Kizbech Tughuzhuqo

Hajji Kizbech Tughuzhuqo (1777–1840; Adyghe: ШэрэлIыкъо Тыгъужъыкъо Къызбэч, romanized: Ṩərəl'ıqo Tığuĵıqo Qızbəç [ʃaraɬʼəqʷa təʁʷəʐəqʷa qəzbatʃ]; Russian: Тугужуко Кызбэч) was a Circassian military commander and the leader of the Shapsug region who took part in the Russo-Circassian War. He personally witnessed all of his family get killed by the Russian army.[1] Kizbech was a cavalry commander, famous for his successes in raiding behind enemy lines, the Englishman James Bell, who knew him personally, called him "The Lion of Circassia". He received multiple offers from the Russian Empire to switch sides and join its Imperial ranks but he refused all of them.[2]

The native form of this personal name is Tığuĵıqo Qızbəç. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Hajji
Tughuzhuqo Kizbech
ШэрэлIыкъо Тыгъужъыкъо Къызбэч
An illustration of Tughuzhuqo with his horse, drawn by James Stanislaus Bell who knew him in person
Leader of the Shapsug
In office
1810–1840
Personal details
Born1777
Beannash, Shapsug province, Circassia
Died28 February 1840(1840-02-28) (aged 62–63)
Shapsug province, Circassia
Nickname(s)The Lion of Circassia
Military service
Allegiance Circassian Confederation
Years of service1810 — 1839
Battles/warsRusso-Circassian War

Biography

Tughuzhuqo was born in 1777 in the village of Beannash, to the Shapsug noble house of Sherelh'yqo. In 1834, he twice defeated the Russian imperial armies. In 1837, accompanied by 250 men, he attacked the right bank of the Kuban Russian fort. As a warrior, Tughuzhuqo enjoyed great respect among opponents. Tsarist generals entered into negotiations with him and repeatedly offered him to join the service of Russia.

In October 1838, he received seven serious wounds, and his sons were injured and eventfully died from the injuries. Kizbech Tughuzhuqo died of wounds received in action on February 28, 1840. He had six different fatal wounds at the time.

Legacy

In 2014, in the 150th anniversary of the end of Russo-Circassian War, a group of Circassian nationalists organized the constructing a monument of Kizbech in the village of Afipsip.[3] As of June 2015 the fundraising was completed and the statue was built.[4]

See also

References
  1. Açumıj, Hilmi (2021). "Milletin Özgürlüğü İçin Canla Başla Mücadele Ettiler!". cherkessia.net. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  2. Bell, James Stanlious (1837). The Lion of Circassia.
  3. www.fond-adygi.ru - Чемсо Газий. Памятник народному герою Хаджи-Кизбечу Шеретлуко
  4. - information from the web site of Oshad Foundation (Russian: Fond Nasledie)
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