The Abzakh ( Circassian: Абдзэх, ''Abdzekh'';

Russian Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...

: абадзехи) also known as Abdzakhs or Abadzekhs are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representing one of the twelve stars on the green-and-gold Circassian flag. Historically, they lived in the mountainous part of the modern Russian republics of

Adygea Adygea ( ), officially the Republic of Adygea or the Adygean Republic, is a republics of Russia, republic of Russia. It is situated in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe. The republic is a part of the Southern Federal District, and covers an a ...

and

Krasnodar Krai Krasnodar Krai (, ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (a krai), located in the North Caucasus region in Southern Russia and is administratively a part of the Southern Federal District. Its administrative center is the t ...

. Major settlements or villages were located in the river valleys

Kurdzhips The Kurdzhips (), located in the Caucasus Mountains, is a river in the Apsheronsky District of Krasnodar region, Russia. It is a left tributary of the Belaya near Maykop. It is long, and has a drainage basin of . The river is a venue for wildern ...

, Psheha, Pshish, and Psekups. However, today the vast majority of them live in

diaspora A diaspora ( ) is a population that is scattered across regions which are separate from its geographic place of birth, place of origin. The word is used in reference to people who identify with a specific geographic location, but currently resi ...

in Turkey — about 500,000 people, which are the descendants of those expelled from their homeland as a result of the

Russian–Circassian War The Russo-Circassian War, also known as the Russian invasion of Circassia, was the 101-year-long invasion of Circassia by the Russian Empire. The conflict started in 1763 ( O.S.) with Russia assuming authority in Circassia, followed by Circa ...

. After

Kabardians The Kabardians (Kabardian language, Kabardian: Къэбэрдей адыгэхэр; Adyghe language, Adyghe: Къэбэртай адыгэхэр; ) or Kabardinians are one of the twelve major Circassians, Circassian tribes, representing one ...

, the Abzakh are the second-largest Adyghe tribe in Turkey, other diaspora countries, and in the world in general. They are also the second-largest Adyghe tribe in Israel (after

Shapsugs The Shapsug ( , , , , ) (also known as the Shapsugh or Shapsogh) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes. Historically, the Shapsug tribe comprised one of the largest groups of the Black Sea Adyghe (Причерноморские ады� ...

), largest in Jordan, and the sixth-largest in Russia. The Abzakhs are not to be confused with the

Abkhazians The Abkhazians or Abkhazes are a Northwest Caucasian languages, Northwest Caucasian ethnic group, mainly living in Abkhazia, a disputed region on the northeastern coast of the Black Sea. A large Abkhaz diaspora population resides in Turkey, th ...

or the Abaza, yet the naming "abadz'ekh" in Circassian language means "the people who live under the Abazas", but they are different in language.

History

Before the Caucasian War, Abzakhs inhabited the northern slope of the Caucasus mountain range, near the land of the

Shapsug The Shapsug ( , , , , ) (also known as the Shapsugh or Shapsogh) are one of the twelve major Circassians, Circassian tribes. Historically, the Shapsug tribe comprised one of the largest groups of the Black Sea Adyghe (Причерноморск ...

tribe. They were grouped into highland and lowland Abzakhs and favored close relations with the

Ubykhs The Ubykh ( ; ; ; ) are an ethnic group of the Circassian nation, represented by one of the twelve stars on the green-and-gold Circassian flag. Along with the Circassian tribes of Natukhai and Shapsug, the Ubykh formed the Circassian Assembly ...

, whom they practically regarded as their own kin. In 1834, together with the

and the Nathukajs, they swore an oath to fight against the Russians. The Abzakhs were reluctant to join non-Circassian commanders, which is why Muhammad Amin failed to win over the Abzakh, most of whom backed

Seferbiy Zaneqo Seferbiy Zaneqo (1798 – 1 January 1860), or Sefer Pasha, was a Circassian diplomat and military commander who served as the 5th leader of the Circassian Confederation from 1859 to 1860. He took part in the Russo-Circassian War both in a mili ...

. After the Caucasian war, most Abzakhs (and other tribes) were deported to the Ottoman Empire, the remaining Abzakhs were relocated to the present-day steppe

Shovgenovsky District Shovgenovsky District (; ) is an administrativeLaw #171 and a municipalLaw #272 district (raion), one of the seven in the Republic of Adygea, Russia. It is located in the central northern portion of the republic and borders with Ust-Labinsky Distr ...

in Adygea.

Culture

The Abzakh tribe was traditionally divided into nine companies, managed by elected elders. In discussing and resolving important issues elders agreed in a general meeting. Among Circassians, Abzakhs were considered the most warlike. The Abzakh tribe engaged in arable farming and horticulture, and kept many animals, especially prized horses. In the mountains, the Abzakh mined copper, iron, lead, and silver. Since the early 19th century, their dominant religion is

Sunni Islam Sunni Islam is the largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any Succession to Muhammad, successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr ...

Language

The Abzakh people speak a sub-dialect () of the West Adyghe dialect of the Circassian language.

Israel

About 1,123 Abzakh people live in the

Rehaniya Rehaniya (, , ), also spelled Reihaniyye, is a Circassian town in northern Israel. It is one of the only two Circassian towns in Israel, the other being Kfar Kama. Located about 8 km north of Safed, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mer ...

, in

Galilee Galilee (; ; ; ) is a region located in northern Israel and southern Lebanon consisting of two parts: the Upper Galilee (, ; , ) and the Lower Galilee (, ; , ). ''Galilee'' encompasses the area north of the Mount Carmel-Mount Gilboa ridge and ...

( Northern District,

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

), where there is an Adyghe museum. In 1958, Abzakhs (and other Adyghe tribes) of Israel were allowed to enter military service, which gave them a number of privileges. In Israel, the Abzakh are the second largest Adyghe tribe, after the

Notable people

Hulusi Salih Pasha Salih Hulusi Pasha (;‎ ; 1864–1939), known as Salih Hulusi Kezrak after the Turkish Surname Law of 1934, was one of the last Grand Viziers of the Ottoman Empire, under the reign of the last Ottoman Sultan Mehmed VI, between 8 March 1920 a ...

(1885–1939); Ottoman

Grand Vizier Grand vizier (; ; ) was the title of the effective head of government of many sovereign states in the Islamic world. It was first held by officials in the later Abbasid Caliphate. It was then held in the Ottoman Empire, the Mughal Empire, the Soko ...

(1920), admiral, the first Minister of Navy of the

Republic of Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

* Khirtsizhiqo Ale (?-1836); Military commander *Hasan Bish; Abzakh representative of Circassian Parliament. *

Wumar Bersey Wumar Bersey, Circassian writer, Poetry, poem, fabulist, Translation, translator and teacher. He is known as one of the most important figures in Circassian literature. He knew multiple languages, including Circassian languages, Circassian (Adygh ...

(1807-?); Writer, poem, fabulist, translator and teacher. *Hasan Bish; Abdzakh Representative of Circassian MajlisНаурзова И. Материалы по фольклору, этнографии и истории адыгов. Биографии знаменитых черкесов // Мардж. Париж. 1929. №44. *Hatirbay Tsey; Delegate of the Circassian Parliament during negotiations with Tsar Alexander II in 1861 and a military chieftain *Aslanbech Hajemuqo Pshimaf; Delegate of the Circassian Parliament and a noble * Ibrahim Salehovich Tsey (1890-1936); One of the founders of Adyghe literature and a writer *

Jawdat Said Tsey Jawdat Said (; ; 31 January 1931 – 30 January 2022) was a Syrian-Circassian Islamic scholar who belonged to the School of the famous Islamic thinkers professor Malek Bennabi and Muhammad Iqbal. He was called the Circassian Gandhi for h ...

(1931-2022); Islamic scholar

References