Kabardians Explained

Group:	Kabardians
Population:	~1,628,500 Kabardian dialect speakers^[1] ^[2]
Pop1:	More than 1,000,000^[3]
Pop2:	523,404 (2021 census)^[4]
Pop3:	502,615
Pop4:	13,496
Rels:	Predominantly Sunni Islam^[5] ^[6] Minority Eastern Orthodox Church^[7] and Catholic Church^[8] ^[9]
Langs:	Kabardian, Russian, Turkish
Related:	Other Adyghe tribes, Abkhaz, Abaza
Native Name:	Къэбэрдэй Адыгэ
Flag:	Banner of the Kabardian Union.svg
Flag Caption:	Flag of Kabardia

The Kabardians (Kabardian: Къэбэрдей адыгэхэр; Adyghe: Къэбэртай адыгэхэр; Russian: Кабарди́нцы) or Kabardinians are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representing one of the twelve stars on the green-and-gold Circassian flag.^[10] They are also commonly known by the plural terms Kabardin, Kebertei, or Kabarday. Along with the Besleney tribe, they speak a distinctive dialect of Circassian. Historically the Kabardians lived in Kabardia, a region of the north Caucasus. In modern times the Kabardians live mostly in the Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, which partly corresponds to the historic region.

Despite the Soviet administrative divisions that placed Circassians under four different designations and political units, namely Adygeans (Circassians in Adygea), Cherkessians (Circassians in Karachay-Cherkessia), Kabardians (Circassians in Kabardino-Balkaria), and Shapsugs (Circassians in Krasnodar Krai), all four groups are essentially the same people (Circassians). Furthermore, Cherkessians are mostly of the Kabardian and Besleney tribes.

Population

The Kabardians are the largest Circassian (Adyghe) tribe in the world in general, and form the largest Circassian tribe in Russia, Turkey, Egypt, and in some other countries in the region. Kabardians numbered around 520,000 in Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia.^[11] and about 50,000 in Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia. In Turkey, where more than 1 million of them live, they are concentrated on the Uzunyayla plateau of Kayseri Province and around (Central Turkey), though there are Kabardian villages in Balıkesir, Düzce, Eskişehir (Northwest Turkey), Çorum, Samsun, and Tokat (Black Sea region), amongst many others. Significant populations of Kabardians also live in Jordan;^[12] and there are communities in the United States. However, in Israel and Jordan, the Shapsug and Abzakh tribes respectively are the largest.

Religion

Religions historically practiced by Kabardians include the native Adyghe Xabze faith, Christianity and Islam. The majority of Kabardians had converted to Islam by the early 19th century. There are also still some adherents to traditional Xabze beliefs, with 1,8% being practiced in Kabardino-Balkaria, although most Kabardians are either Non-denominational or Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school^{[13] [14]}

Kabardians also constituted one of the earliest Christian communities in Europe, converting in the late 2nd and early 3rd Centuries. Kabardians living in Mozdoksky District in the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania are Orthodox Christians.^{[15] [16]} Some of the Kabardians living in the southern part of the neighbouring Kursky district of Stavropol Krai are also Orthodox Christians.There are also some Roman Catholic Kabardians (possibly descended from families who reportedly converted from Orthodoxy during the 13th century). According to the 2012 survey census, of the 240,000 Catholics who lived in Russia, 1.8% were Kabardians.^{[17] [18]}

Notable Kabardians

• Adil-Giray Atazhukin
• Aleguko Shogenukov
• Alexander A. Cherkassky
• Alexey Cherkassky – Chancellor of the Russian Empire during the reign of Empress Elizabeth
• Alexander Bekovich-Cherkassky – Prince of Kabarda
• Alexander N. Bekovich-Cherkassky
• Amirkhan Shomakhov
• Atazhuko Atazhukin
• Armande Kumpal Kabartay Altaï-Magini
• Aslanbek Khushtov – Member of the Parliament of Kabardino-Balkarian Republic and athlete who has won a gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics
• Avenir Tchemerzine – Colonel of the Russian imperial army and mathematician before becoming a bibliographer
• Bidar Kadın – Imperial consort of Abdul Hamid II of the Ottoman Empire
• Boris Cherkassky
• Dmitry Cherkassky
• Doamna Ecaterina Cercheza – Princess consort of the Voivode of Moldavia as the wife of Vasile Lupu
• Elmirza Bekovich-Cherkassky
• Fyodor A. Bekovich-Cherkasski
• Fyodor N. Bekovich-Cherkasski
• Grigory Cherkassky
• Idar of Kabardia
• Inal the Great – Prince of Kabarda
• Ismail Bey Atazhukin
• Ivan Amashuk
• Ivan B. Cherkassky – Cousin of Michael I of Russia^[19]
• Ivan E. Cherkassky
• Jacop Cherkassky
• Kasbulat Cherkassky
• Kasei Atazhukin
• Kambulat Cherkassky
• Kelemet Cherkassky
• Kudenet Cherkassky
• Kurgoko Atazhukin
• Ladislas du Luart, Comtesse Leïla Hagondokoff – Recipient of the National Order of Merit and National Order of the Legion of Honor (Commander), model for the French high-fashion house Chanel^{[20] [21] [22] [23] [24]}
• Ludmilla Monique Tchérina^[25]
• Mahidevran – Imperial consort of Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire
• Mamstryuk Cherkassky
• Maria Temryukovna – Tsaritsa of the Tsardom of Russia as the wife of Ivan the Terrible
• Michael A. Cherkassky I
• Michael A. Cherkassky II
• Michael T. Cherkassky
• Michael Y. Cherkassky
• Mutsal Cherkassky
• Nikita Egupov-Cherkassky
• Peter Amashukov-Cherkassky
• Peter B. Cherkassky
• Roslanbek Atazhukin
• Rusudan of Circassia – Queen consort of Georgia (Kartli) as the wife of Vakhtang the Lawgiver
• Servetseza Kadın – First wife of Abdulmejid I of the Ottoman Empire
• Sholokh Cherkassky
• Simon Cherkassky
• Sunchalei Cherkassky
• Temryuk – Prince of Kabarda
• Vasily Amashukov-Cherkassky
• Vasily Kardanukovich Cherkassky
• Vladimir Cherkassky – Mayor of Moscow (1868–1870)
• Yefim Bekovich-Cherkassky
• Yuri Temirkanov – Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra since 1988
• Zaur Tutov

See also

• Kabardia
• Other Circassian tribes:
• Abzakh
• Besleney
• Bzhedug
• Hatuqwai
• Mamkhegh
• Natukhai
• Shapsug
• Temirgoy
• Ubykh
• Yegeruqwai
• Zhaney

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kabardian: A Language of the Russian Federation . . 2005 . Etnologue.com . Ethnologue: Languages of the World . 5 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170126193834/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/kbd . 26 January 2017 . live .
2. Book: Skutsch . Carl . Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities . 2013 . Routledge . 978-1-135-19388-1 . 675 .
3. . March 2012 . 'Biz' Erozyona Uğratıldı . Jineps . 5 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170305001627/http://www.jinepsgazetesi.com/yazdir.php?detay=12275 . 5 March 2017 . dead .
4. Web site: Национальный состав населения. Federal State Statistics Service. 30 December 2022.
5. Svetlana Lyagusheva. Islam and the Traditional Moral Code of Adyghes. Iran and the Caucasus. 9. 29–35. 1. 4030903. 2005. 10.1163/1573384054068123.
6. Book: An Ethnohistorical dictionary of the Russian and Soviet empires . James Stuart Olson . 1994 . Greenwood . 329 . 978-0-313-27497-8 . 15 October 2011.
7. Book: An Ethnohistorical dictionary of the Russian and Soviet empires . James Stuart Olson . 1994 . Greenwood . 329 . 978-0-313-27497-8 . 15 October 2011.
8. http://sreda.org/arena Arena – Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia
9. http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg 2012 Survey Maps
10. Web site: 2010. Circassians. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820015838/https://www.adiga-home.net/Circassians.htm. August 20, 2014. 17 May 2016. Adiga-home.net. The 12 Circassian tribes: Abadzeh Besleney Bzhedug Yegeruqay Zhaney Kabarday Mamheg Natuhay Temirgoy Ubyh Shapsug Hatukay. The twelve stars on the Adyghe Flag also refers to the twelve tribes..
11. Web site: Population . Perepis2002.ru . 16 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120120072310/http://www.perepis2002.ru/content.html?id=11&docid=10715289081463 . 20 January 2012 .
12. Web site: Kabard distribution . Ethnologue.com . 16 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120812210113/http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=kbd . 12 August 2012 . live.
13. http://sreda.org/en/arena "Arena: Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia"
14. http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg 2012 Arena Atlas Religion Maps
15. Book: An Ethnohistorical dictionary of the Russian and Soviet empires . James Stuart Olson . 1994 . Greenwood . 329 . 978-0-313-27497-8 . 15 October 2011.
16. Book: Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Africa and the Middle East: L to Z . Jamie Stokes . 2009 . Facts on File . 359 . 978-0-8160-7158-6 . 15 October 2011.
17. http://sreda.org/arena Arena – Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia
18. http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg 2012 Survey Maps
19. Bushkovitch . Paul . 1 January 2004 . Princes Cherkasskii or Circassian Murzas . Cahiers du Monde Russe. 45 . 45/1–2 . 9–30 . 10.4000/monderusse.2600 . 1252-6576 .
20. Web site: Anciens sénateurs Vème République : du LUART Ladislas . français . Sénat . senat.fr . 12 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303184343/http://www.senat.fr/senateur/du_luart_ladislas000004.html . 3 March 2016 . live .
21. Web site: Mme de Sairigné reçoit le prix littéraire de l'armée de Terre-Erwan Bergot 2011 . defense.gouv.fr . 12 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161023013732/http://www.defense.gouv.fr/actualites/memoire-et-culture/mme-de-sairigne-recoit-le-prix-litteraire-de-l-armee-de-terre-erwan-bergot-2011 . 23 October 2016 . live .
22. Web site: Bilder von Horst . voltigeur.net . 12 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222050645/http://voltigeur.net/1errec.html . 22 December 2017 . live .
23. News: Comtesse du Luart, princesse courage . d'Encausse . Hélène Carrère . 10 February 2011 . Le Figaro . fr-FR . 0182-5852 . 12 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161023013157/http://www.lefigaro.fr/livres/2011/02/10/03005-20110210ARTFIG00001-comtesse-du-luart-princesse-courage.php . 23 October 2016 . live .
24. News: Les milles vies de la comtesse du Luart . Nonfiction.fr . 12 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161023013037/http://www.nonfiction.fr/article-6555-les_milles_vies_de_la_comtesse_du_luart.htm . 23 October 2016 . live .
25. News: L'article est en cours de traduction . Русский очевидецL’Observateur Russe. fr. 12 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160520053429/http://rusoch.fr/lang/fr/rus/lyudmila-cherina-vayatelnica-svoej-sudby.html. 20 May 2016. live.