Lak people (Laks), self-designation – Lak (pl. Lakru).[1] Native language - Lak. Laks name their place of settlement "Lakral Kanu" (place of Laks). Historical capital of Laks is Kumukh — one of the ancient cultural and religions centres of Dagestan. The History of the Lak people encompasses the Lak peoples' ethnic history and their history within the states of Dagestan.
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The self-designation of Laks is associated with the name "Lek" (antique "Leg"), a tribe mentioned in the 5th century BC by ancient and medieval authors. The great Russian philology scholar of the 19th century Uslar P. K. compared ethnic term "Lak" with the name of tribe "Leg" mentioned by Strabon and put forward a thesis about the identity of the word "Lak" with the name Lekos related to one of the descendants of Japheth, according to a Georgian legend.[2][3]
In the 6th century the Sassanid Empire after more than 100 years of war conquered Eastern Caucasus. Dagestan fell under the influence of Persia.
In 552 Khazars invaded North-Eastern Caucasus and occupied northern lowlands of Dagestan. Reigning Shah of Persia Anushirvan (531—579) to protect his possessions from the new wave of nomads began the construction of defensive fortifications in Derbent, that closed a narrow passage between the Caspian Sea and Caucasian mountains.[4] Anushirvan owned fortress Gumik which was named as "Al-Lak and Gumik" by Arab historians.[5][6] In the 7th century Kumukh was ruled by patricians.[7] Dominant religion Christianity. Kumukh — center of Episcopate.
This period is known by a 150 years of war that peoples of north-eastern Caucasus fought against Arabs and Khazars. In 643, during the reign of caliph Umar ibn Khattab, Arab armies led by Abd al-Rahman ibn Rabi capture Derbent and the neighboring territories. In 652 Abd al-Rahman ibn Rabi was killed during the siege of Khazar city of Balanjar.[8][9] In 662 Khazars invaded Dagestan. In 698 Muhammad ibn Marwan, brother of caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, captured Derbent.[10] In 705 Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik, brother of caliph Al-Walid I, once again takes over Derbent.
In 722 caliph Yazid II sent warlord al-Djarrah al-Hakami to defend the fortress of Derbent. Historian Al-Tabari writes about the campaigns of al-Djarrah: "Arabs defeating Khazars in southern Dagestan moved to the mountains of Dagestan, overcame the resistance of the people of Khamzin and Gumik and in punitive expeditions plunged and ransacked Kaitag and Tabasaran, for refusal to subordinate to their authority". Historian Balami writes that in 723 the warlord al-Djarrah "called one of his close commanders, gave him three thousand warriors and said to him: go to Kaitag, destroy there everything that you will meet on your way, fight everyone who will show you resistance and come back to me before the sunrise".[11] In 723 Arab forces under the command of al-Djarrah move through the territory of Dagestan and capture Balanjar. In 730 al-Djarrah was killed in the battle of Marj Ardabil.[12]
In 733 mentioned Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik, brother of caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik as well, "fortified Derbent in the best possible way" by building seven iron gates "and marched with his army to Kumuk".[13] Rulers of Kumukh had a bloody battle where invading Arabs had won.[14][15] In 736 Arabs lost their authority over Dagestan.
In 737 Marwan Ibn Muhammad, cousin of caliph Hisham, overcoming powerful fortresses obliges the rulers of mountainous Dagestan to pay tribute. Ibn Hayyat, Iranian author of the 9th century, informs that after the capture of "Gumik" and "Khunzakh", Marwan "went away from there, and entered the land of Tumen".[16] According to Al-Balazuri, Marwan at the head of 120,000 army invaded Khazar possessions.[17] The Khazar army endures a series of defeats. Marwan captures the city of Samandar.[18]
Establishment of Lak state refers to the ruler of Kumukh who in the epoch of Arab dominance in Dagestan is named with the title "Shamkhal". At the turn of the 11th-12th centuries Islam in Lakia becomes the state religion and a Muslim state was formed, with the capital in Kazi-Kumukh.
In 1239 Tatar-Mongols invaded Dagestan. Kumukh was captured and destroyed. In 1318 Mongols resumed their raids on Dagestan. Kazi-Kumukh establishes relations with Ikhanate of Iran and later with Khanate of the Golden Horde. In 1396 Tamerlane waged a war against Shamkhal of Kazi-Kumukh.
From 15th century starts a new period of political dominance of Shamkhalate. In 1556 diplomatic ties with the Moscow government were established. In 1642 during the protracted wars Shamkhalate splits into independent states.
In 1642 the council of chiefs in Kumukh elect a ruler with the title of "Khalklavchi". Alibek II from the Shamkhal family that remained in Kumukh, becomes the ruler. In 1700 Surkhay-Khan I, grandson of Alibek II, was elected as a new ruler. In 1712 Surkhay-Khan I and his allies capture Shemakha, the capital of Shirvan, and subject it to mayhem and plunder. In 1721 Shemakha was once again invaded by Dagestani army. In 1722 Peter I of Russia conducted a military expedition to Dagestan. In 1725 Surkhay-Khan I became the ruler of Shirvan. From 1734 to 1747 Dagestan endured Persian invasions led by general Nader who later became the shah of Persia.
In 1743 Muhammad-Khan with the support of Turkey conducted two campaigns against Persian Shirvan and achieved a complete defeat of Nader-shah. In 1789 the ruler in Kazi-Kumukh becomes Surkhay-Khan II, son of Muhammad-Khan. During the reign of Surkhay-Khan II, Iran, Russia and Turkey resumed their military interventions in Caucasus. In 1820 the Khanate of Kazi-Kumukh was conquered by Russian Empire. In 1860 the District of Kazi-Kumukh was formed under Russian administration.
In 1877 with the beginning of next Russian-Turkish war, Chechens, Ingush and Dagestani peoples revolt, which Turkey aids in a larger war with Russia. The Laks assaulted the Russian fortress in Kazi-Kumukh and exterminated its garrison. The re-establishment of Kazi-Kumukh Khanate was proclaimed. Jafar-Bek the son of Aglar-Khan became the new ruler and directed his army from Kazi-Kumukh to help insurgents in Kaitag and Tabasaran. There is a mention of religious figures of Dagestan: Hasan Al-Kadarski, Kazi-Muhammad and Haji-Muhammad of Sogratl, Qadi of Tsudakhar, Kazi-Ahmed and Abdul of Kazi-Kumukh. Other detachments rushed to besiege other Russian fortresses in Gunib and Levashi, but after heavy fights were thrown back by Russian troops moved in from North Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Middle Asia and Volga region. In September 1877 Fatali-Bek of Kazi-Kumukh, one of the nobles, was killed in clashes.[19]
After the capture of Tsudakhar and Sogratl many "instigators" of the revolt were executed. Kazi-Kumukh was deprived of its honoured prefix "Kazi" and about 7000 persons with families, including Laks, were deported to distant provinces of Russian empire. Long journey and insanitary conditions caused a high death rate among the prisoners. Some captives managed to escape to Iran, England and Ottoman empire.[20]
In 1919 Kazi-Kumukh district was captured by Denikin and the population was subjected to robbery: for example the small village of Shovkra had to pay a levy of 100 pairs of boots, 70 pounds of wheat, 5 horses, 3 bulls, 50 load-packs of hay, 25 pieces of wool cloth and 30 rifles.
In 1920 the Soviet rule was established. In 28.10.1922 Kazi-Kumukh district was renamed into Lak district. In 29.03.1935 it was divided into Lak district and Kuli district.
Collectivization and "socialist construction in the area of national culture development" was then carried out. In 1937 in a number of villages operated cells of SVB — "Union of militant atheists": in Khosrekh - 25, Vikhli - 16. In 1940 in 5 out of 14 villages of Kuli district the mosque buildings were demolished.
In 1930 Ali Kayaev, a Muslim enlightener and reformer of Dagestan and native of Kumukh, was arrested and exiled to Southern Ural. He was accused of participating in counter-revolutionary organization. In 1913 Ali Kayaev was the editor of Arabic newspaper "Jaridatu Dagistan" in Temir-Khan-Shura city, which was published until 1918.[21] Writing for a newspaper brings Ali Kayaev large popularity in Dagestan. The newspaper was established on the initiative of governor of Dagestan. In 1934 Ali Kayaev returns from exile and works in a Research Institute of Dagestan. In 1938 scientist was again arrested.
Building of local industry began in the Lak district. The mechanized mills and enterprises were built for processing raw materials. A small hydroelectric power plant supplied electricity. Primary school education was made compulsory. Mass edition of books and newspapers in Lak language was initiated.
In the summer of 1944 to the lowlands of Dagestan, instead of Chechens deported on February 23, part of Laks was forcefully migrated from 43 mountainous villages and their houses demolished: 26 villages partly and 18 fully. Among them Archuta, Akhar, Bartni, Varay, Viltakh, Duchi, Kurkhi, Marki, Nitsovkra, Sundaralu, Turchi, Tukhchar, Charavali, Chayakh, Shushiya, Khalapki and Khanar. Ethnic Avars and Kumyks were too subjected to forceful migration. In the unusual climatic conditions of the newly established Novolak district with center in Beriya village, famine spreads among migrants.[22]
In 1947 there died more than third of Lak migrants not counting 600 soldiers from these villages lost in the war. Some survivor tried to go back into the mountains.[23]
The Second World War brought Laks 6 Heroes of the USSR (one twice). Six warriors – Ahmed Khan Sultan, Buganov Gadji, Kuznetsov Ramazan, Makaev Tsakhay, Suleymanov Rizvan and Suleymanov Yakov were given the high rank of Hero of Soviet Union. Ahmed Khan Sultan was given this rank twice. Kamalov Gasan-Gusain became national hero of Italy and Kushayev Gusain of France. Eight Laks reached the rank of military generals – Khalilov Michael, Suleymanov Ahmed, Khalilov Salikh, Khalilov Vyacheslav, Pirmagomedov Isa, Magomedov Efendi, Kunbuttaev Lev and Shtanchaev Imanali.
On Reichstag an inscription was left: "Dagestan, Lak district, Ata". It was left by soldier Ataev Ata from the Lak village of Unchukatl.
On July 23 of 1994, under the law of Russian Federation "On the rehabilitation of people subjected to repression", it was decided to migrate the Lak population from Novolak district to salt-marsh earths unsuitable for vegetation, located to the north of Makhachkala city.