Buynaksk

According to legend, the foundation of the city is associated with the name of Tamerlane (Temir Khan). In 1396, the army of Tamerlane, returning from a campaign against the Golden Horde and Russia, was camped at the lake, called the Temir Khan-Shur mountaineers, on the site of the army parking soon appeared the aul of the same name (lake drained in 1854).

The city is advantageously located at mountain passes to the interior of Dagestan and in 1834 near the village built Russian military fortifications - the fortress Temir Khan-Shura. Shura Kumyk "lake", i.e. all together "lake of Tamerlane". During the Caucasian War (1817-64), the Temir-Khan-Shur fortress in 1843 withstood a half-month siege of the mountaineers under the leadership of Imam Shamil, in 1849 - a raid by the cavalry of Haji-Murat.

Since 1847 - the place of stay of the civil part manager in the Caspian region, in 1860 - the center of the Dagestan region. The city since 1866.

In the 19th century, especially after the end of the Caucasian War, the city attracted the attention of cultural figures. In Temir-Khan-Shur there were poets and writers A.I. Polezhaev, A.A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, artists F.T. Rubo, I.K. Aivazovsky, N.A. Yaroshenko, writer A. Dumas-father, etc.

In November 1920, the autonomy of Dagestan was proclaimed in Temir Khan-Shur. In 1922, it was renamed in honor of the participant in the struggle for Soviet power in Dagestan Ullubiy D. Buynaksky (1890-1919).

Buinaksk was badly damaged during the earthquake on May 14, 1970.