Table of contents:

For which the only Russian Muslim general was executed: Azerbaijani Huseyn Khan Nakhichevan
For which the only Russian Muslim general was executed: Azerbaijani Huseyn Khan Nakhichevan

Video: For which the only Russian Muslim general was executed: Azerbaijani Huseyn Khan Nakhichevan

Video: For which the only Russian Muslim general was executed: Azerbaijani Huseyn Khan Nakhichevan
Video: The Russian Empire - Summary on a map - YouTube 2024, April
Anonim
Image
Image

Azerbaijani Huseyn Khan Nakhichevan was the only non-Muslim Muslim who reached heights in the Russian military service. The general became famous in the First World War, became a knight of the highest orders of the Russian Empire, was awarded by the Romanians, Bulgarians, Persians. In addition, Huseyn Khan enjoyed authority at the court of Nicholas II. The last Russian emperor granted a foreigner the highest rank - Adjutant General of His Majesty. Hussein Khan justified the confidence he had shown in full, without even trying to escape certain death after the king's abdication.

Service of the Gentiles to the Russian Tsar

General Nakhichevansky proved his loyalty at the cost of his life
General Nakhichevansky proved his loyalty at the cost of his life

There were no national oppression in tsarist Russia, but religious oppression was practiced. Non-Orthodox peoples were called gentiles. For a long period of time, foreigners were not allowed to serve in regular military units. And first of all, this concerned the Caucasian Muslims. They were allowed to be, for example, in irregular formations created locally for the duration of hostilities. At the same time, the same Buddhist Kalmyks fought among the Cossacks and took Paris with the Russians. Officers' shoulder straps did not shine on the Jews either. The situation could be corrected by a change of faith. The cross enjoyed the rights of the Orthodox and reached the ranks of the generals. Such a harsh tone softened only on the eve of the collapse of the empire. The Jews were "rehabilitated" only by the February Revolution.

Muslim wars for the Russian crown

The entire Nakhichevansky family served Russia for several generations
The entire Nakhichevansky family served Russia for several generations

The Nakhichevan Khanate became part of Russia after the war with the Persians in 1828. During the assault on the Abbas-Abad fortress, Ehsan Khan's detachment went over to the side of the Russians, after which the Azerbaijani became the naib of Nakhichevan. Huseyn Khan was the grandson of the prudent Ehsan Khan, who correctly assessed the balance of forces and preserved the peaceful life of his own people. All the descendants of the Naib were henceforth called Nakhichevan and constituted the family of rulers. The father of the future Adjutant General Kelb-Ali Khan Nakhichevansky rose to the rank of Major General of the Russian army. He became the first Azerbaijani who graduated from the Corps of Pages and was awarded the Order of St. George. Ismail Khan Nakhichevan, the uncle of Huseyn Khan, led the defense of Bayazet in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78 and, like his brother, was the only participant in that military operation to be awarded the Order of St. George. The brothers of Huseyn Khan - Rahim Khan and Jafargulu Khan also devoted themselves to the service of the royal crown.

The continuation of the family tradition of military service Huseyn Khan began with admission in 1873 to His Majesty's Corps of Pages. This privileged educational institution trained guards officers. In 1883, an Azerbaijani with the rank of chamber-page graduated from the highest level. After graduation, Huseyn Khan first served in the privileged cavalry regiment of the Life Guards. Then the unit included representatives of the Russian imperial family. At the age of 19, Huseyn Khan was promoted to the rank of regimental cornet, where he rose to the rank of colonel of the guard and was listed there for the rest of his life.

Loyal to the oath and friendship with Nicholas II

Khan Nakhichevan in front of a subordinate regiment
Khan Nakhichevan in front of a subordinate regiment

In 1904, clashes began, resulting in the Russo-Japanese War. Nicholas II was initially against the inclusion of the Horse Guards in the active forces. However, Huseyn Khan and several other authoritative officers, as an exception, were transferred to the regular army. Here the Azerbaijani commander led the 2nd Dagestan Cavalry Regiment, which is part of the Caucasian Cavalry Brigade of Prince Orbeliani. The unit was formed from volunteers, and there were a lot of the latter. For his courage, valor and skillful command on the battlefields, Huseyn Khan received 7 high awards in a short period. One of them found a hero for the battle near the Manchu village of Landungou.

In January 1905, the regiment under the command of Khan Husein outflanked the attacking Japanese infantry. Khan Nakhichevan rescued the Trans-Baikal Cossack division squeezed by the Japanese and fearlessly rushed into a frontal attack, forcing the Japanese to hide in shelters. Without stopping in the middle of the way, then the colonel was not afraid of direct fire from enemy artillery and continued to advance. Only after reaching the line at a distance of a couple of hundred meters from the Japanese battery, I was forced to stop moving. Moreover, the Dagestan regiment led by Huseyn Khan retreated in the accepted order, with the removal of the dead, wounded and on foot.

The fall of the empire and the execution of the general

Monument to the General in St. Petersburg
Monument to the General in St. Petersburg

In the summer of 1905, by the highest imperial order, Lieutenant General Huseyn Khan of Nakhichevan was awarded the rank of Adjutant General at the court of His Majesty. Now, in the case of the direct participation of Nicholas II in potential hostilities, Huseyn Khan pledged to be with the sovereign with the highest honor.

At the end of the year, the emperor decided to combine the entire color of the Russian cavalry into one unit. This backbone was supposed to make up the personal reserve of the tsar. The new cavalry corps included three guards divisions. Khan of Nakhichevan was appointed commander, having previously assigned him the rank of general from the cavalry.

The powerful corps took part in the most active hostilities, terrifying the enemy. When the February Revolution happened, Adjutant General Nakhichevan was staying with his corps in Rovno. The day before, the commander returned from a personal meeting with Emperor Nicholas II, which took place on January 28, 1917.

At that time, the general did not feel the approach of trouble, so he was terribly shocked by the information that reached him about the abdication of Nicholas II. By April of the same year, General Huseyn Khan of Nakhichevan was sent first to the reserve, and in June - to retirement.

An experienced military leader had every opportunity to avoid a known fate in advance by going to his historical homeland or deciding to emigrate. Huseyn Khan refused without hesitation, being faithful to his vows. The Tsar's confidant saw himself under oath as long as Nicholas was alive.

On May 17, 1918, Khan of Nakhichevan was arrested on the basis of a decree issued by the Petrograd Cheka. A month later, the royal family was shot, and soon the devoted Adjutant General of His Majesty finished his life at the wall of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Another military leader, Marshal Baghramyan, also had an outstanding love story. He kidnapped his Tamara, contrary to tradition and convention, and she became his guardian angel. He never had front-line girlfriends, and he went into battle with the name of his wife on his lips.

Recommended: