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Abstract. The main stages of social engagement of Temirkhan Shipshev, Kabardinian, who had reached the rank of the lieutenant-general in the Russian service are considered in the article. The military career promoted to the formation of the powerful social capital, which had been used for versatile social and political activity after leaving the army. Actively carrying out mediation between the people of the Nalchik district and crown administration, T. Shipshev became an influential figure of the Tersky region. The contradictoriness of his work is illustrated by various sources and ambiguous historiographical interpretations. Having entered the conflict with the district administration interfering his initiatives, leaning on Kabardian military elite, T. Shipshev consistently mobilized public opinion not only for promotion of the petitions, but also for removal of those who disturbed him in their realization: from rural foremen to the chief of the Nalchik district. In the political culture of Kabardians he became one of the most extraordinary political figures of the imperial period of history of Kabarda. In his deeds, he leaned on a congress of entrusted – representative bodies of Kabardians and Balkars which provided him public statement of current problems of the land relations, local government, judicial system, education, etc. T. Shipshev’s activity combined upholding of private interests, office faithful eagerness, skillful forming of “boss-client” relations, persistence in aspiration of prestigious representation of public interests of his countrymen, and, quite often, doubtful methods in their achievement teetering on the brink of the admissible and unacceptable in the Caucasian management in the second half of 19th – the beginning of the 20th century.
Keywords: Kabardians, Balkars, Caucasian war, Kabardian district, Nalchik district, Tersky region, local government, congress of entrusted.