d resilient people who would become some of the most notorious rebel fighters and Mafia leaders.
             The first emergence of a strong Russian influence in Chechnya was in the last part of the 16th century when the kingdoms within Christian Georgia plead for aid to Moscow. After years of petty aid, the Russians made a strong push into the Caucasus in 1722. Peter the Great sent thousands of Cossacks to the North Caucasus as a means of subduing the independent-minded people within the mountains. Lodging thousands of Christian mercenaries into the region helped the Russians gain a foothold but instigated the Chechen-Russian problem. In the 1760s a new series of problems erupted between the Russians and the Chechens. Catherine the Great perpetuated Peter I's policy of expansion and erected a key fort on the Terek River dubbed Mozdok. From here the Russians would emit their power and presence and a cornerstone in the Caucasus' was made. Next Catherine moved the Russian borders directly to Chechnya as she absorbed the Crimean Khanate into Imperial Russia. This put the Muslims of the Caucasus in direct contact with the Russians and things would forever be a constant struggle.
             At this point in time, we see the first emergence of a solidly Islamic influence in Chechen politics and culture. In 1784 a man by the name of Mansur proclaimed himself a sheik and an imam and led the people against the onslaught of what he saw, as a Russian aggressor posed at destroying all that was Islamic. Mansur fought for a stronger basis in the sharia or Muslim holy law and by trying to instill a more devout, orthodox form of Islam among all of the fairly liberal and 'pagan' beliefs of the Chechens. At this point, Mansur declared a gazavat or holy war against the Russian infidel and led an increasingly stronger army throughout the Caucasus. From 1784-1791 Mansur led his insurrection to various degrees of success but was initially caught by the Russians. This firs...