Battle of Ust-Labinsk (1761)

The Battle of Ust-Labinsk was a major clash between the Crimean Khanate and a coalition of Circassian principalities, led by the Temirgoy tribe, on June 6, 1761 near the right bank of the Kuban River.^[3]

Battle of Ust-Labinsk (1761)
Part of Crimean–Circassian wars
Date 6 June 1761 Location Ust-Labinsk Result Circassian victory
Belligerents
Crimean Khanate	Circassia Confederation of tribes: Temirgoy Bzhedug Besleney Makhosh
Commanders and leaders
Bagadyr Giray including 3 Kapı kulu commanders and 5 beys	Circassian tribal princes (names unknown)
Strength
30,000[1]	2,000–5,000[2]
Casualties and losses
Heavy losses; many captured, including nobles and officers	Unknown

History

In the early 1760s, the Crimean Khanate, under the leadership of Khan Qırım Giray, sought to consolidate control over the region and punish the Circassian principalities that had been resisting the khanate’s expansion. On June 6, 1761, Crimean forces, led by several commanders from the elite Kapı kulu, clashed with the combined forces of the Temirgoy, Bzhedug, Besleney, and Makhosh tribes near the Kuban River.

The Circassians, led by their tribal princes and supported by a significant military alliance, decisively defeated the Crimean forces. The Circassians captured a substantial portion of the Crimean troops, including several high-ranking officials such as three of the Kapı kulu commanders and five beys, the leading military and political figures of the Crimean Khanate. This victory significantly weakened the Crimean Khanate's position in the region.

In response to the defeat, Khan Qırım Giray attempted to raise a new large army to retaliate. According to Russian sources, a 30,000-strong force was reportedly sent to deal with the Circassians.^[1] However, due to internal struggles and defections—particularly the retreat of the Crimean commander Bahadır Giray — the Crimean counteroffensive was never realized. Despite rumors in November 1763 about a renewed invasion, the campaign was ultimately called off.^[4]

The military engagements between the Crimean Khanate and Circassian principalities were often not direct confrontations, but rather consisted of raids and skirmishes. According to historians, the Crimean Khanate could gather large cavalry forces, but the Circassian noble cavalry was highly skilled in combat, which allowed them to effectively resist the larger Crimean armies. One of the key elements in these conflicts was the use of raiding tactics by both sides.^[5]

The Battle of Ust-Labinsk, also known as "Лэбэпэ зау" in the oral tradition of the Circassians, was a defining moment in this struggle. In June 1761, the Crimean Khanate, under the leadership of Khan Bagadyr Giray, launched a military campaign against the Temirgoy tribe, one of the most influential Circassian factions. After an intense battle near the mouth of the Laba River, the Crimean forces were decisively defeated by the Circassian cavalry. The surviving Crimean soldiers fled in panic, and many were captured.^[6][7][8]