Kabardians


The Kabardians, or Kabardinians, are the largest of the twelve Adyghe tribes. They are also commonly known by the plural terms Kabardin, Kebertei, or Kabarday. Along with the Besleney tribe, they speak a distinctive dialect of the Adyghe language.
Despite the Soviet administrative divisions that placed Circassians under four different designations and political units, namely Adygeans, Cherkessians, Kabardians, Shapsugians, all four groups are essentially the same people. One of the 12 stars on the green and gold Adyghe flag represents the Kabardian people.

Population

The Kabardian tribe are the largest Circassian branch in the world in general, and form the largest Circassian tribe in Russia, Turkey, Egypt, and in some other countries in the region. However, in Israel and Jordan, the Shapsug and Abzakh tribes respectively are the largest. Kabardians numbered around 520,000 in Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia. Significant populations of Kabardians also live in Jordan;
and there are communities in the United States. In Turkey, where more than 1 million of them live, they are concentrated on the Uzunyayla plateau of Kayseri Province and around, though there are Kabardian villages in Balıkesir, Düzce, Eskişehir, Çorum, Samsun, and Tokat, amongst many others.

Religion

Religions historically practiced by Kabardins include the native Habze faith, Christianity, and Islam. Majority of Karbardins had converted to Islam by the early 19th century. There are also still some adherents to traditional Habze beliefs, although most Kabardin are now Hanafi Sunni Muslims.
Kabardians also constituted one of the earliest Christian communities in Europe, converting in the late 2nd and early 3rd Centuries. There are also some Roman Catholic Kabardians. Kabardians living in Mozdoksky District in the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania are Orthodox Christians. Some of the Kabardians living in the southern part of the neighbouring Kursky district of Stavropol Krai are also Orthodox Christians.

Kabardians