NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Gagauz people

The Gagauz are a minority Turkic people in southern Moldova (in Gagauzia) and southwestern Ukraine (in Budjak) that numbers around 250,000. Along with the Chuvash, Yakut and Dolgan people of Russia, they are the only ethnic Turkic groups that are predominantly Christian (Eastern Orthodox and some Protestant). The Gagauz language (Gagauz dili) is a Turkic language, used by Gagauz people, official language of Gagauzia, Republic of Moldova. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... This article is about the various peoples speaking one of the Turkic languages. ... This article is about the various peoples speaking one of the Turkic languages. ... Capital Comrat Largest city Comrat Official languages Gagauz, Moldovan, and Russian Government Governor Chairman of People Assembly Autonomous region of Moldova Gheorghi Tabunshik Stepan Esir Surface 1,832 kmÂ² Population 155,700 (2006) [1] Density 85/kmÂ² Creation April 23, 1994 Anthem Gagauziya Milli MarÅŸÄ± State religion Eastern Orthodox Church... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Chuvash (Chuvashian: , Russian: Ñ‡ÑƒÐ²Ð°ÑˆÐ¸, Tatar: Ã‡uaÅŸlarÐ§ÑƒÐ°ÑˆÐ»Ð°Ñ€) are a Turkic people usually associated with Chuvashia. ... Yakuts, self-designation: Sakha, are a Turkic people associated with the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic. ... The Dolgans (Ð”Ð¾Ð»Ð³Ð°Ð½Ñ‹ in Russian; self-designation: Ð´Ð¾Ð»Ð³Ð°Ð½, Ñ‚Ñ‹Ð°-ÐºÐ¸Ñ…Ð¸, ÑÐ°Ñ…Ð°) are a Turkic -Mongoloid people, who inhabit the Taymyria region in the Krasnoyarsk Krai in Russia. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ...

Geographic distribution

Gagauz people ouside Moldova live mainly in the Ukrainian regions of Odessa and Zaporizhzhia, as well as in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Romania and the Russian region of Kabardino-Balkaria. There are also nearly 20,000 Gagauz living in the Balkan countries of Greece, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Odessa Oblast (Ukrainian: ÐžÐ´ÐµÑÑŒÐºÐ° Ð¾Ð±Ð»Ð°ÑÑ‚ÑŒ, Odesâ€™ka oblastâ€™ or ÐžÐ´ÐµÑ‰Ð¸Ð½Ð°, Odeshchyna) is an oblast of south-western Ukraine. ... Zaporizhia Oblast (Ð—Ð°Ð¿Ð¾Ñ€Ñ–Ð·ÑŒÐºÐ° Ð¾Ð±Ð»Ð°ÑÑ‚ÑŒ, Zaporizka oblastâ€™ or Ð—Ð°Ð¿Ð¾Ñ€Ñ–Ð¶Ñ‰Ð¸Ð½Ð°, Zaporizhchyna in Ukrainian) is an oblast (province) of southern Ukraine. ... Capital Nalchik Area - total - % water Ranked 83rd - 12,500 kmÂ² - negligible Population - Total - Density Ranked 60th - est. ... Balkan peninsula with northwest border Isonzo-Krka-Sava The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe a region of southeastern Europe. ...

There is a related ethnic group also called Gagavuz (or Gajal) living in the European part of Northwestern Turkey, in Northeastern Bulgaria, and in the Republic of Macedonia, who are Muslims. Gajal (spelled Gacal in Turkish) are a Turkic subgroup, closely related to the Gagauzi, whose name derives from a common root (Gajal are also sometimes named as Gagavuz). ... Islam (Arabic: ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the Quran, its principal scripture, whose followers, known as Muslims (Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…), believe God (Arabic: Ø§Ù„Ù„Ù‡ ) sent through revelations to Muhammad. ...

History

Early history and settlement in Bessarabia

Ancestors of the Gagauz can be traced to the early nomadic tribes, Guzi and Uzi (also called Ghuzz and Uz which are branches of Oghuz). Byzantine written history records that in the 11th century the nomadic tribe Guzi crossed the Danube River and settled in the Balkan regions of Greece and Bulgaria. Once settled in these new regions, the Guzi people shifted to a sedentary lifestyle and adopted Orthodox Christianity. The ethnic mixes of the Guzi with other Turkic tribes of the Pecheneg, Polovtsi and Cumans are direct ancestors of modern day Gagauz. Communities of nomadic people move from place to place, rather than settling down in one location. ... UZ or uz can refer to several things: An abbreviation (and TLD) for Uzbekistan The name of a son of Aram (עוץ Fertile land; counsel, Standard Hebrew עוּץ, Tiberian Hebrew ʿÛṣ), also known as Huz or Utz, according to the Book of Genesis The... The Oghuz Turks (also with various alternate spellings, including Oguz, OÄŸuz, Ouz, Okuz, Oufoi, Guozz and Ghuzz) are regarded as one of the major branches of Turkic peoples. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... The Danube (ancient Danuvius, ancient Greek Istros) is the longest river of the European Union and Europes second-longest[3] (after the Volga). ... The Pechenegs or Patzinaks (in Hungarian: BesenyÅ‘k, Russian: ÐŸÐµÑ‡ÐµÐ½ÐµÐ³Ð¸, Ukrainian: ÐŸÐµÑ‡ÐµÐ½Ñ–Ð³Ð¸ ) were a semi-nomadic people of the Central Asian steppes speaking a Turkic language. ... Cumans, also called as Polovtsy, (Russian ÐŸÐ¾Ð»Ð¾Ð²Ñ†Ñ‹, from old Slavic for pale yellowish) was the European name for the Western Kipchaks, a nomadic West Turkic tribe living on the north of the Black Sea along the Volga. ...

There are other theories about the origin of Gagauz people. According to some authors they are descendants of Turkic Bulgars, a seminomadic people, who gave their name to present Bulgarians. According to another theory the majority of the Gagauz are the decendants of Orthodox christian Bulgarians who adopted their Turkic language during the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Turkic-speaking tribes of the Nogai Horde inhabited the Budjak region of southern Bessarabia from the 16th to 18th centuries. Before 1807, a portion of these tribes were forced to abandon the Budjak by the Tsarist government of Russia and resettled in Crimea, Azov and Stavropol. The Nogai Horde was the Tatar horde that controlled the Caucasus Mountain region after the Mongol invasion. ... 1927 map of Bessarabia from Charles Upson Clarks book Bessarabia or Bessarabiya (Basarabia in Romanian, Besarabya in Turkish) was the name by which the Imperial Russia designated the eastern part of the principality of Moldavia ceded by the Ottoman Empire to Russia in the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... 1807 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Imperial Russia is the term used to cover the period of history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great, through the expansion of the Russian Empire from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposal of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start... Motto: ÐŸÑ€Ð¾Ñ†Ð²ÐµÑ‚Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ðµ Ð² ÐµÐ´Ð¸Ð½ÑÑ‚Ð²Ðµ - Prosperity in unity Anthem: ÐÐ¸Ð²Ñ‹ Ð¸ Ð³Ð¾Ñ€Ñ‹ Ñ‚Ð²Ð¾Ð¸ Ð²Ð¾Ð»ÑˆÐµÐ±Ð½Ñ‹, Ð Ð¾Ð´Ð¸Ð½Ð° - Your fields and mounts are wonderful, Motherland Capital Simferopol Largest cities Simferopol, Eupatoria, Kerch, Theodosia, Yalta Official language Ukrainian. ... Azov (Russian: ) is a town in Rostov Oblast, Russia, situated on the Don River just three kilometers from the Sea of Azov, which derives its name from the town. ... Stavropol Krai (Russian: ) is a federal subject of Russia (a krai). ...

Between 1820 and 1846, the Russian Empire allocated land to the Gagauz and gave them financial incentives to settle in Bessarabia in the settlements vacated by the Nogai tribes. They settled in Bessarabia along with Bulgarians, mainly in Avdarma, Comrat (or Komrat), Congaz (Kongaz), Tomai, Cismichioi and other former Nogai villages located in the central Budjak region. Originally, the Gagauz were settled also in several villages belonging to boyars throughout southern Bessarabia and the Principality of Moldavia, but within a very short period they resettled to join their kin in the Bugeac. Until to 1869 Gagauz in Bessarabia were described as Bulgarians. During the Rumanian rule of Bessarabia (1856-1878) they suported Bulgarian schools in their settlements (Comrat etc) participated in Bulgarian national movement. 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Comrat (Gagauz: Komrat; Russian: / Komrat) is a city in Moldova and the capital of the autonomous region of Gagauzia. ... A boyar (also spelt bojar; Romanian: boier) was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Ruthenian (Russian) and Romanian aristocracy, second only to the ruling princes, from the 10th through the 17th century. ... It has been suggested that Moldavia (historical region) be merged into this article or section. ... 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

With the exception of a five-day independence in the winter of 1906, when a peasant uprising declared the autonomous Republic of Komrat, the Gagauzian people have mainly been ruled by the Russian Empire, Romania, the Soviet Union, and Moldova.

Soviet Union and Republic of Moldova

Gagauz nationalism remained an intellectual movement during the 1980s but strengthened by the end of the decade as the Soviet Union began to embrace liberal ideals. In 1988, activists from the local intelligentsia aligned with other ethnic minorities to create the movement known as the "Gagauz People" (gagauz turkish: Gagavz halki). A year later, the "Gagauz People" held its first assembly which accepted the resolution to create an autonomous territory in the southern Moldavian SSR, with Comrat designated as capital. The Gagauz nationalist movement increased in popularity when Moldovan (Romanian) was accepted as the official language of the Republic of Moldova in August 1989.^[3] The minorities of southern Moldova (Gagauz, Bulgars, and Russians) regarded this decision with concern, precipitating a lack of confidence in the central government located in Chişinău. The Moldavian population regarded Gagauz demands with suspicion; being convinced they were acting as puppets of forces that wanted to preserve the Soviet Union. EugÃ¨ne Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolizing French nationalism during the July Revolution. ... Look up liberal on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Liberal may refer to: Politics: Liberalism American liberalism, a political trend in the USA Political progressivism, a political ideology that is for change, often associated with liberal movements Liberty, the condition of being free from control or restrictions Liberal Party, members of... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The notion of an intellectual elite as a distinguished social stratum can be traced far back in history. ... State motto: ÐŸÑ€Ð¾Ð»ÐµÑ‚Ð°Ñ€ÑŒ Ð´Ð¸Ð½ Ñ‚Ð¾Ð°Ñ‚Ðµ Ñ†ÑÑ€Ð¸Ð»Ðµ, ÑƒÐ½Ð¸Ñ†ÑŒ-Ð²Ñ! Official language None. ... County ChiÅŸinÄƒu Status Municipality Mayor Vasile Ursu, since 2005 Area 635 kmÂ² Population (2004) 647,513 [1] Density 1114 inh/kmÂ² Geographical coordinates Founded in 1436 Dialing code +373 22 Web site http://www. ...

In August of 1990, Comrat declared itself an autonomous republic, but the Moldovan government annulled the declaration as unconstitutional. The Gagauz were also worried about the implications for them if Moldova reunited with Romania, as seemed increasingly likely at the time. Support for the Soviet Union remained high, with an almost unaminous 'yes' vote to staying in the USSR in a local referendum of March 1991, although Moldovans in Gagauzia boycotted the referendum. Many Gagauz supported the Moscow coup attempt, further straining relations with Chişinău. However, when the Moldovan Parliament voted on whether Moldova should become independent 6 of the 12 Gagauz deputies voted 'yes'. This article is about the year. ... Look up Boycott in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... During the Soviet Coup of 1991, also known as the August Putsch, Vodka Putsch or August Coup, a group of hardliners within the Soviet Communist party briefly deposed Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and attempted to take control of the country. ... Parliament building The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova (Parlamentul Republicii Moldova) is a unicameral assembly with 101 seats. ...

Gagauzia declared itself independent on 19th August 1991 (the day of the Moscow coup attempt), followed in September by Transnistria. Some believe that these moves prompted the nationalist Moldovan Popular Front to tone down its pro-Romanian line and speak up for the rights of minorities. In February 1994 President Mircea Snegur promised the Gaugauz autonomy, although he was against its independence. He was also opposed to the suggestion that Moldova become a federal state made up of three "republics"—Moldova, Gagauzia, and Transnistria—the plan put forward by the forces that wanted to rehabilitate the former Soviet Union. In 1994, the Parliament of Moldova awarded to "the people of Gagauzia" the right of "external self-determination". Image File history File links Wappen_Gagausien_01_01. ... Image File history File links Wappen_Gagausien_01_01. ... Capital Comrat Largest city Comrat Official languages Gagauz, Moldovan, and Russian Government Governor Chairman of People Assembly Autonomous region of Moldova Gheorghi Tabunshik Stepan Esir Surface 1,832 kmÂ² Population 155,700 (2006) [1] Density 85/kmÂ² Creation April 23, 1994 Anthem Gagauziya Milli MarÅŸÄ± State religion Eastern Orthodox Church... Motto: For the right to live on this land[citation needed] Anthem: Anthem of Transnistria Capital (and largest city) Tiraspol Russian, Ukrainian, Moldovan Government Semi-presidential - President Igor Smirnov Independence from Moldova - Declared September 2, 1990 - Recognition unrecognized Area - Total 4,163 kmÂ² 1,607 sq mi - Water (%) 2. ... Actual moldovan president - Vladimir Voronin The President of Moldova is elected every four years, and has been since 1992. ... Mircea Ion Snegur (b. ... An autonomous (subnational) entity is a subnational entity that has a certain amount of autonomy. ... A map displaying todays federations. ...

On December 23, 1994 the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova voted the "Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia" (Gagauz Yeri), resolving the dispute peacefully. This date is now a Gagauzian holiday. Many European human-rights organizations recognize Gagauzia as a successful model for resolving ethnic conflict. Gagauzia became a national-territorial autonomous unit with three official languages — Russian, Gagauz and Moldovan/Romanian. December 23 is the 357th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (358th in leap years). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... The Gagauz language (Gagauz dili) is a Turkic language, used by Gagauz people, official language of Gagauzia, Republic of Moldova. ...

30 settlements, including 3 towns and 27 villages, expressed their desire to be included in the Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit as a result of a referendum to determine Gagauzia's borders. In 1995, George Tabunshik was elected to serve as the Governor (Bashkan) of Gagauzia for a four year term, as were the deputies of the local parliament, "The People's Assembly" (Halk Topluşu) and its chairman Peter Pashali. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Encyclopedia > Gagauz people

Contents

Geographic distribution

History

Early history and settlement in Bessarabia

Soviet Union and Republic of Moldova

See also

References

Bibliography