Cherkesogai

Cherkesogai (Russian: Черкесогаи) or Circassian Armenians (Armenian: չերքեզահայեր cherk'ezahayer; Russian: черкесские армяне; Circassian: Адыгэ-ермэлы), sometimes referred to as Ermeli (Circassian: Ермэлы), Mountainous Armenians (Russian: горские армяне), or Kuban Armenians (Russian: закубанские армяне), are ethnic Armenians who have inhabited Russia's Krasnodar Krai and Republic of Adyghea since the end of 15th century that spoke the Adyghe language (currently, most of them speak Russian as their first language), apart from other Armenians living in the region. They reside mostly in the cities of Armavir and Maykop. The total number of Cherkosogai is about 50,000 people (2008 estimate). According to Russian 2002 Census, 230 Armenians speak Lowland Adyghe and the 222 speak Kabardian Adyghe as native.

Notable Cherkesogai include the first Soviet millionaire Artyom Mikhailovich Tarasov, Prix Goncourt-winning writer Henri Troyat (né Lev Aslanovich Tarasov), merchant Nikita Pavlovich Bogarsukov, and ballerina Olga Aslanovna Tarasova.

History

Since the early Medieval period, the most typical form of settlement of the Armenian ethnic group is diaspora. Over time, North Caucasus and Transcaucasus became important and sometimes compact centers for their diaspora. It often became t he impetus for emigration of Armenians from their historical homeland. It was believed that the majority of Armenians migrated to Kuban in the 15th century from Crimea where they finally formed a vassal of Turkish Crimean Khanate. Because of the living conditions there, other Christians deteriorated sharply.

According to some sources, in 1475, when Ottoman Empire finally seized control up to Genoese of the Catholic and Orthodox Principality of Theodoro and began to displace the civilian population, Armenians began to move actively to Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland. Some Armenians found refuge among Adyghe and Abkhazians. Armenians settlers, having lived in the mountains for 300 years, picked up the language, manners, and customs of the Circassians among whom they settled, but have retained their ethnic identity and Christian denomination – the Armenian Apostolic Church. As a result of the interpenetration of two cultures, a completely new ethnic group formed call the Cherkosogai.

House of the Cherkesogai Bogarsukov Brothers in Krasnodar

Notable Cherkesogai

• Artyom Mikhailovich Tarasov (born 1950), the first Soviet millionaire
• Henri Troyat (né Lev Aslanovich Tarasov; 1911–2007), Prix Goncourt-winning writer and historian, member of the Académie française
• Nikita Pavlovich Bogarsukov (1834–1913), philanthropist, merchant, and diplomat
• Olga Aslanovna Tarasova (1902–1982), ballerina

References

• Черкесогаи Северо-Западного Кавказа в XIX в.
• Армяне Краснодарского края

See also

• Armenians in Russia
• Armenians in Ukraine