SHAMYL, or SCIIAMYL (Eng. " Samuel"), the celebrated leader of the independent tribes ill the Caucasus, was born at Aul-Himry, in northern Dagliesmn, and belonged to a wealthy Lesghian family of rank. He was one of the zealous disciples of Kasi Mollall, the great apostle of Muridism, and ably seconded his endeavors to compose the numerous feuds of the various Caucasian tribes and unite them in a bond of antagonism to their common enemy, the heretical Russians. Ile was one of the foremost in the defense of Hilary against the Russians, Oct. 30, 1832, and, after the fall of his chief Kasi-Mollah and most of his adherents, fought his way alone and severely wounded through the besiegers' ranks. After the assassination of Hanizad-Bey, the sneee:sor of Kasi-slollah, in the end of 1834, Shamyl was unanimously elected "imanm," and being absolute temporal and spiritual chief of the tribes who acknowledged his authority, he made numerous changes in the religious creed and political administration for the pur pose of more fully concentrating in himself the whole power. These changes were certainly the chief cause of the great successes which subsequently attended the moun taineers, but it is none the less certain that they produced that sudden collapse of the spirit of independence which took place when the great leader was removed. Slatmyl's change of military tactics from open warfare to surprises, amhusendes, etc., brought numerous and sometimes great successes to the arms of the mountaineers. Gen. was severely defeated in 1837, the worst reverse the Russians bad yet sustained, and his coadjutor Nati was forced to nuke a disastrous retreat. They succeeded, (1889), in hemming Sharayl into Akulgo, in Dagitestan, took the fortress by storm, and put every one of the defenders to the sword, in order to he quite certain that Sharnyl should not escape. How he did so is not known, his own followers and the Russians believed him to be dead, when, to the joy of the one, and the bitter confusion of the other, lie stn.denly appealed, preaching with more vigor than ever the "holy war against the heretics." lei 1843 1.e conquered all Avares, besieged Mozdok, foiled the Russians in their subsequent campaign, and g:.ined over to his sidethe Caucasian tribes which
lad hitherto favored Russia. This accession of poster rendered necessary some change in the government •, a chi] and a criminal c ode 'were promulgated, a regular s) stem of taxation cste.blisLed, and Dargo was made the capital of this Caucasian monarchy, the population of which now (1844) exceeded 1,00,600. But the Russinns, under prince AVcronz(iff, having changed their t: stirs, assailed the cc entry on various at the came time, and the advance gained was secured by chains of forts. I he fortune of war, however, steadily alternated till 1552, when Bariatinsky compelled- Shatnyl to confine himself to the defensive, and thprived hint of his vim( rious prestige. Some of the tribes now returned under Russian :dam ity, and (probably owing to his diminished power and resources) was unable to take advantage of the diversion in his favor afforded by the Crimean war, after the conclusion of w Inch the Russians resumed their snacks with more energy, opened a load over the mountains. thus cutting off one portion of the,ratriots and compelling their submission. The following year was still more disastrous; 100 villages were destroyed, the inhabitants transplanted to Russian districts, and Sharnyl himself defeated, Aug. 11. On Al rip 12, 1859, his chief strong hold, Weden, was taken after a seven weeks' siege, and This authority, except over the small band of followers who still devotedly adhered to him, was wholly destroy( d. For several months lie was a mere guerrilla chit f, hunted front to fastness, till at last (Sept. 6, 1859) he was surprised on the plateau of Gounib, and after a desperate resist ance, in which his 400 followers were reduced to 47, he was captured. Ills wives and treasure were spared to him. and he was sent to St. Petersburg, where he experit need a generous reception from the czar. A few drys afterward he was assigned a residence at Kaluga. with a pension of 10.000 rubles. Thence lie went in 1570 to Mecca, remaining a parole prisoner of the Russian government; aid died at Medina in Mar., 1871; in the 74th year of his age.