Russia's aggressive policy in the North Caucasus in 1545-1560 years

Abstract

The peoples of the North Caucasus closely observed the developments taking place in the Muscovite state. Meanwhile, in 1548, a new war broke out between Iran and Turkey. A significant part of the Crimean military forces was dispatched to the front line, which gave Moscow the opportunity to seize the Khanate of Kazan in 1552. After this, Moscow’s role in Caucasian affairs increased.

Just a few years later, in 1556, Russia conquered the Astrakhan Khanate, a development facilitated in part by the Crimean Khanate’s preoccupation with other matters, namely the outbreak of unrest among the Adyghe and Kabardian peoples.

In 1555, an Adyghe-Kabardian embassy consisting of 150 members arrived in Moscow. The delegation requested assistance against the attacks of Turkey and its vassal, the Crimean Khan. It was evident that a certain small group of rulers in the North Caucasus had chosen to orient themselves toward Russia in terms of foreign policy.