Cossack man - who is it?
 

I recently bought a photo album with CDV photos. all of them are named and of kings, political figuress military commanders etc. It is however difficult to read things written in days past so Im turning to you for help on this photo of a cossack man. Do you know who it is?

Schamyl prince and Imam of the Caucasians

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imam_Shamil

After Corrado26's message, you can find the information yourself, but I decided to help you :)

Shamil was never a “prince”, and emphatically not a “ cossack”
He was a leader of nationalistic/religious movement/war against Russian forces trying to subjugate the Caucasus. Under his leadership Islamic Caucasian nations fought Russian army ( including Cossacks).
His name is a Koranic Arabic modification of the Biblical prophet Samuel, in Hebrew: Shmuel, “ Hear G-d”.

If you are interested in the history of that 100-yeas-long war that never ended till today , get a book by Leslie Blanch “ The sabres of paradise”. Historically accurate, comprehensive and reads like Tom Clancy.

As noted, Shamil was the leader of the Sufi Naqshbandi order in their resistance to invading Russian forces in what were often termed 'The Murid Wars' (Murid was the term for disciples in this movement 1829-59).
These campaigns in the eastern Caucusus were part of the larger conflicts there which lasted 1817-64, but Shamil surrendered in 1859.

The book "Sabers of Paradise" is spellbinding! and one of the best accounts describing these complex and colorful times and these warriors, of which Shamil seems almost superhuman!

Thank you, Ariel and Jim, for recommending this book. I didn't know about her.
You characterized her so vividly, for me now it is an instruction to read)

Many thanks for your replies. Very informative as always. If you are not into collecting 19th century photos yet, I suggest you give it a try. Thay take up less space then arms and armor. Until you have hundreds :D

there are quite some interesting books on this Sufi order but concerning the above mentioned topic I can recommand:

Anna Zelkina, "Quest for God and Freedom: Sufi Responses to the Russian Advance in the North Caucasus "

I have not passed by photos of the XIX century for a long time. Only I prefer stereo photos. And then I look at them in the evenings through an old stereoscope. They give an amazing effect of being present in places and events, which have been gone for a long time. It seems that you can reach out, take a cigar from the table and smoke it with them, there, in their time. Try old stereo photos).

Hi, GP. Thank you for your recommendation. If it is not difficult, please write me these books in PM.

If it is not difficult...?
Can a duck swim?:)

صديقى You've got mail !

Thanks! Your postal duck just arrived (ما شاء الله), and was immediately sent back with a reply message :)

a little side track but perhaps interesting for some of you who might be interested in reading SF / Fantasy or its movies...
the mentioned booked has influenced Frank Herbert's book "Dune":


https://arnoldkhan.medium.com/how-th...e-f2b892c4869e