Ubykhia

Ubykhia (Ubykh: ТIуахъы; Убых Хэку; Аубла; Убыхия) was one of the historical regions of Circassia. It was inhabited by the Ubykh people, a Circassian tribe. It was a region located around Sochi. Ubykhia was ruled by the Berzeg and Dishan clans and elected elders, and was the last region to fall under Russian control during the Russo-Circassian War.

The most influential clan among the Ubykh tribes was the Berzeg ("Barzek", "Berzek", or "Berzek") family. According to a story compiled by Kâzım Berzeg from members of the Berzeg family, a blood feud broke out between two noble families 1500 years ago, resulting in the complete annihilation of one of the families, with only the women surviving. One of those women gave birth to a boy and named him Berzeg. The Berzeg clan descends from him, according to this legend.

It is mentioned in Abkhaz oral history that in the mid-16th century, the Ubykh prince Kanshao of the Dzepsh (Дзэпщ; Диман) family purchased the lands of present-day Wardane from the Abkhaz Lou family.

Ubykhia is mentioned in Russian sources starting from the 17th century. Ubykhia covered the entirety of the modern Tsentralny and Khostinsky city districts and parts of the Lazarevsky City District.

In the 17th century, the Ubykhs seized the lands of the Sadz Abazins. Unlike the order in Abkhazia, there was no prince in Ubykhia; it was governed by a council consisting of 11 Ubykh sub-councils and 2 nobles from the Akhchipsou and Sadz peoples. Due to its coastal location, Ubykhia was in constant contact with the Ottomans and developed friendly relations with them over time, eventually becoming Muslim along with other Circassian regions.

In 1763, the Russo-Circassian War broke out. In 1823, following the death of Saad-Girey, Ismail Berzeg was elected leader of the Berzeg clan and commander-in-chief of the entire Ubykh region. Starting in 1827, Berzeg attempted to organize a military confederation consisting of Circassians living on the Black Sea coast. By the end of 1839, he had united the population between Tuapse and Gagra into a union. Other Circassians outside this region also accepted his authority, despite being much more autonomous. During this period, James Bell described him as the "Circassian Washington". In the summer of 1838, 1250 people from all regions of Circassia signed a petition and sent it to the Queen of the United Kingdom and the British government. Ismail Berzeg's signature appeared at the top of the list.

In 1840, the Ubykhs led by Ismail Berzeg organized an attack on Russian coastal forts. In February and March, the Siege of Lazarevsky, Siege of Velyaminovsky, and Siege of Mikhailovsky took place. Attempts were made to occupy the Adler, Golovinskoe, and Navaginskoe forts. Chechen and Dagestani rebels in the Eastern Caucasus were also inspired by the Circassian victories.

Upon Ismail Berzeg's death in 1846, Gerandiqo Berzeg was elected as the leader of the Ubykh region. On May 14, 1846, Berzeg wrote the following to Adam Czartoryski, President of the Polish National Government: