Albania & Kosovo: Political & Ethnic Boundaries 1867-1946

Proceedings Of The Caucasian Archaeographical Commission 1866-1904

ISBN: (13) 978-1-85207-975-8 First published: 1996
Extent: 1 volume, 956 pages, including 146 microfiche, c.14,000 docs in Russian & Persian
Editor: Professor G.L. Bondarevsky
Paper: Handlist Printed on acid free paper
Binding: Library bindings with gilt finish
See sample pages: not available
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RESUMÉ

A great part of the original Russian records have been lost through the ravages of time, war, accident and earthquake. But a unique collection of archive documents has been preserved, showing the consequences of conquest or annexation by the Russian Empire and details of the many boundaries which were established by Tzarist officials in the 18th and 19th centuries. At the direction of the Russian Governor-General in the Caucasus, the Archives of the Central Administration from 1802 to 1862 were gathered together and published between 1866 and 1904 in Tiflis (Tbilisi), Georgia: some 14,000 of the most important documents were published including many secret service reports about the situations in Turkey and Persia. A handlist of the contents, in English, has been prepared by staff at the Board of Scientific Editors in Tbilisi (Tiflis), Georgia as an aid to research.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

To understand the causes of the current unrest, conflict and war in the Caucasian states, you must know the historical features of Russian government in this enormous region of the Northern Caucasus and Transcaucasia. The events of the 1990s - the Azerbaijan-Armenian war, the wars of Georgia with South Ossetia and Ingush, and especially the war in Chechnya - show the consequences of conquest or annexation by the Russian empire. The modern history of this region rests upon the stages and peculiarities of early Russian administration. Many boundaries which were established by Tzarist officials in the 18th and 19th centuries still exist and exert decisive influence on the course of national and religious conflicts.
The national-liberation and separatist movements in the Transcaucasia and Northern Caucasus have their origins in the Caucasian campaign of the 1820s to the 1860s, during which the theocratic Shamil state created in Chechnya and Daghestan was destroyed and Russian rule imposed on the whole northern Caucasian region. The 18th and 19th centuries also saw the penetration of Turkey and Persia into the region and the wars between Russia and Turkey and between Russia and Persia for dominance in the vast area between the Black and Caspian Seas. These tensions also continue today.
A great part of the original Russian records on these matters have been lost through the ravages of time, war, accident and earthquake. But a unique collection of these archive documents has been preserved. At the direction of the Russian governor-general in the Caucasus, the Proceedings of the Caucasian Archaeographical Commission published between 1866 and 1904 in Tiflis (Tbilisi), Georgia, some 14,000 of the most vital documents in 12 large portfolio volumes.
The material thus preserved includes documentation on the history of Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Daghestan, Chechnya, Ossetia, Kabardin-Bulkaria, Cherkessia and Abkhazia. Many secret service reports about the situations in Turkey and Persia are also included.
The archive covers a wide political and social range. There are numerous documents on the economic development of the region, including the origins of the oil industry in Azerbaijan and Chechnya, on the creation of ports and transport links. There is material on religious affairs, explaining the distribution and strength of Christianity and Islam in the Caucasus, as well as information on tribal structures which remains relevant today.
Most documents are in Russian. Documents in the first portfolio volume are in Turkish, Arabic and Persian and have not been listed.

From the Introduction by Professor G.L. Bondarevsky
Institute of Socio-Political Studies, Russian Academy of Science

DOCUMENTARY IMPORTANCE

With these 14,000 key documents reproduced in facsimilie on microfiche the Archive represents a vast and hitherto unknown research resource for the history of the Caucasian region and the origins of current political and ethnic tensions. The documents reveal both the political structures of the Caucasian region and the details of administration under the Russian Viceroys and the origins and evolution of wars and boundaries both within the region and in Russia's relations with Turkey and Iran. The original documents are in Russian but this first commercially produced edition includes an English language contents guide.

CONTENTS OUTLINE

The English version of the document list was prepared under the general guidance of Professor G. L. Bondarevsky by the Board of Scientific Editors in Tbilisi (Tiflis), Georgia: Professor N. Kikvadze, editor in chief; T. Georgadze; V. Mirzaeva; M. Djaparidze.
Documents are listed from 11 of the 12 great volumes prepared in 1868-1904 by the Caucasus Archaeographical Commission.
Approximately 14,000 documents are listed.
Volume I: The documents collected in Volume I are in non-Russian languages (Turkish, Farsi, Arabic, etc.) and have not been listed in the present collection
Volume II: During the Administration of the General Infantry Prince Pavel Dmitrievich Tsitsianov. 1802-1806. With table of contents and list of provinces in Georgia. Lists 2192 documents.
Volume III: During the Administration of the General Field Marshal Count Ivan Vasilyevitch Gudovitch. 1806-1809. With table of contents. Lists 1209 documents.
Volume IV: During the Administration of the General of Cavalry Alexander Petrovitch Tormasov. 1809-1811. With table of contents and preface. Lists 1467 documents.
Volume V: During the Administration of the General-Lieutenant Marquis Philip Osipovitch Paulucci and General of Infantry Nikolai Fyodorovitch Rtishtchev. 1811-1816. With table of contents, preface and list of 286 monasteries, etc. Lists 1070 documents.
Volume VI Part I: During the Administration of the General of Infantry Aleksei Petrovich Yermolov. 1816-1827. With table of contents and preface. Lists 1382 documents.
Volume VI Part II: During the Administration of the General of Infantry Aleksei Petrovich Yermolov. 1816-1827. With table of contents and preface. Lists 1132 documents. With an additional list of 99 charters, orders etc. 1398-1827 and a further list of 43 monasteries, etc.
Volume VII: During the administration of the General Field Marshal Count Ivan Fiodorovich Paskevich of Yerevan. 1827-1831. With table of contents and preface. Lists 1341 documents.
Volume VIII: During the administration of the General of Infantry General aide-de-camp Baron Grigori Vladimirovich Rosen. With table of contents and preface. Lists 1462 documents.
Volume IX: During the Administration of the General-aide-de-camp General of Infantry Eugene Alexandrovich Golovin. 1837-1842. With table of contents and preface. Lists 752 documents, with 60 supplementary documents from previous administrations.
Volume X: During the Administration of the General-aide-de-camp General of Infantry Prince Michael Semyonovich Vorontsov. 1844-1854. With table of contents and preface. Lists 778 documents.
Volume XI: During the Administration of the General-aide-de-camp General of Infantry Nikolai Nikolaevich Muravyov. 1854-1856. With tables of contents and preface. Lists 875 documents.
Volume XII: During the Administration of the General aide-de-camp General Field Marshal Prince Alexander Ivanovich Baryatinski. 1856-1862. With table of contents and preface. Lists 1144 documents.
Note:
Volume V includes a section on Ancient Christian Monuments in the Caucasus a list of 286 Monasteries and Temples. In addition there is a further list of 43 Monasteries and Temples in Volume VI part II.
There is also here a list of 99 ancient charters, orders, deeds, etc, from 1398-1827.