North Ossetia - One Small Region in the Big Family of Brotherly Nations

Dear friends, on the 12^th of June we celebrate Russia Day – the National Day of the Russian Federation. Last year I wrote about Moscow – the Russian capital. I believe it can be of interest to Tanzanians to know more about my country which is a federation of 89 subjects or regions - a unique common home for 160 different nationalities, each with its own rich history, language and culture. Followers of all traditional world religions have been living here in peace for centuries.

Today I’m happy to present to you a very special place for me, the place I come from, which is the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania. Being one of the smallest Russian regions North Ossetia is a pearl lying on the northern slopes of the central Caucasus between two of the highest mountain peaks in Europe, Elbrus and Kazbek.

Here in Tanzania when I see Kilimanjaro or drive up to Lushoto and walk around villages in the Usambara Mountains, pictures of the far away homeland come to my mind.

With this first little glance at North Ossetia I would like you to become interested in visiting this fantastic place and see its beauties with your own eyes and meet its kind and hospitable people who will welcome you with their sparkling dances and songs about ancient heroes, with famous Ossetian pies and dark homemade beer made with recipes handed down by their revered ancestors.

North Ossetia with the territory of 8000 square kilometres (0,05% of the territory of the Russian Federation) and the population of around 700000 people is one of the most populated regions of Russia. The outputs of industry and agriculture are of approximately equal value. The region is very rich in natural recourses. Copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver etc. are mined and processed. The main industries, concentrated in the capital city of Vladikavkaz, are metallurgy, wood processing, textiles, food processing. The main crops are corn, wheat, potatoes and fruit. Cattle-breeding farms produce high quality meat and milk. Mineral water springs of North Ossetia are famous for their taste and healing effect.

Since before recorded history, North Ossetia-Alania has been the crossroad of main Caucasus routes and a bridge between Transcaucasus and Europe. Due to its strategic geographical position, North Ossetia-Alania has always been the subject of dispute for all the great empires. The Great Silk Route, which bound all civilized mankind from China to the Atlantic coast at the beginning of our time, passed through the Alan kingdom, from which Ossetia inherited its ethnic and cultural traditions. During the times of II-I millennia BC one of the oldest cultures of the world—the Coban culture, transient from the Bronze to the Early Iron Age, was formed in the territory of modern Ossetia. “The Narts” cultural literature, known worldwide, is a witness to the culture and ways of life, social and economic structure, traditions, habits and religious beliefs of the Ossetians for thousands of years.

In 372, the nomadic tribes of the Huns invaded Europe from Central Asia. This invasion was the reason of migration of the Alans to the most inaccessible mountain areas on both slopes of the Greater Caucasus mountain range. In the 6th-7th centuries, Alania was again a relatively powerful state with a dense network of well-fortified settlements, developed agriculture, trade and crafts. At the beginning of the 10th century Christianity became the state religion in Alania.

In the 12th century, Alania experienced the feudal period and was divided into principalities fighting against each other. They were unable to unite against the Mongols who invaded the region in the 13th century. The Mongols ravaged the plain part of the country, but the resistance continued in the mountain areas.

The final blow in a series of tragic events of the 13th-14th centuries was the invasion of the troops of Tamerlane in 1395. Almost all of the Alans were killed, the state of the Alans collapsed. The survivors took refuge in the mountains where they mingled with the local population of other language group and later became known as the Ossetians.

In the 15th-17th centuries, the Ossetians fought for survival in extremely cramped conditions of the mountains (the plain was occupied by Adygeyan tribes). In the 18th century, the Ossetians were in need for resettlement on the plains because of the extreme shortage of land. Ossetia was also important for Russia, as the region that controlled the strategic passes in the Caucasus.

In 1774, the territory of North Ossetia was among the first regions in the North Caucasus, which joined the Russian Empire.  Vladikavkaz, the capital city of North Ossetia, was founded in 1784 during the reign of Catherine the Great on the right bank of the Terek River as the first Russian outpost in the area. In the 19th century, the Ossetians migrated from the mountains to the plains.

In the Soviet times, Ossetia was divided into two parts. The part north of the Caucasian ridge came under the jurisdiction of the present Russian Federation, the part to the south came under control of the Georgian Republic (South Ossetia declared its independence from Georgia in 1990).

During the Second World War, fierce battles took place on the territory of the Republic; the northern and western parts of North Ossetia were occupied by the Germans. In November, 1942, the German advance was stopped near Vladikavkaz.

Having developed since then into a big industrial city Vladikavkaz preserves its charm of a quiet provincial town. It is also being regarded as an intellectual and cultural center of the North Caucasus. The scientific and cultural potential of Ossetia is very high. There are 4 higher educational establishments: the National University, the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Medical Academy and Agrarian Academy. With annually increasing number of scholarships provided by the Government of the Russian Federation, any Tanzanian boy or girl can apply and be admitted to one of these universities and not only become a well trained professional but also make new great friends and enjoy their student years in such an atmospheric place.

As a home for many different nationalities Vladikavkaz has always been multi-cultural and multi-religion. Churches and mosques are numerous as well as theaters, art-galleries and concert halls.

Actually there are many ways to enjoy this land. Since the middle of the 19th century, Ossetia was positioned as one of the tourist centers in the North Caucasus. The beauty of the North Ossetian mountains attracts tourists from all over the world for they have the opportunity of hunting, mountain climbing, trekking and alpine skiing. Numerous spa treatment facilities as well as eco and food tours have become an important part of the local economy.

Just about two hours by air from Moscow - which is a very short trip by Russian standards - and you find yourself in North Ossetia - a good starting point in exploring the limitless wonders of Russia. And we will also continue to introduce you to different regions of the Russian Federation. Each and every one of them has a lot to offer to our old and new friends.

Karibuni sana!

the Guardian 

Saturday, June 10, 2023