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Circassian flag
The Circassian flag (Adyghe and Kabardian: Адыгэ нып) is the national flag of the Circassians. It consists of a green field charged with twelve gold stars, nine forming an arc resembling a bow and three horizontal, also charged with three crossed arrows in the center. Seferbiy Zaneqo, a Circassian diplomat, is the designer of the flag. Every year, April 25 is celebrated as the Circassian flag day by Circassians. Another version of the flag is currently officially used by the Republic of Adygea of the Russian Federation as its national flag.
The green represents the nature and Islam. The golden colour represents a bright future in peace and the plentiful harvest of grain and wheat. There are twelve stars, representing the twelve provinces of Circassia. There are three arrows, a reference to Adyghe Khabze: according to Khabze rules, in one hunt, a hunter could only shoot three arrows, if he missed, he could shoot again until he got three successful shots. He was permitted to take exactly three types of animals: one running animal, one flying animal, and one swimming animal. Because three arrows indicated a hunting trip instead of war, their presence on the flag communicates that the Circassians do not seek conflict but will defend themselves if attacked. In Circassia, three arrows came to be recognized as a symbol of peace. According to Circassian oral histories about the creation of the flag, Seferbiy Zaneqo chose that design for this purpose.
An invasion of Circassia by Russia started in 1763, and since then, the Circassians have been fighting the Russo-Circassian War in defense of their territory. The Treaty of Adrianople was signed on 14 September 1829, which stated that the Ottoman Empire recognized Circassia as Russian territory. Most Circassian leaders believed the treaty was a hoax, a strategy of the Russians, as they believed that the Ottoman Empire would never abandon the Circassians. It was decided to send a delegation to the Ottoman sultan to examine the accuracy of the news.
Seferbiy Zaneqo was chosen as one of the delegates. Their mission was to meet with Mahmud II to clarify the matter and receive a blessing. However, the Russian ambassador Butenev started pressuring the sultan to arrest them, and following this, the other delegates returned the Circassia while Zaneqo stayed, because he had Ottoman citizenship.
The Russian ambassador, in a letter he wrote to Baron Rosen, the commander of the Caucasian Corps, stated that Zaneqo had written authorization signed by 200 Circassian nobles. James Bell also writes that Zaneqo was in Istanbul as the representative of the 12 Circassian regions.
There are no written sources that describe details about Zaneqo’s flag design process. However, according to Circassian folk stories, during the time, Zaneqo was injured during a demonstration against Russian Imperialism, and was hospitalised. According to oral sources, a Circassian named Muhammad Selkhur visited him and Zaneqo presented a folded paper, and clarified that it is a prototype for a Circassian unity flag, and that during his long hospitalization, he thought considerably about a symbol for the Circassian unity and he concluded on the contents of the paper. He explained that he took inspiration from previous Circassian symbols, and that each of the twelve stars represents a Circassian tribe and they are all equally represented without prejudice. As to the crossed arrows they represent that the Circassians do not seek war, but will defend themselves when attacked. A Circassian woman from the Ottoman harem knitted the flag and sent it to Circassia.
David Urquhart self-proclaimed to be the designer of the flag, but there is no discovered evidence for his claims. Seferbiy's father's cousin was related to Prince Hatokhshoqo Hamirza, relative to Kabardian Grandprince Jankhot Kushuk, and thus knew the arrow and star design from the Kabardian coat of arms. The flag's origin traces back to the coat of arms, indicating its design stemmed from local efforts rather than external influences. In a speech in Britain, Urquhart described the flag's elements independently of Circassian culture, revealing his lack of knowledge about their origin and meaning.
In 1836, the flag was brought to Circassia by a young man named Hatajuq, a friend of Qerzech Shirikhuqo, and it was first kept in the village of Mehmet Efendi, the chief judge of the Natukhaj region. Then it was received by Nour Muhammad Haghur and taken to the banks of the Ubin River in Shapsugia. There, the leaders of all Circassian provinces gathered and accepted the flag, and commander Khirtsizhiko Ale raised the flag on Circassian soil for the first time. The flag was given the nickname Sanjak-Sherif (Holy Banner). According to the claim of the English traveler who witnessed the event, Edmund Spencer described it as follows:
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Circassian flag AI simulator
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Circassian flag
The Circassian flag (Adyghe and Kabardian: Адыгэ нып) is the national flag of the Circassians. It consists of a green field charged with twelve gold stars, nine forming an arc resembling a bow and three horizontal, also charged with three crossed arrows in the center. Seferbiy Zaneqo, a Circassian diplomat, is the designer of the flag. Every year, April 25 is celebrated as the Circassian flag day by Circassians. Another version of the flag is currently officially used by the Republic of Adygea of the Russian Federation as its national flag.
The green represents the nature and Islam. The golden colour represents a bright future in peace and the plentiful harvest of grain and wheat. There are twelve stars, representing the twelve provinces of Circassia. There are three arrows, a reference to Adyghe Khabze: according to Khabze rules, in one hunt, a hunter could only shoot three arrows, if he missed, he could shoot again until he got three successful shots. He was permitted to take exactly three types of animals: one running animal, one flying animal, and one swimming animal. Because three arrows indicated a hunting trip instead of war, their presence on the flag communicates that the Circassians do not seek conflict but will defend themselves if attacked. In Circassia, three arrows came to be recognized as a symbol of peace. According to Circassian oral histories about the creation of the flag, Seferbiy Zaneqo chose that design for this purpose.
An invasion of Circassia by Russia started in 1763, and since then, the Circassians have been fighting the Russo-Circassian War in defense of their territory. The Treaty of Adrianople was signed on 14 September 1829, which stated that the Ottoman Empire recognized Circassia as Russian territory. Most Circassian leaders believed the treaty was a hoax, a strategy of the Russians, as they believed that the Ottoman Empire would never abandon the Circassians. It was decided to send a delegation to the Ottoman sultan to examine the accuracy of the news.
Seferbiy Zaneqo was chosen as one of the delegates. Their mission was to meet with Mahmud II to clarify the matter and receive a blessing. However, the Russian ambassador Butenev started pressuring the sultan to arrest them, and following this, the other delegates returned the Circassia while Zaneqo stayed, because he had Ottoman citizenship.
The Russian ambassador, in a letter he wrote to Baron Rosen, the commander of the Caucasian Corps, stated that Zaneqo had written authorization signed by 200 Circassian nobles. James Bell also writes that Zaneqo was in Istanbul as the representative of the 12 Circassian regions.
There are no written sources that describe details about Zaneqo’s flag design process. However, according to Circassian folk stories, during the time, Zaneqo was injured during a demonstration against Russian Imperialism, and was hospitalised. According to oral sources, a Circassian named Muhammad Selkhur visited him and Zaneqo presented a folded paper, and clarified that it is a prototype for a Circassian unity flag, and that during his long hospitalization, he thought considerably about a symbol for the Circassian unity and he concluded on the contents of the paper. He explained that he took inspiration from previous Circassian symbols, and that each of the twelve stars represents a Circassian tribe and they are all equally represented without prejudice. As to the crossed arrows they represent that the Circassians do not seek war, but will defend themselves when attacked. A Circassian woman from the Ottoman harem knitted the flag and sent it to Circassia.
David Urquhart self-proclaimed to be the designer of the flag, but there is no discovered evidence for his claims. Seferbiy's father's cousin was related to Prince Hatokhshoqo Hamirza, relative to Kabardian Grandprince Jankhot Kushuk, and thus knew the arrow and star design from the Kabardian coat of arms. The flag's origin traces back to the coat of arms, indicating its design stemmed from local efforts rather than external influences. In a speech in Britain, Urquhart described the flag's elements independently of Circassian culture, revealing his lack of knowledge about their origin and meaning.
In 1836, the flag was brought to Circassia by a young man named Hatajuq, a friend of Qerzech Shirikhuqo, and it was first kept in the village of Mehmet Efendi, the chief judge of the Natukhaj region. Then it was received by Nour Muhammad Haghur and taken to the banks of the Ubin River in Shapsugia. There, the leaders of all Circassian provinces gathered and accepted the flag, and commander Khirtsizhiko Ale raised the flag on Circassian soil for the first time. The flag was given the nickname Sanjak-Sherif (Holy Banner). According to the claim of the English traveler who witnessed the event, Edmund Spencer described it as follows: