Belenjer ( Balanjar ) (perhaps from the Persians . "Boland" and "Jor" - "long cleft") - a medieval city in the territory of Dagestan . In VII - IX centuries . a major center of the Khazar Kaganate , according to some information - its first capital.
Content
Occurrence
It originated as the center of the eponymous tribal union. The people of Belendzher are mentioned in the Caucasus since the 60s. VI century , when, according to at-Tabari , he, along with the Alans , Abkhazians and the Branjars (?) Attacked Armenia and was defeated by Shah Khosrov I Anushirvan . In the later tradition, the foundation of the city was attributed to Anushirvan. Between 566 and 571 countries Belendzher became part of the West-Turkic Kaganate , and in the 1st half. VII century. into the Khazar Kaganat, which emerged from it.
Khazar-Arab battles
In 652/653, the first clash of the Khazars and Arabs occurred near Belendzher, during which the city, defended by a large garrison, withstood the assault with the use of siege engines. As a result, the Arab army was utterly defeated, its leader - Salman ibn Rabbi was killed. Since that time, Belenjer in the center of the Arab-Khazar confrontation. Because of its proximity to the border, it was the first major city that the Arabs attacked when they managed to go beyond Derbent. Arab author al-Masudi (X century) even calls it the first capital of the Khazars, which, however, is not confirmed by synchronous data, where it usually appears as a separate region with its own ruler (sahib).
On August 21, 722, 30 thousand Arab troops, under the leadership of al-Jarrah ibn-Abdallah al-Hakami , were taken and plundered. Residents surrounded the city with a ring of connected carts, which the Arabs managed to break through. Part of the population fled, the prisoners were drowned in a nearby river. Great treasures fell into the hands of the Arabs. Belerger's ruler took refuge in Semender , but then returned (after Jerrah gave him captured wife and children), and recognized the power of the Arabs. Despite this, the city was taken at least twice: in 732/733 and 737 . After that, information about him disappears, and the activity of the Khazars moves to the more northern Semender, and then to the Lower Volga region.
City in the 9th Century
The sources of the 9th century continue to appear in the lists of Khazar cities, but no specific data about it is given. It is believed that the city at that time still existed, since its inhabitant was the famous Abbasid ghouls and the commander of the Khazar origin Ishaq ibn Kunadj . In the X century among the Khazar possessions, as a rule, is not mentioned.
Description and Location
Unlike the later Khazar cities, the descriptions of Belenjer are extremely general. Only its fortifications are marked, in particular the watchtower . Location is not specified. It is known that he was located north of Derbent, between him and Semender, on the banks of the river of the same name, deep enough to drown people in it. The name "Belenjer" is found only in Arab-Persian sources. Many historians therefore consider it possible to identify with him another Khazar city - Varachan , which in the same period appears in Armenian sources.
Archeology
There is no generally accepted archeological identification of the city. MG Magomedov suggested identifying the largest Verkhnechiryurt settlement in the Terk-Sulak interfluve area, located on the right bank of the Sulak river at the exit from the foothills to the plain, with Belenger. The monument was surveyed in the 50-70s. XX century. Currently flooded by the waters of the Chiryurtovskaya HPP .
To this day in Dagestan there is a village with a similar name - the village of Beligi and the village of Beligi. Speaking of the watchtower - in the village there is a little-studied fortress Torpach-Kala. Also pos. Beligi in Dagestan is located on the banks of the Belizhinka river of the same name. However, the village of Beligi and the village of Beligi are located south of Derbent.
See also
- Battle of Belanger