Abkhazians

Not to be confused with Abzakhs.

Abkhaz
Аԥсуаа (Abkhaz)
Regions with significant populations
Abkhazia[a]122,175 (2011 census)[1]
 Turkey30,000–500,000[2][3][4][5]
 Egypt15,000[6]
 Syriac. 10,000[7]
 Russia8,177 (2021 census)[8]
 Germany5,100
 Jordanc. 4,000[9]
 Ukraine1,458 (2001)[10]
 Georgia864 (2014)[11]
 Netherlands800[12]
 Latvia22 – 29 (2021)[13][14]
Languages
Abkhaz (native), Russian, Georgian, Turkish
Religion
Majority Sunni Islam (in Turkey), Minority Abkhazian Orthodox Christianity (in Abkhazia) or with Abkhaz native faith minority[15]
Related ethnic groups
Abazins, Circassians, Ubykhs

The Abkhaz people,[b] sometimes referred to as the Abkhazians, are a Northwest Caucasian ethnic group mainly living in Abkhazia — a region on the northeastern coast of the Black Sea which is internationally recognized as part of Georgia but is de facto outside of its control.[16] A large Abkhaz diaspora population also resides in Turkey, Egypt, Syria and Russia.

Ethnology

The Abkhaz language belongs to the isolate Northwest Caucasian language family, also known as Abkhaz–Adyghe or Pontic family, which groups the dialectic continuum spoken by the Abaza–Abkhaz (Abazgi) and Adyghe ("Circassians" in English).[17] Abkhazians are closely ethnically related to Circassians.[18]

Subgroups

There are also three subgroups of the Abkhaz people. The Bzyb (Бзыԥ, Bzyph) reside in the Bzyb River region, and speak their own dialect.[19] The Abzhui (Абжьыуа, Abzhwa) live in the Kodori River region, and also speak their own dialect, which the Abkhaz literary language is based upon.[19] Finally, there are the Samurzakan who reside in the southeast of Abkhazia.[19]

History

See also: History of Abkhazia

Some scholars say the ancient Heniochi tribe were the progenitors of the Abkhaz.[20] This warlike people came into contact with Ancient Greeks through the colonies of Dioskourias and Pitiuntas.[20] In the Roman period, the Abasgoi are mentioned as inhabiting the region.[20] These Abasgoi (Abkhaz) were described by Procopius as warlike, worshippers of three deities, under the suzerainty of the Kingdom of Lazica.[20]

Bagrat III of Georgia, 11th century king of the Kingdom of Abkhazia
Conference of Abkhazian nobility in 1839

Towards the end of the 17th century, the region became a theatre of widespread slave trade and piracy. According to a controversial theory developed by Pavle Ingorokva in the 1950s, at that time a number of the Northwest Caucasian pagan Abaza tribes migrated from the north and blended with the local ethnic elements, significantly changing the region's demographic situation. These views were described as ethnocentric and having little historical support.[21][22]

Abkhaz girl in 1881

The Russian conquest of Abkhazia from the 1810s to the 1860s was accompanied by a massive expulsion of Muslim Abkhaz to the Ottoman Empire and the introduction of a strong Russification policy. As a result, the Abkhaz diaspora is currently estimated to measure at least twice the number of Abkhaz that reside in Abkhazia. The largest part of the diaspora now lives in Turkey, with estimates ranging from 100,000 to 500,000, with smaller groups in Syria (5,000 – 10,000) and Jordan. In recent years, some of these have emigrated to the West, principally to Germany (5,000), Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, France, United Kingdom, Austria and the United States (mainly to New Jersey).[23]

The lands of the Abkhaz/Abaza and their neighbours in the beginning of the 19th century

The 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia followed by the ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia left the Abkhaz an ethnic plurality of ca. 45%, with Russians, Armenians, Georgians, Greeks, and Jews comprising most of the remainder of the population of Abkhazia. The 2003 census established the total number of Abkhaz in Abkhazia at 94,606.[1] However, the exact demographic figures for the region are disputed and alternative figures are available.[24] The de facto Abkhaz president Sergey Bagapsh suggested, in 2005, that less than 70,000 ethnic Abkhaz lived in Abkhazia.[25]

At the time of the 2011 Census, 122,175 Abkhaz were living in Abkhazia. They were 50.8% of the total population of the republic.[26]

In the course of the Syrian uprising, a number of Abkhaz living in Syria immigrated to Abkhazia.[7] By mid-April 2013, approximately 200 Syrians of Abkhaz descent had arrived in Abkhazia.[27][28] A further 150 were due to arrive by the end of April.[27] The Abkhazian leadership has stated that it would continue the repatriation of Abkhaz living abroad.[28] As of August 2013, 531 Abkhaz had arrived from Syria according to the Abkhazian government.[29]

Economy

The typical economy is strong on the breeding of cattle, beekeeping, viticulture, and agriculture.[19]

Religion

See also: Religion in Abkhazia
New Athos Monastery

The Abkhaz people are principally divided into Abkhazian Orthodox Christian (the Abkhazian Orthodox Church is not recognized by any of the world Orthodox churches, but the territory is recognized as the Eparchy of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia of the Georgian Orthodox Church) and Sunni Muslim (Hanafi) communities,[19] (prevalent in Abkhazia and Turkey respectively) but the indigenous non-Abrahamic beliefs have always been strong.[30] Although Christianity made its first appearance in the realm of their Circassian neighbours in the first century AD via the travels and preaching of the Saint Andrew,[31] and became the dominant religion of Circassians in the 3rd to 4th centuries, Christianity became the dominant religion of Abkhazians in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine emperor Justinian I, and continued to be followed under the kings of Georgia in the High Middle Ages. The Ottomans introduced Islam in the 16th century and the region became largely Muslim gradually until the 1860s.[32]

Diaspora

Elders of Egypt's largest Circassian clan, the Abkhaz-descended Abazas, in 1923.

Many Muslim Circassians, Abkhaz and Chechens migrated to the Ottoman Empire following revolts against Russian rule.[33] It is believed that the Abkhaz community in Turkey is larger than that of Abkhazia itself.[33] Some 250 Abkhaz-Abaza villages are estimated throughout Turkey.[33] According to Andrew Dalby, Abkhazian-speakers might number more than 100,000 in Turkey,[34] however, the 1963 census only recorded 4,700 native speakers and 8,000 secondary speakers.[35] Most Abkhaz speakers in Turkey have assimilated into Turkish society.[36] In Egypt, the largest Circassian clan in the country, the Abaza family, originated from Abkhazia and is "deeply rooted in Egyptian society... [and] in the history of the country".[37] It also contributed to Egyptian and Arabic cultural literary, intellectual, and political life starting with the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha in Egypt and continuing to the modern day.[38][39][40][41]

Genetics

The people closest genetically to the Abkhazians are the Abazins[42][43][44] and Circassians.[45][46][47][48] There are also similarities between some Western Georgian ethnic groups.[49][50]

Notable people

Literature

  • Alexey Gogua (1932-2025), writer
  • Dmitry Gulia (1874–1960), Abkhazian Soviet writer and poet
  • Fazil Iskander (1929–2016), writer
  • Bagrat Shinkuba (1917–2004), writer, poet
  • Aziz Pasha Abaza (1898 – 1973) poet
  • Fekry Pasha Abaza (1895 – 1979) a journalist, writer and democratic political activist
  • Tharwat Abaza (1927 – 2002) novelist and journalist

Politics

  • Aslan Bzhania (born 1963), Abkhaz politician
  • Alexander Ankvab (born 1952), Abkhaz politician
  • Anzor Kudba (born 1939), member of Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia from 1990 to 1992
  • Aslan Smirba (born 1959), mayor of Batumi from 1997 to 1999 and member of the Parliament of Georgia from 1999 to 2004
  • Gennadi Gagulia (1948–2018), Abkhazian politician
  • Hayreddin Pasha (1820–1890), Ottoman politician
  • Mirab Kishmaria (born 1961), Abkhaz politician and army general
  • Nestor Lakoba (1893–1936), Abkhaz communist leader
  • Rauf Orbay (1881–1964), Turkish politician
  • Raul Khajimba (born 1958), Abkhazian politician
  • Rauf Orbay (1881–1964), Turkish naval officer and diplomat
  • Shaaban Abash (1890–1943), rider in the Circassian cavalry regiment of the Caucasian native division during WWI
  • Sergei Bagapsh (1949–2011), President of Abkhazia
  • Vladimir Arshba (1959–2018), Abkhaz soldier and politician
  • Vladislav Ardzinba (1945–2010), first de facto president of Abkhazia
  • Abaza family a diaspora family that produced a large number of politicians

Other

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Population of Abkhazia". www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  2. ^ Paul M., Lewis (2009). "Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition". ethnologue.com. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version. Retrieved 27 June 2025. Ethnic population: 39,000 in Turkey (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).
  3. ^ Wessenlink, Egbert (1 May 1996). "The North Caucasian Diaspora In Turkey". Refworld. Retrieved 27 June 2025. Estimates of the number of Abkhaz in Turkey range from 30,000 up to 300,000.[15]
  4. ^ "Abkhazia Seeking Turkish Recognition of Independence". Asbarez. Ankara. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2025. Around 500,000 Turkish citizens consider themselves to be of Abkhazian origin.
  5. ^ Aleksandre Kvakhadze (2019). "INTERETHNIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE CAUCASIAN DIASPORAS IN SAKARYA AND KOCAELI PROVINCES OF TURKEY" (PDF). GFSIS. Ankara. Retrieved 27 June 2025. There is no consensus regarding the number of Abkhazians in Turkey. According to the 1965 census, the total number of Abkhazian language speakers was 12,119.6 The Abkhazians themselves believe that more than one million Abkhazians are living in Turkey. However, according to the data gathered by Abkhazian scholar, Viacheslav Chirikba, 228 Abkhaz villages exist in Turkey. He believes that the Abkhazian population in Turkey varies between 200 and 500 thousand.7
  6. ^ "عرب أم شركس أم خليط منهما ؟. عائلات الأباظية في مصر تتكيف نموذجياً مع المتغيرات الاجتماعية والتقلبات السياسية". 19 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Abkhaz Syrians return home". Voice of Russia. 5 May 2012. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Оценка численности постоянного населения по субъектам Российской Федерации". Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  9. ^ ""To infect with love for the motherland": Hasan Abaza on finding roots and Jordanian Diaspora". abaza.org. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  10. ^ "All-Ukrainian population census 2001 - The distribution of the population by nationality and mother tongue". State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2006.
  11. ^ "Ethnic composition of Georgia 2014". Population Statistics Eastern Europe and former USSR. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  12. ^ Ayba, Tamara (2022). "Abkhaz-Abazin diaspora in Europe: Some issues of preserving the traditional culture of Abkhazians and Abazins abroad". History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Caucasus (in Russian). 18 (1): 154–166. doi:10.32653/CH11154-166.
  13. ^ "Population by ethnicity at the beginning of year – Time period and Ethnicity | National Statistical System of Latvia". data.stat.gov.lv.
  14. ^ Latvijas iedzīvotāju sadalījums pēc nacionālā sastāva un valstiskās piederības, 01.01.2023. - PMLP
  15. ^ "The foreign policy options of a small unrecognised state: the case of Abkhazia" (PDF).
  16. ^ "The journey of Frédéric Dubois de Montpéreux in the Caucasus, to the Cherkhesians and Abkhazians, in Colchida, in Georgia, in Armenia and Crimea". silk.european-heritage.net. Archived from the original on 20 July 2006.
  17. ^ Asya Pereltsvaig (9 February 2012). Languages of the World: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press. pp. 66–. ISBN 978-1-107-00278-4.
  18. ^ Moshe Gammer (25 June 2004). The Caspian Region, Volume 2: The Caucasus. Routledge. pp. 79–. ISBN 978-1-135-77540-7.
  19. ^ a b c d e Hoiberg, Dale H., ed. (2010). "Abkhaz". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. I: A-ak Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, Illinois: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. pp. 33. ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8.
  20. ^ a b c d Olson 1994, p. 6.
  21. ^ Smith 1998, p. 55.
  22. ^ George, J. (29 January 2010). The Politics of Ethnic Separatism in Russia and Georgia. Palgrave Macmillan US. ISBN 978-0230613591.
  23. ^ Chirikba 2003 pp. 6-8
  24. ^ Georgians and Abkhazians. The Search for a Peace Settlement Archived 28 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine (Notes and References section), by various authors, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, August 1998.
  25. ^ Bagapsh Speaks of Abkhazia's Economy, Demographic Situation. Civil Georgia. 10 October 2005
  26. ^ "население абхазии". www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru.
  27. ^ a b James Brooke (15 April 2013). "Syrian Refugees Go 'Home' to Former Russian Riviera". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  28. ^ a b "Over two hundred representatives of the Abkhazian diaspora in Syria want to return to their historical homeland". Abkhaz World. 2 April 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  29. ^ ""Repatriates" settling in Abkhazia". The Messenger. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  30. ^ Johansons, Andrejs. (Feb. 1972) The Shamaness of the Abkhazians. History of Religions. Vol. 11, No. 3. pp. 251–256.
  31. ^ Taylor, Jeremy (1613–1667). Antiquitates christianæ, or, The history of the life and death of the holy Jesus as also the lives acts and martyrdoms of his Apostles: in two parts. p. 101.
  32. ^ Bennigsen, Alexandre; Wimbush, S. Enders (1986). Muslims of the Soviet Empire: A Guide. Indiana University Press. p. 216. ISBN 978-0-253-33958-4.
  33. ^ a b c Tracey German (8 April 2016). Regional Cooperation in the South Caucasus: Good Neighbours Or Distant Relatives?. Routledge. pp. 110–. ISBN 978-1-317-06913-3.
  34. ^ Andrew Dalby (28 October 2015). Dictionary of Languages: The definitive reference to more than 400 languages. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 1–. ISBN 978-1-4081-0214-5.
  35. ^ Gachechiladze 2014, p. 81.
  36. ^ Steven L. Danver (10 March 2015). Native Peoples of the World: An Encyclopedia of Groups, Cultures and Contemporary Issues. Routledge. p. 259. ISBN 978-1-317-46400-6.
  37. ^ "Rushdi Abaza, AlexCinema". 27 June 2023. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  38. ^ CBCtwo (10 May 2014). #مساء_الخير | محمود اباظة : حصلنا على لقب العيلة من سيدة شركسية. Retrieved 3 November 2024 – via YouTube.
  39. ^ "عائلة أباظة: تاريخ طويل وأثر عميق في مصر - صوت القبائل العربية والعائلات المصرية". صوت القبائل العربية والعائلات المصرية. 19 February 2024. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  40. ^ Sayyid-Marsot, Afaf Lutfi (24 February 2024). Egypt in the Reign of Muhammad Ali - Afaf Lutfi Sayyid-Marsot - Google Books. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-28968-9. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  41. ^ "البوابة نيوز". www.albawabhnews.com. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  42. ^ "AA DNA - Адыго-Абхазский ДНК проект" (in Russian). 28 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  43. ^ "FamilyTreeDNA - Abkhazian DNA Project". www.familytreedna.com. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  44. ^ Liy, Ergün Özgür (3 May 2015), Abhaz, Abaza, Çerkes ve Ermeni Etnik Grupları Değerler ve Kültürlenme (The Abkhaz-Abaza, Circassian and Armenian Ethnical Groups: Values and Acculturation)
  45. ^ Тайсаев, Дж (15 May 2022). Этногенез народов Кавказа (in Russian). Litres. ISBN 978-5-04-005867-9.
  46. ^ "Пиотр Кәыҵниа / Петр Квициния. Аԥсуаа рантропологиа азҵаарақәа / Вопросы антропологии абхазов. Аҟәа / Сухум - "Алашара" - 2000". apsnyteka.org. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  47. ^ "The Abkhaz and Western Caucasian DNA • arshba.ru". arshba.ru. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  48. ^ "AA DNA - Адыго-Абхазский ДНК проект" (in Russian). 28 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  49. ^ Bitadze, L. "Anthropological History of Abkhazians" (PDF). Iv.Javakhishvili INSTITUTE OF HISTORY. AND ETHNO. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  50. ^ Peltzer, Alexander (2018). "Inferring genetic origins and phenotypic traits of George Bähr, the architect of the Dresden Frauenkirche". Scientific Reports. 8 (1) 2115. Bibcode:2018NatSR...8.2115P. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-20180-z. PMC 5794802. PMID 29391530. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  51. ^ Shakir, Manal (5 March 2024). "REVIEW: Hala Gorani explores her roots in 'But You Don't Look Arab'". Arab News.

Notes

  1. ^ The political status of Abkhazia is disputed. Having unilaterally declared independence from Georgia in 1992, Abkhazia is formally recognised as an independent state by 5 UN member states (two other states previously recognised it but then withdrew their recognition), while the remainder of the international community recognizes it as de jure Georgian territory. Georgia continues to claim the area as its own territory, designating it as Russian-occupied territory.
  2. ^ Russian: Абхазы; Georgian: აფხაზები; Abkhaz: Аԥсуаа, romanized: Apsuaa, IPA: [ˈɑpʰswɑː]

Sources

Further reading

  • L. Bitadze, "Anthropological History of Abkhazians", Javakhishvili Institute of History and Ethnology, 2009
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