TheNatukhaj[a]are one of the twelve majorCircassiantribes, representing one of the twelve stars on the green-and-goldCircassian flag.[1]Their areas historically extended along the Black Sea coast fromAnapain the north toTsemes Bay(nowNovorossiysk) in the south and from the north side of the mountains to the lowerKuban River.
НатIхъуадж(Adyghe) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Total population | |
| c.3,030? | |
| Languages | |
| Circassian language West Adyghe dialect TurkishandRussian | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| OtherCircassian tribes |
Currently, Natukhai families live in the diaspora and were assimilated in other Adyghe tribes, more precisely, theShapsugdue to their close relations with them. In Russia, a few may be found in theRepublic of Adyghea(mainly in theTakhtamukaysky District,in the rural locality ofNatukhay(Russian:Аул Натухай)[2]and theTeuchezhsky District).
History
edit
The Natukhai tribe consisted of 10aristocraticfamilies and 44 free clans (Adyghe:ЛъфэкъулӀ) and classified as an Adyghedemocratictribe.[3][4] Because their coast was not backed by high mountains and opened northward to the steppe the Natukhai were very active in trading with theOttoman EmpireandCrimean Khanate,which afforded for them better life than many others.
By culture, language and character they find themselves closest to the Lesser Shapsug and even call themselves by the same nameAguchips.(The Lesser Shapsug lived on the coast south of the Natukhai while the Greater Shapsug lived north of the mountains.) Also Natukhai people include the tribe ofGuayewhich, according to legend, is one of the most ancient Circassian tribes. They also include the disappearing remnants of theZhaneytribe. The noblest families included Chakh, Dedy, Eryku, Kaz, Megu, Syupako, and Zan. The tribe Guaye had following noble names: Birdzh, Cherch, Kerzedzh, Khatirame, and Kuytsuk.
The Natukhai, like the Shapsug and Abadzekh, managed to limit the power of noble men of their tribe. Their villages were also administered by elected villagers. The Natukhai were one of the tribes most inclined to a peaceful sort of labor. They established trade connections with Turkey which gave the Natukhai the opportunities of material improvements. The Natukhai were one of the last to convert to Islam. They steadily adhered to Christianity, even though religious differences were often the cause of quarrels with the neighbouring Shapsug. Only by the beginning of the 19th century, whether by promises or by threats, did Turkish pasha manage to talk them into converting to Islam. In spite of that, the Natukhai showed a bitter resistance to the expansion of Russia into the Northern Caucasus. They fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the Shapsug and Abadzekh who by that time were on their own against the forces of Russian empire. As a result of the war, only 175 Natukhai people remained on their motherland.
In late 1860, a Circassian Parliament (Adyghe:Хасэ,romanized:Ha sắc) was assembled, which would unite theShapsug,Ubykh,and Natukhai and consideredSochi(Lowland Adyghe:Шъачэ;Ubykh Adyghe:Шуа-чӀа, lit. "seaside" ) the lastcapitalof theCircassian resistance.
In 1864, a major part of the Natukhai were massacred and the remaining forced to leaveCircassia,like the other Adyghe tribes, to theOttoman Empiredue to the Russian army occupation of Circassia,[5]beside the standard tsars' policy during the era of theRussian Empireto cleanse theCircassian coastof Circassians (mainly physically then by expelling the remaining to theOttoman Empire.[6]
Language
editThe Natukhai people speak the Natukhai sub-dialect (Adyghe:НатIхъуаджэбзэ), a dialect which is very similar to the Shapsug sub-dialect. The Natukhai sub-dialect shares a large number of features with other Shapsug varieties like having the consonants гь[ɡʲ],кь[kʲ],кӏь[kʲʼ]and чъу[t͡ɕʷ]that correspond to дж[d͡ʒ],ч[t͡ʃ],кӏ[t͡ʃʼ]and цу[t͡sʷ]in other Adyghe sub-dialects (e.g.Abzakh,Bzhedug,andTemirgoy).[7][8][9][10]
| Meaning | Natukhai and Shapsug sub-dialect | Other sub-dialects | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | |
| shirt | гьанэ | [ɡʲaːna] | джанэ | [d͡ʒaːna] |
| chicken | кьэт | [kʲat] | чэты | [t͡ʃatə] |
| rope | кӏьапсэ | [kʲʼaːpsa] | кӏапсэ | [t͡ʃʼaːpsa] |
| shoe | чъуакъэ | [t͡ʃʷaːqa] | цуакъэ | [t͡sʷaːqa] |
Notable people
edit- Mehmed Indaraqo Shuwpagwe(1737–1838), Prince of Pshada, a noble of the Natukhai, and a Circassian leader
- Qalawebateqo Shuwpagwe,de jure leader of Circassian Confederation and a noble of the Natukhai
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^"Circassians".Adiga-home.net.2010. Archived from the original on August 20, 2014.Retrieved17 May2016.
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) - ^http://ta01.ru//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=26Official Website of Takhtamukaysky District (Russian Language)
- ^Walter Richmond[1],The Northwest Caucasus: Past, Present, Future, p. 22, Central Asian Studies Series, 2008ISBN978-0-415-77615-8
- ^Walter Richmond, "The Northwest Caucasus: Past, Present, Future", Arabic Translation by Jameel Ishaqat, p. 46, Circassians Studies Centre, Amman, Jordan, 2010.
- ^http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/07/05/11511062.htmlArchived2012-03-18 at theWayback Machinevia the Voice of Russia
- ^Peter HopkirkThe great game: On Secret Service in High Asia,Chapter 12 “The Greatest Fortress in the World”, pp. 158–159, Oxford University Press, 2001ISBN0-19-280232-1
- ^Спирантизация аффрикатArchived2015-07-13 at theWayback Machine(in Russian)
- ^Палатализация (смягчение) и аффрикатизация согласныхArchived2015-07-13 at theWayback Machine(in Russian)
- ^Переднеязычные мягкие шипящие аффрикаты дж, ч, к1Archived2015-07-13 at theWayback Machine(in Russian)
- ^Наращение сонорных согласныхArchived2015-07-13 at theWayback Machine(in Russian)
See also
editOther Adyghe tribes: