Shura

Shura is the short name for the aul Temir-Khan-Shura. According to legend, it was founded on the site of Tamerlane’s army camp (1336-1405). This is confirmed by the name of the aul itself: “shura” translates from Kumyk as “lake,” and Tamerlane was also known as Timur. The lake in the center of the aul was drained in 1854, and a park was established in its place. The first written mentions of the aul date back to the 1590s. The aul existed until 1831, when it was burned down for participating in the Shamkhal uprising. However, the following year, a plan was approved to build a fortress on the site of the destroyed settlement. On November 11, 1843, Imam Shamil laid siege to the fortress for two months, and in 1849, Khadji-Murat’s army attacked Shura. In 1861, the Orthodox St. Andrew’s Military Cathedral was built in the aul (it was closed after 1917 and completely demolished in 1968). Since 1866, Temir-Khan-Shura was granted city status and became the administrative center of the Dagestan region.