Bekovich-Cherkasskii, Aleksandr

(before becoming a Christian, Devlet-Kizden-Murza). Died 1717. A Kabardin prince in the Russian service.

In 1707, Bekovich-Cherkasskii was sent abroad by Peter I to study. Upon his return to Russia he was sent on a diplomatic mission to the land of the Kabardins. In 1717 he headed an expedition (of about 5,000 men) to Khiva where he was to negotiate with the Khivan khan about the latter’s becoming a Russian citizen and also about gaining permission to search for gold in the channel of the Amu Darya River. He was treacherously killed in Khiva, and his expedition ended without having achieved any results.