Kabardians

Not to be confused with Kabar.
Kabarday
Адыгэ

A Kabardian man in traditional costume.
Total population
(~ 1,000,000[1])
Regions with significant populations
 Russia 590,010 (2010 census [2])

498,702
56,466
 Turkey ?
 Jordan 102,000
 Syria 43,000
 Saudi Arabia 23,000
 Germany 15,000
 United States 5,500
 Uzbekistan 1,300
 Ukraine 473[3]
Languages
Kabardian Adyghe dialect, Russian, Turkish, English, Arabic
Related ethnic groups
Other Adyghe tribes, Abkhaz, Abaza

The Kabardians (Adyghe: Къэбэртайхэр-адыгэ; Kabardian: Къэбэрдейхэр; Russian: Кабардинцы), or Kabardinians, are the largest one of the twelve Adyghe (Circassian) tribes (sub-ethnic groups). They are also commonly known by the plural terms Kabardin, Kebertei, or Kabarday. Along with the Besleney tribe, they speak a distinctive dialect of the Adyghe language. Despite the Soviet administrative divisions that placed Circassians under four different designations, namely Adygeans (Adyghe in Adygea), Cherkessians (Adyghe in Karachay-Cherkessia), Kabardians (Adyghe in Kabardino-Balkaria), Shapsugians (Adyghe in Krasnodar Krai), all the four are essentially the same people (Adyghe) residing in different political units. The Kabardian people represent one of the 12 stars on the green and gold Adyghe flag.

Kabardians are the largest Circassian (Adyghe) tribe in Russia (over 600,000), Turkey, Egypt, and some other countries in the region, except for Israel and Jordan, where the Shapsug and Abzakh tribe are the largest tribes, respectively. The Kabardian tribe are also the largest Circassian branch in the world in general. In 2002, they numbered around 520,000 in Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia.[4] Significant populations of Kabardians are also found in Georgia.[5] There are also communities in the USA. In Turkey, where a significant number live, they are concentrated on the Uzunyayla plateau of Kayseri province (Central Turkey), though there are certain Kabardian villages in Balıkesir, Düzce, and Eskişehir (Northwest Turkey).

Although being one of the earliest Christian communities in Europe, most Kabardin are Sunni Muslim (Hanafi) since the early 19th century. However, Kabardians living in Mozdoksky District in the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania are Orthodox Christians,[6][7] since the late 2nd and early 3rd century. Some of the Kabardians living in the southern part of the neighbouring Kursky district of Stavropol Krai are also Orthodox Christians,[6] while some are adherent to the Habze philosophy. There are also few Roman Catholic families who converted from Orthodoxy in the 13th century.

Kabardian
Kuban Kabardian
Yegeruqwai
Historical locations of Circassian tribes

Selected Kabardians

Gallery

See also

References

External links

Media related to Kabardinian at Wikimedia Commons

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