Russia's help to the peoples of Dagestan during the fight against Nadir Shah

Change of the foreign policy situation in the Caucasus in connection with transferring of the southern borders of Russia to the left bank of the Terek, according to the conditions of the Treaty of Ganja of 1735 between Russia and Iran, led to emergence of threat to the peoples of Dagestan from the Iranian governor, Nadir Shah. Dagestan was considered by the Iranian governor as the base for his further advance towards the southern borders of Russia up to Astrakhan. However, despite repeated numerical and military superiority of the Iranian troops, they did not manage to break the will of the mountaineers for independence. The peoples of Dagestan supported by the neighboring peoples of the Caucasus and Russia actively went to action against aggressors. Russia, giving essential help and support to the peoples of Dagestan in their liberating fight, proceeded first of all from the strategic objectives directed on ousting geopolitical rivals, Iran and Turkey, from the region. Elizaveta Petrovna's government worked more actively, interfering with the approaching of Shah's troops to the southern borders, supporting the anti-Iranian fight of possessors and foremen of Dagestan with various measures. The foreign policy was fruitful: in the second half of 1742 14 most influential governors of Dagestan handled a request for the Russian protection and expression of readiness for joint fight against Nadir Shah in Kizlyar. The Russian authorities worked very carefully and encouraged the mountaineers to fight against Nadir, provisioned them, secretly assured in help through diplomatic channels. The Caucasian military authorities in the person of the Kizlyar commandant who communicated with the local population daily and knew the situation in the region well were ready to work and even in a more resolute way. In March, 1742, the Kizlyar commandant was informed that two thousand Cossacks were coming to serve under his command under the guise of Kizlyar fortress repair. Shortly, a significant amount of regular army came to Kizlyar to protect "the Kumyk villages from the attacks of Nadir Shah". Considering the developed hard situation with food in the troops of Nadir Shah and using this circumstance, the Russian commanders took prohibitive measures to restrict export of provisions and horses to the ports of the Caspian Sea occupied by Persians. The steps Russia took could not but have a sobering effect on Nadir Shah and, undoubtedly, helped stabilize the situation in the region, and also well affected the mood of the peoples of Dagestan, maintaining their readiness to fight back the aggressor. The amplified pro-Russian position of the Dagestan possessors compelled Nadir Shah to refuse from his intention to clash with Russia, to moderate the anti-Russian plan. The last attempt Nadir shah made in such conditions to punish the inhabitants of the seaside strip of Dagestan at the end of 1744 - the beginning of 1745 turned still a big failure, hastening the death of Nadir Shah and his bloodless power.

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