About Circassian history:
In the 12th and 13th centuries, there was a thriving trade in Adyge slaves on the slave markets of Middle Eastern countries, especially Egypt, where sultans acquired them as additions to their Mameluke guard. The influx of slaves allowed one of the Adyge, Al-Malik-az-Zakhir Barkuk al Cherkesi, to seize power in Egypt and found the Circassian dynasty of Mamelukes, which ruled Egypt and Syria from 1382 to 1517. The Mamelukes finally disappeared from the Middle Eastern political arena in 1811. The Circassian Mamelukes left a significant imprint on the history and culture of Egypt, Syria, and the entire Middle East. They repelled invasions of Crusaders, halted the onslaught of the conqueror Tamerlane, and greatly extended the boundaries of the Mameluke state. During the period of Circassian rule, architecture progressed significantly; irrigation systems were built; and poets, musicians, philosophers, and historians enjoyed special patronage.
The below picture is taken in the mosque of el Sultan Barkuk, I don’t know if this sultan is the same El Malik El Zakhir Barkuk El Sharkassi…
By this post I wanted to differentiate between the Cherkess era in Egypt (ayam el mamalik in the 15th century), and the mass migrations that reached Middle East (including Egypt) following the end of the Caucasian War in the 19th century.
Some sources applauded them by saying that “During the period of Circassian rule, architecture progressed significantly; irrigation systems were built; and poets, musicians, philosophers, and historians enjoyed special patronage”, but others said that “ The period of their rule is said to have been the darkest points in Egyptian history. Even from the beginning of Barkuq, who was the first Burgi Mameluke, Cairo began to be like a dog eat dog world.”
If you have circassian origins and / or have more info about them, please let me know. I would love to hear about it.