Circassians in Romania
The Circassians in Romania (Circassian: Урымыныем ис Адыгэхэр, Wurımınıyem yis Adıgəxər; Romanian: cerchezi or circazieni) were an ethnic minority in the territory that constitutes modern Romania. The presence of people with names derived from the Circassians in lands belonging now to Romania was attested since at least the 15th century. For the next few centuries, these records of such people in the Romanian principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia would continue.
Circassian: Урымыныем ис Адыгэхэр Romanian: Cerchezii din România | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| Unknown (present) 10,000 (mid-19th century) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Northern Dobruja (formerly) | |
| Languages | |
| Circassian, others | |
| Religion | |
| Mainly Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Circassians |
In 1864, as a result of the Circassian genocide, a total of 10,000 Circassians would settle in Northern Dobruja, where they would remain for about 14 years until their expulsion as agreed in the Treaty of San Stefano, which gave this region to Romania. This Dobrujan Circassian community influenced the area, having indirectly funded the construction of buildings still standing today in Tulcea and having two Romanian villages in Northern Dobruja, Cerchezu and Slava Cercheză, named after them.
Today, there are some people in both Romania and the closely related Moldova with the surname Cerchez or similar, which are clearly derived from the Circassians. In 1989, there were about 99 Circassians in Moldova, although the existence of a Circassian minority in Romania had most likely already ended by the time the 20th century had started due to assimilation.