Mythologies of the Nakh Tribes

The Nakh tribes are a group of North Caucasian peoples identified by their use of the Nakh languages and other cultural similarities. These are chiefly the ethnic Chechen, Ingush and Bats peoples of the North Caucasus, including closely related minor or historical groups. "Nakh peoples" and "Vainakh peoples" are two terms that were coined by Soviet ethnographers such as the Russian linguist Nikolai Yakovlev [ru] and Ingush ethnographer Zaurbek Malsagov [ru]. The reasoning behind the creation of these terms was to unite the closely related nations of Chechen and Ingush into one term. The terms "Vainakh" (our people) and "Nakh" (people) were first used as a term to unite two peoples in 1928. It was subsequently popularized by other Soviet authors, poets, and historians such as Mamakaev and Volkova in their research. According to the historian Victor Schnirelmann, the terms "Vainakh" and "Nakh" were introduced more actively during the period from the 1960s through the 1980s. The first documented collective term used to refer to the Nakh peoples in general, "Kists" was introduced by Johann Anton Güldenstädt in the 1770s. Julius von Klaproth believed the term Kists only applied to the Kistin society of Ingushetia, and instead used the Tatar term "Mizdschegi" to refer to the Nakh peoples. The term Nakhchiy (in the form of Natschkha, Nakhchui and Nacha) at the end of the 18th and beginning of 19th centuries was mentioned as the name (i.e. exonym) that the Ingush gave to the Chechens and not as the self-name of the Ingush. Starting in the second half of the 19th century, the term was used by some Russian officers, historians and linguists for both the Chechen and Ingush nations (and sometimes for the Batsbi, notably by Peter von Uslar). Today, the term is in its modern lowland version of "Nokhchi" and is only used by Chechens and Pankisi Kists. In 1859, Adolf Berge was the second one to use this term for both the Chechens and Ingush. The famous Russian linguist Peter von Uslar, who studied the North Caucasian languages, also referred to both nations in 1888 as "Nakhchuy"/"Nakhchiy". This classification was also used by Potto, Veidenbaum, Gan, Dubrovin and many others during the 19th century.

The Nakh peoples, today partly also known as Vainakh peoples (Chechen/Ingush: Вайнахи, apparently derived from Chechen вайн нах, Ingush вей нах “our people”; also Chechen-Ingush), are a group of Caucasian peoples identified by their use of the Nakh languages and other cultural similarities. These are chiefly the ethnic Chechen (including the Chechen sub-ethnos, the Kists, in Georgia), Ingush and Bats peoples of the North Caucasus, including closely related minor or historical groups. Nakh peoples and Vainakh peoples are two terms that were coined by Soviet ethnographers such as the Ingush ethnographer Zaurbek Malsagov. The reasoning behind the creation of these terms was to unite the closely related nations of Chechen and Ingush into one term. The terms “Vainakh” (our people) and “Nakh” (people) were first used as a term to unite two peoples in 1928. It was subsequently popularized by other Soviet authors, poets and historians such as Mamakaev and Volkova in their research. According to the historian Victor Schnirelmann, the terms “Vainakh” and “Nakh” were introduced more actively during the 1960s-1980s periods. The etymology of “Nakhchi” is believed to have come from “Nakh” (people) + “-chi” (suffix) or “Nakh” (people) + “Chuo” (territory). Whatever the case, most historians and linguists agree that the ethnonym includes the term “Nakh” (people). It is because of this assumption that many historians such as Potto, Berger, Gan, Dubrovin believed that it meant “the nation”.

The term “Nakh” (‘People‘) refers to the Chechens, Ingush, Kist and Tsova-Tush (Bats), all of whom speak languages of the Nakh branch of Northeast (NE) Caucasian and share common descent and culture. In this work, the Malkhi, considered in some sources as a separate Nakh ethnos, is considered one of the (divergent) Chechen tribes. “Nakh” also denotes the ancient ancestors of the Chechens from the purported separation of the Nakh from the other Northeast Caucasians, but more concretely from the middle of the first millennium BC, when they were first mentioned as “Nachos” in historical annals, to the early Middle Ages, when the North Caucasian Vainakh emerge as a distinct nation. “Vainakh” refers to present-day Chechens and the related Ingush and Kist, considered as a collective, and to the Chechens in the Middle Ages down to the time of their differentiation into a nation distinct from the Ingush. One proposal was that the separation of the Ingush from the rest of the Chechen nation began in the seventeenth century AD and was completed in the first part of the nineteenth. Chechen historian Ya.Akhmadov (2002) suggested the first part of the eighteenth century as the time when the Ingush swarmed off the Vainakh collective. A third proposition has a separate Ingush nationality taking shape in the late nineteenth/early twentieth centuries. The first two hypotheses seem to be more in tune with the fact that the Ingush made a collective decision to remain neutral during the Russian-Caucasian War, which accentuated their distinctiveness. Also, two of the earliest references on the Ingush in Russian sources were in the works of I.Shtelina and I.Georgi in 1770 and 1776, respectively. Nevertheless, ethnic designations had remained fuzzy right through the early years of the twentieth century. In most Russian eighteenth-century documents, the ethnonym “Chechens” was used for both Chechens and Ingush. In 1870, the Ingush writer Chakh Akhriev entitled a work on Ingush epic tales From Chechen Legends. The 1897 Russian census listed the Ingush as one of the Chechen tribes. Many attempts were made by Chechen and Ingush intellectuals to restore national unity, the last being at the beginning of the 1920s—but to no avail. Although the generic ‘”Vainakh” was used in the 1930s, paradoxically a time of emphasis of Ingush separate identity, the nominal separation was institutionalized, resulting in further differentiation between the two “nations”. At present, it may be legitimate to talk about two nationalities in the modern sense, with the proviso that the final chapter on their relationship has not been written yet. There is also a perceivable differentiation, mainly in some cultural aspects and with respect to attitude towards Russia, between the plains and mountain Chechens, but it is not pronounced, and is mostly the result of a certain Machiavellian maxim.

The Nakh people are known for their unique language, customs, and social structures, which have been preserved through oral traditions and community practices. Their language, part of the Nakh-Daghestanian language family, is a testament to their distinct identity and cultural heritage. The Nakh have a strong sense of community and kinship, with social structures that emphasize family ties and mutual support. This has been crucial in maintaining their cultural identity, especially during periods of external pressure and conflict. Throughout history, the Nakh people have faced numerous challenges, including invasions, political upheavals, and forced migrations. Despite these adversities, they have managed to preserve their cultural identity and traditions, adapting to changing circumstances while maintaining a strong sense of self. This resilience is reflected in their art, music, and folklore, which continue to thrive and evolve in contemporary times. The Nakh culture is also characterized by its rich folklore and mythology, which offer insights into their worldview and values. These stories often feature themes of heroism, honor, and the eternal struggle between good and evil, reflecting the Nakh people's deep connection to their land and history. Traditional music and dance play a significant role in Nakh culture, serving as a means of expression and a way to pass down stories and traditions from one generation to the next. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Nakh culture, both within the community and among scholars and enthusiasts worldwide. This has led to efforts to document and preserve their language, traditions, and history, ensuring that the rich cultural heritage of the Nakh people continues to inspire and educate future generations. The story of the Nakh is a testament to the enduring power of culture and the human spirit's ability to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity.