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	== History ==		== History ==
	{{totallydisputed}}
	===Pre-history===
⚫	The ] tribes, the ~~ancestors~~ of the Chechens and ], lived in the ~~mountains~~ of the region since the ] (there is archeological evidence of historical continuity dating back since 10,000 B.C.<ref name="science">{{cite journal \|author=Bernice Wuethrich \|year=2000 \|month=19 May \|title=Peering Into the Past, With Words \|journal=] \|volume=288 \|issue=5469 \|pages=1158 \|url=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/288/5469/1158 \|doi=10.1126/science.288.5469.1158}}</ref>). In the 16th century, they began ~~migrating~~ to the ]s ~~where they established contact with~~ the ~~Russian ], as~~ ] of the Chechen people began under the influence of bordering nationalities.<ref name="chechenya">Sven Gunnar Simonsen, ''Chechnya''</ref> relations turned hostile. In 1711, in agreement of the Persian shah, the Terek Cossack abandoned the right-bank Terek, although many would continue to use the excessive land and vineyards right up to the end of the 18th century. This allowed the Chechens to migrate to the low region, however after intense skirmishes, first in 1731 and then again in 1765, the Terek Cossacks allowed Chechens to settle on the right bank Terek forming a neutral zone of peaceful Chechens to mediate between the hostile mountonous tribes and the Russians.
	===Caucasus War & Russian Empire===
	Yet by the start of the 19th century this arrangement was no gaurantee for peace, such began the long ] which saw the Chechens as one of the prime resistance forces to Russian expansion. This period was followed by the long and difficult Russian expansion into the Caucasus, when the Chechens with their extensive lowlands territory and access to the central pass were prime targets of the Russian conquest efforts. Known for brutality on both sides, eventually the Chechens were driven from the lowland after ] built the ] line in the 1820s. However it would take another four decades for the Russians to fully pacify the region. The casulties this brought on the Chechen population was also severe, many became the '']'' ]s ] or were forcibly deported to the ].<ref name="nichols"/>

		⚫	The ] tribes, the ]s of the Chechens and ], lived in the ]s of the region since the ] (there is ] evidence of historical continuity dating back since 10,000 B.C.<ref name="science">{{cite journal \|author=Bernice Wuethrich \|year=2000 \|month=19 May \|title=Peering Into the Past, With Words \|journal=] \|volume=288 \|issue=5469 \|pages=1158 \|url=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/288/5469/1158 \|doi=10.1126/science.288.5469.1158}}</ref>). In the 16th century, they began settling in the ]s and the ] of the Chechen people began under the influence of bordering nationalities.<ref name="chechenya">Sven Gunnar Simonsen, ''Chechnya''</ref>
	After the war ended in 1860, the Chechens were left with only highland mountous zones, and though the area was peaceful, there was never mutual respect for the Russians living in the lowlands. As the population grew, the limited space for land ownership was a key issue and the result was that Chechens rebelled several times first during the ] and again during the ]. After the latter event, the Tsarist government did attempt to make some concessions to the Chechens, the famous ] was formed in the Imperial Russian Army.
	===Early Soviet times===
	After the ] in March ] the Chechens led by ] in non-violent political motives formed the ] along with other neighbouring peoples. Yet as the ] gained pace after the ] the Chechens found their old adversary the ] and the rich land they owned to be a prime target. Because the Bolshevism viewed Cossacks as one of the biggest threats, after the defeat of ] in 1920, several thousand Terek Cossack stanitsas were deported and the land was granted to the Chechens, for their aid in victory of Bolshevism.

			This period was followed by the long and difficult Russian expansion into the Caucasus, when the Chechens some of the prime targets and most bitter ] of the Russian Empire's ] efforts. During the wars, large numbers of lives due to the Russian ] tactics which decimated the local population as the ]ist troops tried to break the fierce resistance while large numbers of the '']'' ]s ] or were forcibly ] to the ].<ref name="nichols"/> Since then there have been various Chechen ]s against Russian power, as well as resistance to ] and the ]'s ] and ] ]s.
	The ] policy formed the ] within the ], and handed it extensive territory of the former Sunzha Cossacks (with exception around the city of Grozny and the region between modern northweste Chechnya where a Sunzha Cossack District was formed). The 1920s also saw the development of Chechen writing and modernisation of their culture. However after the 1930s the Soviet policy was switched from korenizatsiya to building of the Soviet Union. The autonomies, such as the Chechen A.O. themselves economically were failing, and Chechens resisted the attempts at ] and ] policies of the early 1930s. Thus in 1934 the Sunzha Cossack district, city of Grozny, and the Ingush Autonomous Oblast were merged into the Chechen-Ingush A.O. which was elevated into ] in December 1936. By 1939 Chechens made up 368446 people of the republic population of 697009. <ref> </ref>
	===Deporatation===
	However inspired by the Finnish success in the ] and the ] ] began the ] <ref> </ref>, this intensified as the Germans approached the Caucasus. In some areas up to 80% of the populations backed the insurgency.<ref name="Avtor">{{ru_icon}} </ref> Moreover after German Paratroopers landed in the area, and the wide scale desertion that the Chechen insurgency caused in the ranks among the Chechen soldiers in the ] (62,750 from one source <ref name="Abramyan">{{ru_icon}} Эдуард Абрамян. Кавказцы в Абвере. М. "Яуза", 2006</ref>). In February 1944 ] initiated ] which included an ] deportation to ]. The hard transporation, and lack of proper housing in the new regions caused at least a quarter and maybe more to die within the first four years. <ref name="nichols"/>.{{dubious}}

			In 1944 the Moscow's repressions gained apogeum as the Chechens and Ingush, together with several other ], were ordered by ] to be all deported '']'' to Kazakhstan and ] and at least one-quarter and perhaps half of the entire Chechen nation perished in the process.<ref name="nichols"/> Though "]" in 1956 and allowed to return the next year, the survivors lost ] ]s and ] and, under both Soviet and post-Soviet governments, they have been the objects of (official and unofficial) ] and discriminatory ] ].<ref name="nichols"/> The Chechen attempts to regain ] in the 1990s after the ] led to the two next bloody wars with the new Russian state since 1994.
	===Return & latter Soviet times===
	The autonomy was disestablished and partioned into the ], which was now settled by Russians and other migrants from the destroyed regions of Western USSR that was occupied by the Nazis. In 1956 ] rehabilitated most of repressed minorities, and the Chechens living in exile were now allowed to travel to any destination of their choosing. Many took this opportunity to return to their ancestoral homeland, but this created problems with the now dominant Russian popualated ] as well as other areas administered by the neighbouring Soviet republics when the ChIASSR was partitioned. Immediately questions were raised about the re-establishment of the autonomy, and on ], ] the republic was re-instated <ref name="Reinstate">{{Cite Russian law
	\|ru_entity=Президиум Верховного Совета РСФСР
	\|ru_type=Указ
	\|ru_date=9 января 1957 г
	\|ru_title=О восстановлении Чечено-Ингушской АССР и упразднении Грозненской области
	\|en_entity=Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR
	\|en_type=Decree
	\|en_date=], ]
	\|en_title=On Reinstatement of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR and on Abolishment of Grozny Oblast
	}}</ref> However as this was not done in the previous pre-1944 borders, and parts of the Terek Cossack ancestoral left bank homeland (Naursky and Shelkovsky homeland) was added to the republic. This was done for two reasons, primarily due to the firm economic ties they developed to Grozny, but also because they became the central settlement zones for the returning Chechens (to avoid them being re-settled into the mountainous zones).

	Upon return, the deported peoples were met negatively by the region's still pre-dominant Russian population, especially in the feuds over land and homes. This erupted in the August ] where the Russians demanded that either the Grozny Oblast be restored or the ChIASSR be transformed into a republic with no titular nation like neighbouring Dagestan. The riot was put down by the Soviet ].

	As a result of this, by the mid-1970s a systematic emigration of Russians from the republic started, due to the social discirimation in favour of the ] (all administrative roles of Checheno-Ingushetia by the late 1970s were held by Chechens). If in 1970 the Chechens made up 508898 of the total 1064471 with Russians 366959, by 1989 the Chechens were a clear majority with a population of 734501 out of 1270429 with number Russians falling to 293771.<ref> 1989 census</ref>

	===The 1990s and 21st century===

	By the end of the 1980s, Chechens formed the majority in all mountanous regions, and half of the population in traditional ethnic Russian/Cossack regions (Terek left bank, Sunzha, major cities) the catalyst was set for the mass ] of the Russian population that took place in the 1990s. This went in conjuction with rising nationalism and seccesionism which led to the ] in 1994-1996. The result was terrible for both sides of the conflict, Russia suffered a humiliating defeat, whilst most of Chechnya's infrastructure was left destroyed. Russian withdrawl allowed for an break-away ] to form, however the ] prompted the start of the ]. This time Russian Army was amore determined and by 2000 has took over all of steppe and lowland Chechnya. By 2003 a loyal government led by ] was set-up and by 2008 most of infrastructure has been repaired.

	{{seealso\|History of Chechnya}}		{{seealso\|History of Chechnya}}

Revision as of 16:26, 3 July 2008

Ethnic group

Chechens (Noxçi)
Regions with significant populations
File:Famchechensrev002.jpg
Russia	1.36 million (including in Chechnya)
Chechnya	1,031,000
Ingushetia	95,000 (down from est. 180,000 in early 2002)
Turkey	100,000
Dagestan	88,000
Moscow	14,000 (registered) 80,000 (estimated)
Kazakhstan	75,000
Stavropol Krai	13,000
Azerbaijan	10,000
Jordan	8,000
Egypt	5,000
Georgia	4,000 (not including 7,000 Kist people)
Syria	4,000
Iraq	2,500
Languages
Chechen, Russian
Religion
Sunni Islam (Sufism)
Related ethnic groups
Ingush, Bats, Kists

Chechens (Chechen: Hохчи / Noxçi) constitute the largest native ethnic group originating in the North Caucasus region. They refer to themselves as Nokhchii (singular Nokhchi or Nokhcho), which comes from the name of a large Chechen tribe, the Nokhchmekhkakhoi, and their homeland.

The isolated mountain terrain of the Caucasus and the strategic value outsiders have placed on the areas settled by Chechens has contributed much to the Chechen community ethos and helped shape a unique national character.

Origins of the word Chechen

The term "Chechen" is ultimately believed to derive from the Iranian name for the Nokhchii and it first occurs in Arabic sources from the 8th century. According to popular tradition, the Russian term "Chechen" comes from the name of the village of Chechen-Aul, where the Chechens defeated Russian soldiers in 1732. The word "Chechen", however, occurs in Russian sources as early as 1692 and the Russians probably derived it from the Kabardian Shashan.

Geography

The Chechen people are mainly inhabitants of Chechnya, which is internationally recognized as part of the Russian Federation. There are also significant Chechen populations in other subdivisions of Russia (especially in Dagestan, Ingushetia and Moscow).

Outside Russia, countries with significant Chechen diaspora populations are Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and the Arab world (especially Jordan and Syria). These are mainly descendants of people who had to leave Chechnya during the Caucasian War (which led to the annexing of Chechnya by the Russian Empire around 1850) and the 1944 Stalinist deportation in the case of Kazakhstan. More recently, tens of thousands of Chechen refugees settled in the European Union and elsewhere as the result of the Chechen Wars, especially after 2002.

History

The Vainakh tribes, the ancestors of the Chechens and Ingush, lived in the highlands of the region since the prehistory (there is archeological evidence of historical continuity dating back since 10,000 B.C.). In the 16th century, they began settling in the lowlands and the Islamization of the Chechen people began under the influence of bordering nationalities.

This period was followed by the long and difficult Russian expansion into the Caucasus, when the Chechens some of the prime targets and most bitter resitants of the Russian Empire's conquest efforts. During the wars, large numbers of lives due to the Russian scorched earth tactics which decimated the local population as the tsarist troops tried to break the fierce resistance while large numbers of the muhajir refugees emigrated or were forcibly deported to the Ottoman Empire. Since then there have been various Chechen rebellions against Russian power, as well as resistance to Russification and the Soviet Union's collectivization and antireligious campaigns.

In 1944 the Moscow's repressions gained apogeum as the Chechens and Ingush, together with several other peoples of the Caucasus, were ordered by Joseph Stalin to be all deported en masse to Kazakhstan and Siberia and at least one-quarter and perhaps half of the entire Chechen nation perished in the process. Though "rehabilitated" in 1956 and allowed to return the next year, the survivors lost economic resources and civil rights and, under both Soviet and post-Soviet governments, they have been the objects of (official and unofficial) discrimination and discriminatory public discourse. The Chechen attempts to regain independence in the 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union led to the two next bloody wars with the new Russian state since 1994.

Language

Main article: Chechen language

The main languages of the Chechen people are Chechen and Russian. Chechen belongs to the family of Nakh languages (North-Central Caucasian Languages). Literary Chechen is based on the central lowland dialect. Other related languages include Ingush, which has speakers in the nearby Ingushetia, and Batsi, which is the language of the people in the adjoing part of Georgia.

Culture

Main article: Chechen culture

Prior to the adoption of Islam, the Chechens practiced a unique blend of religious traditions and beliefs. They partook in numerous rites and rituals, many of them pertaining to farming; these included rain rites, a celebration that occurred on the first day of plowing, as well as the Day of the Thunderer Sela and the Day of the Goddess Tusholi.

Chechen society is structured around tukhum (unions of clans) and about 130 teip, or clans. The teips are based more on land than on blood and have an uneasy relationship in peacetime, but are bonded together during war. Teips are further subdivided into gar (branches), and gars into nekye (patronymic families). The Chechen social code is called nokhchallah (where Nokhcho stands for "Chechen") and may be loosely translated as "Chechen character". The Chechen code of honor implies moral and ethical behavior, generosity and the will to safeguard the honor of women.

Religion

Chechnya is predominantly Muslim. Some adhere to a Sufi tradition called Muridism, while about half of Chechens belong to Sufi brotherhoods, or tariqah. The two Sufi tariqas that spread in the North Caucasus were the Naqshbandiya and the Qadiriya. The Naqshbandiya is particularly strong in Dagestan and eastern Chechnya, whereas the Qadiriya has most of its adherents in the rest of Chechnya and Ingushetia.

Almost all Chechens belong to the Hanafi school of thought of Sunni Islam. Salafism was introduced to the population in the 1950s. Some of the rebels involved in the modern Chechen wars are Salafis, but the majority are not.