into the conflict. Two more petitions followed in 1835 and 1836 respectively, both were reluctantly rejected by the British ambassador in ConstantinopleJohn Ponsonby, 1st Viscount Ponsonby.Lord Palmerstonhad previously blocked Ponsonby's initiative to include Circassia in theEastern Question,on account of the feeble state of the Circassian resistance movement. A series of diplomatic protests by the Russian ambassador led to Zaneqo's exile toEdirne.Encouraged by Urquhart a group of British adventurers unsuccessfully attempted to run the blockade of the Circassian coast, theMission of the Vixencreated a diplomatic scandal between Britain and Russia. Encouraged by Ponsonby, Zaneqo continued to submit appeals to the British albeit to no avail.[14]In the meantime, the militant SufiKhalidiyyamovement overtook theAdyghe Habzeas the leading ideology behind the Circassian resistance. Envoys sent byImam Shamilhelped coordinate the activities of the insurgents across the Caucasus and establishedSharialaw.[15]
Pressures
editThe pressure on the Russian forces became crucial. In 1842, relying on his influence inCircassia,Sefer demanded from the Russian embassy in Turkey to return to his homeland. The correspondence started between the embassy and the Russian generals in theCircassianfront and deliberation with Sefer continued for nearly a decade. Unexpectedly,general Serebryakovsupported Sefer's demand and requested form the commander-in-chief and viceroy of theCaucasusPrince Mikhail Simonovich Forintsovto approve it. His opinion was to use Sefer's influence to convinceCircassiansto surrender. In 1844 Sefer sent a letter to theShapsughandNatukhaithat theOttomanswill cease to support Circassians in light of Turkish Russian relationships. He encouraged them not to lose hope nor fall under Russian promises, and never to move to the northern bank ofriver Pshiz.With this news, few Circassians preferred to surrender and Sefer attempts to return to the homeland continued to fail. With Sefer's absence, the spirit of unity among the Circassians started to fade. In 1853 Russian ambassador in Turkey received a note that Sefer is communicating with Circassian leaders to provoke them to unite against Russia. The peace project with Sefer was terminated.[16]
Treaty of Paris
editAccording to the terms of theParis Peace Treaty(March 30, 1856), allCircassiawas transferred to the rule ofRussia.The representative ofGreat Britain,Count Clarendon,tried to insist on the provision thatthe Kuban Riverwas a border between the possessions ofTurkeyand Russia, but theTurkishandFrenchsides agreed with the opinion of the Russian commissionerPhilip Brunnovthat theTreaty of Adrianopledesignated the territory south ofthe Kubanas Russian possessions. The Paris treaty caused disappointment among theAdygheleaders, who hoped to achieve the independence ofCircassia.In a letter toMajor General G.I.Filipsonu,Zaneqo wrote: "We demand that all governments consider us a distinct people".[17]
TheTreaty of Paris (1856)ended the conflict, frustrating at the same time any hopes of Circassian independence. The Circassians remained politically divided and when Mohammed Amin replaced Zaneqo as the new governor, the two sides fought a second battle this time on the Sup river. An intervention of tribal elders led to compromise, when the two leaders agreed to jointly travel to Constantinople and have the sultan settle the dispute. However Zaneqo broke his oath and remained in Circassia. Zaneqo was in fact following secret Ottoman orders as he was tasked with supervising the withdrawal of the Ottoman army from the region during the course of June. He then resettled to the Shapsykhua river, destroyed the port ofTuapseto prevent Amin's supporters from using it as a supply route and called for the latter's assassination. During the second half of the year Zaneqo attempted to negotiate a peace treaty with the Russians. In January 1857, a sanguine battle between Zaneqo's and Amin's forces took place in Tuapse, Zaneqo's son Karabatir emerged victorious. Russian intelligence was well aware of the British and Ottoman involvement in the affairs of the Caucasus. In May 1857, Amin was invited to Constantinople and immediately arrested, and exiled toDamascus,a move previously planned by the imperialMajlisin an effort to improve relations with Russia. At the same time shipments of arms and ammunition to the rebels were halted. Zaneqo died in Shapsugh on 1 January 1860, oblivious to the change in Ottoman policy. He was buried in the Vordobgach valley. Karabatir succeeded him as the leader of Circassian resistance. The Russo-Circassian War officially ended on 2 June 1864, theCircassian genocidewas to follow.[18]
Circassian flag
editSefer Bey was a leader that had a dream of a unitedCircassia,he managed to expose the Circassian cause to an international audience, his thoughts of a united sovereign country never died... the flag he made for this nation is still flapping since 1830.[9]
Crimean War
editOn 4 October 1853, the Ottomans declared war on Russia launching theCrimean War.The Ottomans recruited Zaneqo and other Circassians into their army in preparation for an offensive on the Caucasus front in spring of 1854. Zaneqo was appointed as the Ottoman governor of Circassia, receiving the honorary title ofpasha.On 29 October, two messengers carrying orders for Mohammed Amin Imam Shamil'snaibin Circassia were dispatched fromTrabzonto recruit fighters in preparation for his arrival. On 27 March 1854, Russia withdrew from its Circassian forts with the exception of Anapa andNovorossiyskas defensive measure due to the intervention of Britain and France into the conflict. In May, an Ottoman fleet carrying 300 Circassians including Zaneqo, supplies and military advisors sailed toSukhum Kale.Zaneqo soon clashed with Mohammed Amin, when the latter refused to supply the Ottomans with recruits for fear that they will be pressed to fight outside of their homeland. In July, Amin was also elevated to pasha, exacerbating the power struggle between the two men. In March 1855, troops loyal to Zaneqo clashed with Amin's supporters on the banks of the river Sebzh. Zaneqo remained in Sukhum Kale until 10 June when he relocated to Anapa which had been recently abandoned by the Russians. In order to bridge the divide in the Circassian society created by Zaneqo's rivalry with Amin, the Ottomans placed both under the command of their countryman Mustapha Pasha.[19]
References
edit- ^Khoon, Yahya (2010). Muhammad Amin: Imam Shamil’s Naib to the Circassians in the Northwest Caucasus
- ^Заноко – искаженное Зан-уко, в котором "уко" ( "сын" по-адыгски): Фелицын Е.Д. Князь Сефер-бей Зан – политический деятель и поборник независимости черкесского народа // Кубанский сборник. Екатеринодар, 1904. С. 4-5.
- ^Цуекъо, Алый (2012).Адыгэ лъэкъуацIэхэмрэ тамыгъэхэмрэ[Circassian family names and tamgas](PDF)(in Adyghe). Мыекъуапэ Адыгэ Республикэм итхылъ тедзапІ. p. 154.
- ^Точная дата этого события неизвестна. Х.Х.Хапсироков в статье о Сефер-бее считает, что это произошло после 1807 г., когда мальчику было 10-12 лет (Сефер-бей Зан // Хапсироков Х.Х. Жизнь и литература. Сб. статей. М., 2002. С. 236). В этом случае дата рождения Сефер-бея должна приходиться на 1795 или 1797 год, тогда как принятой датой его рождения считается 1789 год: Хаджебиекова Ф.М. Деятельность Мухаммеда-Амина и Сефер-бей Зана как военно-политических лидеров кубанских горцев в период Кавказской войны. Автореферат дисс. к.и.н. Краснодар, 2012. С. 19. ↑
- ^.Дневник пребывания в Черкесии в течение 1837-1839 годов. Нальчик, 2007. Т. 2. Гл. 27., С. 173.
- ^Фелицын Е.Д. Князь Сефер-бей Зан – политический деятель и поборник независимости черкесского народа..., С.9-11.
- ^Khoon 2015,pp. 69–76.
- ^"DSpace Home"(PDF).
- ^abcKhoon 2015,p. 69.
- ^Bell, James Stanislaus (1840)."Journal of a Residence in Circassia: During the Years 1837, 1838 and 1839: In 2 Volumes".
- ^Bell, James Stanislaus (1840)."Journal of a Residence in Circassia: During the Years 1837, 1838 and 1839: In 2 Volumes".
- ^"DSpace Home"(PDF).
- ^Khoon 2015,pp. 76–77.
- ^Köremezli 2004,pp. 26–36.
- ^Khoon 2015,pp. 77–79.
- ^Bell, James Stanislaus (1840)."Journal of a Residence in Circassia: During the Years 1837, 1838 and 1839: In 2 Volumes".
- ^"DSpace Home"(PDF).
- ^Khoon 2015,pp. 88–93.
- ^Khoon 2015,pp. 80–88.
Notes
edit- ^Adyghe:Занэкъо Сэфэрбий,romanized:Zaneqo Seferbii;Ottoman Turkish:ظنزادە صفر بك;Turkish:Zanzade Sefer Bek
Citations
edit- Köremezli, Ibrahim (2004).The Place of the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Circassian War (1830-1864).Bilkent University Thesis(Thesis). Bilkent University. pp. 1–112.hdl:11693/29565.Retrieved10 December2017.
- Khoon, Yahya (2015).""Prince of Circassia": Sefer Bey Zanuko and the Circassian Struggle for Independence "(PDF).Journal of Caucasian Studies.1(1): 69–92.doi:10.21488/jocas.70395.Retrieved8 December2017.