Khadzhi-Murad Khashaev: Lawyer Who Became a Historian (to the 110th Anniversary of the Birth)

Abstract. The article reveals the main stages of life and scientific path of an outstanding scientist, doctor of historical sciences, professor Khadzhi-Murad Omarovich Khashaev (May 15(28), 1909–October 17, 1971). With the use of archival documents and memoirs, the poorly studied aspects of his activity as a statesman who held key posts in Dagestan are highlighted. Individual episodes of the biography of Khashaev that identified the twists and turns of his scientific biography and creative destiny are presented. The article shows his contribution to historical science, his role in the development of the problems of the history of the peoples of Dagestan. The content of the candidate and doctoral dissertations in which the scientist tried to build a concept of the history of the peoples of Dagestan in the 19th–first half of the 20th century is briefly analyzed. A certain place is given to his scientific works devoted to the source study of the history of the North Caucasus and the publication of historical sources. Particular attention is paid to his organizational activities as deputy chairman of the Presidium of the Dagestan branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

Keywords: Khadzhi-Murad Omarovich Khashaev, historian, scientist, Caucasian studies, history of Dagestan, historiography.