Lezgian people

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Lezgi
Лезгияр
Total population
800,000 (est)
Regions with significant populations
Russia:
473,722 (Russian official Census 2010)[1]

Azerbaijan:
180,300 (Azerbaijani official Census 2009)[2]. 600,000-900,000 (Lezgin national organizations estimations)[3]
Languages

Lezgian, North Azerbaijani, Russian[4]
Religion

Sunni Islam, Shi'a minority
Related ethnic groups

Tabasarans, Aghuls, Rutuls, Budukhs, Kryts, Tsakhurs, Jeks, Archi, Udi, and other Northeast Caucasian peoples
A historical photo of Lezgian people.

The Lezgians (alternatively Lezgins, Lezgi, Lezgis, Lezgs, and Lezgin) (Lezgian: лезгияр, Russian: лезгины) are an ethnic group living predominantly in southern Dagestan and northeastern Azerbaijan and who speak the Lezgian language.

Contents

[edit] Еthnonym

The question of origin of the ethnonym "lezgin" still requires a more in-depth and comprehensive analysis. Nevertheless, most researchers displays the ethnonym "lezgi" of the ancient "legi" and early medieval "lakzi".

[edit] History

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In the IV century BC, the numerous tribes speaking Lezgic languages, which is part of the Nakh-Dagestan branch of the family of languages, united in a union of 26 tribes, formed in the Eastern Caucasus state of Caucasian Albania, which existed before the VIII century BC. Oe. Under the influence of foreign invaders Caucasian Albania was divided into several areas - Lakzi, Shirvan, etc.

At the beginning of the XVIII century in eastern Transcaucasia began anti-Persian uprising by the Lezgins and other peoples of Dagestan and Azerbaijan. Under the leadership of Haji Dawood Myushkyurskogo (1721-1728 gg.) In the vast territory of Shirvan was created Lezgin State Khanate with its capital in Shemakha, which was recognized by Russia and the Ottoman Empire [58] [59].

In the first half of the XVIII century at a time, Persia was able to restore its authority throughout the Eastern Caucasus. After the death of Nadir Shah, he created the state into divided several smaller khanates. The main part of Lezgins united in "free society" (Magalim) (Akhty para, Alti-para, Kure, Dokuz-para); Lezghians Azerbaijani khanate in the Kuba and Dagestan Lezgins - in Derbent Khanate. In 1812 most of the Dagestani Lezgins became part of the educated in southern Dagestan, a Russian protectorate Kyurinskoe Khanate, which was transformed in 1864 into Kyurinsky District, and the rest - in the Samur district, most of the Azerbaijani Lezgins - in the Kuban district of Baku province.

In 1930, Sheikh Mohammed Effendi Shtulskim organized an uprising against Soviet rule, which was suppressed after several months [61]. In XX century, attempts were made to create a republic Lezgistan (independent or as autonomy) [62].

[edit] Historical concept

While ancient Greek historians, including Herodotus, Strabo, and Pliny the Elder, referred to Legoi people who inhabited Caucasian Albania, Arab historians of 9-10th centuries mention the kingdom of Lakz in present-day southern Dagestan.[5] Al Masoudi referred to inhabitants of this area as Lakzams (Lezgins),[6] who defended Shirvan against invaders from the north.[7]

[edit] Modern times

Prior to the Russian Revolution, "Lezgin" was a term applied to all ethnic groups inhabiting the present-day Russian Republic of Dagestan.[8]

In the 19th century, the term was used more broadly for all ethnic groups speaking non-Nakh Northeast Caucasian languages, including Caucasian Avars, Laks, and many others (although the Vainakh peoples, who were Northeast Caucasian language speakers were referred to as "Circassians").

Today, the Lezgins are predominately Sunni Muslims, with a Shi'a minority living in Miskindja village in Daghestan.

Lezgins live mainly in Azerbaijan and in the Russian Federation (Dagestan). The total population is believed to be around 700,000, with 474,000 living in Russian Federation. In the republic of Azerbaijan, the government census counts 180,300.[2] However, Lezgin national organizations mention 600,000 to 900,000, the disparity being that many Lezgins claim Azeri nationality to escape job and education discrimination in Azerbaijan.[3] Despite the assimulationist policy of the Azeri government, the Lezgin population is undoubtedly greater than it appears.[9]

Lezgins also live in Central Asia.[10]

[edit] Situation in Azerbaijan

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Национальный состав населения Российской Федерации согласно переписи аселения 2010 года". gks.ru. http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/new_site/population/demo/per-itog/tab5.xls. Retrieved 2011-02-04. 
  2. ^ a b The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Population by ethnic groups
  3. ^ a b [1] James Minahan,"Encyclopaedia of stateless nations: L-R by James Mihanan", Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002. pp 1084: "Lezgin national organizations estimate the actual Lezgin population in Azerbaijan at between 600,000 and 900,000, much higher than the official estimates. The disparity arises from the number of ethnic Lezgins registed as ethnic Azeris during the soviet period and continue to claim Azeri nationality to escape job and education discrimination in Azerbaijan"
  4. ^ "Ethnologue report for Lezgian". Ethnologue.com. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=lez. Retrieved 2011-09-30. 
  5. ^ Haspelmath, Martin (1993). A grammar of Lezgian. Walter de Gruyter. p. 17. ISBN 3110137356. http://books.google.com/books?id=jBC6fSMh6wYC&pg=PA17. 
  6. ^ Yakut, IV, 364. According to al-Masoudi (Murudzh, II, 5)
  7. ^ VFMinorsky. History of Shirvan. M. 1963
  8. ^ Olson, James Stuart; Pappas, Nicholas Charles (1994). An Ethnohistorical dictionary of the Russian and Soviet empires. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 438. ISBN 0313274975. http://books.google.com/books?id=CquTz6ps5YgC&pg=PA438. 
  9. ^ Robert Bruce Ware, Enver Kisriew, E.F. Kisriew, "Dagestan: Russian hegemony and Islamic resistance in the North Caucasus",M.E. Sharpe, 2009 "given the assimilationist policies of the Azeri authories, the Lezgin population of that state is undoubtedly greater than it appears" [2]
  10. ^ Yo'av Karny,"Highlanders: A Journey to the Caucasus in Quest of Memory",Macmillan, 2001. pp 112:"The last 1989 all Soviet census recorded 204,400 Lezgins in Daghestan and 171,395 Lezgins in Azerbaijan. Both figures reflected a relative, almost identical decline (5 percent) in Lezgin numbers in both "homelands". Roughtly 65,000 Lezgins were counted in other parts of the Soviet Union, mostly Russia, Kazakhistan and Turkmenistan"

[edit] External links
Majority
Adygeans · Avars · Chechens · Dargins · Ingushs · Kabards · Kists · Laks · Lezgins · Rutuls · Tabasarans · Tsakhurs
Minority
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