Natukhai people

The Natukhai tribal Flag

Natukhai (Adyghe: НатIхъуадж-адыгэ, with the possible sense нэ-тхуэ-джэ eye-white-with,'With Light Eye(s)', the /-a-/s in the name being phonologically predictable) are a people of the Adyghe branch, who are the original dwellers of the far north west of historical Circassia, and their areas historically extended from Anapa in the North to Tsemez in the south, currently Novorossiysk in the Russian Federation.

The Natukhai tribe consisted of 10 aristocratic families and 44 (Adyghe: Лъфэкъул1) free clans and classified as an Adyghe Democratic tribe.^[1][2] The Natukhai were considered the most active from the Adyghe nation in trading with the Ottoman Empire and the Crimean Khanates; which afforded for them better life than the other Adyghe tribes.

By culture, language and character they find themselves closest to Shapsougs of Small Shapsoug land and even call themselves by the same name ‘Aguchips”. Also Natuhai people include the tribe of Goaie, which according to legends is the most ancient Circassian tribe). They also include the disappearing remnants of Zhane and Hegako tribes. There were at least 45 Natuhay clans. The noblest families were: Syupako, Megu, Zan, Kaz, Chakh, Eryku, Dedy. The tribe Goaie had following noble names: Kerzedzh, Kuytsuk, Khatirame, Birdzh and Cherch. Natuhays, like Shapsugs and Abadzehs, managed to limit the power of noble men of their tribe. Their villages were also administered by elected villagers. Natuhays were one of the tribes the most inclined to a peaceful sort of labor. They established trade connections with Turkey which gave Natuhay people the opportunities of improvements in material way. Natuhay were the last to convert to Islam. They steadily adhered to Christianity; even though religious differences were often the issue of quarrels wit neighboring Shapsugs. Only by the beginning of 19th century, whether by promises or by threats did Turkish pasha manage to talk them into converting to Islam, In spite of that, Natuhay showed the bitterest resistance to the expansion of Russia to Northern Caucasus. They fought shoulder to shoulder with Shapsugs and Abazdeh who by that moment stayed all alone against the forces of Russian empire. As a result of war, only 175 Natuhay remained on their motherland.

In late 1860, a Majlis (Adyghe: Хасэ ) was assembled, which would unite the Shapsugs, Ubykhs, and Natuqais and considered (Adyghe: Шъачэ, Ubykh Шуа-ч1а sea-side) Sochi the last capital of the Circassians resistance.

In 1864, a major part of the Natukhai were massacred and the remaining enforced to leave Circassia like the other Adyghe tribes to the Ottoman Empire due to the Russian army occupation of (Circassia),^[3] beside the regular tsars policy during the era of the Russian Empire to cleanse the Circassian coast of Circassians (mainly physically then by expelling the remaining to the Ottoman Empire.^[4]

Currently, Natukhai families live in the diaspora and were assimilated in other Adyghe tribes, and to be precise the Shapsugs due to the close relations with the Shapsugs, in the Caucasus a few can be found in the Republic of Adyghea (mainly in District of Takhtamukaysky in the village of Natukhai ((Russian: Аул Натухай))^[5] and District of Teuchezksky).

References

See also

• Shapsugs
• Ethnic Cleansing of Circassians