Universal History Annotation << Back Political Events in the Jaro-Belokan free Societies in the late 18th – early 19th Centuries Muradov M.M. In XVIII–XIX c. During the activation of the Tsarist colonial policy in the Caucasus, the territory of the Dzharo-Belokansky "free" societies was used by the Tsarist government, preparing the annexation of Azerbaijan, other parts of Transcaucasia and Dagestan. In the early 19th century, the expansion of Tsarism in Transcaucasia took place under the sign of the struggle with Turkey and Persia for the possession of Transcaucasia. From the very beginning, Transcaucasia was needed for Russia as a springboard for further colonial expansion. Having not sufficiently consolidated its position in Transcaucasia, the Russian government could not consider itself the master of the situation. Some mountain peoples remained in the region of the Greater Caucasus. These "predators" and "robbers" were an eternal threat to Russian rule in Transcaucasia. In the north, Dagestan and the "free" societies of the Jaro-Belokan region, which bordered it from the south-west, caused particular concern among the Russian colonizers. This article focuses on the events of those years. Keywords: Colonization policy, expansion, punitive expedition, raids, fellow tribesmen, patronage, occupation authorities, vassals, ideological motives, political units, and surrender. DOI: 10.25791/vseist.02.2026.1250 Pp. 31-39.