This is an incomplete list of world-famous or notable Circassians, including both full Circassians and people of at least 50% Circassian descent. Figures who belong in two categories (i.e. a military officer who is also a politician) have only been placed in one of the categories. In previous usage, the term Circassian also included the Abkhazians.
Cultural (* = Circassian descent only on paternal side)
(** = Circassian descent only on maternal side)
Cultural figures Tevfik Esenç – Last known fully competent speaker of the Ubykh language.
Historians and writers Hayriye-Melech Xhundj – One of the first woman Circassian writers Nâzım Hikmet** – Poet, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, director and memoirist.Selected poems, Nazim Hikmet translated by Ruth Christie, Richard McKane, Talat Sait Halman, Anvil press Poetry, 2002, p.9 Amirkhan Kamizovich Shomakhov – lyrics, prose, and play writer, primarily known as one of the founders of the Kabardian children's literatureThe Great Soviet Encyclopedia / ed. Marron Waxman. – 3-rd Edition. – New York : Mac-Millan, Inc., 1970—1979; Ahmed Shawqi – Egyptian poet-Laureate Fekry Pasha Abaza - Egyptian writer and political activist. Kuba Shaabanhttp://www.natpress.net/index.php?newsid=457 Via Natpress (Russian Language) – writer, poet, musician and historian. Tharwat Abaza -Egyptian novelist and journalist. Hasan Cemal** – Turkish journalist, historian and writer Nadine Jolie Courtney – American journalist and author of Beauty Confidential and All-American Muslim Girl Mohydeen Izzat Quandour – Writer, intellectual, film producer and director, and musician Amjad JaimoukhaMamser, M., 2009, entry "Amjad Jaimoukha." In: The Circassian Encyclopaedia. – One of the most influential Circassian writers and publicists Aziz Pasha Abaza - a significant figure in modern Arabic poetry. Kostë Çekrezi* – also known as Constantin Anastas Chekrezi, was an Albanian patriot, historian, and publicist. He was Circassian by origin through his father's family. Orhan Pamuk – Nobel Laureate Shora Nogmov – Kabardian historian and public figure
Architects
Ali Maher – Jordanian architect
Military officers
Ancient Hekataios of Sindike – king of the Sindians throughout the reign of both Satyros I and Leukon I, rulers of the Bosporan Kingdom. Oktamasades of Sindike – king of the Sindians. He usurped the throne from his father some time in 383 BC after his failed war against Oktamasades's mother, Tirgatao.
1st–17th century
Princes of Circassia Inal the Great – Supreme Prince (King) of Circassia from 1427 to 1453 who unified all Circassians (then divided into several princedoms) into one state.
Princes of Kabardia Idar of Kabardia – Supreme Prince of Kabardia. He was the son of Prince Inarmaz, and the grandson of Prince Tabula. Prince Inarmaz himself was the eldest of the three grandsons of Prince Inal. His rule spanned over the period of 1525 to 1540. Temruqo the Brave – Supreme Prince of Kabardia. When Temruqo came to power, he put down the revolts of the disputing princes, and helped Circassia become a military power within the North Caucasus. Beslan the Fat – Supreme Prince of Kabardia Sholokh the Mighty – Supreme Prince of Kabardia Kurghoqo Hatokhshoqo – Supreme Prince of Kabardia who won the Battle of Kanzhal. Jankhot Qushuq – Last Supreme Prince of Kabardia.
Safavid people Yusuf Agha – Safavid gholam and courtier who wielded great influence and power during the reign of king Abbas I. Qazaq Khan Cherkes – Safavid military commander who also served as the governor of Shirvan (1624–1633) and Astarabad (1639–1640) Farhad Beg Cherkes – Safavid military commander Behbud Khan Cherkes – Safavid military commander Fereydun Khan Cherkes – Safavid military commander who served as the governor of Astarabad Najafqoli Khan Cherkes – Safavid military commander who served as the governor of Shirvan and Erivan
18th–19th century
Russo-Circassian War participants Qalebatuqo Hatuqay Shupako – politician and military commander who served as the 1st leader of the Circassian Confederation from 1807 to 1827.A.Ü. Arşivi, XII.V, Çerkez tarihi liderleriХункаров, Д. Урыс-Адыгэ зауэ Ismail Berzeg – 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.В. И. Ворошилов. История убыхов: очерки по истории и этнографии Большого Сочи с древнейших времен до середины XIX в. (рус.). – Майкоп: Афиша, 2006. – .Г. И. Филипсон. Воспоминания (рус.). – М.: Кучково поле, 2019. – С. 236, 238, 316, 321. – (Военные мемуары). – . Seferbiy Zaneqo – military commander and diplomat who served as the 5th leader of the Circassian Confederation from 1859 to 1860.BOA, Hariciye Nezâreti Siyasî Kısım [HR.SYS.], 1345/94, 22 Safer 1270 [24 November 1853]Sadâret Divan-I Hümayun Kalemi [A.DVN.], 94/2, 25 Safer 1270 [27 November 1853] Qerandiqo Berzeg – military commander who served as the 6th and last leader of the Circassian Confederation from 1860 to 1864. After the Circassian genocide, he was exiled to the Ottoman Empire, volunteered in the Ottoman army against Russia, and died there of old age. Kizbech Tughuzhuqo – military commander who took part in the Russo-Circassian War. Personally witnessing all of his family get killed by the Russian army, he received multiple offers from the Russian Empire to switch sides and join its Imperial ranks but he refused all offers and closed negotiations. Jembulat Boletoqo – military commander, politician, nobleman and leader of the Chemguy region.Novitskii G.V. Vospominaniya Vospitannika Pervogo Vypuska Iz Artilleriiskogo Uchilisha. Voennyi Sbornik. No 2, 1871, p. 305Stal' K.F. Etnograficheskii Ocherk Cherkesskogo Naroda. Kavkazskii Sbornik (Tiflis, 1900), v. 21, p. 84. He was famous for his courage and tough will.Stahl, K. F.: "had a tremendous influence on the entire Trans-Kuban region. He was famous for his courage, strong character and tough will. This was the last representative of the chivalrous generation of the former Circassian princes."Potto, V. A.: "With fearlessness he combined an extraordinary gift of eloquence, an astute mind, an iron will ... Whole legends circulated about him, and folk bards praised his deeds in their songs." He had great influence among all Circassians, including the Abzakhs, with whom he was associated with. Qerzech Shirikhuqo – military commander and the leader of the Natukhaj region.Bell, 2.190 Pshiquy Akhezhaqo – politician, military commander and the leader prince of the Bzhedug region.Очерки по истории Адыгеи. Том 1. Майкоп, 1957. Под. Ред. Бушуева С. К. Ale Khirtsizhiqo – military commander from the Abzakh region.Peneshu, Asker. Khirtsizhiqo Ale
20th–21st century
Ottoman military officers Çerkes Ethem – guerilla leader, social bandit, efe and soldier. Nicknamed the "Rankless General" by his supporters and crowned as the "National Hero" by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, he initially gained fame for establishing the Kuva-yi Seyyare and putting down multiple great-scale rebellions and gaining key major victories against the Greek armies invading Anatolia during the Turkish War of Independence. Yusuf Izzet Pasha – a general of the Ottoman Army and the Turkish Army. Suleyman Askeri Pasha – Ottoman soldier and co founder of the Teşkilât-ı Mahsusa (Special Organisation)Şevket Süreyya Aydemir, Makedonyaʾdan Orta Asyaʾya Enver Paşa: cilt III: 1914-1922, Remzi kitabevi, p. 192. Yakub Cemil – Ottoman revolutionary and soldier, who assassinated Nazım Pasha during the 1913 Ottoman coup d'état. Mufid Bey Libohova – Albanian economist, diplomat and politician and one of the delegates at the Assembly of Vlorë (28 November 1912) where the Albanian Declaration of Independence took place. He served as the first Minister of Interior of Albania, during the Provisional Government of Albania. His mother Behixhe Hamza was a Circassian from Tuapse. He served as an Ottoman official before the independence of Albania. Zeki Pasha – WWI and Balkan Wars field marshal Arslan Toğuz – police commissioner of the Ottoman Empire Rüştü Sakarya – officer of Ottoman army
Turkish military officers Cemil Cahit Toydemir – Officer of the Ottoman Army and a general of the Turkish Army.FORSNET – Kimkimdir; Cemil Cahit Toydemir (1883 – 1956) Ismail Hakkı Berkok – General of Mountainous Republic, Turkish and Ottoman armies
Egyptian military officers Salah Salem – Egyptian Military officer and member in the Egyptian Revolutionary Command Council Gamal Salem – Egyptian Air Force officer and political figure Hussein el-Shafei – Egyptian Military officer and member in the Egyptian Revolutionary Command Council Zakaria Mohieddin – Egyptian Military officer and member in the Egyptian Revolutionary Command Council General officer Aziz Almasri – Egyptian Military officer
Libyan military officers Umar Muhayshi – member of the Libyan Revolutionary Command Council that ruled Libya.
Syrian military officers Bassam Abdel Majeed – Syrian military officer, politician and diplomat.
Insurgency in the North Caucasus participants
Anzor Astemirov – Kabardian Salafi jihadist militant, best known for his 2004 and 2005 raids on Nalchik. Ratmir Shameyev – Kabardian Salafi jihadist militant
Athletes
UFC fighter Azamat Murzakanov
Football and basketball Emre Belözoğlu – football player and manager Şamil Çinaz – footballer Can Bartu – Former professional basketball and football player and pundit Ayetullah BeyDağlaroğlu Rüştü, "1907-1987 Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü Tarihi", Ofset Matbaa-Yayıncılık, Istanbul, 1987, sy. 28 – footballer, founder and second president of the major Turkish multi–sport club Fenerbahçe SK Süleyman Seba – Ex–President of Beşiktaş J.K. Oğuz Çetin – football player and manager Mesut Bakkal – football player and manager Feras Esmaeel – footballer Yanal Abaza – footballer Tamer Haj Mohamad – footballer Bibras Natcho – footballer Izhak Nash – footballer Nili Natkho – basketball player Jankat Yılmaz – footballer
Martial arts Aslanbek Khushtov – wrestler, 2008 Summer Olympics winner. Murat Kardanov is a wrestler of Circassian descent who won the gold medal in the 2000 summer Olympics Yaşar Doğu – 1948 London Olympics middleweight wrestling champion Gazanfer Bilge (July 23, 1924 – April 20, 2008) was a wrestler of Circassian descent who won the gold medal in the Featherweight class of Men's Freestyle Wrestling at the 1948 Olympics. Hamit Kaplan (20 September 1934 – 5 January 1976) was a World and Olympic champion sports wrestler of Circassian descent in the Heavyweight class. Bilyal Makhov – Mixed Martial Artist and 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling Beslan Mudranov – Judo, 2016 Olympics gold medalist Adil Candemir – Wrestler, 1948 London Olympics silver medalist
Theologians and philosophers
Islamic clergy Anas Pshikhachev – served as Head of the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Kabardino-Balkaria from April 2004 until his assassination in December 2010 Caner DagliCaner Dagli profile at Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs – Islamic scholar and associate professor of Religious Studies at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Jawdat Said – Islamic scholar and nonviolence advocate. Al-Kawthari – Islamic scholar and theologian of the Maturidi school and the adjunct to the last Shaykh al-Islam of the Ottoman Empire.
Christian clergy Carlo de' Medici** – Italian priest, senior clergyman and collector, a member of the powerful Medici family
Philosophers Jabagh Qazanoqo – philosopher, poet, military strategist, and diplomat who gained fame for reforming the Circassian justice system based on the Quran and Adyghe Xabze. He played a big role in the Battle of Kanzhal.Cw (15 October 2009). "Circassian World News: Documentary: Kanzhal Battle"". Circassian World News.