List of leaders of the Circassian Confederation

Last updated

Presidents of the Circassian Confederation Presidents of the Circassian Confederation.jpg
Presidents of the Circassian Confederation

In the 19th century, several people have nominally or effectively stood out as leaders of Circassia.

Contents

History

Background

Between 1427 and 1453, Inal the Great conquered all Circassian principalities and declared himself the Grand Prince of Circassia. Following his death, Circassia was divided again.

The influential tribes of Circassia regularly met to elect a Grand Prince (Пщышхо) among them, with the only condition being that the prince can trace descent from Inal the Great. The existence of such an institute is confirmed by foreign sources. In the eyes of foreign observers, the Grand Prince was considered the king of the Circassians. However, the individual tribes were greatly autonomous and the title was mostly symbolic. [1] In 1237, the Dominican monks Richard and Julian, as part of the Hungarian embassy, visited Circassia and the main city of this country Matrega, located on the Taman Peninsula. In Matrega, the embassy received a good reception from the Grand Prince. [2]

In the 14th and 15th centuries Italian documents concerning the relationship between the consul of Kafa and Circassia clearly indicate the absolutely special status of the ruler of Circassia. This status allowed the senior prince of Circassia to correspond with the Pope. The letter of Pope John XXII, addressed to the Grand Prince of Zichia (Circassia) Verzacht, dates back to 1333, in which the Roman pontiff thanked the ruler for his diligence in introducing the Catholic faith among his subjects. Verzacht's power status was so high that following his example some other Circassian princes adopted Catholicism. [3]

Confederation

Circassia traditionally consisted of more than a dozen principalities. Some of these principalities were divided into large feudal estates, characterized by the stability of political status. Within these territories there were numerous feudal possessions of princes (pshi). The Circassian state was a federal state consisting of four levels of government: Village council (чылэ хасэ, made up of village elders and nobles), district council (made up of representatives from 7 neighboring village councils), regional council (шъолъыр хасэ, made up from neighboring district councils), people's council (лъэпкъ зэфэс, where every council had a representative). A central government emerged during the mid to late 1800s. Prior to that, the institute of grand prince was mostly symbolic.

In 1807, Qalebatuqo Hatuqway Shupago self-proclaimed himself as the leader of the Circassian confederation, and divided Circassia into 12 major regions. [4] [5] [6] In 1827, Ismail Berzeg officially declared the military confederation of the Circassian tribes and by 1839 united a significant part of Circassia under his control. [7] [8] In 1839, the Circassians declared Bighurqal (Anapa) as their new capital and Hawduqo Mansur was declared the new leader of the Circassian Confederation. He kept this title until his death. [9] [10] [8] In 1848, Muhammad Amin was the leader of Circassia. [11] [12] [13] After learning that a warriorly scholar has arrived, thousands of families moved to the Abdzakh region to accept his rule. [14] Seferbiy Zaneqo assumed power after Amin's departure, but died the next year.

In June 1860, at a congress of representatives of Circassians, a parliament was formed as the highest legislative body of Circassia. Being a political resistance council and the legislature of Circassia, [15] [16] [17] the parliament was established in the capital of Sochi (Adyghe : Шъачэ, romanized: Ş̂açə) on June 13, 1860, and Qerandiqo Berzeg was elected as the head of the parliament and the nation. [18] [19]

List

PortraitNameCircassian nameTerm of officeTribe of originProfessionNotes
Sheikh Mansur.jpg Sheikh Mansur Шыихъ Мансур1787–1791
Ethnic Chechen
Flag of the Sheikh Mansur Movement.png
Military commander, Islamic preacherManaged to gain the loyalty of most Circassians, uniting them in the name of Islam. [20] Considered a hero in Circassian folklore despite being of Chechen origin. [21] Recognized by the Ottoman Caliph as the leader of all Caucasian Muslims. [22]
Shupago Hatuqway Qalebatuqo Къалэбатыкъо Хьатыкъуай Шупаго1807–1827Soldier, nobleman, politicianA member of the House of Shupago. He held possession of Gelendzhik. [23] In 1807, having acquired some wealth and power, he attempted to unite Circassians under a "national oath" and declared himself the leader of the Circassian confederation and divided Circassia into 12 major regions. [4] But his authority was mostly limited, though British adventurer in Circassia, James Bell, said he was "admired". [24]
IsmailBerzegCircassia.png Ismail Berzeg Бэрзэдж Дэгумыкъо Исмахьил1827–1839Military commander, nobleman, politicianA member of the House of Berzeg. From 1827, he engaged in organizing a military confederation of the tribes living on the Black Sea coast. By the end of 1839, he had united most of the population and other Circassians accepted his authority. James Bell called him "Circassian Washington". [24]
Hawduqo Mansur Хьаудыкъо Мансур Шупаго1839–1846
Military commander, nobleman, politicianA member of the House of Shupago. [4] On May 6, 1837, he presided over the All-Circassian tribal assembly, which was attended by 1,000 Circassian representatives, as well as British adventurers James Bell and John Augustus Longworth. [25] In December 1838, he was also elected as the leader of the assembly held by the Shapsugs and Natukhais. [26] He rose to the position of a leader of the Circassians. [27] After this date, in Circassian meetings mentioned in Russian sources, Mansur was referred to as the leader. [23] Longworth mentioned Mansur's popularity, Longworth states that the Circassians loved him enough to make him "king of the country." He also mentions that Mansur spoke Turkish very well. [25]
MuhammadAminCircassia.png Muhammad Amin Наиб Мыхьэмэд Амин1848–September 1859
Ethnic Avar
Flag of Avars.svg
Islamic preacherAppointed by Imam Shamil to lead the Circassians, [13] his title was "Naib" (representative). Amin used harsh methods to impose his rule, and many Circassians recognized his authority willingly or unwillingly. His era was marked with various reforms in industry, diplomacy, military, administration, religious issues and more. He gradually established stricter Islamic laws, removed slavery, banned social classes, built schools and small factories. [4] In 1854, he was recognized by the Ottoman Caliph as the Governor of Circassia. [28] Naib Muhammad Amin and Seferbiy Zaneqo had a civil war over authority, which Amin lost and was exiled. [29]
SeferbiyZaneqoCircassia.png Seferbiy Zaneqo Занэкъо СэфэрбийSeptember 1859–1 January 1860Diplomat, Military commander, nobleman, politicianDesigner of the Circassian flag. An Ottoman and Russian citizen, Zaneqo mostly worked as a diplomat of Circassia, acting as an intermediary between Circassians and Ottomans, Russians, and British. [30] Was elected by Circassians as representative of Circassia. [31] [32] Initially recognized as the envoy of Circassia to Ottomans by Mahmud II, [31] he later acquired the title Governor of Circassia. [30] [29] However, he could not establish authority due to the naibate of Muhammad Amin, and a civil war between the two ensued. Amin lost the war, however Zaneqo passed soon after.
QerandiqoBerzegCircassia.png Gerandiqo Berzeg Бэрзэдж Дэгумыкъо Джэрандыкъо13 June 1860 – 21 May 1864Military commander, nobleman, politicianA member of the House of Berzeg. In 1861, the Parliament of Independence was established in Sochi, declaring Circassia as a unitary state. Gerandiqo Berzeg was elected as the chairman and continued this role until the annexation of Circassia. [33]

References

  1. ↑ "Черкесия: черты социо-культурной идентичности". Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  2. ↑ De facto Ungariae Magnae a fretre  Riccardo invento tempori domini  Gregorii Noni. // Исторический архив. 1940. Т. 3. С. 96.)
  3. ↑ Atti della Societa Ligure di storia patria. T. VII, f. 2. 737; Колли Л. Кафа в период владения ею банком св. Георгия (1454-1475) // Известия Таврической Ученой Архивной комиссии. № 47. Симферополь, 1912. С. 86.)
  4. 1 2 3 4 İsmail Hakkı Berkok (1958). Tarihte Kafkasya [Caucasus in History] (in Turkish). İstanbul Matbaası. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  5. ↑ KAFFED, Çerkes Özgürlük Meclisi
  6. ↑ These regions were Shapsugo-Natukhaj, Abdzakh, Chemguy, Barakay, Bzhedug, Kabardo-Besleney, Hatuqway, Makhosh, Bashilbey, Taberda, Abkhazia and Ubykh.
  7. ↑ Hatajuqua, Ali. "Hadji-Ismail Dagomuqua Berzeg, Circassian Warrior and Diplomat". Eurasia Daily Monitor. 7 (38).
  8. 1 2 D, S. Kronolojik Savaş Tarihi
  9. ↑ Хункаров, Д. Урыс-Адыгэ зауэ
  10. ↑ A.Ü. Arşivi, XII.V, Çerkez tarihi liderleri
  11. ↑ Казиев Ш.М. Имам Шамиль / Изд. 2-е испр. — М.: Молодая гвардия, 2003. — 378 с.
  12. ↑ AKAK, Vol. X, p.590, document No. 544, Vorontsov to Chernyshev (secret), 8 [20] November 1847, No. 117
  13. 1 2 Карлгоф Н. Магомет-Амин II // Кавказский календарь на 1861 год. — Тф.: Тип. Гл. управ. намес. кавказского, 1860. — С. 77—102 (отд. 4).
  14. ↑ NA, F.O. 195/443, “Report of Mehmed Emin…”, 15 August 1854
  15. ↑ Фадеев А.В. Указ. соч.
  16. ↑ Фадеев А.В. Убыхи в освободительном движении на Западном Кавказе //Исторический сборник. – М.; Л., 1935. – № 4.
  17. ↑ Блиев М.М., Дегоев В.В. Кавказская война. – М., 1994.
  18. ↑ Черкесия: черты социо-культурной идентичности
  19. ↑ Ruslan, Yemij (August 2011). Soçi Meclisi ve Çar II. Aleksandr ile Buluşma.
  20. ↑ "ŞEYH MANSÛR". TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  21. ↑ Askerov, Ali (2015). Historical Dictionary of the Chechen Conflict. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 3.
  22. ↑ Oztas, Ahmet (2013). A Page from the History of the North Caucasus: Imam Mansur Ushurma. EHESS. pp. 1–14.
  23. 1 2 Khotko, Samir (2014). КАВКАЗСКАЯ ВОЙНА: УРОКИ ИСТОРИИ И СОВРЕМЕННОСТЬ [The Caucasian War: Lessons of History and Modernity]. Материалы научной конференции, посвященной 150-летию окончания Кавказской войны [Materials of the scientific conference dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the end of the Caucasian War] (in Russian). Maykop: Izdatelstvo "Magarin Oleg Grigorievich" (Maikop). ISBN   9785916922455 . Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  24. 1 2 Bell, James Stanislaus (1840). Journal of a Residence in Circassia: During the Years 1837, 1838 and 1839. pp. 344–346. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  25. 1 2 Longworth, J. A. (1840). A Year Among the Circassians. H. Colburn.
  26. ↑ ИнфоРост, Н. П. "ГПИБ | Т. 3 : [Письма 1839-1841 гг.]. - 1910". elib.shpl.ru. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  27. ↑ Hotko, Samir (2015). "ГЛАВА 5. ЧЕРКЕССКИЙ ЛИМЕС". Adyghe Republican Institute of Humanitarian Studies.
  28. ↑ BOA, İrade Dahiliye [İ.DH.], 305/19355, 5 Zilkâde 1270 [30 July 1854]
  29. 1 2 BOA, İrade Dahiliye [İ.DH.], 25156, 9 Zilkâde 1273 [1 July 1857]; NA, F.O. 195/458, Misk to Stratford, Damascus, 30 September 1857, No.21.
  30. 1 2 Yağcı, Zübeyde Güneş (2016-06-01). "The International Leader of North Caucasus: Sefer Zaniko". Bilig (76): 59–86. ISSN   1301-0549.
  31. 1 2 Arslan, Nebahat; Wakizaka, Keisuke; Topçu (Papşu), Murat; Kyriakidis, Theodosios; Güneş, Sadriye; Has, Yaprak; Liy, Ergün Özgür; Hacisalihoglu, Mehmet. 1864 Kafkas Tehciri: Kafkasya’da Rus Kolonizasyonu, Savaş ve Sürgün [Caucasian Exodus of 1864: Russian Colonization of Caucasia, War and Exodus].
  32. ↑ Bell, James Stanislaus (1840). Journal of a Residence in Circassia: During the Years 1837, 1838 and 1839. pp. 344–346. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  33. ↑ Владимировна, Чунтыжева Рима (2014). "Сочинский меджлис: опыт общественно-политического творчества адыгов в XIX веке". Вестник Майкопского государственного технологического университета (4): 15–19. ISSN   2078-1024.
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.