Circassians in Turkey: History and Culture

The story of the largest Circassian community outside the Caucasus.

Turkey is home to the largest Circassian diaspora in the world. Estimates vary, but somewhere between 2 and 3 million people of Circassian descent live in Turkey today. They are integrated into Turkish society at every level, yet many have maintained a strong connection to their Adyghe identity, language, and traditions.

The story of how they got there is one of the most significant chapters in Circassian history.

How Circassians Came to Turkey

The mass migration of Circassians to the Ottoman Empire began in the 1860s. Hundreds of thousands of Adyghe people were displaced from their homeland in the Caucasus and resettled across Ottoman territories, particularly in what is now Turkey, Jordan, and Syria.

The Ottoman government settled Circassian communities strategically across Anatolia and the Balkans. Many were placed in frontier regions or in areas where the government wanted to establish order, since the Circassian reputation as skilled warriors was considered an asset. Kabardian, Shapsug, Abzakh, Temirgoy, and other Circassian groups established villages that still exist today. The journey across the Black Sea was devastating: overcrowded ships, disease, and exposure killed many before they even reached Ottoman shores. Those who survived built new lives in a foreign land while preserving their language, Habze, and identity.

The Circassians also played a significant military role in the late Ottoman period. Many served as soldiers and officers in the Ottoman army. During the founding of modern Turkey, Circassians fought on multiple sides of the conflict. Çerkes Ethem, a Circassian guerrilla commander, was prominent in the early stages of the Turkish War of Independence before clashing with Atatürk's central authority.

Turkey hosts the largest Circassian community outside the Caucasus, with millions of Adyghe descendants.

Where Circassians Live in Turkey

Circassian communities can be found across Turkey, but the highest concentrations are in the Marmara region, Central Anatolia, and the Black Sea coast. Cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Düzce, Samsun, Kayseri, and Adapazarı all have significant Circassian populations.

Many rural Circassian villages, particularly in the Düzce and Bolu provinces, have preserved their language and customs more completely than urban communities. These villages often serve as cultural anchors for the broader diaspora.

Cultural Preservation

The Circassian community in Turkey has built an impressive network of cultural organizations. The Kaf-Der (Caucasus Cultural Associations) and similar groups organize language classes, dance groups, cultural events, and community gatherings across the country.

Circassian dance groups in Turkey are among the best in the world. Annual festivals bring thousands of Circassians together, and the dance tradition remains one of the strongest cultural threads connecting the diaspora to its Caucasus roots.

Language Challenges

The biggest challenge facing Circassians in Turkey is language loss. While the grandparent generation often speaks fluent Kabardian or Adyghe, younger generations increasingly grow up speaking only Turkish. The language was not taught in schools for most of the 20th century, and daily use has declined in urban areas.

But there is a growing movement to reverse this. Language courses run by Kaf-Der and similar organizations, online resources, YouTube channels, and language apps are making it easier for young Turkish Circassians to learn their ancestral language. The demand is real, especially among the generation that grew up hearing Circassian at family gatherings but never learned to speak it fluently. Some private courses in Istanbul and other cities now teach Kabardian and Adyghe, and there is ongoing advocacy for the inclusion of Circassian language instruction in the Turkish education system.

The 2000s and 2010s saw a notable cultural revival among Turkish Circassians. Younger generations increasingly embrace their Adyghe identity, join dance groups, attend festivals, and seek out language learning. Social media has been transformative, connecting young Circassians across Turkey and with the broader global diaspora.

Circassians in Turkish Society

Circassians have been deeply integrated into Turkish society since the Ottoman era. Many prominent Turkish politicians, military leaders, businesspeople, and celebrities are of Circassian descent. The community is well-respected, and Circassian identity is viewed positively within Turkish culture.

At the same time, maintaining a distinct Adyghe identity within a majority Turkish society requires active effort. Cultural associations, family traditions, and the growing interest in language learning all play a role in keeping Circassian identity alive across generations.

Millions of Circassians in Turkey trace their roots to the Caucasus mountains.

Why It Matters

The Circassian community in Turkey is the key to the future of the Circassian language and culture. With the largest population of any diaspora country, Turkey holds enormous potential for cultural revival. Every young Circassian in Turkey who learns the language, attends a dance class, or teaches their children about Habze is contributing to the survival of a culture that stretches back thousands of years.

Learning the Circassian language is one of the most powerful things a diaspora Circassian can do. It connects you to your grandparents' world, to the Caucasus, and to a global community of Adyghe people who share your heritage.