Crimean–Circassian war (1539–1551)

Crimean–Circassian war (1539–1551)
	Part of Crimean–Circassian wars
Date	1539–1551 (12 years)
Location	North Caucasus
Result	See § Results
Belligerents
Crimean Khanate; Ottoman Empire; Pro–Crimean Circassians; Astrakhan Khanate (Pro–Crimean faction)	Circassia Kabardia; Zhaney; Bzhedug; Hatuqay; ; Astrakhan Khanate (Pro–Circassian faction); Cossacks
Commanders and leaders
Sahib I Giray X; Emin Giray; Ghazi Giray X; Shah Hussein; Bogdan Beg; Ali Khoja; Baba Beg; Elbozdu; Khalil BeyAq Kubek	Prince Kansavuk; Prince Elok; Prince Antanuk (POW); Prince BuzhadukYamghurchi of Astrakhan
Strength
1539: 40,000; 1542: 20,000; 1545: 60,000–70,000; 1546–1550: 250,000 (Ottoman sources) 40,000–50,000 (modern sources); 1551: 20,000	1539: Unknown; 1542: 10,000–15,000 (likely exaggerated); 1545: 10,000; 1546–1550: Unknown; 1551: 15 under Prince Elok, total army unknown
Casualties and losses
Heavy	~90,000–100,000 enslaved (Ottoman claim, exaggerated) 10,000 Kabardians; 30,000–40,000 Hatuqay and Bzhedugs; 50,000+ Zhaneys;

Sahib Giray’s campaigns to Circassia (1539–1551), also known as the Crimean–Circassian War of 1539–1551, were a series of large-scale military expeditions conducted by the Crimean Khanate under Sahib I Giray against various Circassian principalities in the North Caucasus. The campaigns aimed to reassert Crimean authority over Circassian territories, suppress resistance, and secure tribute, while also strengthening the khan’s position within the Crimean political system and in the eyes of the Ottoman Empire.

The expeditions resulted in widespread devastation among several Circassian tribes, including the Zhaneys, Bzhedugs, Kabardians, and Hatuqays, but failed to bring Circassia under lasting Crimean control. Despite reports of victory sent to Istanbul, continued Circassian resistance, ongoing raids, and internal opposition within the Crimean elite undermined Sahib Giray’s position. The aftermath of the campaigns coincided with Sahib Giray’s overthrow and assassination in 1551 and contributed to a shift in regional power dynamics, including the emergence of a Russo–Circassian alliance.