Karachays
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. |
 Karachay patriarchs in the 19th century | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey | |
| Languages | |
| Karachay | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Turkic peoples, Kipchaks |
The Karachay (Karachay Къарачайлыла, tr. "Karachaylila") is a Turkic nation of Ciscaucasus, primarily living in the Russian republic of Karachay-Cherkessia. They refer to themselves in some contexts as Alans ('аланла', tr. alanla).
History
Karachays are often described as descendants of the Alans[1], who are also claimed as anscestors by several other ethnic groups in the Caucasus.
In the Middle Ages, the Alans established an ancient state called Alania, with the capital Maas located in the mountains in the present-day territory of the Karachay.
In the 14th century the Alans had bloody battles with the Mongol warlord Timur. Alania was destroyed but the nation was not conquered. Only a small part of the Alans survived in the mountains. Timur's intervention to the North Caucasus introduced the local nations to Islam.
In 1828 the Russian army has broken into the Karachay's territory and, after the series of battles with numerically insignificant military forces of hillmen formally annexeed the Karachay territories. In 1831 - 1860 Karachays joined to bloody anti-Russian struggles carried out by Caucasian peoples. In 1861 - 1880 to escape repression by the Russian army, large numbers of Karachays migrated to Turkey. Jan 1, 1921 - Dec 12, 1930 Early Soviet period: Bolshevik authorities quell resistance to Soviet rule in Karachay region and other territories of the Caucasus. In 1942 the invading German army occupies the Karachay region
In November 1943, the Karachay people were forcibly resettled to the desert areas of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The population of the nation at that time was nearly 80,000 people, primarily children, women and old men. Most of the male population were fighting with Nazis on the fronts of the World War II. With mass starvation, cholera, typhoid fever and other diseases, approximately 35% of the population died in 2 years (mainly the children). Out of 28,000 children, 22,000 died (approx. 78%)[2] Nowadays old men say: "That time in the Middle Asia was terrible for Karachay people: hunger, expulsion and military violence, and Karachays preferred to die then to ask alms of others or blemish his or her honour or honour of the clan".
After 14 years, during the Khrushchev era in 1957, the chance to return to their historical lands was given to Karachay people .
Geography
The Karachay nation, as well as its brother nation the Balkars, takes the valleys and foothills of the Central Caucasus in water gaps of the Kuban, Zelenchuk, Malka, Baksan, Cherek and others.
The Karachays and Balkars are very proud of the symbol of the nations – Mount Elbrus, the highest double-headed mountain in Europe with the altitude 5,642 meters.
Locations with dominant Karachay populations: Uchkulan, Huzruk, Kart Dzhurt, Arhyz, Dombai, Teberda, Karachaevsk, Ust-Dzheguta, Uchkeken, Novaya Dzheguta, Staraya Dzheguta, Kuzul Kala, Eltarkach, etc.
Language and religion
The Karachay dialect of Karachay-Balkar language is of the Northwestern branch of Turkic languages. The Karachay are predominantly Sunni Muslim. They often fuse pre-Islamic pagan traditions with that of Islam.
Character of the nation
The isolated lifestyle among the Caucasus Mountains was one of the reasons of the establishment of the Karachay's unique character. Karachay people live in communities, which are divided to clans and families: Uidegi – Ataul - Tukum – Tiire.
Karachay people are very independent in their behavior and adherents of freedom. They have strong historically developed traditions and customs, which are regulating the different aspects of life: wedding, funeral, pronouncement of family decisions, etc. They will never offend their guest and still keeping distinct attitude to woman. The fact of the offence Karachay man's parents is a fatal default for the offender. Cowardice is the most serious shame for the male. The blood feud takes place till the present times.
Quotations
“The Karachay is a neutral nation, which lives at the root of Elbrus, and excelling by its loyalty, goodliness and bravery”'.
—
Leo Tolstoy, Russian novelist and philosopher,
Omnibus Edition (anniversary edition),
Moscow, Volume 46, page 184.
See also
References
- ^ HISTORY OF KARACHAY-BALKAR PEOPLE: From the ancient times to joining Russia, by Ismail M. Miziyev, Nalchik: Mingi-Tau Publishing, 1994. Translation from Russian and footnotes by P. B. Ivanov - Moscow, 1997.
- ^ Genocide in Karachay by Hamit Botas.