# Alezheriyeqo Kushiku

Alezheriyeqo Kushiku (Kabardian: Алэджэрыекъуэ Кущыку, Ажджэриикъуэ Кушыку, Russian: Ажджэриикъуэ Кушыку), was a Circassian military commander and prince. He took part in the Russo-Circassian War.

## Biography
### Name

Kushiku's surname is Hatokhshoqo, and Alezheriyeqo means "son of Alezheriy". In different sources, it is found as Azhdzheriyiqo, Adzhgirej, Adilgireyiqo or Kushuk, Kushikupsh. In Circassian languages, names and surnames ending with the suffix '-psh', as in the variant Kushikupsh, imply that the person is a prince, derived from the word 'pshi', meaning prince.

### Early life

Since the Circassians did not write their history and all the information comes from external sources, the details about Alezheriyeqo's youth are not well-documented. He was a member of the Hatokhshoqo family, one of the Kabardian princely families. His exact birth date is not known. Alezheriyeqo was born in Kabardia and raised with a martial education. His father Atajuqo was one of the sons of Misost Bematiqo, and his cousin was Muhammad Asha.

### Russo-Circassian War

He has participated in wars against the Russians since his youth. He was one of the Hajret Kabardians who migrated to Western Circassia after the Russian occupation of Kabardia to continue the war. He migrated in 1817. He lived in the village of Vulape, located in the Besleney lands on the banks of the Urup River. In Circassian folk tales, Alezheriyeqo's skill in finding directions by observing the stars is frequently mentioned. As a very famous cavalry commander among the Circassians, many songs, laments, and stories have been told about him in both Adyghe and Kabardian. Even during his lifetime, songs were sung about him. It has been recorded that when a call to arms was issued, the warriors promptly assembled under his command. He was a friend of famous commanders and warriors such as Khirtsizhiqo Ale and Shogen Shumakho.

#### Duel with Prince Astemir

On April 1, 1825, General Velyaminov issued an order to destroy the villages of Hajret Kabardians. On April 5, the Russian army, under the command of Fedor Aleksandrovich Bekovich-Cherkasski, launched an unexpected attack on the Karamirzey village in the Besleney region. The Russians obtained the exact location of the village, as well as the difficult routes to avoid detection, by interrogating a captured shepherd. Karamirzey was 7-8 times larger than other Circassian villages. The villagers were Hajret Kabardians, and the village was named after its prince; famous Hajret Kabardian Prince Karamırza Aliy Misost. Besides Aliy, famous warriors also lived in this village.
During the attack, Prince Karamırza Aliy was killed, the village was plundered, set on fire, and destroyed, the villagers were massacred, and the surviving minority was taken captive. When the Jambolat Qeytuqo and Alezheriyeqo's armies arrived at the village, the Russians had already retreated. The two wives of Karamirza, named Khaniy and Yelmiskhan, were captured as spoils of war, and Khaniy was gifted to Prince Astemir, who had helped in the destruction of the village. Upon hearing the news, the Circassian commanders decided to seek revenge on those who had helped the Russians in the massacre. Alezheriyeqo rode 400 kilometers and arrived at Astemirov's village in Lesser Kabardia, challenging him to a duel. Alezheriyeqo killed Astemirov and took the widowed wife of Karamirza Aliy back to Western Circassia.

### Death

On January 11, 1830, he was severely wounded while defending an Abazin village near the banks of the Urup River and died from his injuries. After the battle, his body was carried on horseback to his village by his cavalries.

## Legacy

There are nearly 50 folkloric elements recorded in the archives of the Adygea Institute of Social Sciences related to Alezheriyeqo Kushiku.