Circassian States

Circassians or Cherkess people are an ethnic group of the northwestern Caucasus region. They lived at the region between the westward flowing Kuban river to the north and the Caucasus mountain range to the south. In the late 1550s the Circassians were Christians. But in the early 16th century, Most (if not all) Circassians have converted to Islam. The Circassians are Sunni of the Hanafi school who tend to be non-fanatical. Circassian were part of North Caucasian ethnic group. They are now officially classified as three peoples: the Kabarda, in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic; the Circassians or Cherkess, in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic; and the Adygey, in the Adygey Republic.

The Kabardino-Balkar Republic is a federal subject of Russia located in the North Caucasus. This republic is situated on the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus and the Kabardin flatlands between North Osetia to the east, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic to the west and Georgia to the south. The capital of the republic is at Nalchik. Mount Elbrus, the highest peak of the North Caucasus and Europe, is located in the republic. According to the 2002 Census, The Kabarda / Circassians make up 55.3% of the republic's population, then Russian (25,1%), Balkars (11,6%), Ossetians (1,1%), Turks (1%), Ukrainians (0,8%), Armenians (0,6%), Koreans (0,5%) and Chechens (0,5%). The economy of Kabardino-Balkaria is primarily agricultural, with lumber production and mining. Poverty is reported to be an endemic problem in the republic.

The Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia covers 14,100 square kilometers. it borders Kabardino-Balkaria to the east, and Abkhazia and Georgia to the south. The capital of this republic is Cherkessk. The landscape of the republic is mostly mountainous (~80% of the territory). According to the 2002 Census, Karachays make up 38.5% of the republic's population, then, Russians (33.6%), Cherkess / Circassians (11.3%),Abazins (7.4%), Nogais (3.4%), Ossetians (0.8%), Ukrainians (0.8%), Armenians (0.7%), Tatars (0.5%). Industry is mostly concentrated in the capital of the republic, Cherkessk. Chemical, wood, and food industries are the most developed.

The Adygey republic lies in the northern beautiful slopes of the Caucasus mountain range, which extends to the Kuban fertile valley, and scattered over an area of 7800 square kilometers. The capital of this republic is Maykop. The republic's major mountains range in height from 2,000 to 3,238 m. According to the 2002 Census, ethnic Russians make up 64.5% of the republic's total population, while the ethnic Adyghe / Circassians are only 24.2%. Then, Armenians (3.4%), Ukrainians (2.0%), Kurds (0.8%), and Tatars (0.7%). the territory of the Republic enjoys fertile soil and suitable weather conditions for all areas of agricultural production.

Before the Russian revolution, the Circassians were one undifferentiated people with only a vague sense of national identity. But, after the revolution, they were divided into three separate autonomous province. These autonomous province was elevated to the status of a republic under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation at 1990s.