The Adyghe or Adygs (Adyghe: Адыгэ or Adǝgă, Arabic: شركس/جركس, Jarkas/Sharkas, Persian: چرکس, Charkas), also often known as Circassians or Cherkess, are a North Caucasian ethnic group who were displaced in the course of the Russian conquest of the Caucasus in the 19th century, especially after the Russian–Circassian War of 1862. Adyghe people mainly speak Circassian (called Adyghe and it has 12 dialects out of which 4 are mostly used. The Abzakh & Shapsogh dialects in the west, the Bjadogh in the South west (the Black Sea shore), and the Kabardin (Kabartai) in the Center. Predominant religions include Sunni Islam and Russian Orthodox Christianity. There remain about 700,000 speakers of Circassian in Adygea (Adygeans), Karachay–Cherkessia (just Circassians) and Kabardino-Balkaria (Kabards), as well as a number in the Russian Federation outside these republics.
The Adyghe are fascinating people that live in the Caucasus region of the Russian Federation. Not only does the Adyghe language have a wide array of dialects within the area, but Adyghe communities spread throughout the Middle East and Russia speak the same language as well. Despite having a long, tragic history of invasions, genocides, and forced migrations, the Adyghes are among the most prominent ethnic groups in the North Caucasus region today. The vast majority of Adyghe people of today live in the Adygea Republic, but there are also Adyghe communities in Jordan, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Israel, and the Russian federation. The largest community outside of the Caucasus is in Turkey, though the West Circassian language isn’t widely used. Of all the North Caucasus regions, the Adygea region has the most ethnic Russians, mostly identified as Kuban Cossacks. Adygea covers around 2,900 square miles and has a population of 439,996, according to the 2010 census. The capital of Adygea is Maykop, where around one-third of the republic’s population lives. Adyghe State University and Maykop State Technological University are the two major educational institutions of Adygea, both located in Maykop.
Adyghe culture has at its core the values of respect, hospitality and reverence for elders. Their identity and code of conduct comes from an ancient system of rules, etiquette, and ethos known as Khabzeh. According to Khabzeh, a host is expected to give his life to protect his guests. In return guests are expected to be gracious and behave in a way that honors the host. Much insight into Adyghe culture and customs can be gathered from Adyghe folk dances. These dances tell stories about everyday life such as courtship, preparing for war, the harvest, and displaying of strength. The stories preserve Adyghe ancient history, and they are predecessors to Greek mythology, containing ancient stories of gods from southern Russia. The Khabzeh came from these Epics. Adyghes are one of the remaining tribes of a large people group known as Circassians. They lived in the North Caucasus region of southern Russia for more than a thousand years until they were conquered by ethnic Russians during the Caucasus War (1817-1864). Due to the war, in the late 19th Century at least 1 million Circassians (Adyghes and Kabardians) were deported or fled to areas in the Ottoman Empire including Turkey and the Middle East. Although the Adyghe people still regard the North Caucasus as their sacred home, 90 percent of them live outside the region, especially Turkey and the Middle East, including Iraq and Syria.
Adyghes are one of the remaining tribes of a larger Muslim people group known as Circassians. The Adyghes lived in the North Caucasus region of Southern Russia for more than a thousand years. They were conquered by ethnic Russians during the Caucasus War (1817-1864). Due to the war, in the late 19th Century at least one million Circassians fled from Russia controlled areas to lands inside the Ottoman Empire. These regions include Turkey and the Middle East. Adyghe culture has at its core the values of respect, hospitality and reverence for elders. Their identity and code of conduct come from an ancient system of rules, etiquette, and ethos known as Khabzeh. According to Khabzeh, a host is expected to give his life to protect his guests. In return guests are expected to be gracious and behave in a way that honors the host. Although the Adyghe people still regard the North Caucasus as their sacred home, a majority live outside the region. Some Adyghe still live in southern Russia. But at least 10 times that many in diaspora locations, especially in Turkey and the Middle East. Folk dances offer insight into Adyghe culture and customs. These dances tell stories about everyday life such as courtship, preparing for war, the harvest, and displaying of strength. The stories preserve Adyghe ancient history, and they are predecessors to Greek mythology, containing ancient stories of gods from southern Russia. Traditionally, Adyghe parents chose the spouse of their children. As Turkey increasingly joins the modern world, young people are choosing their own partners. Before modern times. Adyghe families were large with many children. Now parents are having fewer children as many mothers work outside the home. Many Adyghes continue to work in agriculture. Turkey is a leading exporter of nuts, fruits and vegetables. Young Adyghes are moving to the cities to work in manufacturing, construction, education and retail. Adyghe parents encourage their children to get a college degree and enter the professions. Many Adyghes are caught between observing their ancient traditions and adapting to the modern world.
The Adyghe or Adygs (Template:Lang-ady) are a people of the northwest Caucasus region, principally inhabiting the Republic of Adygea (24.2%) (a federal subject of Russia) and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic (11.3%) (where they are called “Cherkess”). Shapsugsky National District, an autonomous district founded for Shapsigh (or Shapsugh) tribe living on the Black Sea coast was abolished in 1943. Kabardin of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic (55.3%) (along with Besleney tribe) who speak the Kabardian language are often conceived as the eastern branch of Adyghe. While Adyghe is the name this people apply to themselves, in the West they are often known as the Circassians, a term which can also apply to a broader group of peoples in the North Caucasus. Their language is also referred to as Adyghe or Adygeyan. Besleney speak a dialect of Kabardian.
Adyghe (Circassian) Tribes
- Abazekh
- Adamey (Adaley)
- Besleney
- Bzhedugh
- Chemgwi, earlier Kemirgoy (Temirgoy, a Russified version)
- Hakuchi (sub-group of the Shapsugh)
- Hatuqway
- Jilax’steney (Eastern Kabardians)
- Kabarday
- Makhosh (Mex’wesh)
- Mamxegh
- Natukhay
- Shapsugh
- Yegerkway
Adygea is a Russian federal subject found in the south-western part of Russia in the northern part of Caucasus region. It is part of the Southern federal District. It stretches from the Kuban River in the south to the Caucasus foothills to cover an area of 2,900 square miles, and it is the 5th smallest republic in the Russian Federation. The official languages in the Republic are the Adyghe and the Russian languages. The largest city in the Republic is Maykop which is also Adygea’s capital, and it is home to about one-third of the total population in the Republic. The foothills of Caucasus Mountains are covered with deciduous forests while other parts of the Republic is mainly plains which has rich soils and agriculture is the main activity and crops such as wheat, corn, hemp, sunflowers, tobacco, potatoes, vegetables, and melons a widely cultivated. There is a local specialty of a flower which is cultivated for its scent that belongs to the lavender and the Crimean Rose. Floodplains along the Kuban River are marshy, and there are approximately 8,000 hectares which have been claimed for market gardening. The main industry in the Republic is primarily processing of farm products, and there are oil and natural gas which is extracted near the Maykop. Similarly, timber is another major product particularly in the Southern part of the Republic.
Adyghe were part of the Circassian people until the 1920s, when they were divided from Cherkess and Kabards. Adyghe areas became an AO in July 1922. Leading members of the Adyghe resented the fact that they were not given republican status. In 1991 Adyghea was given the status of an autonomous republic, albeit one entirely enclosed within the Krasnodar region. Of all of the territories of the North Caucasus, the Adyghe region historically has had the highest concentration of Russians. In August 1991 Adyghe created a special commission to oversee the return of expatriates, primarily the large communities in Turkey. The first All-Adyghe Congress was held on 28 March 1992. Large numbers of Russians in the Adyghe regions have identified themselves as Kuban Cossacks. They demanded their own Cossack region in Krasnodar Krai but have also supported the Adyghe. Some Adyghe participated in the movement to unite Circassian peoples. Inter-ethnic relations in the Adyghe Republic were complicated by two major factors. The first is the trend towards the amalgamation of national territories designated for specific ethnic groups to larger neighbouring districts. From 2004 some Russian officials, including figures within the Krasnodar regional administration, had proposed such a merger for the Adyghe Republic and Krasnodar region. Supporting arguments for such a merger included the fact that the Adyghe republic was already an enclave entirely surrounded by Krasnodar, its dependence on subsidies from Moscow and the economic benefits to the Adyghe republic arising from Krasnodar’s relatively prosperous economy rooted in tourism. Many Slavs in the Adyghe republic reportedly supported the merger, claiming that they suffer ethnic discrimination at the hands of the Adyghe minority and that their status as a majority should ensure proportionate representation in republican structures, regardless of the fact that they live in the designated national homeland of another group.
In its narrow sense, Circassian is an exonym for Adyghe people, an ethnic group originating from the North Caucasus. Traditionally, it is accepted that the Adyghe nation is comprised of twelve tribes, each of which is represented with a star on the Adyghe flag. However, Circassian is also an umbrella term because throughout history Russians as well as Ottomans lumped several North Caucasian peoples into one category as Circassians. Split into numerous linguistic and tribal groups, Sunni Islam, rather than nationalism, had been a unifying factor in the North Caucasus when the region became a target of Russian expansionist policies in the 19th century. Therefore, until the 20th century, it is practically impossible to separate national movements among different North Caucasian peoples. Russian expansion into the North Caucasus started in the late 18th century. The Caucasian wars ended with a decisive Russian victory in 1864, which led to the genocidal exile of nearly a million North Caucasian Muslims to the Ottoman Empire. Most Adyghe, or Circassian, tribes were completely massacred or deported after this date, and the few which remained in the Russian Empire were resettled in the Kuban oblast. Even though Adyghes were the main target of expulsion and extermination in 1864, other North Caucasian Muslims shared a similar fate. Orthodox Russians, Cossacks, and other groups who were deemed loyal by the Tsarist government were resettled in historical Circassian lands.
Adyghe (адыгэбзэ)
Adyghe is a North West Caucasian language spoken by about 300,000 people mainly in the Republic of Adygea in the Russian Federation. Adyghe, which is also known as West Circassian, is also spoken in Turkey, Israel and Jordan. Adyghe is closely related to Kabardian, and to a lesser extent to Ubykh, Abkhaz and Abaza. According to the UNESCO Map of the World’s Languages in Danger (2009), Adyghe is vulnerable. Since 1938 Adyghe has been written with a version of the Cyrillic alphabet. Between 1927 and 1938 it was written with the Latin alphabet, and before 1927 it was written with the Arabic alphabet. The literary language is based on the Chemguy dialect.
Circassian beauty or Adyghe beauty is a stereotype and a belief referring to the Circassian people. A fairly extensive literary history suggests that Circassian women were thought to be unusually beautiful and attractive, spirited, smart and elegant, and as such were desirable (Although most Circassians refuse to marry non-Circassians, a requirement of Adyghe Xabze.). A similar yet smaller literature also exists for Circassian men, who were thought to be especially handsome. There are folk songs in various languages all around the Middle East and Balkans describing the unusual beauty of Circassian women, a trend popularised after the Circassian genocide, although the reputation of Circassian women dates back to the Late Middle Ages when the Circassian coast was frequented by traders from Genoa, and the founder of the Medici dynasty, Cosimo de’ Medici, had an illegitimate son from a Circassian slave. During the Ottoman Empire and Persian Safavid and Qajar dynasties, Circassian women living as slaves in the Sultan’s Imperial Harem and Shah’s harems started to build their reputation as extremely beautiful, which then became a common trope in Western Orientalism.
The Circassian people are a part of the northwest Caucasian ethnic groups, initially from Circassia. Most of these people were displaced when the Russians invaded Circassia in the early 19th century. In 1864 a war erupted between the Russians and the Circassia people were displaced to other regions. The term Circassian is a combination of 12 Adyghe sub-tribes composed of three “democratic” and nine aristocratic tribes. Each of the sub-tribes is represented by a star, which is printed on the Circassia flag. Most of Circassian people are Muslims, and they speak the Circassian language as the primary language, which comprises of three main dialects and many sub-dialects. Having been exiled by the Russian rule, some of the people went to Turkey, England, Arabic nations, and Russia. Therefore, most of the Circassian people can speak foreign languages. There were approximately 800,000 Circassians remained in their homeland.
Adyghe culture has at its core the values of respect, hospitality and reverence for elders. Their identity and code of conduct comes from an ancient system of rules, etiquette, and ethos known as Khabzeh. According to Khabzeh, a host is expected to give his life to protect his guests. In return guests are expected to be gracious and behave in a way that honors the host. Much insight into Adyghe culture and customs can be gathered from Adyghe folk dances. These dances tell stories about everyday life such as courtship, preparing for war, the harvest, and displaying of strength. The stories preserve Adyghe ancient history, and they are predecessors to Greek mythology, containing ancient stories of gods from southern Russia. The Khabzeh came from these Epics. Adyghes are one of the remaining tribes of a large people group known as Circassians. They lived in the North Caucasus region of southern Russia for more than a thousand years until they were conquered by ethnic Russians during the Caucasus War (1817-1864). Due to the war, in the late 19th Century at least 1 million Circassians (Adyghes and Kabardians) were deported or fled to areas in the Ottoman Empire including Turkey and the Middle East. Although the Adyghe people still regard the North Caucasus as their sacred home, 90 percent of them live outside the region, especially Turkey and the Middle East, including Iraq and Syria.
The Adyghe traditional clothing (Adyghe: Адыгэ Щыгъыныхэр) refers to the historical clothing worn by the Adyghe people. The traditional female clothing (Adyghe: Бзылъфыгъэ Шъуашэр) was very diverse and highly decorated and mainly depends on the region, class of family, occasions, and tribes. The traditional female costume is composed of a dress (Adyghe: Джанэр), coat (Adyghe: Сае), shirt, pant (Adyghe: ДжэнэкӀакор ), vest (Adyghe: КӀэкӀ), lamb leather bra (Adyghe: Шъохътан), a variety of hats (Adyghe: ПэӀохэр), shoes, and belts (Adyghe: Бгырыпхыхэр). Holiday dresses are made of expensive fabrics such as silk and velvet. The traditional colors of women’s clothing rarely includes blue, green or bright-colored tones, instead mostly white, red, black and brown shades are worn. The traditional male costume (Adyghe: Адыгэ хъулъфыгъэ шъуашэр) includes a coat with wide sleeves, shirt, pants, a dagger, sword, and a variety of hats and shoes. Traditionally, young men in the warriors times wore coat with short sleeves—in order to feel more comfortable in combat. Different colors of clothing for males were strictly used to distinguish between different social classes, for example white is usually worn by princes, red by nobles, gray, brown, and black by peasants (blue, green and the other colors were rarely worn). A compulsory item in the traditional male costume is a dagger and a sword. The traditional Adyghean sword is called Shashka. It is a special kind of sabre; a very sharp, single-edged, single-handed, and guardless sword. Although the sword is used by most of Russian and Ukrainian Cossacks, the typically Adyghean form of the sabre is longer than the Cossack type, and in fact the word Shashka came from the Adyghe word “Sashkhwa” (Adyghe: Сашьхъуэ) which means “long knife”.
Adyghe, also known as West Circassian, is one of the two official languages of the Republic of Adygea in the Russian Federation, the other being Russian. It is spoken by various tribes of the Adyghepeople: Abzekh, Adamey, Bzhedug, Hatuqwai, Temirgoy, Mamkhegh; Natekuay, Shapsug, Zhaney, Yegerikuay, each with its own dialect. The language is referred to by its speakers as Adygebze or Adəgăbză, and alternatively spelled in English as Adygean, Adygeyan or Adygei. The literary language is based on the Temirgoy dialect. There are apparently around 128,000 speakers of Adyghe in Russia, almost all of them native speakers. In total, some 300,000 speak it worldwide. The largest Adyghe-speaking community is in Turkey, spoken by the post Russian–Circassian War (circa 1763–1864) diaspora; in addition to that, the Adyghe language is spoken by the Cherkesogai in Krasnodar Krai. Adyghe belongs to the family of Northwest Caucasian languages. Kabardian (also known as East Circassian) is a very close relative, treated by some as a dialect of Adyghe or of an overarching Circassian language. Ubykh, Abkhaz, and Abaza are somewhat more distantly related to Adyghe. The language was standardized after the October Revolution in 1917. Since 1936, the Cyrillic script has been used to write Adyghe. Before that, an Arabic-based alphabet was used together with the Latin.
Indigenous Peoples Literature 
