The theocratic state proclaimed in the North Caucasus with its capital in Vedeno.

 

In early August 1919, Sheikh Uzun Haji, the Imam of Chechnya and Dagestan, took the fortress of Vedeno and issued a proclamation calling on all highlanders of the North Caucasus to go to gazavat (holy war) against the Armed Forces of South Russia (AFSR) that occupied Dagestan in May 1919. The Ottoman Sultan gave his blessing for establishing the Emirate.

 

On September 19, 1919, the creation of the North Caucasus Emirate in the territory of the District of Vedeno in Chechnya was announced. Uzun Haji became the Emir, the head of the state. Inaluk Arsanukaev was the head of government (vizier), commander-in-chief, and head of several ministries. The legislative authority was exercised by the parliament (the Mejlis) in conjunction with Emir. The Emirate was divided into governorates headed by governors. Sharia law was in force in the territory of the Emirate.

 

The Εmirate supported the people who lived in mountain areas of Chechnya, encouraging them to divide the lands of the Cossacks and get rid of Russian officials. However, the population of the lowlands collaborated with the Denikin administration. The religious leaders of the highlanders (Nazhmudin Gotsinsky, Dervish-Magoma-Khadzhi), who initially approved the establishment of the new state, later criticized it for confrontation with the AFSR.

 

The Emirate was under the protection of the Ottoman Empire and was recognized by the states of the South Caucasus (Trans-Caucasian region). However, the Ottoman Empire was unable to help significantly because of the presence of the Entente troops. Soon the key military and civil posts in the Emirate were taken by the Bolsheviks who saw the Emirate as their natural ally against the Whites. Its government had representatives of the Russian Bolshevik party: Nikolay Gikalo was the commander of the army, Aslanbek Sheripov was the commander of the guerilla detachment, and Khabala Besleneev was the minister of internal affairs of the Emirate. Despite the support of the Bolsheviks, Uzun-Khadzhi was strongly opposed to the establishment of Soviet power in the Emirate.

 

After the successful advance of the 11th Army of the Red Army towards the North Caucasus, the Bolsheviks became hostile to the Emirate. By the beginning of 1920, Uzun-Khadzhi had lost control of mountainous Ingushetia and most of the Southwest Chechnya. By early March, he controlled only the Andean District of Dagestan and Southeast Chechnya. On March 16, 1920, the Terek regional group of Red rebel troops occupied Grozny, and soon the units of the 11th Red Army entered the city, completing the defeat of the Whites in the Terek region. The Emir was required to relinquish power and hand it over to the people. Uzun Haji refused and then died of typhus on March 30 (Other reports say he was poisoned). The Grand Vizier Dervish-Muhammad Inkhoevsky was proclaimed the new emir, but some of the ministers and army commanders refused to recognize him. The Emirate ceased to exist.