Dzhabagi Kazanoko

Born circa 1685; died 1750. Public and political figure of Kabarda.

According to tradition, Kazanoko’s mother was a bond servant. For some time, he served as counselor to the senior prince of Kabarda—Aslanbek Kaitukin. Later, he directed the popular assemblies, at which questions were discussed about the internal life of Kabardin society and its relations with the other peoples of the Caucasus, as well as with Russia, Turkey, and Persia.

Kazanoko opposed the influence of the Crimean khans and the Turkish sultans but advocated Kabardin rapprochement with Russia. At the end of 1722 he was sent to Astrakhan’, where he met with Peter I (at the time of the Persian campaign). After becoming a leader of the lower chamber of the central court (the Kheizh), Kazanoko often defended the interests of the dependent classes against the exactions of the feudal nobility.