Circassians

[cegorach]

This thread will be used as the database for this faction.

[Inal_the_Great]

Ok thanks for this thread...

You asked for these:

- units - your proposal, or at least some information about their military,
Pictures included if possible.

- office titles,

- name of the units and titles should be in a national language of this territory - one of them, your choice, but it should be as realistic as possible,

- possibly some historical heroes I can use,

- at least some names to use for the faction in the game,

+ more if you want.

I will start with Units and continue posting the rest in my spare time...

[Inal_the_Great]

Circassia

Units:

Dzhigit Horseman: These are the common Circassian Cavalry (dont get the wrong impression from the word "common" though they were quite skilled), even by 1700s usually without firearms but instead bow and sword.


To give an idea of have they would look like but this is slightly late (and it is actually a painting of a Circassian chief).



The Swords Circassians used 1400-1500s (Circassian sabre not Shaska yet)



The Pistols but I think these are from 1700s



Circassian Harness


Among the best swords of all time: Shaska used from 1600- WW 2 .


Circassian Bow 1400-1700



Helmets used until firearms made it obsolete.

[Inal_the_Great]

Here is another photo shwoing Circassian clothes during most of the games time period. By 1700 it started to change...

[Inal_the_Great]

Abreks: I think this is the Circassian quillavent of Knight but with two important diferences:

They served no one! No king, no chief, no country, no empire:no one but themselves. (abit selfish yes )

They usually were like Mountain pirates stealing or killing and living this way their whole lives but rarely they in fact did join the Circassian army and their entire life experience (which was preety much just fighting ) allowed them to dominate almost all other warriors on the battlefield.

They were greatly feared & respected by Circassians .

I think much stronger than Dzhigit, surely an elite unit but not the best...
Equipment quite similiar to other Caucasian warriors...

their can be Abrek Infantry (which is almost the same but unmounted)

and Abrek Cavalry (or Horseman)

BTW I can find the Circassian words for Horseman and stuff but do you guys need it really?

Abrek is native word.

[Inal_the_Great]

BTW the Abreks had a strict codes which guided them through the though years.

Said that Circasians as a nation also have a code named Adiga Khabze (Circassian Tradition)

Which they still use today and is very strict (strict in sense military style). Guiding daily life rather than Samurai style Bushido the way of the warrior...

Every male Circassian was considered a warrior between ages 20 to 60.

[cegorach]

Very useful

Two notes -

- the names should be fully in a local language so even words like Horseman should be translated, although only if necessary ( I mean if there is one unit called this and it is cavalry it is not necessary to add the word horseman, but if there is infantry as well you should).

- images of the cavalry are especially useful since I can use them for info_pics of the units in the game.

I need something about history of this region - I want to add them, but I want to know what territory they had in 1480, 1572 and around 1648, Circassians can be added without problems in the last period, but if you convince me they MIGHT even replace Georgians altogether.

One more- I need a flag to use for them on the battlefield - choose something most realistic.

Regards Cegorach

[Inal_the_Great]

Corected names:

Adiga Dzhigit : Circassian Horseman (General Unit)

-used most common spellings in Latin-

Equipment:
Armed with Bow&arrow, some armour, small shield (in melee fights) , and Sword.

By 1650-1700 though it changes abit.

armed with Pistol or Rifle (More Common), maybe still just bows & arrows if we add Noble Cavalry or something composed of Nobles (Warq Dzhigit) than they might have firearms later on in the game.

They were few in number of course perhaps they can be Body guard of Princes...

Example for a Warq Dzhigit:



Ofcourse this one is for late in the game, other wise similiar quipment but swords are in silver or gold. More colorful.

[Inal_the_Great]

Full List so far:

Adiga Dzhigit : Circassian Horseman :

Warq Dzhigit : Noble Horseman :

Abrek Dzhigit: Abrek Horseman :

Abrek : : Abrek

Fedayeen :Fedayeen


Sacrifice unit usually 1 or a small group of brave warriors they or he charges infront of everyone (Circassian Battle Tactics-to break morale of the enemy-).Usually made of Best warriors in the Caucasus (What a Waste!!! but also what a way to die )

Also considering Peasant (Militia) warriors -on foot- Asked the name from some of my friends living in Caucasus hopefully the answer will come in latin rather than Cyrillic!! way of course but hey one can hope.

[Inal_the_Great]

Well as you can see Generaly speaking Circassian Military is based on Horseman. Very similiar to Sarmatians, and actually the Circassians have some similarities with Sarmatians in architecture too (including 1480-1700s!).

Well I will probably add some more units but for now this is a good start to be continued... :D (Unit section)

[Inal_the_Great]

Office Titles?

Hmm...

Like Captain
General ?

Besh = (Chief) Head of a Tribe, very powerful
Psi = Prince head of a village or group of villages


Maps

1480: Circassia:

1572: Circassia

1648: Circassia

Search in Progresss

I got one for the 1572 ready actually.
1480: sort of easy

1648:A bit hard..

[Inal_the_Great]

TEMPORARY MAPS

[Inal_the_Great]

In the last one I think AbAZHIA (1480) should belong to Circassia but I am not sure. At this point Circassian power was rising while Georgia was falling (it got invaded in 1507 by a Circassian army.

Fedayeens sould always wear Red!


I got some heroes coming up...

Flag is going to be abit of a problem but I think it should be something similiar to Circassian Mamluk Flag, yellow and green colors recommended by me.



I made it but it is 99% accurate to the book that I saw the flag on.

[Inal_the_Great]

BTW one thing I still did not ask is this for Rome Total War? Medieval Total War?
Medieval 2 Total War?

[Inal_the_Great]

-=-=-=-=-=- HEROES -=-=-=-=-=-

1. Prince Bayzroqw
2. Prince Beyxgarsoqw
3. Prince Yax'bowq
4. Prince Hatuqwe
5. Boltoqwe
6. Aslan Girey
7. Prince Qanoqwe
8. Inal the Great
9. Prince Idar

Circassian Capital:
Chantgir


Some Notes about the three maps I posted:

1648 I just learned Russian Invasion was not that bad actually because after a war against the Turks the Russians still could not recover.

So ignore that invaded land and, on the other hand, the Tatars might have invaded up to Kuban river again I am not sure.



1572 Circassia and Russia is sort of allied. Only problem Tatars.

1480 No problems :D expantion time for Circassia!

History for the Game:

1480-1550 Everything is fine, expantion period.


1550-1600 Russian and Tatar pressure - main enemy Tatars.


1600-1650 Tatars are still main enemy, Russia applying some presure but without results. I think Ottomans campaign agains Russia slowed down Russian designs on Caucasus. Tatars constantly raiding North Caucasus.


(late game) 1700 Begining of the War against Russia. A huge tatar army enters Caucasus and is destroyed compelety by a much smaller army of local warriors (100 000) ending Tatar threat for good.

Circassians did have a navy (small and they were like war galleys each carrying 80-120 men). They used it to raid Russian Navy, but against Tatars or Ottomans not much record.


Circassian battle tactics:


War Cry--
Attack of the Fedayeen (s) (not always)--
Charge of the whole army
Destruction of the enemy (or if the enemy had enough canon opposite)

Guerilla on defence
Constant raids and harrasments. --->
Cutting suplies and reinforcements --->
Using Forest for cover and attacking from multiple sides --->
After the enemy gets really weak final attack and destroy.

Ambush
War Cry and a quick Charge.

[Inal_the_Great]

Circassian Leaders from the Period:

[cegorach]

Few notes to explain several things

- the database will be used first for MTW, later for MTW 2 if it is possible to place Circassian faction in MTW 2 at all ( if not some of the units could appear as rebels or mercenaries, or both),

- heroes

I need:
a) their stats - command, piety, acumen, loyalty, dread ( from 0 to 7 each) + a short description of this guy's character - was he merciless, devout, charitable etc

b) the year of appearance/birth,

c) portrait if you can find one,

- office titles

it is about offices like chancellor, senior religious leader etc - their description, name ( in local language) + proposals for stats and the building which gives the title ( everything can be used),

The rest very good.

Regards Cegorach

[Inal_the_Great]

Oh now its all clear give me a few days though...

Research need to be done!

[YanTraken]

Full List so far:

Adiga Dzhigit : Circassian Horseman :

Warq Dzhigit : Noble Horseman :

Abrek Dzhigit: Abrek Horseman :

Abrek : : Abrek

Fedayeen :Fedayeen

No offence Inal the Great but from those words I can only spell fedayeen,abrek and adiga:).I would have to "breake"my thong couple of times to be able to read that names .....Joke!
Still happy to have You with us,and thanks for all this work You make.
Keep it up

[Inal_the_Great]

Well actually mate I give it to you:

Circassian is the hardest language I ever known after the no: uno Chinese!

Thanks enjoying my time here!

[Inal_the_Great]

Oh quick note: (I cant edit)

I still cant speak Chinese actualy (i tried )

[beauchamp]

It looks like the "circassians" are in the Caucus, what really blunders me is what is their origins? Are they Orthodox or muslim? maybe a historical backround for us "historidorks" would be cool. Thanks

[Inal_the_Great]

Well their history goes back to at least 3000 BC But is covered with alot of mysteries (even though they recently archaeologists made alot of new discoveries).

Related people: Colchians, Cimmerians, Maeots, Sinds, Hitites (language is almost the same)...

They were warlike (they had to be since their lands were targeted by most powerful empires of their time).

But quickly jumping to our games time period:

They were Ortodox but throughout history Circassians were never very religious as a nation (which separated them from their eastern neigbours Chechens and in case of Christianity -Georgians-) who had somewhat similiar culture)

They were mostly still Pagans believing in their ancient mythologies ("The Nart Sagas" just google it if you want). Their were also some Muslims as a result of interaction with Tatars (both trade and war).

Ortodox Christianity was introduced by the Byzantine Empire...

Note: Circassians were not conquored by Byzantine Empire -peaceful ways- (or any other empire except the Russian in 1864)

They were not all Muslims in short, mostly Pagans along with some Christians and Muslims.
Not until Late 1700- early 1800.

[beauchamp]

wow, I had no idea they even exsisted! Im glad to know that, thank you.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Great info!

Does Dzigit mean horseman? If I'm reading it correctly (would be Жигит or something like that in Cyrillic, right?) it's a Turkic word and more or less corresponds to champion, brave etc.
.

[Inal_the_Great]

Hey there Mouzafphaerre -Victorian- ? Quite hard to spell that.

Well my cyrillic sux but yea I think you are correct that it is a Turkic word.

Dzhigit
Жигит

hmm

Hipip.. ok I give up

Probably from Avar language?

I am quite sure that this word was used by Circassians also but maybe it was only used by Avars and Chechens. Gonna double check

----------------------
beauchamp:

Yep they existed! But I am not that surprised you never heard of them, because; lets just say 70 (and as many years under opressive Czars) years under communist rule has contributed to silence them. and seems like 70+ years is enough for the world to forget a nation.

On the other hand they were quite famous for their resistance against Russia in 1800s and their women's beauty throughout the world.



I dont know if you are American but here is a interesting fact for you anyway: There were many Circassian Girls in American Circus during 1850s 60s. Most of these girls in reality were just local American girls acting as if they came from Caucasus .

(Discovered when a journalist asked afew questions about their past in Circassia! Which the girls responded by showing a great deal of ignorance about their own homeland )

[Inal_the_Great]

Okay these were really killing me...

I need:
a) their stats - command, piety, acumen, loyalty, dread ( from 0 to 7 each) + a short description of this guy's character - was he merciless, devout, charitable etc

b) the year of appearance/birth,

c) portrait if you can find one,

- office titles

it is about offices like chancellor, senior religious leader etc - their description, name ( in local language) + proposals for stats and the building which gives the title ( everything can be used),

But finally getting somewhere I am gonna post some later on today.

[Inal_the_Great]

Okay got new info on Fedayeen

It should be Tiley.

It is an ancient tradition in Caucasus, where in desparate times a young Circassian volunteers to become "the Tiley". Tiley are individual warriors. They are not like squads or companies.

They are usually around 15-16 years old. They wear red clothes, ride white horses.

They dont carry any defensive weapon, only offensive:

So for example no bow, but Silver Sword and dagger. a gold helmet.
They never run away from the enemy, tiley is similiar to sacrifice but without the religious susgestive weight on the word.

Tiley in Circassian means "Great Light" "Powerfull Light".

Since they are only individual warriors though maybe they should be included at all.

Although I admit I would love to see them charging by themselves infront of everyone!

So either case it is not Fedayeen or Fedayi Fedai whatever...

[Inal_the_Great]

Sorry guys I was busy with university lately but we got a break coming up soon!

Anyway...
-----------------
Okay Leaders:


Lets start from Inal the Great shall we?

command 6
piety 2
acumen 5
loyalty 7
dread 2

Straight from the History: To the Eighteen Century part of Amjad Jaimoukha's The Circassias book.

Prince Inal Teghen (Tighwen) -also refered as Great at some sources and parts of this same book-, one of the descendants of Abdun-Khan -another great leader outside games period-, assumed the reins of power in the 15th century. He was brave, prudent and generous. During his reign many people submitted to his rule and chose to become part of his state. He managed to unite the Circassians and Abkhazians into one empire -more like a large kingdom-, which he ruled for a long time. In 1509, he invaded Imeretia and subsequently routed an army of Western Georgians. It is most probable that Tzandia Inal Daphita, desecrated in the Gorgian Chronicles, was this self-same prince. However, after his demise Kabarda was riven into several rival principalites by his several sons. Civil war ensued in which the Kiakh -Western Circassians- were instrumental in installing Prince Idar as sole potentate. It was during this chaotic period that Prince Qanoqwe son of Beslan left Kabarda -Imagine Circassia-Kabarda to Britain-England to establish Beslanay tribe. -(My tribe! )-

the ones in - note - are mine.

He is probably the greatest Circassian leader in the game time period, (maybe even of all time).

Tell me if these make sense or not. more to come like this.



THIS SITE IS AWESOME!!!!!!

http://www.hostkingdom.net/caucasus.html

For picture it is the second guy on the portraits I send: the guy with the...ahmm... golden thingy on his head .

GO VISIT&CHECK IT OUT!

and...
sorry for the caps...

[Inal_the_Great]

Okay the Chronology Part 1:

Early XVI. Century: The Crimean Tatars, vassals of the Osmanlis, started to raid Circassian lands in Northern Caucasia.

1501: An Osmanli army commanded by Khaffi Mehmed invaded Circassia but the army was completely destroyed.

1554: The Kuban Circassians asked Muscovy for help against the Crimean Khanate because they could not stop the raids.

1556: While the Russians entered Crimea, Circassians captured the Osmanli forts of Temrük and Taman. After the destruction of the Khanate of Astrakhan, the Russians began to improve their relationships with the peoples of Caucasia.

1557: Circassian princes Mashuk and Sibok went to Moscow and entered into the tsar's service. They were later "Russified" and their families were called as "Cherkassi".

1582: Psyhuaben Circassians entered into Russian rule after being confronted by the Tatars and Kalmuks.

1604: Tsar Boris Godunov sent the Vojvode Buturlin to Northern Caucasia with an army of 10,000 troops. The atrocities committed by the Russians caused the popularity of Russians to decline among the Circassians while the expansionist plans of the Russians were revelad.

1622: Russians defeated the princes of Kaziy after they rose up aganist them.