Plague epidemics and outbreaks of other dangerous diseases in the Central Caucasus in the early 19th century: sources of spread, scale, and consequences

A.V. Kushkhabiev, V.A. Fomenko

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Abstract. The relevance of this study lies in the importance of identifying the impact of plague epidemics and other particularly dangerous diseases on ethnodemographic processes and the socioeconomic and political situation in the Central Caucasus in the early 19th century.
The novelty of the research stems from the fact that it is the first attempt to identify the origins, extent, and consequences of plague epidemics and other dangerous infections in the Central Caucasus during the specified period.
Aim. A study of the plague epidemic and outbreaks of other deadly diseases in the Central Caucasus in the early 19th century.
Research methods: descriptive, historical-systemic, historical-typological, and historical-comparative.
Study results. This paper briefly explores the prehistory of epidemic manifestations of plague and other extremely dangerous infectious diseases in the Central Caucasus. It identifies various versions regarding the origins of plague in the Central Caucasus in the early 19th century; the scale of its spread and methods of combating plague and other particularly dangerous infections during this period; and the consequences of epidemics in this subregion.
Conclusion. The authors conclude that sources and research literature present two main theories regarding the origin of the plague in the Central Caucasus: Georgia in 1802 and Astrakhan in March 1805. The authors believe the second theory is more likely. Between 1805 and 1812, the plague epidemic swept through the Central Caucasus to varying degrees and inflicted significant damage on its peoples. The total number of plague deaths among the peoples of the Central Caucasus remains controversial and requires further research.

Keywords: Central Caucasus, Caucasian Line, early 19th century, plague, epidemic, cholera, quarantine, Georgia, Astrakhan

For citation. Kushkhabiev A.V., Fomenko V.A. Plague epidemics and outbreaks of other dangerous diseases in the Central Caucasus in the early 19th century: sources of spread, scale, and consequences. News of the KabardinoBalkarian Scientific Center of RAS. 2026. Vol. 28. No. 2. Pp. 147–165. DOI: 10.35330/1991-6639-2026-28-2-147-165

©   Kushkhabiev A.V., Fomenko V.A., 2026

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Information about the authors

Anzor V. Kushkhabiev, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Head of the Scientific and Innovation Center “Expert Systems of Source Studies and Historiography”, Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center RAS;
2, Balkarov street, Nalchik, 360010, Russia;
anzor-vk@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4618-2148, SPIN-code: 8017-4857
Vladimir A. Fomenko, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, Senior Researcher,
Scientific and Innovation Center “Expert Systems of Source Studies and Historiography”, Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center RAS;
2, Balkarov street, Nalchik, 360010, Russia;
fva2005@gmail.com, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7994-7106, SPIN-code: 4314-7582

Funding

The study was conducted as part of the state assignment: “The Peoples of the Central and Northwestern Caucasus in the Second Half of the 18th – Early 20th Centuries in Russian Archival Documents”. Registration number: 125032604497-5