Adygeysk
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Adygeysk
Kazar: Адыгейск Shirvani: Adıgeysk | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Country |  Shirvaniya |
| Settled | 8th Century BCE |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,704.4 km2 (1,816.4 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,350 m (4,430 ft) |
| Population (2019) | |
| • Total | 827,563 |
Adygeysk (Kazar: Адыгейск; Shirvani: Adıgeysk) is a city in northern Shirvaniya and one of the oldest cities in north-central Siduri. Although there is no direct evidence as to when Adygeysk was founded, evidence of human activity and habitation can be traced as far back as the late Paleolithic Era. It has been theorized that the city was founded in the 8th or 7th centuries BCE and became prosperous due to its location on trading routes that traversed across the continent. It is believed that at times Adygeysk was one of the largest cities in central Siduri. Most of the city’s inhabitants until the modern era were members of the Kazar people until the start of Kazarakhai genocide in the 1920s.
The city was conquered after a lengthy siege by the Symmerian Empire in the 2nd century BCE and became the capital of the Khachamara Satrapy and an important staging ground for the Symmerian conquests of Shirvaniya. In 1259, Adygeysk was re-conquered by Temiarlan Khan as part of the Adamdar Empire and remained under Adamdar control for the next several centuries. Popular Kazar resistance against Adamdar rule eventually led to the creation of the Kazarakhai Khaganate which centered its capital in Adygeysk; it became a cultural capital for the Kazar people.
Many Kazar monuments and landmarks were either destroyed or heavily damaged during the genocide of the 1920s, but some have survived to the modern era. Despite the hardships suffered during that time, the Kazar that have remained and continue to inhabit the city have carefully worked to preserve the traditions of their ancient craft such as embroidery, goldwork, silk weaving, ceramics, wood carving and painting, and copper engraving.