Circassians (historical ethnonym)

Last updated

Circassians is a broad ethnonym of the Turkic origin, which in Russia, Turkey and Persia used to be, and in the case of Turkey is now, applied to peoples of different ethnicities living on the North Eastern and Eastern shores of the Black Sea, and in the Northern Caucasus. [1]

Contents

Origin

Prominent Soviet professor of Caucasian studies Volkova wrote: [2]

«The origin of the term Circassian, with its ethnical nature coming only from the Turkic roots, was related to some political events of the 13th century.

In the Russian letopis of the 16th century, when describing events of 1152, name "Circassians" is mentioned as another name for Turkic vassals of Kievan princes — "Black Klobukhs" [3] — consisting of Turkic tribes of Torks, Pechenegs, Berendei and Kovuy (often identified as Kayi). [4] [5] Circassians are mentioned as one of the peoples of the Golden Horde in 1346, [6] and participants of the Kulikovo battle of 1380. [7] [8]

"Circassian" was a synonym of the Turkic word "Kazak", [9] [10] and Turkic Circassians became (coming from its usage for Black Klobucks) the basis for the Cossack ethnic group and military class. [11]

Further use

Some of the "Asian" Circassians, who defied Mongol or Lithuanian rule, settled around Dnieper river, mixed with Eastern European runaways in the XIV-XV centuries, accepted Christianity and eventually switched to a Slavic language. In result, in the 15-18th centuries the term was applied by the Russians to Slavic-speaking Cossack population of the Black Sea shores and Dnieper region. [1] [11] [12] Cossacks described themselves using the term Circassians. [13]

In some Russian, Persian and Turkish [14] sources the term "Circassians" was also used to describe then Slavic-speaking population of the Black Sea shore, the Caspian shore and some of the peoples of the North Caucasus:

Around the 16-17th centuries the term becomes an exoethnonym for the Adygha peoples. Nevertheless, it yet continued to be used as one of the names of the Turkic speaking population in the mentioned region. In 1634 a Dominican order monk Giovani Lucca wrote: [19]

Circassians look very much like Nogai Tatars... They speak Circassian and Turkish...

Adam Olearius in 1653 calls Turkic people of the Caspian shores "the Circassian Tatars". [20] Engelbert Kempfer wrote about wider usage of the term in 1674: [21]

Circassians are called Turks... Alans or population of the Caucasus, as well as Svans and Kara-Circassians (Karachays) also go by the name of Circassians.

Modern use

Since 20th century the term is mostly narrowed down to only Adygha peoples. However, in Turkey the term is widely applied to all of the North Caucasian peoples. [14]

Today there is still a Kazakh zhuz called Sherkesh (Ch is phonetically replaced by Sh in Kazakh), closely related to Nogais.

Criticism

Many authors pointed out that it was wrong to apply the name Circassian to Adygha (or to other North Caucasians). Russian Lieutenant General Blaramberg wrote in 1834:

Circassians, whom Europeans call incorrectly, call themselves Adygha or Adehe. [22]

Teofil Lapinski, an anti-imperialist, who fought against the Russian Empire in the ranks of Adygha, wrote in 1863: [23]

I always distinguish between Circassians, which are looked upon in Abkhazia as on unwanted guests, and Abaza and Adygha, who own the region and form the majority of the population... I want to oppose a mistaken view which is widely popular in Europe. It's absolutely wrong, when peoples of Caucasus, as well as of Dagestan, are called Circassians. Circassians do not exist any more; those remaining in the Caucasus do not call themselves by that name and disappear further day after day. Starting last year what's remaining of them have been moving to Turkey in significant numbers. Much more right of being called Circassians belongs to the Cossacks of Russia...

Lapinski also points out the mixture of Turkic and Adygha in Circassia: [23]

This Circassians... marry only among themselves; therefore Tatar race was preserved almost unmixed among them.

Modern researcher Bubenok talks about denominating some Adygha as Circassians in the Soviet era, when they were coming up with a name for Karachay-Cherkessia: [24]

..Therefore Soviet government didn't care to think too much and decided to use a traditional term Circassian for Adyghs (even though Adyghs have never called themselves by that name).

James Bell wrote in 1830s [25] :

The appellation and language of the Circassians is “Adighe“; Tcherkess, a word of Turkish or Tatar derivation, is never used by the natives, and even not understood by many of them.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circassia</span> Former country and region in the North Caucasus

Circassia or Zichia was a country and a historical region in the North Caucasus along the northeast shore of the Black Sea. It was conquered and occupied by Russia during the Russian-Circassian War (1763–1864), after which 90% of the Circassian people were either exiled from the region or massacred in the Circassian genocide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumyks</span> Turkic ethnic group in the North Caucasus

Kumyks are a Turkic people, indigenous to Dagestan, Chechnya and North Ossetia. They are the largest Turkic people in the North Caucasus.

Shamkhal, or Shawhal is the title for the rulers of Kumyk people in Dagestan and North-East Caucasus during the 8th-19th centuries. By the 16th Century, the state had its capital at Tarki and was thus known as the Shankhalate of Tarki.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Ablesimov</span>

Aleksander Onisimovich Ablesimov was a Russian opera librettist, poet, dramatist, satirist, and journalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadz</span>

The Sadz or Asadzwa, also Jigets, are a subethnic group of the Abkhazians. They are sometimes purported to have originated from the Sanigoi tribe mentioned by the Classic authors. In the 6th century, they formed a tribal principality, which later commingled with the Abasgoi, Apsilae and Missimianoi into the Kingdom of Abkhazia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gazikumukh Shamkhalate</span> Term denoting the Kumyk-Lak state

"Gazikumukh Shamkhalate" is a term introduced in Russian-Dagestan historiography starting from the 1950s–60s to denote the Kumyk state that existed on the territory of present-day Dagestan in the period of the 8th to 17th centuries with the capital in Gazi-Kumukh, and allegedly disintegrated in 1642. However, In the 16th century's Russian archival sources Tarki is stated to be the "capital of Shamkhalate" and "the city of Shamkhal", while "Kazi-Kumuk" is mentioned as a residence. These facts contradict "1642 disintegration" date. Moreover, there is absolutely no source before the 1950s containing the term "Gazikumukh Shamkhalate" or a statement that Gazi-Kumukh had ever been the capital of Shamkhalate. Historically, Shamkhalate is widely described as Tarki Shamkhalate or just Shamkhalate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shamkhalate of Tarki</span> Former state in northeastern Caucasus

The Shamkhalate of Tarki, or Tarki Shamkhalate was a Kumyk state in the eastern part of the North Caucasus, with its capital in the ancient town of Tarki. It formed on the territory populated by Kumyks and included territories corresponding to modern Dagestan and adjacent regions. After subjugation by the Russian Empire, the Shamkhalate's lands were split between the Empire's feudal domain with the same name extending from the river Sulak to the southern borders of Dagestan, between Kumyk possessions of the Russian Empire and other administrative units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durdzuks</span> Name in the Georgian Chronicles for Vainakh peoples

The Durdzuks, also known as Dzurdzuks, was a medieval exonym of the 9th-18th centuries used mainly in Georgian, Arabic, but also Armenian sources in reference to the Vainakh peoples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lopukhin family</span> Russian noble family

The Lopukhin family was a noble family of the Russian Empire, forming one of the branches of the Sorokoumov-Glebov family.

Kumykia, or rarely called Kumykistan, is a historical and geographical region located along the Caspian Sea shores, on the Kumyk plateau, in the foothills of Dagestan and along the river Terek. The term Kumykia encompasses territories which are historically and currently populated by the Turkic-speaking Kumyk people. Kumykia was the main "granary of Dagestan". The important trade routes, such as one of the branches of the Great Silk Road, passed via Kumykia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fyappiy</span> Ingush society

The Fyappiy, exonym: Kists/Nearby Kists, were an Ingush society. The centre of the society was the aul of Metskhal, after which it was simultaneously called Metskhalin society and the inhabitants Metskhalins in the 2nd half of the 19th century. The region of historical settlement of Fyappiy was Fyappiy Mokhk.

The Khegayk or Shegayk were one of the Circassian tribes. They were completely exterminated in the Circassian genocide following the Russo-Circassian War. None were recorded to have survived. In some sources, they are also mentioned under the name "Shegayk".

Galashkinskoe <i>Naibstvo</i> Administrative unit of the Caucasian Imamate

Galashkinskoe Naibstvo, self-designated as Vilayet Kalay, was an Ingush administrative unit of the North Caucasian Imamate. The Naibstvo was the farthest region of the Imamate in the west and it was established on the territory of Galashian society with the center being the village of Galashki.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gligvi</span> Medieval ethnonym for Ingush used mainly by Georgians

Gligvi is a medieval ethnonym used in Georgian, Russian and Western European sources in the 16th-19th centuries. The ethnonym corresponds to the self-name of the Ingush — Ghalghaï.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galashians</span> Ingush society

Galashians, were a historical Ingush ethnoterritorial society, which formed in the middle of 18th century. The name comes from the village of Galashki, which is geographically located in the very center of the society. Galashians were located in the middle and lower reaches of the river Assa and the basin of the river Fortanga.

Ingush societies/shahars were territorial associations of the Ingush based on the geographical association of several villages and intended for conditional administrative-territorial delimitation of the Ingush ethnic group. The formation and functioning of most of them dates back to the late Middle Ages. During this period, their boundaries, number and names changed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nazranians</span> Ingush society

The Nazranians were a historical Ingush ethnoterritorial society which was located on the modern day Nazranovsky District and Prigorodny District.

Dzherakh, also spelled Jerakh, exonym: Erokhan people, were a historical Ingush ethnoterritorial society, that was formed in the Dzheyrakhin gorge, as well as in the area of the lower reaches of the Armkhi River and the upper reaches of the Terek River.

Khamkhins, also known as Ghalghaï, were a historical Ingush ethnoterritorial society, which was located in the upper reaches of the Assa River. The Khamkhin society, like the Tsorin society, was formed from the former "Ghalghaï society" as a result of the transfer of rural government to Khamkhi.

Tsorins, Tsori, also Ghalghaï, were a historical Ingush ethnoterritorial society that was located in mountainous Ingushetia in the region of river Guloykhi. The center of the society was Tsori from which it got its name. Tsorin society, like the Khamkhin society, was formed from the former "Galgaï society" as a result of the transfer (appearance) of rural government to the village Tsori.

References

  1. 1 2 Эпиграфические памятники Северного Кавказа. — М.: Наука, 1966. Ч. I. — С. 202
  2. ↑ М.Г. Волкова «Этнонимы и племенные названия Северного Кавказа». 1974: стр. 21, 23
  3. ↑ «Полное собрание русских летописей, изданное по Высочайшему повелению Археографическою Комиссиею», 1841-2004-.-, v. VII., p. 56.
  4. ↑ Фурсов А. И. Курс лекций по русской истории: Лек. 6. Русь в 12-13 вв. (9:50 — 11:30).
  5. ↑ Сборник материалов, относящихся к истории Золотой Орды. т. II. — М.-Л.: Изд-во АН СССР, 1941. — С. 37.
  6. ↑ «Полное собрание русских летописей, изданное по Высочайшему повелению Археографическою Комиссиею», 1841-2004-.-, v. XI., p. 7.
  7. ↑ «Полное собрание русских летописей, изданное по Высочайшему повелению Археографическою Комиссиею», 1841-2004-.-, v. VI, issue 1, p. 455
  8. ↑ «Полное собрание русских летописей, изданное по Высочайшему повелению Археографическою Комиссиею», V. XI., p. 46, 47
  9. ↑ «История Российская с самых древнейших времён, неусыпными трудами через тридцать лет собранная и описанная покойным тайным советником и астраханским губернатором Васильем Никитичем Татищевым» — цит. по Татищев В. Н. История Российская. В 3 т. — М.: АСТ, «Ермак», 2005. — (Классическая мысль).
  10. ↑ Карамзин Н. М. История государства Российского: в 12 томах. — СПб.: Тип. Н. Греча, 1816—1829. v. V — part IV
  11. 1 2 Карамзин Н. М. История государства Российского: в 12 томах. — СПб.: Тип. Н. Греча, 1816—1829. v. VIII — part IV
  12. ↑ Лопатин А. Москва — М., 1948. — С. 57.
  13. ↑ Алексей Михайлович, Андреев Игорь Львович, 178 страниц, Молодая гвардия, Москва, 2003, ISBN   5-235-02552-0
  14. 1 2 Îzahlı Osmanlı Tarihi Kronolojisi, İsmail Hami Danişmend, Türkiye Yayınevi, 1961
  15. ↑ Кабардино-русские отношения в XVI-XVIII вв. Том 1. М. АН СССР. 1957 стр. 223
  16. ↑ Русско-дагестанские отношения в XVIII–начале XIX веков (Сборник документов под ред. В. Г. Гаджиева). (В дальнейшем РДО). М. 1988. стр. 189; Магомедов Р. М.
  17. ↑ Эпиграфические памятники Северного Кавказа. — М.: Наука, 1966. Ч. I. — С. 203
  18. ↑ История, география и этнография Дагестана XVIII—XIX вв. Архивные материалы / под ред. М. О. Косвена и Х.-М. О. Хашаева. — М., 1958. — С. 94)
  19. ↑ "Документы Крым Джиованни Де Лукка (жан Де Люк), Описание Перекопских И Ногайских Татар (1633?). Адыги, балкарцы и карачаевцы в известиях европейских авторов XIII-XIX вв. Нальчик. Эльбрус. 1974". www.vostlit.info. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  20. ↑ "Адам Олеарий, Описание Путешествия В Московию И Персию, Публикация 1906 Г., Части 77-81".
  21. ↑ "«Новейшие государства Казань, Астрахань, Грузия и многие другие, царю, султану и шаху платившие дань и подвластные...». Нюрнберг, 1723 — перевод с немецкого Е. С. Зевакина". www.vostlit.info. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
  22. ↑ "Де Бларамберг «Историческое, топографическое, статистическое, этнографическое и военное описание Кавказа», ч. 1-3. 1836 (Центральный государственный архив. ВУА, дело № 18508) — перевод с французского А. И. Петрова". www.vostlit.info. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
  23. 1 2 "Теофил Лапинский. Горцы Кавказа и их освободительная борьба против русских. Описание очевидца Теофила Лапинского (Теффик-бея) полковника и командира польского отряда в стране независимых горцев. Нальчик. Эль-Фа. 1995". www.vostlit.info. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  24. ↑ Адыгский фактор в этнополитическом развитии Северного Кавказа, Олег Бубенок, 2015, Журнал Центральная Азия и Кавказ, Central Asia & Central Caucasus Press AB, ISSN Печатный: 1403-7068, Электронный: 2002-3847
  25. ↑ Journal of a residence in Circassia during the years 1837, 1838, and 1839 by James Stanislaus Bell (Vol. I & II), 1840, London : Edward Moxon, Language: English, 2 Volumes, v2, Letter 19, page 53
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.