Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 17, 2026

Chemguys

The Chemguy or Chemirgoy, are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representing one of the twelve stars on the green-and-gold Circassian flag. They lived between the lower flows of the Belaya and Laba Rivers and their lands extended north to the Kuban. After the end of the Caucasian War, most Chemguy resettled in other Circassian villages, as well as in Turkey and in other parts of the Middle East. In Turkey, the majority of the population of the village Hadzhimukohabl are Chemguy. While there are many Chemguys in Adygea, Chemguys have the lowest populated diaspora community out of all Circassian tribes.

Last revised
Jul 17, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
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348 w
Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Chemguys
КIэмыргуэй
The tamga of the Boletoqo princely dynasty of the Chemguy and the Circassian flag
Regions with significant populations
Russia ( Adygea)
Turkey
Languages
Adyghe, Russian, Turkish
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Other Adyghe tribes, Abkhaz, Abaza

The Chemguya or Chemirgoy, (also called Temirgoyb by Russians) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representing one of the twelve stars on the green-and-gold Circassian flag.1 They lived between the lower flows of the Belaya and Laba Rivers and their lands extended north to the Kuban.2 After the end of the Caucasian War, most Chemguy resettled in other Circassian villages (e.g. Bzhedugii, Kabarda, Urupskiy), as well as in Turkey and in other parts of the Middle East. In Turkey, the majority of the population of the village Hadzhimukohabl (now Dondukovskaya) are Chemguy. While there are many Chemguys in Adygea, Chemguys have the lowest populated diaspora community out of all Circassian tribes.3

The Chemguy live mainly in Adygea. The Chemguy dialect of Adyghe (КIэмыргъуэйбзэ), as well as the Bzhedug dialect, are the main languages of the Circassians in the Republic of Adygea.

History

Approximate location of Circassian princedoms, Tsutsiev's Atlas

The Chemguys were one of the strongest and most powerful Circassian tribes. Sources note that Chemguy tribe was richer than its neighbors. They cultivated cattle breeding and agriculture: millet, corn, wheat, rye and sunflower. Class differentiation in Chemguy tribe was very clear. The most important family of princely origin was Boletoqo, which was ruling the Chemguy, Yegeruko and Mamheg tribes. After the Caucasian war many Chemguy left for Turkey.

See also

See also

Notes

Notes

  1. Adyghe: КIэмгуй [tʃ'ɐmɣʷɘj], КIэмыргъуэй [tʃ'ɐmɘrɣʷɐj], or КIьэмгуе; Turkish: Çemguylar Kemirguveyler
  2. Russian: Темиргоевцы, pronounced [tʲɪmʲɪrgɐˈjeft͡sɨ]
References

References

  1. "Circassians". Adiga-home.net. 2010. Archived from the original on August 20, 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2016. The 12 Circassian tribes: Abadzeh Besleney Bzhedug Yegeruqay Zhaney Kabarday Mamheg Natuhay Temirgoy Ubyh Shapsug Hatukay. The twelve stars on the Adyghe Flag also refers to the twelve tribes.
  2. "Kafkas Vakfı". www.kafkas.org.tr. Archived from the original on 2013-04-08. Retrieved 2026-04-24.
  3. "Kafkas Dernekleri Federasyonu". www.kafkasfederasyonu.org. Archived from the original on 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2026-04-24.