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The Circassian “Franks”: Ethno-cultural Community at the Junction of Civilizations
The article is devoted to the explanation of the social and political conditions of formation of the Frankish-Circassian or Genoese-Circassian ethnic and social community. The lifetime of this community – the end of 13th – first
half of the 17th century. The territory of the formation were the western regions of Circassia, and the eastern part of the Crimean peninsula. The process touched, apparently, all the social strata of the two nations, including most noble families.
Social and political conditions of the process were due to a great interest of the participants of the Italic colonization of the Black Sea in maintaining friendly contacts with representatives of indigenous peoples. Circassia was a Christian
country, which also contributed to matrimonial unions. The second major source for the formation of community – an export of Circassian slaves in Caff a and other Genoese towns. But for the emergence of a sustainable community are
more important the contacts between free people, who have their own property. Considering political and economic importance of Circassia, kinship and language skills could provide signifi cant opportunities for a small but infl uential
community of Circassian “Franks”. No coincidence that this community lasted until the 17th century and outlived the Genoese Caff a for more than one and a half century.
half of the 17th century. The territory of the formation were the western regions of Circassia, and the eastern part of the Crimean peninsula. The process touched, apparently, all the social strata of the two nations, including most noble families.
Social and political conditions of the process were due to a great interest of the participants of the Italic colonization of the Black Sea in maintaining friendly contacts with representatives of indigenous peoples. Circassia was a Christian
country, which also contributed to matrimonial unions. The second major source for the formation of community – an export of Circassian slaves in Caff a and other Genoese towns. But for the emergence of a sustainable community are
more important the contacts between free people, who have their own property. Considering political and economic importance of Circassia, kinship and language skills could provide signifi cant opportunities for a small but infl uential
community of Circassian “Franks”. No coincidence that this community lasted until the 17th century and outlived the Genoese Caff a for more than one and a half century.
Circassians, Genoese, Circassian “Franks”, Cherkesogai, Zaccaria de Ghisolfi , Carlo de’Me