Imam Shamil (Avar: Шейх Шамил; Turkish: Şeyh Şamil; Russian: Имам Шамиль; Arabic: الشيخ شامل‎) (pronounced "Shameel") also spelled Shamyl, Schamil, Schamyl or Shameel (26 June 1797 – 4 February 1871) was an Avar political and religious leader of the Muslim tribes of the Northern Caucasus. He was a leader of anti-Russian resistance in the Caucasian War and was the third Imam of the Caucasian Imamate (1834–1859).