Kabardians

thumb|The percentage of the Circassian population in every district in Kabardino-Balkaria Republic

thumb|Yinal speaking Adyghe and Kabardian.

thumb|right|Kabardian dancers in traditional dress

thumb|right|Kabardian men in traditional dress

The Kabardians (Kabardian: Къэбэрдей адыгэхэр; Adyghe: Къэбэртай адыгэхэр; ) or Kabardinians are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representing one of the twelve stars on the green-and-gold Circassian flag. 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

thumb|Population pyramid of the Kabardians in the 2021 Russian Census

Kabardians are the largest Circassian group in the world in general and form the largest group in Russia, Turkey, Egypt, and other countries. Kabardians numbered around 520,000 in Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia, and about 50,000 in Karachay-Cherkessia in Russia. In Turkey, where more than 1 million live, and there are communities in the United States. In Israel and Jordan, respectively, Shapsugs and Abzakhs are the largest groups.

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% of Kabardians practicing in Kabardino-Balkaria, although most Kabardians are either Non-denominational or Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school. From April 2004 to December 2010, the

Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (SAMKBP) was led by Anas Pshikhachev. RIA Novosti considered him to be one of the most influential Muslim religious figures of the North Caucasus.

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. Some of the Kabardians living in the southern part of the neighbouring Kursky district of Stavropol Krai are also Orthodox Christians.

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
Caner Dagli – Islamic scholar and author
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
Janseid Wuvizhuqo
Idar of Kabardia
Inal the Great – Prince of Kabarda
Ismail Bey Atazhukin
Ivan Amashuk
Ivan B. Cherkassky – Cousin of Michael I of Russia
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
Ludmilla Monique Tchérina
haseki Mahidevran sultan – 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
Pshemakho Kotsev - Second Prime Minister of the Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus.
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
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Population

Religion

Notable Kabardians

See also

References