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Cherkes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cherkes (also Cherkess) are an ethnic group of the northwestern Caucasus region, principally inhabiting northern Karachay-Cherkessia (where they comprise 11% of the population) as well as four villages of Adygeya: Khodz, Blechepsin, Koshekhabl, and Ulyap.
They primarily speak the Cherkes (Kuban-Zelenchuk) dialect of Kabardian.
Most authorities include the Besleney of Karachay-Cherkessia with the Cherkes community, though they speak a more divergent dialect of Kabardian, somewhat transitional between Western and Eastern Circassian.
The Cherkess migrated from Kabarda between 1780-1825, settling in the upper Zelenchuks and Urup valleys, from which they were largely displaced during the period of the 1830-50s. During the 19th century, due to pressure from the Ottoman regime, many Cherkess moved to the Middle Eastern countries, where they largely assimilated, while still living there as a distinguishable minority. Many Cherkess have converted to Islam.