Qerandiqo Berzeg, the last Ubykh prince and Circassian leader

Qerandiqo Berzeg (also known as Kerandiqo Berzeg) was a notable Circassian leader and the last Ubykh prince, a prominent figure in the history of the Ubykh people, a North Caucasian ethnic group closely related to the Circassians. The Ubykhs once lived in the western Caucasus region, which is now part of Russia, particularly in the area surrounding the Black Sea.

The Ubykh people were closely tied to the Circassian culture and language, and their region was historically part of the larger Circassian federation. As a prince and leader, Qerandiqo Berzeg held an important position among his people during a time of significant turmoil in the Caucasus, especially during the Russian Empire's expansion into the region in the 19th century.

The Ubykh people faced great challenges during the Russo-Circassian War (also known as the Caucasian War), which lasted from the 18th century until the final defeat of the Circassians in 1864. As the Russian Empire sought to assert control over the Caucasus, many Circassians, including the Ubykhs, resisted, leading to prolonged conflict, displacement, and tragedy. By the mid-19th century, the majority of the Circassian population was either killed, exiled, or displaced due to the Russian military campaigns.

Qerandiqo Berzeg is remembered as a leader during the final stages of this conflict. After the fall of his people’s strongholds and the eventual Russian victory, Berzeg and many of the remaining Ubykhs were forced into exile. The Ubykh language and culture, as well as the identity of the Ubykh people, began to disappear in the following decades. In 1864, when the Circassian people were exiled en masse by the Russian Empire, the Ubykh population effectively ceased to exist in its homeland. Qerandiqo Berzeg, as one of the last Ubykh leaders, represented the fading hopes of resistance and the collapse of Circassian sovereignty in the face of overwhelming imperial forces.

Although Berzeg's life is less documented than that of some other Circassian leaders, his role as the last Ubykh prince and his leadership during the final resistance against Russian imperialism make him an important figure in the history of the Circassian struggle for independence and survival. His legacy remains significant in the memory of Circassians and other North Caucasian peoples who continue to preserve their cultural heritage despite centuries of hardship and displacement.