The Bzhedugh (Adyghe: Бжъэдыгъу, pronounced [bʐɐdɘʁʷ]; Russian: Бжедуги) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes.[1]

Bzhedug banner

Many of them immigrated to Turkey in the 1860s, but there is still a community of Bzhedug on the left bank of the Kuban River (in the vicinity of Krasnodar).[2] The Bzhedug people live in Adygea and Krasnodar Krai, and are well represented in the Adyghe (Circassian) diaspora in all countries of residence. Even in ancient times the Bzhedug people were divided into four tribes.

History

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The Bzhedugs originally lived in the area of Shahe River, between Tuapse and Sochi. Later they divided in two groups: those who lived close to the Black Sea (Abhiaskis) and Adygeans (territory of Kuban River). This migration was causes by overpopulation and warlike neighbors to their Black Sea's territories. Bzhedug were subdivided into Chechenay tribe (Psekups River and Pshish River) and the Hamish tribe (Afips River and Psekups River). They were involved in cattle breeding and agriculture, growing mostly crops and corn.

Language

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The Bzhedugs people speak a dialect (Adyghe: Бжъэдыгъубзэ, Bz̄edyğwbze) of the Adyghe language.

Villages

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There are 48 Circassian villages in Republic of Adygea, 26 of which are Bzhedug villages (54% of the villages in Adygea).

Circassian Russian
Хьэлъэкъуай
Hetlequai
Гатлукай
Бжъэдыгъухьабл
Brzhedyghuhabl
Бжедугхабль
Красногвардейскэ
Krasnogvardeiske
Красногвардейское
Аскъэлай
Asqelai
Ассоколай
Очэпщый
Ochepschyi
Вочепший
Гъобэкъуай
Ghobequai
Габукай
Джэджэхьабл
Dzhedzhehabl
Джиджихабль
Казазовэ
Kazazove
Казазово
Къунчыкъухьабл
Qunchyquhabl
Кончукохабль
Нэчрэзый
Nechrezyi
Нечерезий
Нэшъукъуай
Nershuquai
Нешукай
Очэпщый-кIэ
Ochepschyi-k’e
Нововочепший
Пэнэжъыкъуай
Penerzhyquai
Понежукай
ПчыхьалІыкъуай
Pchyhatl’yquai
Пчегатлукай
Пщыкъуйхьабл
Pschyquihabl
Пшикуйхабль
Тэуехьабл
Teuehabl
Тауйхабль
Лъэустэнхьабл
Tleustenhabl
Тлюстенхабль
Тыгъургъой
Tyghurghoi
Тугургой
Козэт
Kozet
Козет
Адыгея-кIэ
Adygeia-k’e
Новая Адыгея
БжыхьэкъоякI
Bzhyhaqoiak’
Новобжегокай
Бжыхьэкъоежъ
Bzhyhaqoierzh
Старобжегокай
Тэхъутэмыкъуай
Texutemyquai
Тахтамукай
Щынджый
Schyndzhyi
Шенджий
Инэм
Inem
Энем
Яблоновск
Iablonovsk
Яблоновский
Къэзынкъуай
Qezynquai
Хьаныкъо
Hanyqo
Ханыков

See also

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References

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Sources
  1. ^ "Circassians". Adiga-home.net. 2010. Archived from the original on August 20, 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2016. The 12 Circassian tribes: Abadzeh Besleney Bzhedug Yegeruqay Zhaney Kabarday Mamheg Natuhay Temirgoy Ubyh Shapsug Hatukay. The twelve stars on the Adyghe Flag also refers to the twelve tribes.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ Rywkin & Wixman, p. 34
Citations
  • Rywkin, Michael; Ronald Wixman (1984). The Peoples of the USSR: An Ethnographic Handbook. ISBN 0-87332-506-0.
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