The article discusses the process of formation of political-behavioral models of the actors of the Russian-Turkish frontier, formed after the Persian campaign of Peter I in 1722-1723. The frontier theory is used as a basic concept, which allows us to consider the problem not only from the standpoint of the great powers but also from the point of view of mountain communities. The be-havioral patterns of the Dagestan governing elites, who were involved in complex Russian-Turkish ties in the first third of the 18th century, are investigated using archival resources, some of which are being presented into science for the first time, and historiographic sources. The au-thors explain why Dagestan’s rulers formed pro-Russian or pro-Turkish alliances and follow the history of their foreign policy views. It is demonstrated that the behavioral models of the frontier participants were influenced by the drive for personal gain, as well as the desire to improve their own position among other owners.