The modern capital of Alania dates its history from April 1784, when Lieutenant General Pavel Sergeevich Potemkin reported on the foundation of a fortress with a symbolic name, which can be deciphered as "rule the Caucasus." From that moment, the history of Vladikavkaz began, a city that had to change its name more than once.
In 1931, a new toponym appeared - Ordzhonikidze, received in honor of the Georgian Bolshevik and Soviet politician. This name existed almost until 1990, albeit with a break, from 1944 to 1954, when the city was called Dzaudzhikau.
Fortress Vladikavkaz
Indeed, it all started with a fortress built in the Darial Gorge to protect the southern borders of the Russian Empire. The reason for the appearance of a new defensive structure was the Treaty of St. George, signed by the Georgian and Russian sides.
Since 1860, a new stage in the history of Vladikavkaz begins, already as not a fortress, but a city. An important event - the consecration of the fortress - took place in May 1784, the name of the new fortification was given by Empress Catherine the Great. A year later, a decree was received from the empress on the foundation of an Orthodox church on the territory of Vladikavkaz.
In 1785, all of the erected fortifications were abandoned by the Russian army, as the soldiers were unable to contain the attacks of the mountaineers. The servicemen returned to the Vladikavkaz fortress again only in 1803. Not only the restoration of fortifications, bastions and semi-bastions began, but also the expansion of the suburbs, the growth of the number of civilians.
Peaceful and revolutionary city
In the middle of the 19th century, due to the end of the Caucasian War and the complete victory of the army of the Russian Empire, the fortress lost its defensive significance. The history of Vladikavkaz begins a new page - the fortress becomes a city, acquires the status of the administrative center of the newly formed Terek region.
The life of the city begins to develop in a peaceful way, dwelling houses, public buildings, trade and industrial enterprises are being built. The development of the city was facilitated by the construction of a railway line connecting Vladikavkaz and Rostov-on-Don.
The beginning of the twentieth century was turbulent in the Russian Empire, and in Vladikavkaz too. The city becomes one of the important centers of the revolutionary movement. Residents take an active part in the political struggle, trying to establish the power of the Soviets, they are opposed by Denikin's army, by March 1920, victory remains with the Reds. This is how the history of Vladikavkaz could sound briefly, but there were new trials, renaming, decline and prosperity ahead.
