Zaur (village)

Zaur or Zaurovo^[a] was an Ingush village that existed in the 18th–19th centuries on the right bank of the Terek River and in the Tarskoye Valley.

According to most sources, the fortress Vladikavkaz was founded on its territory in 1784, while according to other sources, Vladikavkaz was built near Zaur.

The Ingush village Zaurovo and the fortress Vladikavkaz on Johann Vogt's map (1784).

Etymology

The Ingush name of the village, Zovr-Kov, translates as "the yard/settlement of Zaur".^[1] According to Russian historian Pyotr Butkov [ru], the village was known by the Armenians as Zura, by the Byzantines as Tzur, and by Arab writers as Suariag and Saul.^[2]

Orthography of the name

Name	Author	Source	Date
Zaur/Zaur-kabak	Johann Güldenstädt	[3]	1770s
Zaurov	L. Shteder	[4]	1781
Saukqua/Ssaurowa	Julius Klaproth	[5]	1807

History

Foundation

Kisty-Ingoschofski (Ingush) on Jacob von Staehlin [de]'s map in 1771, over a decade prior to the establishment of the fortress Vladikavkaz on the right bank of the Terek river.

Based on the analysis of maps of the 19th century, historian and caucasologist Nataliya Volkova [ru] concluded that the village was founded in the period of the 1730s to 1760s,^[6] the same time that Ingush migrations to the right bank of Terek River occurred.^[7]

Reportedly, the village was built by Zaur, a representative from either the Malsagov branch of the Thargimkhoy clan (teip) or the Dolgiyev branch of the Thumkhoy clan.^[8]

Later history

Burnashev [ru]'s map (1784) illustrates the Ingush village Zaur (Заур) just below the newly built fortress Vladikavkaz.

The Russian authorities felt the need to establish reliable communication routes with the territory of Georgia. Hence why, on May of 1784,^[9] 4 versts away from the village of Zaur, the Vladikavkaz Fortress [ru] was founded. At that time, there were 30 households in the village.^[6]

The Ingush, who had their villages often attacked by Kabardian and Kumyk well-armed and numerous squads, needed the help of the Vladikavkaz's Garrison troops. At the first call for help, the Ingush also appeared under the walls of the fortress. Getta, the foreman of Zaur, was among the Ingush as attested by the Vladikavkaz's commandant's reports and other documents. Getta owned the single Ingush tower of the village.^[10]

The village was an important center of the Ingush and served as one of the meeting places for the Mekhk-Qel [ru] (lit. 'Country's court').^[11]

Modern localization

Johann Güldenstedt notes that Zaur is located opposite the low Ossetian mountains.^[12] Butkov mentions that Zaur is located approximately 6 km from Vladikavkaz.^[13]

Notes

1. Ingush: Зовр-Ков, romanized: Zovr-Kov; Russian: Заур, Заурово