About Circassian

Am real proud to be Circassian , but u can see that am better than all people in this world , because am not olny circassian , I AM MULSIM 1st , JORDANIAN , & CIRCASSIAN ...

God Bless MUSLIMS,JORDANIAN,& CIRCASSIAN all over the world .. 

Circassians, people of northwestern Caucasia, also referred to as the Cherkess. They are found today chiefly in the Russian republics of Adygea and Karachay-Cherkessia and kabrdey republic and in larger groups in Jordan, Turkey, and Syria. Their languages belong to the North-West Caucasian languages, a non-Indo-European group. They are related in language origin to many other mountaineer peoples of Caucasia and Transcaucasia. Since the 17th century, they have been Muslims. Although Circassia was ceded to Russia in 1829, the Circassians were not subjugated until 1864, when, after fierce resistance, many left the Caucasus and migrated to various parts of the Ottoman Empire.
The Circassians - self-designation Adyge- are the oldest indigenous people of North Caucasus. Their language belongs to the North-West of the Caucasian family of languages. It's unusual phonological system-an overabundance of consonants and scarcity of vowels has stimulated much interest among linguists .In the 6th century, under Georgian and Byzantine influence many were Christianised, but under the growing influence of the Ottomans, Islam replaced Christianity. However, the process was gradual .Blending with Christian survivals and even pre-Christian folk beliefs, Islam became fully established only in the 18th-19th centuries. ' Neither Christianity nor Islam,' as Henze points out, 'resulted in the creation of a distinctive priestly class who could preserve written literature or encourage literacy' (Henze, 1986:247).

Attempts at reducing the language to writing in the 19th and early 20th century had also failed .Circassian become a literary language only after the Russian revolution .The Circassians are Sunni of the Hanafi school who tend to be non-fanatical and among whom the Adat or custom low - The Adyge-Habze - has reminded extremely strong .It is the language and the custom law that have formed the chief component parts in Circassian tribal groups speaking numerous, but mutually intelligible dialects, were the main ethnic element in NW Caucasus .This changed drastically when under the pressure of the Russian conquest, especially after the defeat of the Great Revolt (1825-1864) a Circassian mass exodus - 'One of the greatest mass movements of population in modern history ' (Henze , 1986) - took place to Turkey and other areas of the Ottoman Empire, including the Middle East .One and a half million Circassians abandoned their ancient homeland, leaving behind scattered remnant communities .The Russian census of 1897 recorded only 150,000 Circassians, less the one tenth of the original population

  The Circassian community in Jordan has been undergoing tremendous changes in the past one hundred years. It has transformed from a compact, mainly agrarian society into a fully integrated modern one.

  At the establishment of Modern Jordan in 1921, Amman was mainly a Circassian town with Circassian still heard in the streets. However, there followed a huge influx of people into it after its designation as the Capital of the new Emirate. Mary C. Wilson [B 26] states:

Circassians lived in exclusively Circassian settlements, except for Amman which had begun to attract a more diverse population.

  As the years went by, the relative number of Circassians gradually decreased and at present they constitute 5% of the population of Greater Amman at best.

  The rapid modernization of young Circassians and their participation in the socio-economic development in Jordan has led to rapid assimilation. The spread of higher education shifted the emphasis from stereotypical careers as landlords, army officers and government employees to new fields such as engineering, medicine, private enterprise and industry. A new dynamic and highly motivated generation has overtaken the old traditional elite. It is quite significant that none of the recent parliamentary deputies or ministers belong to the elite whose hold on political and economical inter-communal affairs is presently non-existent. The important landlords are to be found outside Old Amman in the western and southern approaches of the Capital. The astronomical rise in land prices has resulted in the emergence of a new breed of millionaires who seem to have more business sense and investment acumen than their predecessors.

  The Circassians and Chechens are reserved a quota of three deputies in the Lower House of Parliament and two senators in the Upper House. Traditionally a minister is chosen from them. This undoubtedly reflects the positive role that they have been playing in recent Jordanian history.

  Over the years, the Circassians dispersed to various locations in the expanding city of Amman. At present, there are no compact Circassian communities, although they mainly reside in the 3^rd and 5^th electoral districts of Greater Amman, in each of which they are represented by one parliamentary deputy. As a result of such dispersion, Circassian has ceased to be the principal language of communication among the Circassians. Only a small percentage of parents choose to teach their children the language. In many cases the option is not even there, as when one or both parents are not familiar with the language. It is estimated that only 17% of Circassian youth are familiar with their mother tongue. What is true of language is also true of other aspects of culture, such as traditions, which have been eroded to such an extent that what remains merely serve symbolic functions.

  Although it could be claimed that the Circassian community in Jordan forms an ethnic minority from theoretical and practical viewpoints, the Jordanian Constitution considers them as full citizens with equal rights and duties and guarantees them freedom of cultural expression. It is quite paradoxical that, despite these privileges and their considerable wealth, the Circassians failed to preserve their language and culture. It is perhaps this liberality that precipitated acculturation, in the absence of strong cultural institutions that could preserve Circassian heritage. It would seem that the Circassians lack the collective will and vision to effect a cultural revival, not to mention the technical know-how. It is wholly to the detriment of the present and future generations that they have been divorced from their mother culture. History will point her accusing finger at the Circassians who are flippantly and wilfully abandoning their heritage.  

 

  * THE CIRCASSIAN CHARITY ASSOCIATION
 
  The Circassian Charity Association was established in 1932, which makes it the second oldest charity organization in Jordan. It is mainly concerned with the welfare of indigent Circassians. However, Its role extends far beyond distribution of alms, for it purports to organize the affairs of Circassians in some social and cultural spheres. It also maintains contacts with other Circassian communities, especially in the Caucasus. There are about 15 scholarships offered every year to the progeny of its members in the Circassian universities and colleges in Kabardino-Balkaria and the Adyghey Republic in the Caucasus. It issues a magazine (Nart -- the singular generic designation of the heroes of the Circassian Nart Sagas), and a periodical leaflet (Family Matters), both of which deal with Circassian matters. Recently, an Internet site was created to disseminate information and as a point of contact. The Association is a member of the International Circassian Organization (Duney-pso Adige Xas).

  The Association is made up of the Centre, 6 branches in towns and cities of considerable Circassian concentrations -- Zarqa, Jerash, Wadi-Sseer, Na'ur, Sweileh and Russeifa -- and the Ladies' Branch.

  The Ladies' Branch runs a school (Emir Hamza) which aims is to preserve Circassian language and culture. The Circassian language teachers are native speakers who hail from the Caucasus. However, Circassian is not a compulsory subject and many of the students choose not to put too much effort into learning it because its scope of use is very limited. Many projects are currently under way to improve the standards of the school. The Friends of the Emir Hamza Schools Club, whose members are mainly graduates of the school, supports fund-raising activities and functions.
 
  The Wadi-Sseer Branch has recently inaugurated Prince Ali Ibn Al-Hussein Kindergarten within its premises to teach the young their mother tongue and inculcate Circassian culture upon them. 

The first group of Circassian immigrants arrived in Amman in the year 1868 representing the Shapsugh tribe. Other Circassian tribes like the Kabardia, Abzakh, and Bazadoch, followed and settled in Amman.

Some Circassian tribes arrived in Beirut by sea and in Aleppo by land, while others landed on the shores of Palestine. There was no city in Jordan called Amman, but only the remnants of the old Roman city of Amoun, known as Philadelphia, including the Amphitheatre, the Roman Nymphiad, and the citadel overlooking five valleys. The city of Amman, the present capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, was then small indeed.

There was also an old abandoned mosque dating back to the Ummayad era, with a high tower similar to a minaret.

It is believed that the building and the tower date back to the Byzantine era, but were later converted to a mosque and a minaret. They eroded with time until the Circassians arrived and transformed the tower into a minaret. There was not a single house in Amman. The whole area was covered with forests and looked desolate. The water of Amman was the only source for beduin tribes living in Amman area.

Members of the Shapsugh tribe lived for a long time inside the Roman Amphitheatre, in the citadel of Amman, and in the many caves adjoining the stream, whose waters spring from a spot called Ras el-Ain, and which runs eastwards to an unknown extent. On each bank of the stream were dense forests in which lived animals and predatory beasts.

The last group of Circassian immigrants arrived in Amman in the year 1900, via Damascus. They were members of the Glakhistani and Kabardian tribes, who settled in the Muhajireen Quarter after being transported from Mzairib station in Syria, where the railroad line then terminated. The police commander in Syria at that time was Khusrov Pasha, who ordered the railroad station to be used for staging the Circassian immigrants who arrived in Damascus from Turkey, via Beirut and Aleppo prior to moving them to Jordan where they joined their brethren who had arrived before them. They were transported on the backs of camels and mules in caravans under the supervision of Khusrov Pasha, assisted by Mirza Pasha also working in Damascus.

A special committee under Mirza Pasha and Mohamad Effendi Habjouqa took over the task of settling those immigrants in the Muhajreen Quarter, after they had lived for sometime in the open around Ras el-Ain spring, exposed to the coldness of winter and the heat of summer. During this time they were subject to attacks by beduin cowherds who used to come to the spring for their cattle.

 

Albroz , Elburs 

IF WE DON'T STAND FOR SOMETHING ,

WE MAY FALL FOR EVERYTHING ....

May 21st

Today is the mourning day for all circassians, especially adiga people..

only a few people know how this nation could manage to opposite the one of the greatest countries: Great Britain, Austria, Turkey and Russia. None of these powers could risk resisting Russia openly, especially after routing by Russians the Napoleon’s army. But Circassians, not very big nation could resist Russian Empire with her well-trained and armored army for 200 years.
The Russian Czarist Army outnumbered the national Circassian resistance by more than 20 times!

May 21, 1864 is the day of completion of Russian-Caucasus war (the day of mourning of Circassian people). The Circassians dispatched the delegation for negotiations but all their attempts proved to be in vain. The general commissioner announced them the following:

“We have concluded the agreement with Turkey not to hinder those Circassians who wish to leave there. Everyone who remains will be moved to the places that we will point out.”

In June 1864 Russia announced:

“All the inhabitants of Caucasus have to leave their houses and remove within a month, otherwise they will be considered as a traitors and will be dispatched to Siberia.”

The Caucasian War ended with the occupation of Circassian land. The Czar approved a decision to deport and exile the entire Circassian people.

More than 1.5 million Circassians were expelled; approximately 80% of the total population at the time..

It was the beginning of Circassians people tragedy.

How could we ever forget how our people fought to the last breath! how could be not but PROUD of them and us belong to Adiga nation.
I bow to you my gradfather and your fellows, for you’re the bravest and proudest.
Nothing will make us forget or forgive, and we shall return to where we belong..
Kavkaz, your land will always be green, your Albruz will always be white, high and proud.. your sky will always be blue.. your people will always be strong.. and will always remember how you stood and still standing strong..

Kafkaz ... Love you , even from here...

The Circassians were warlike people. Grown men were expected to carry arms, and boys trained to be warriors. Familial ties were not strongly encouraged; parents fostered their children to other adults rather than raising them themselves. The Circassian society was once matriarchal. Women fought in war alongside their husbands. Although the society is no longer matriarchal, women still give have a high place of respect and dignity.

Circassian society prior to the Russian invasion was highly stratified. While a few tribes in the mountainous regions of Circassia were fairly egalitarian, most were broken into strict castes. The highest was the caste of the "princes", followed by a caste of lesser nobility, and then commoners, serfs, and slaves. In the decades before Russian rule, two tribes overthrew their traditional rulers and set up democratic processes, but this social experiment was cut short by the end of Circassian independence.

The primary religion among modern Circassians is Sunni Islam.