The Circassians in Lebanon: A Faint History Marked by Displacement and Geographical Dispersal
Translated from Arabic by Adel Bashqawi Original article by Nasser Mirzza Shapsough, Akkar, Lebanon Published November 7, 2025
The Circassians represent one of the quieter threads in Lebanon’s complex social tapestry. They arrived in the country in the late 19th century, following the forced deportation of North Caucasian peoples during the Russo-Circassian War. While Circassian communities in Jordan, Syria, and Turkey succeeded in forming cohesive settlements with distinct cultural features, the Circassians in Lebanon followed a different path—marked by geographical dispersal and gradual integration into scattered local communities.
An Unconventional Dispersal
In Jordan and Syria, large areas were designated to receive Circassians, who played key roles in border protection and agricultural development, often founding new towns. In Lebanon, however, the absence of a unified settlement plan—combined with the country’s complex demographic and sectarian landscape—led to Circassians being distributed across multiple villages rather than forming a concentrated population bloc.
Notable Circassian Settlements in Lebanon
- South Lebanon: Qanso
- Western Beqaa: Bassaj and Jarkas
- Akkar – Berqayel: Abdelrazzaq and Melhem
- Tripoli: Yammouq
- North Lebanon – Bebnine: Boulad and Jarkas
A Wide Distribution, Difficult to Trace
Circassian families in Lebanon are not limited to these names or locations. Many others are scattered across various governorates. However, accurate documentation remains scarce due to early integration into host communities and the adoption of family names not directly linked to Circassian identity. This widespread dispersal, coupled with the absence of official or civil documentation efforts, has made it difficult to fully identify all Circassian families or trace their migration patterns. Research into Circassian history in Lebanon remains an ongoing endeavor, requiring academic and community-based efforts to preserve this heritage from fading into obscurity.
Why Did They Disperse?
Historical records do not suggest a deliberate policy of dispersal. Instead, several factors contributed to the fragmentation of Circassian settlement in Lebanon:
- The Ottoman political and administrative framework in Lebanon did not allow for the establishment of large new settlements.
- The sectarian composition of the population encouraged integration into existing villages rather than the formation of independent communities.
- The relatively small number of Circassians in Lebanon, compared to Jordan and Syria, made concentrated settlement impractical.
By contrast, Armenians arrived in Lebanon in large numbers after the events of 1915, prompting authorities to concentrate them in specific areas—most notably Bourj Hammoud in Beirut—where they established cohesive communities with their own institutions, schools, and churches.
A Silent Identity… Yet One That Endures
Despite their dispersal, Circassians have preserved core Caucasian values: Discipline, honesty, respect for the law, and hard work. They integrated into host communities without conflict or retreat, leaving a quiet yet enduring imprint on local memory—especially in Berqayel, Akkar, which today stands as one of the most prominent centers of Circassian presence in Lebanon.
Conclusion
The Circassian legacy in Lebanon remains an important yet under-explored chapter in the country’s history. Continued research is needed to gather oral histories and scattered documents, with the aim of painting a clearer picture of how this community carried its ancient Caucasian heritage to the villages of the north, Beqaa, and south.
It is a silent history… but one that deserves to be told.
Source: Facebook post by Nasser Mirzza Shapsough
