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TheMamkhegh orMamheg (Adyghe:МамхыгъMamxığ orМамхэгъMamxeğ;Russian:МамхегиMamxegi) were one of the twelve majorCircassian tribes, representing one of the twelve stars on the green-and-goldCircassian flag.[1]
Originally, the Mamkhegs lived in the territory between theBelaja andKurdžips Rivers, in the territory of modernMajkop and environs in the Russian republics ofAdygea andKrasnodar Krai. Due to theCaucasian War, the Mamkheghs were forced to leave their territories in theexpulsion of the Circassians. Most of the survivors left for theOttoman Empire. Thosewho remained took Russian citizenship and founded a village calledMamxeg, which survives today in theShovgenovsky District of modern Adygea.
Legends say that they moved from theBlack Sea coast to the upper reaches of thePšexa River [ru]. At first,Mamkhegs were just three big families: Shnah, Mami, and Tlizhho. When the population significantly increased (naturally and after immigration fromAbadzeh lands) they moved to a territory between theBelaja andKurdžips Rivers near modernMajkop, where they remained till 1862 and formed about 16 villages. According to mosthistorians, the number of Mamkheghs in the middle of the 19th century was about 3,500 people. Yet some sources indicate that they were about 15,000 people.[citation needed]
Aleksandr D′jačkov-Tarasov (А.Н. Дьячков-Тарасов) reported the following Mamkhegh villages in the 19th century:[2]
Other villages recorded were: Xoretli (Хоретли), Bardžukaj (Барджукай), Badženaj (Бадженай), Uordane (Уордане), Kujže (Куйже), Tag″anaj (Тагъанай), and Xakunaj (Хакунай).
After apogrom in 1823, however, the number of villages dramatically decreased as many Mamkheghs sought refuge amongAbadzekhs.[3]
Due to theCaucasian War, the Mamkheghs were forced to leave their territories in theexpulsion of the Circassians. The majority of the survivors left for theOttoman Empire. The remaining Mamkheghs took Russian citizenship and founded a village calledMamxeg in the lower part ofFars River (in theKuban Oblast). Another group of Mamkheghs joined Circassian villages nearby. In 1884 1,258 Mamkheghs remained in the Kuban region of Russia composed people, 715 of them inMamxeg village.
The Mamkhegh spoke a special dialect of theAdyghe language, closest to that of theTemirgoy, yet in their traditions and lifestyle were the closest to that of theAbadzekh people. According to sources,[which?] the Mamkheghs had classes of nobles, freemen, servants and slaves. They did not, however, have the highest class of prince who usually controlled villages, like most Circassian tribes. Rural administration was in the hands of elected elders from the freemen class.
The 12 Circassian tribes: Abadzeh Besleney Bzhedug Yegeruqay Zhaney Kabarday Mamheg Natuhay Temirgoy Ubyh Shapsug Hatukay. The twelve stars on the Adyghe Flag also refer to the twelve tribes.
