Shuwpagwe Qalawebateqo () was a
Circassian politician and military commander who served as the
1st leader of the
Circassian Confederation from 1807 to 1827. He took part in the
Russo-Circassian War
The Russo-Circassian War ( ady, Урыс-адыгэ зауэ, translit=Wurıs-adığə zawə; ; 1763–1864; also known as the Russian Invasion of Circassia) was the invasion of Circassia by Russia, starting in July 17, 1763 ( O.S) with the Ru ...
. Not much is recorded about Qalawebateqo.
Biography
Early life
Not much is recorded about Qalawebateqo, as
Circassians
The Circassians (also referred to as Cherkess or Adyghe; Adyghe and Kabardian: Адыгэхэр, romanized: ''Adıgəxər'') are an indigenous Northwest Caucasian ethnic group and nation native to the historical country-region of Circassia in ...
did not write down their history, and all knowledge comes from Russian and British sources. His exact birth date is not known. Of Circassian
Natukhaj
The Natukhaj, Natuqwai or Natukhai ( ady, НатIхъуадж, Натыхъуэдж, Нэткъуадж, Нэтыхъуай, translit=Nat'xhwadj, Natıxhwədj, Nətquadj, Nətıxhway; ; ) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representi ...
nobility, he was raised with a martial education.
Name
His name translates to "Shuwpagwe, son of Qalubat". In 1807, Shuwpagwe Qalawebateqo self-proclaimed himself as the leader of the Circassian confederation, and divided Circassia into 12 major regions.
[Berkok, İsmail. ''Tarihte Kafkasya''][KAFFED, ''Çerkes Özgürlük Meclisi''][These regions were Shapsugo-]Natukhaj
The Natukhaj, Natuqwai or Natukhai ( ady, НатIхъуадж, Натыхъуэдж, Нэткъуадж, Нэтыхъуай, translit=Nat'xhwadj, Natıxhwədj, Nətquadj, Nətıxhway; ; ) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representi ...
, Abdzakh
The Abzakh ( Circassian: Абдзэх, ''Abdzekh''; Russian: абадзехи; also known as Abdzakhs or Abadzekhs) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representing one of the twelve stars on the green-and-gold Circassian flag. Histori ...
, Chemguy, Barakay, Bzhedug
Bjedugh, Bzhedug or Bazdug ( ady, Бжъэдыгъу, ''Bjzədıuğ'', ; russian: Бжедуги, ) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes.
Many of them immigrated to Turkey in the 1860s, but there is still a community of Bzhedug on the l ...
, Kabardo-Besleney
The Besleney ( Circassian: Bеслъэней, ''Bestləney'', ; russian: Бесленеевцы ) (also known as Beslenei or Baslaney) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representing one of the twelve stars on the green-and-gold Circa ...
, Hatuqway
The Hatuqway ( ady, Хьатыкъуай, translit=Hatıqway; tr, Hatukay; ar, حتوقاي, links=, translit=Hatuqway; ; russian: Хатукай, translit=Khatukai) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representing one of the twelv ...
, Makhosh
The Makhosh"Čerkesses". ''E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913–1936''. Volume II. Leiden, 1987. p. 834. 9789004082656 () were one of the Circassian tribes. The tribe was mostly annihilated in the Circassian genocide following the Rus ...
, Bashilbey, Taberda, Abkhazia
Abkhazia, ka, აფხაზეთი, tr, , xmf, აბჟუა, abzhua, or ( or ), officially the Republic of Abkhazia, is a partially recognised state in the South Caucasus, recognised by most countries as part of Georgia, which vi ...
and Ubykh.
Participation in the Russo-Circassian War
Qalawebateqo was a respected person all around Circassia and fought in the Russo-Circassian War.
Leadership
In 1807, Shuwpagwe Qalawebateqo self-proclaimed himself as the leader of the Circassian confederation, and divided Circassia into 12 major regions.
[Berkok, İsmail. ''Tarihte Kafkasya''][KAFFED, ''Çerkes Özgürlük Meclisi''] These regions were
Shapsugo-
Natukhaj
The Natukhaj, Natuqwai or Natukhai ( ady, НатIхъуадж, Натыхъуэдж, Нэткъуадж, Нэтыхъуай, translit=Nat'xhwadj, Natıxhwədj, Nətquadj, Nətıxhway; ; ) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representi ...
,
Abdzakh
The Abzakh ( Circassian: Абдзэх, ''Abdzekh''; Russian: абадзехи; also known as Abdzakhs or Abadzekhs) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representing one of the twelve stars on the green-and-gold Circassian flag. Histori ...
,
Chemguy, Barakay,
Bzhedug
Bjedugh, Bzhedug or Bazdug ( ady, Бжъэдыгъу, ''Bjzədıuğ'', ; russian: Бжедуги, ) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes.
Many of them immigrated to Turkey in the 1860s, but there is still a community of Bzhedug on the l ...
,
Kabardo-
Besleney
The Besleney ( Circassian: Bеслъэней, ''Bestləney'', ; russian: Бесленеевцы ) (also known as Beslenei or Baslaney) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representing one of the twelve stars on the green-and-gold Circa ...
,
Hatuqway
The Hatuqway ( ady, Хьатыкъуай, translit=Hatıqway; tr, Hatukay; ar, حتوقاي, links=, translit=Hatuqway; ; russian: Хатукай, translit=Khatukai) are one of the twelve major Circassian tribes, representing one of the twelv ...
,
Makhosh
The Makhosh"Čerkesses". ''E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913–1936''. Volume II. Leiden, 1987. p. 834. 9789004082656 () were one of the Circassian tribes. The tribe was mostly annihilated in the Circassian genocide following the Rus ...
, Bashilbey, Taberda,
Abkhazia
Abkhazia, ka, აფხაზეთი, tr, , xmf, აბჟუა, abzhua, or ( or ), officially the Republic of Abkhazia, is a partially recognised state in the South Caucasus, recognised by most countries as part of Georgia, which vi ...
and
Ubykh.
In 1827,
Ismail Berzeg
Hajji Ismail Dogomuqo Berzeg (1763–1846) was a Circassian military commander and politician who served as the 2nd leader of the Circassian Confederation from 1827 to 1839. He was also the princely leader of the Ubykh tribe. He took part in b ...
officially declared the military confederation of the Circassian tribes. By the end of 1839, he managed to unite a significant part of the population under his control.
[D, S. ''Kronolojik Savaş Tarihi''] His nominal reign therefore came to an end.
Death
His death circumstances are not recorded in Russian, British or Circassian sources, and remain unknown.
References
{{Reflist
People of the Caucasian War
North Caucasian independence activists
Circassian military personnel of the Russo-Circassian War
Circassian nobility