كيف تمت إبادة شعوب الشركس على يد الروس!

Summary

This video script recounts the tragic history of the Circassian people from 1763 to 1864, detailing their 101-year struggle against Russian imperial expansion. It describes the ethnic cleansing, mass exodus, and forced conversion of the Circassians, who were among the earliest European Muslims. The script highlights their valiant resistance, the geopolitical significance of the Caucasus region, and the ultimate subjugation and diaspora of the Circassians, marking May 21st as a day of mourning for their forced displacement.

Takeaways

• 😐 The script discusses a period of 101 years, from 1763 to 1864, marking a significant era in world history.
• 🔍 It describes the longest and bloodiest war in history, between the Russian Empire and the Circassian people in the North Caucasus region.
• 🏰 Millions of Circassian Muslims were killed through ethnic cleansing, mass deportations, and forced assimilation by the Russian forces.
• 🌏 The Circassians are indigenous to the North Caucasus region, situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, and have lived there for thousands of years.
• 📍 The North Caucasus was a strategic location between three major empires: the Russian Empire to the north, Persia to the southeast, and the Ottoman Empire to the southwest.
• 🕌 The region was a bridge between Asia and Europe, facilitating the exchange of civilizations and cultures between the East and the West.
• 📈 The script highlights the Circassians as one of the oldest European peoples to adopt Islam, particularly during the Islamic conquests in the mid-seventh century.
• 💂 The Ottomans sought to enlist the brave and skilled Circassian warriors in their ranks due to their renowned fighting abilities and strong love for their homeland.
• 🗓️ The Russian Empire's expansionist policies led to the occupation of the Caucasus region through mass deportations and ethnic cleansing, starting with the capture of the village of Mies Djok in 1763.
• 🛡️ The Circassians resisted the Russian forces for 16 years, from 1830 to 1846, before being forced out of their lands.
• 🏳️ The Treaty of Paris in 1856 saw the Ottoman Empire relinquish its rights over the Circassians, leading to further Russian aggression and the eventual subjugation of the Circassian people.
• 🗣️ The script emphasizes the Circassian diaspora, with the majority living outside their homeland, primarily in Turkey, and the annual commemoration of their forced exile on May 21st.

Q & A

What significant period in history is discussed in the script?

The script discusses the period between the years 1763 and 1864, which witnessed a long and bloody conflict involving the Circassian people and the Russian Empire.

What was the main cause of the conflict between the Circassians and the Russian Empire?

The main cause of the conflict was the Russian Empire's expansionist policies, which included the ethnic cleansing and forced migration of the Circassian people from their ancestral lands.

What does the term 'Circassian' refer to historically?

Historically, 'Circassian' referred to the indigenous people living in the North Caucasus region, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, who are considered one of the oldest European Muslim groups to have adopted Islam in the mid-seventh century.

What role did the Ottoman Empire play in the conflict?

The Ottoman Empire supported the Circassians in their wars against Russia, sending military aid and calling for a unified Muslim resistance in the region against Russian expansion.

What was the Treaty of Adrianople and its implications for the Circassians?

The Treaty of Adrianople, signed in 1829, was an agreement between the Ottoman Empire and Russia, in which the Ottomans renounced their rights over the Muslim Circassians, effectively leaving them under Russian control.

Who was Sheikh Shamil and what was his significance in the conflict?

Sheikh Shamil was a prominent military leader of the Circassians who led the resistance against the Russian forces for 25 years. His leadership was instrumental in the prolonged struggle of the Circassians.

What was the outcome of the war declared by the Ottoman Empire on Russia in 1853?

The war, which was fought in collaboration with Britain and France, ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1856, where Russia was defeated and the Ottoman Empire maintained its territories but relinquished its rights over the Circassians.

What was the fate of the Circassian people after the Russian victory?

Following the Russian victory, the Circassian people faced mass deportation, forced conversion to Orthodox Christianity, or were allowed to migrate to distant lands within the Russian Empire, such as Siberia.

What is the significance of May 21st in Circassian history?

May 21st is commemorated as the Day of the Circassian Tragedy or Day of the Wail, marking the end of the largest ethnic cleansing campaign in Circassian history, where over 2 million Muslims were killed or displaced.

What is the current status of the Circassian diaspora?

The majority of the Circassian people, over 90%, live outside their homeland, primarily in Turkey, with significant populations in Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and other countries. They continue to observe May 21st as a day of mourning and protest against the Russian government.

What is the script's call to action for the audience?

The script encourages the audience to subscribe to the channel, ring the bell for notifications, and watch both old and new videos to gain more insights into the history and struggles of the Circassian people.