Circassy
The proper name Circassie indicated an area of the the Caucasus. Historically, it included/understood the coast and the major part of the territory of the Krai de Krasnodar current. Today, Circassiens live in the republics of Karatchaïévo-Tcherkessie, Kabardino-Balkarie and Adyguée of the Fédération of Russia. The diaspora circassienne is dispersed in other countries.
She is bordered in the south by the Abkhazie and in the east by the territories of Kabardino-Balkarie. Historical Circassie is named according to its traditional inhabitants, Circassiens (who prefer to be called adyguéen S ). These adyguéens represents today only one small portion of the population of this zone. The Republic of Adyguée, member of the Federation of Russia, is wedged in the Krai de Krasnodar.
After a series of risings against the Russian empire at the 19th century, Circassiens, which are Moslem, were expelled of historical Circassie. The Diaspora circassienne is found in various areas of old the Ottoman Empire where it took refuge then. The communities are established in Turkey, Syria, with the Lebanon, in Jordan (important community), with the Kosovo, in Egypt (incorporated at the origin with the Mamelouks), in Israel, (villages of Kfar Kama and Rikhaniya, since 1880) like with the the United States, in the States of New York and of the New Jersey, Bulgaria, Germany, with the Netherlands and in France.
A community existed with the Kosovo until in 1998, date on which it had to flee following the threats of UCK.
Anecdotes
- Circassiens are abundantly quoted by Lawrence of Arabia in its work the Seven Pillars of wisdom , as Arabs at the European origins in historical Syria (current Lebanon, Israel, Libya, Jordan). They is in particular by being made pass for Circassien that it is made prisoner with Deraa.
- the name of this area is used as a basis for that of a traditional dance of Scottish origin, the Cercle circassien. One is unaware of why this dance bears this name.
- the Doctor Faustroll was born there in 1898.