History and homeland

About Circassia

Circassia is the historical homeland of the Circassian, or Adyghe, people in the northwestern Caucasus, extending historically from the Black Sea coast into the mountain and foothill regions.

A homeland and a living idea

Circassia is not only a historical geographic term. For Circassians around the world, it also represents ancestry, cultural memory, language, family histories, and a continuing relationship with the Caucasus.

Historical dispersal

War, mass displacement, and exile in the nineteenth century transformed Circassian society and created large communities outside the homeland. Today, Circassian identity is sustained both in the North Caucasus and throughout a wide international diaspora.

Why preservation matters

Language education, historical research, family archives, cultural institutions, and connections between communities help preserve a heritage that crosses modern borders. ICCSA supports this work as part of its mission of assistance, documentation, and cultural continuity.