Administrative-territorial transformations on the North Caucasus in governorship of A. I. Baryatinsky (1856-1862)

The article analyzes the integration processes that took place among the mountain population in 18561862. The author draws attention to the peculiarities of administrative and territorial changes and how they influenced the social life of the mountain peoples. Since the early 1850's. A.I. Bariatinsky has become, he is already playing the role of not just a military commander, an executor of orders, but acting as an experienced military administrator, who often put forward specific and well-thought-out proposals. During the Crimean War, there was no active action against the mountaineers, and defensive tactics were used to retain the assigned territories. Becoming the governor of A.I. Baryatinsky decided to proceed to offensive actions, meaning a systematic advance into the territory that was under the control of Shamil. In addition to the reorganization of the military administration, the prince also occupied the question of methods of conquering the Caucasian lands. He believed that one can not act only by force, it is necessary to combine them with peaceful ones. The purpose of A.I. Baryatinsky was to build a colonial administration in the outskirts of the empire. He can rightly be called one of the founders of the military-popular system in the Caucasus. He viewed this system as a sought-after model for new potential possessions of the Russian Empire, as a pledge of a quiet and profitable possession of the territories acquired by the Russian state. They pursued the goal of integrating the Caucasus into the Russian Empire and the desire to unify the socio-economic system of the highlanders with all-Russian ones.