Novruzov, Karim-bek Mirzababa-bek oglu

Kerim Bek Mirzababa-oglu Novruzov was born in 1838 in the village of Govlar in the Elizavetpol district of the province of the same name (now in the Tauz region of Azerbaijan ). Came from the nobles of the Tiflis province . He studied at the Tiflis Cadet Corps. He began his military service in February 1853 with a vekil (squad) in the Transcaucasian equestrian Muslim regiment in Warsaw . June 3, 1856 for the difference in service was promoted to ensign . May 20, 1857 in connection with the disbandment of the Transcaucasian equestrian Muslim regiment, was dismissed to his homeland.

On January 8, 1858, Kerim Bek Novruzov was seconded, and on July 11, 1859 he was enrolled in the 18th Dragoon Pereyaslavsky of His Imperial Highness Heir Tsesarevich Regiment . January 8, 1861 was promoted to lieutenant . From 1858 to 1863 he took part in campaigns and military operations in the Caucasus .

July 10, 1864 was promoted to headquarters captains . From March 18, 1866 to August 22, 1867 he was assigned to the Caucasian Linear No. 5 battalion . During this period, about nine months, he commanded a company . May 13, 1867 promoted to captain .

On August 22, 1867 he was transferred, and on September 12 of the same year he was enlisted in the 16th Dragoon Nizhny Novgorod of His Majesty the King of Wyrtenberg Regiment . In contrast to his service, on July 22, 1869, Kerim Beck was awarded the Order of St. Stanislav 3rd Art. From April 15 to May 3, 1871, he temporarily commanded the 1st squadron of the regiment. On January 1, 1872 he was appointed, and on June 26, 1873, he was approved as the commander of the 4th squadron. March 6, 1873 was promoted to majors .

In 1874 he was awarded the Order of St. Anne of the 3rd Art. In January 1877, was granted by His Highness the Sovereign Duke of Saxe-Altenburg with the sign of the Saxe-Altenburg Order of the Ernestian Ducal House, 2nd art. April 10, 1877 was appointed commander of the 2nd Division , which included the 3rd and 4th squadrons.

In the spring of 1877, he met the Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon Regiment on the Turkish border in the Alexandropol region, where he camped over Arpa- tea. Late in the evening, April 11, news was received of the beginning of the war. At two o'clock in the morning the 1st Division of Nizhny Novgorod in complete silence moved to the crossing and by dawn was on the other side of the Arpa Chai. At noon on April 12 the grenadier division arrived in Tikhnis and with it the 2nd division of Nizhny Novgorod under the command of Major Kerim Bek Novruzov. Turks, not accepting the battle, began to retreat to Kars .

On April 16, as part of the regiment, Kerim Beck participated in a shootout near Kars near Azat-Kev, on April 24 in the occupation of the city of Kagizman , on April 26 in the cavalry reconnaissance of Kars. On May 13, the Consolidated Cavalry Division, consisting of the Dragoon Nizhny Novgorod and two Cossack regiments with the mounted battery attached to them, approached Magaradzhik .

On the night of May 17-18, the Russian cavalry approached Kars-tea, on the other side of which there were bivouac lights of the camp of a large cavalry detachment sent by the enemy for action on the Kara Plateau. Musa Alkhasovich Kundukhov commanded this detachment. With the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish war, he was appointed commander of the cavalry brigade in the Anatolian army. Kundukhov's forces totaled up to 4 thousand fine horsemen, armed with besides rifle guns, which were not in the Russian army.

The command of the Russian troops decided to attack the enemy on the move. The entire cavalry was divided into three columns: the middle, which included the Nizhny Novgorod regiment, was to attack the enemy from the front, and the other two to cover it from the flanks. At two in the morning the cavalry crossed Kars-tea and the middle convoy began to descend into the hollow leading to the village of Begli-Akhmet . The night was so dark that not even the neighboring parts were visible and only the enemy camp lights indicated the direction of movement. The detachment stopped to give time to the side columns to get around the enemy. However, the troops lost their way and were unable to cover the flanks of the enemy. The left column, having stumbled upon a Turkish bivouac, began to retreat under the blows of the enemy. The Nizhny Novgorod regiment, deployed in battle formation, continued to move along with a battery of field guns. Ahead in the direction of traffic, the sound of battle was heard. The cavalry commander, Major General Zakhariy Gulbatovich Chavchavadze , believing that there was a left column, moved the 1st Division of Nizhny Novgorod to help, and left the battery under guard of the 2nd Division of Major Novruzov.

However, the 1st Division did not find the enemy. At this time, a battery approached the division without any cover. The regiment commander Colonel Kölner Alexander Alexandrovich arrived with the battery, from whom it became known that the 2nd division of Major Novruzov went on the attack, and where he is now is unknown. There was no information about the right column either.

In pitch darkness, the 3rd squadron of Major Alexander Witte ran into the enemy and got into a fight. The 4th squadron of captain Inal Kusov , left with the battery, continued to move forward and with it climbed a steep rocky hill, from where behind the nearby hills the campfires of the enemy camp were barely visible. It was decided, leaving the battery, move forward.

From the memoirs of Colonel Kellner:

There were no specific orders - what exactly to attack, it was impossible to give the squadron. The enemy was on the left and on the right, so he was ahead of us - that’s all I could say, giving the order to the commander of the 2nd Division Major Navruzov, but both Navruzov and the commander of the 4th Squadron, Captain Kusov - Highlander by descent, there were worthy officers, whose initiative could well be relied on. The squadron set off at a trot, but we could follow its attack only on horse's thunder, since the squadron itself, sunken in darkness, was not visible at all. A few minutes later we heard a terrible volley, then a friendly “cheers!” And, after that, several cannon shots. ^[one]

The main moment of the battle near Begli-Akhmet arrived. Having fallen under enemy fire, the squadron, in the battle line of which was the division commander Kerim Bek Novruzov, rushed from his place and crashed into a huge horse mass. A cruel felling began. A few minutes later, the enemy was already rushing back, and the dragoons, chasing and chopping the fleeing, suddenly ran into the main forces of Kundukhov, crushed them and fled. Kundukhov himself, sitting on an excellent horse, barely rode off.

After this, the enemy began an erratic retreat. The battle was over and the 2nd division, led by Major Karimbek Novruzov, joined the regiment. The trophies of the 4th squadron were two mountain guns, four charging boxes and two banners, one of which belonged to Kundukhov himself. The day after the battle, Kundukhov sent to say in the 2nd Division that it is very unfortunate for him to be defeated by the Nizhny Novgorod, his students, whom he once led to victories.

The dashing nightly Begli-Akhmeta affair is one of the most glorious battle pages of our glorious Caucasian cavalry and serves as a kind of classic example ^[2]

After the runaway-Akhmet battle, Karimbek as part of the regiment participated in the blockade of Kars, in the battle of Zivin, in cavalry skirmishes at Vizinkev, Mount Bolshaya Yagna, at the villages. Bullah. In September, he participated in the battle on the Aladzha heights and near the mountains of Bolshaya and Malaya Yagna and at the position of Deveboynu, in the assault and capture of Kars and the city of Khnys-Kala, the establishment of the blockade of Erzurum.

On July 31, 1877, for the victory in the night cavalry battle near the village of Begli-Akhmet, the commander of the 2nd division of the 16th Dragoon Nizhny Novgorod Regiment, Major Kerim Bek Novruzov was awarded the Order of St. George the Victorious , 4th art. ^[3]

From the award presentation:

In the case, at night from May 17 to 18, he sat near the village. Begli-Akhmet, Major Navruzov, noting the main enemy forces gathered against our right flank, despite strong artillery and rifle fire, threw himself with the 2nd division entrusted to him at the main congregation that surrounded Mussa-Pasha-Kundukhov, crushed, knocked over and pursued him than finally approved the victory for us. During this attack, 2 guns and the Mussa-Pasha-Kundukhov badge were taken from the enemy.

For the same distinction, His Majesty the King of Würtenberg on August 12 was granted the Cavalier Cross of the Order of Military Merit . On December 1, 1877, Kerim Beck was appointed commander of the 1st Division. December 15 was appointed chairman of the regimental court. In contrast, on October 3, 1877, in the battle on the Aladzha Heights, he was awarded the Golden Saber with the inscription "For Courage" ^[4] .

After the signing of the San Stefano Peace Treaty, the Nizhny Novgorod Regiment returned to Alexandropol in April 1878. In April-May 1878, Kerim Bek Novruzov temporarily commanded a regiment. October 28, 1878 was promoted to lieutenant colonel .

In November, St. George's Day came. In the capital, all St. George cavaliers, participants in the last war, were called. Six people went from the Nizhny Novgorod Regiment to St. Petersburg , including Lieutenant Colonel Kerim Bek Novruzov. On November 26, after a large exit at the Winter Palace , Alexander II with all the officers attended a dinner of the lower ranks in the Mikhailovsky Manege, and the next day all the officers were invited to dinner at the Tsar. This day coincided with the regimental feast of the Nizhny Novgorod dragoons, and therefore the emperor and Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich were in the uniforms of the Nizhny Novgorod regiment. During lunch, Alexander II rose from his seat and, calling for the Grand Duke along with all the Nizhny Novgorod people present here, proclaimed a toast to the regiment's health and clinked a glass with each.

It was announced that the regiment was granted second wide ribbons of the same order, but already of the 1st degree, for its old St. George standards. The reward at that time was unheard of. It is enough to say that only three people wore such ribbons throughout Russia: Alexander II himself and two field marshals — Grand Dukes Nikolai Nikolaevich and Mikhail Nikolaevich. The 2nd Division of Lieutenant Colonel Novruzov received a ribbon with the inscription "For affairs under Begli-Akhmet on May 18 and at Orlok heights on October 2, 1877" on St. George’s standard.

On August 28, 1879, Karim Beck was awarded the Order of St. Stanislav, 2nd Art., For his excellent and diligent service and special work incurred during the hostilities of the Saganlug detachment and during the blockade of Erzurum in the winter of 1877-1878. with swords. On January 23, 1880, Karimbek Novruzov was confirmed as the commander of the 1st division. In August-September of the same year, he was temporarily in charge of the regiment's economy. For his twenty-five years of service in officer ranks on September 22, he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir , 4th art. with a bow.

After the war of 1877-1878 The Nizhny Novgorod regiment spent the third winter in the tract Dzhelal-oglu. On February 1, 1881, the regiment officers gave a farewell dinner to one of their St. George cavaliers, Lieutenant Colonel Kerim Bek Novruzov, who was leaving the regiment for the post of inspector of the zemstvo guard of the Elizavetpol province . In this position, he was approved on March 8, 1881 with enrollment in the army cavalry. In December 1883, Kerimbek was appointed to the post of inspector of the zemstvo guard of the Erivan province . On May 4, 1886, Kerim Bek Novruzov filed a letter of resignation for health reasons. He was going to have residence after dismissal in Elizavetpol . From the order for the Caucasian Military District of January 10, 1887:

According to His Imperial Highness, Majesty, the order given in Gatchina on December 24th By cavalry: inspector of the zemstvo guard of the Erivan province, registered by the army cavalry, Lt. Col. Kerimbek Novruzov - to the colonels, with dismissal from service, with uniform and retirement full salary.

On September 17, 1914, the oldest of the surviving cavaliers of the Order of St. George, 4th degree, Colonel Kerim Bek Novruzov was appointed commander of the company of the palace grenadiers ^[5] .

Kerim Bek Novruzov was married to Khoiranis-Khanum, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Mehti Bek Vezirov.

He had two daughters: Meghri-Khanum (04/12/1881-?) And Fatima-Khanum (09/04/1883-?)

• Yearbook of the Russian army for 1878, part II. - SPb. , 1878
• Gisetti A. L. Collection of information on the gentlemen of St. George and combat insignia of the Caucasian troops . - Tf. , 1901 (on the website of Runivers ).
• Gisetti A. Bibliography of articles and articles printed in Russian on the military operations of Russian troops in the Caucasus. Ed. Military Scientific Committee of the General Staff. - SPb. , 1901.
• Potto V. A. History of the 44th Dragoon Nizhny Novgorod of His Imperial Highness Heir Tsesarevich Regiment. - SPb. , 1895 .-- T. 9.
• Potto V. A. History of the 17th Dragoon Nizhny Novgorod His Majesty Regiment. - Tf. , 1908. - T. 11.
• Military Encyclopedia / Ed. V.F. Novitsky and others - St. Petersburg. : t. in I.V. Sytin, 1911-1915.
• Monument to the Eastern War of 1877-1878 - SPb. , 1878.
• Ismailov E.E. George Knights - Azerbaijanis. - M. , 2005.
• Ismailov E.E. Golden weapon with the inscription "For courage." Lists of gentlemen 1788-1913. - M. , 2007.