Sholokh Tepsaruqo (16th century-1616), also known as Sholokh the Mighty, was a Kabardian<nowiki/>noble from the House of Talostan who ruled as the Grand Prince of Kabardia from 1609 to 1616; he is the eldest son of Prince Tepsaruqo Talostan and the grandson of Prince Talostan.
Sholokh was said to be the most important political figure in Kabardia between 1598 and 1613, and that Russia conducted all its political activities with him. The songs about Sholokh depict him as "the greatest" and "the bravest among the knights", sources also mention he was a people's favorite during his reign.
Sholokh's father Tepsaruqo was an ally of the Grand Prince of Kabardia Temryuk Idar in the fight against Pshiapshoqo Qeytuqo. After Tepsaruqo's death, Sholokh inherited his appanage principality, Talostaney. Descending from the senior line of the Kabardian princely dynasty, Sholokh, along with the Qeytuqo princes, claimed the title of Grand Prince of Kabardia. Lesser Kabardia stretched across the flat lands between the Urup and Sunzha rivers. The stanitsa of Nizhniy Naur and Sunzha served as the border in the east. Sholokh opposed the sons of Temryuk, he was supported by Djanmirza's son Alkhas Djilakhstan and his son Mudar Djilakhstan.
In 1576, the forces of the Lesser Nogai bey Ghazi ibn Urak were defeated by the Kabardians led by Temryukites and Sholokh Tepsaruqo. Nogai forces entered Kabardia and killed many, but they were briefly defeated by the Kabardians on their return. In addition to Ghazi ibn Urak, two of his brothers and several of his sons, as well as Iman-Girey and Chebar-Murza were murdered by the Kabardian forces during one of the battles. Pshiapshoqo Qeytuqo fought on the side of the Nogais and the Crimeans, pursuing a pro-Crimean policy.
on 1589, February 23rd, the ambassadors from the Kabardian prince Sholokh Tepsaruqo, Savluk Bikan and Lan visited Moscow. Through them the Russians maintained contact with Sholokh and Alkhas. After that, Russians rewarded Bikan with a fur coat, and gave Lan his sovereign salary
In the 1580s, the Kabardians took part in the Kumyk civil wars. The descendants of Pshiapshoqo, Sholokh, and Alkas, were allies of the Kumyk Shamkhal
In 1589, Jansokh Qeytuqo became the Grand Prince of Kabardia. Sholokh refused to recognize him as the Grand Prince of Kabardia, thus, Sholokh began a struggle for the title of Grand Prince. In November 1589, Prince Jansokh Qeytuqo, along with the Idarovich-Cherkasskys and a Russian detachment (750 Streltsys) led by Grigory Poltev, invaded Talostaney. The allies ravaged more than 30 villages in Principality of Sholokh, and Sholokh Tepsaruqo was forced to submit and hand over hostages
In 1596, Sholokh and Aytech, led a campaign against the Nakh population settled around Darial Gorge. The region he attacked was being ruled by the Ingush noble Sultan-Murza at the time, Sholokh ravaged the lands of Sultan-Murza and briefly occupied the Darial Gorge. from there, he continued his expedition southwards and led his forces into the borders of Kartli Georgia, targetting the regions of Sioni and Ksani. He kept his advance, sacking and looting the lands of Kartli, killed many and took numerous captives.
When Sholokh finally became the Grand Prince of Kabardia in 1609, he was stronger than ever. In the second decade of the 17th century, relations between Sholokh and the Prince of Greater Kabardia, Pshiapshoqo's son Kazi Pshiapshoqo, worsened with Kazi harboring of Sholokh's rebellious brother, Pyshta Murza.
In November 11th of 1615, Sholokh together with his eldest son Kharashay, launched a major campaign against their enemy Kazi Pshiapshoqo's domain. Sholokh was supported by Ishterek Bey from the Nogai Horde and Budachai of Tarki. He led his forces deep into Kazi's domain, which was located in Greater Kabardia. He kept his advance until the Kurkhudzin River, where Kazi Pshiapshoqo and Tepsaruqo Pyshta were killed in a major battle. Along with Kazi, his nephews Aslanbek's son Inarmas, Aksak Qeytuqo, Qanoqo's son Kudenet, Jansokh's son Dokhshuqo, and Seehogenukov's son Anfok were murdered and the Russian voivode Ivan Nagaev was wounded, then later captured by Sholokh's forces.
Sholokh died in 1616 and all of his children were either captured or killed.