Circassians

circassians

The Circassians are a native people of the Caucasus where they have lived since time immemorial. They speak a unique language that includes almost all sounds a human can pronounce. They have developed a fascinating culture that reflects the beauty, bravery and mystery of the Caucasian mountains.

The Circassians protected their country and freedom against the relentless onslaught of various aggressors in their history. Having never been conquered, they have managed to preserve their ancient culture until the time of the Tsarist Russian invasion which began in the 18th century. They have resisted desperately and fiercely, for more than a century, against the gigantic Tsarist Empire without any organized army and without any significant external support. This freedom loving nation was deported en masse into foreign lands following the conquest of their homeland in the mid-19th century. The deportation of the Circassian people was among the largest exodus in modern times. Almost 90 percent of the population was deported, and a third of them perished during the exodus from disease and starvation. Those who survived were dispersed into various countries. But they have resisted against all odds, and have survived as a community. The Circassians now try to establish strong links between their homeland and the Diaspora, and wish to revive and maintain their culture, speak their language, and live in freedom, peace and happiness.