The Circassians in Kosovo[a] were a group of the Circassian people who lived in Kosovo beginning in the mid-19th century, when they were exiled during the Circassian genocide to the Ottoman Empire after the Russo-Circassian War. During this time, the Circassians in Kosovo were from three of the twelve Adyghe tribes: the Abzakh, Shapsug and Ubykh.[3] In 1998 they numbered 200.[citation needed]
 The village of Mafekhabl, which was founded by the Kosovo Circassians who returned to the Caucasus | |
| Total population | |
| 40,000 (1870)[1] 6,400 (1890)[2] 200 (1998) | |
| Languages | |
| Circassian, Albanian | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Circassians |
History
Arrival in Kosovo
After the Circassian genocide following the Russo-Circassian War, large number of Circassians were exiled to the Ottoman Empire, including in Kosovo.[1] Between 1858 and 1862, 6,000 Circassian families settled in Kosovo.[1][4] Other Circassians were settled in Niš and Prokuplje between 1862 and 1863.[1][5] Around 12,000 Circassians were once again sent to Kosovo and Serbia in following months.[1][6] In total, 40,000 Circassians were settled in Kosovo alone.[7]
The Ottoman Empire aimed to make life easier for the newly arrived Circassians, and did not tax them and they were provided with materials to farm with.[1][2] The Circassians were not well received by both Albanians and Serbs.[8] Both Albanians and Serbs considered the Circassians to be wild and primitive Barbarians.[8] People of the Kosovo region as well as some regional governors helped Circassians.[1][9][10] Since there was no mosque in Babimusa at the time, where more than 200 Circassian families were settled, the local administration started to work on the construction of a mosque at the end of 1864.[1][11]
Decrease in population
Majority leaving the region (1877–1878)
The Circassians in Bulgaria fiercely opposed the Bulgarian Revolt in 1876. Kosovo Circassians also joined the Bulgarian Circassians.[1][2] European countries in turn demanded that the Circassians leave the region.[12]
Circassians sided with the Ottoman army during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878).[2] After the war, the Circassians were seen as a "Muslim threat" and expelled from Kosovo, Bulgaria and other parts of the Balkans by Russian armies following the end of the Russo-Turkish war. They were not allowed to return,[13][14] so the Ottoman authorities settled them in new other lands such as in modern Jordan (see Circassians in Jordan), where they would have conflict with Bedouin Arabs,[15] and Turkey (see Circassians in Turkey).[16]
Persecution by Albanians and Last remnants leaving for Adygea (1998-1999)
When the Kosovo War began, the Circassians in Kosovo emigrated to their ancestral homeland, Republic of Adygea, where they founded a village named Mafekhabl near the republic's capital of Maykop.[17] Muammar Gaddafi sent support and donations to the village. Gaddafi, according to his own words, showed a deep respect for the Circassians and their historical suffering.[18] Immigrants unanimously recount peaceful coexistence with Serbs, contrasting with Albanian hostility towards Circassians.[19] Circassian children faced frequent bullying by Albanians at school, while adults endured robberies, arson, and sniper attacks in the fields.[19] Kosovo Circassians sought lawfulness within Yugoslavia, resisting Albanian pressure for insubordination.[19] This refusal branded them traitors.[19] Tensions escalated in Stanoc i Epërm, leading to segregated communities and forced "parallel education" for Circassian children.[19] Seeking protection, they formed Circassian self-defense brigades with Serb support.[19]
Known families
Below is a list of some of the Circassian families who live or have lived in Kosovo.[20]
- Abadze (Абадзэ)
- Gut (Гут)
- Makho (Махо)
- Sheudzhen (Шэуджэн)
- Tsey (Цей)
- Tyghuzh (Тыгъужъ)
- Jeu (Жьэу)