“A SOLDIER OF THE CAUCASIAN SEPARATE CORPS” : AN ESSAY ON IMPERIAL DISCOURSE

Abstract

In the nineteenth century, the Caucasus became one of the most important regions in the military and political strategy of the Russian Empire. In the process of imperial expansion, military writings became key mediators of ideological narratives, justifying occupation while simultaneously promoting the image of the “heroic soldier.” The essay by an unknown author, “A Soldier of the Caucasian Separate Corps”, represents such a discursive work, in which the Russian soldier embodies the moral ideals of the Empire, while the mountain enemy is depicted as a “savage adversary.” The document is preserved in the National Archives of Georgia; its author is unknown, and it constitutes a unique source within the context of nineteenth-century military-publicist prose. The study employs textual, historical, and comparative-analytical approaches. The linguistic, structural, and content-specific features of the text are examined through elements of discourse and socio-cultural analysis. The essay highlights the main characteristics of the Russian military narrative: the moral transformation of the soldier, the ideology of heroism, the culture of discipline and obedience, and the stereotypical dehumanization of the enemy. The text reflects a colonial perspective on the Caucasian War, where the conflict is framed as a mission of “civilization.” Ideological analysis shows the Russian soldier as morally superior and a symbol of collective sacrifice, while the Caucasian combatant is portrayed as the “Other,” wild and disobedient. This confrontation illustrates the aim of imperial discourse: consolidating cultural dominance through military power. “A Soldier of the Caucasian Separate Corps” is a typical example of Russian imperial propaganda. Its publication and analysis provide new opportunities for the study of nineteenth-century Russian-Caucasian relations.

Keywords: Caucasus, Russian Empire, military memoirs, colonial narrative, imperial ideology