RUSSIAN 19THCENTURY HISTORIOGRAPHY ON THE EXPULSION OF THE CIRCASSIANS TO THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN 1864
The article analyzes the works of Russian 19th-century authors on the expulsion of the Adyghe people to Turkey in 1864. This is an important and widely discussed topic in modern historiography. Many disagreements have their roots in the 19th century, in the early days of research on this topic, prompting us to take a closer look at the studies of this period. The article examines various versions of the expulsion of the Circassians that existed in the 19th century. According to the ofcial version, the people moved out voluntarily, without any coercion. The presented reasons for the migration included religious fanaticism or fear by inﬂuential highlanders of losing their subjects after the end of the war. Other opinions were expressed, however, i.e. the highlanders were expelled from the Caucasus, and this was precisely the goal of the top military command and the Caucasian army generals toward the end the war. In this case, the cited reasons for the expulsion were the exceptional strategic importance of the Caucasus Black Sea coast. Almost all the 19th-century authors, regardless of whether they considered the migration of the Circassians voluntary or forced, fully approved and supported it. They believed that it contributed to the early end of the Caucasian War, ensured the security of the region, and was also in line with Russia’s economic interests.