Choh

According to the assumption of Islammagomedov A.I., the appearance of the name of the village of Chokh, which sounds colloquially “Chuh”, could well be related to its location on a major trade route: the stop of the caravan and overnight stay is “chuhIovuh” (av.yaz.) With time, perhaps, somewhat altered in "Chuh".

Chokhskoye settlement is one of the oldest in the North Caucasus . ^[2] A Neolithic site was discovered here . As a result of his expedition to the North Caucasus, Academician Nikolai Vavilov convincingly proved that Dagestan was part of the source of cultural cereals. ^[3] It was here that the formation of the productive economy — agriculture and cattle breeding — took place. Confirmation are the remains of the settlement near the village of Chokh, 6 thousand years BC. e.

Scientists have been chronicle of Chokh as an independent settlement since 1300. The first fortress was built 700 years ago. ^[4] The Great Silk Road passed through Chokh, 6 roads of which rested on Chokh. Chokh, like all Dagestan settlements, was often attacked. Leaving the captured villages, the military leaders left their descendants as rulers.

At the beginning of the 14th century, the Arab conqueror Abu Muslim united 12 small villages. The result was aul Chokh. Avar tradition says that Abu Muslim, leaving Chokh, left his saber, robe and banner to his son. At the same time, on the day of Uraza-bayram, the eldest of his kind went up to the roof of the cathedral mosque and waved his sword three times towards the village of Ruguja , whose inhabitants were the last to convert to Islam. Abu Muslim himself died from the arrow fired by the Hydatlins and was buried in Khunzakh , his crypt has been preserved to this day. It is interesting that the old-timers of Chokh still remember how strictly this order of Abu Muslim was observed several decades ago.

Mountain Societies Period

In the history of Chokh there are many events that glorified the highlanders. In 1742, a horde of Nadir Shah was defeated here. Tasmekh-Kuli-Khan, under the name of Nadir Shah, made many successful campaigns, including against Hindustan - against the great Mogul, and conquered it. Nadir Shah was afraid to go to war on Russia. But, in violation of the Ganja agreement concluded with the Russians, he decided to conquer Dagestan. At the cost of heavy losses, breaking the stubborn resistance of the highlanders, he invaded South Dagestan. Acting with fire and sword, took Kazikumukh . He did not dare to go further and returned to Iran. In 1735, Nadir Shah proclaimed himself the Shah of Iran, and his brother Ibrahim Khan - the ruler of the entire Caucasus. In 1738, Ibrahim-Khan invaded the Jar-Belokani with a 32,000th army , but was ambushed by the highlanders, his army was defeated, and he was burned alive. To avenge his brother, in 1741, having gathered a 100,000th army, he entered the borders of Dagestan. Embittered by the previous defeat of his troops, the shah destroyed the first 14 villages he encountered on his way, comparing them to the ground, mercilessly killing women, old people and children. A major battle took place near the villages of Kazikumukh and Kubachi. In the Aimakinsk Gorge, a 20,000-strong detachment of Iranians was completely destroyed. The decisive battle took place under the village of Chokh. Reinforcements from the Accident and other areas approached the fighters. When the ranks of the mountaineers became much thinner, women entered the battle. The onslaught of the mountaineers was so powerful that Nadir's troops faltered and began to retreat in disarray. The defeat of the Persians was complete. The Shah and his retinue were nearly captured. 5 years after the defeat under the village of Chokh, he was killed by his nephew Ali-Kuli-Khan.

XIX century

In February 1849, Prince Argutinsky , learning that Shamil was collecting significant detachments, stopped with the detachment on the heights of Turchi-Dag. Having developed a plan of attack, he moved to Chokh, which has long served as the focus of militant rebels. The appearance of the troops caused a great commotion in Chokha. Strings of arb, loaded with property of residents, and herds of cattle stretched from the village. Only his defenders remained in him, who hid in fortified huts. Shamil had 10 thousand people located on the left bank of the Kara-Koysu river . Having knocked out the highlanders from the first blockages with bayonets, the troops began a siege. The Choch fortification rested on three steep, inaccessible cliffs from three sides. The strength of the position forced Prince Argutinsky to abandon the assault and conduct a siege. On August 11, the bombing of Chokh began, which lasted from 24 guns for a week. The walls built by a skilled Egyptian engineer were broken, two towers destroyed. Shamil ordered hastily to make blockages from logs and baskets sprinkled with earth. Considering that behind the rubble there were heavily fortified heights, which were difficult to take with the given forces, and keeping Chokh in view of its remoteness was even more difficult, Prince Argutinsky canceled the assault and returned to headquarters on August 21. Shamil left for Dargo Vedeno, having lost 260 people killed and 340 wounded in this campaign. It is said that during the siege of Chokh, Shamil vowed: "If Argutinsky takes Chokh, then I will take off my turban from the naibs."

XX century

From the first day of World War II, the small village of Chokh led 300 fellow countrymen to the front. Half of them did not return from the battlefield. The Daitov family escorted four sons to the front, all of them died: Many Chokhtsy, clearing their native land from the enemy and freeing the countries of Western Europe from the Nazis, traveled along front-line roads from the Caucasus to Berlin. Four residents of Chokh signed on the Reichstag in Berlin. Chokhtsians cherish the memory of each of his countryman.

• Ali Aliyev is a Soviet freestyle wrestler. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR (1962).
• Halilbek Musayasul is a famous artist.
• Mui Hasanova - folk singer of Dagestan (Singing Soul of the People).

• ESBE / Chokh, aul in Dagestan // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.

CHOKH

CHOK - legends and stories (inaccessible link)