Sadz

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The Sadz or Asadzwa, also Jigets, are a subethnic group of the Abkhazians. The Sadzy tribe historically inhabited the territory between Gagra and Khosta, in a region traditionally referred to as Lesser Abkhazia (or Lesser Abasia). After the end of the Caucasian War in 1864, the Sadzy were almost entirely deported to the Ottoman Empire. Today, approximately 14 villages in Turkey are populated by descendants of the Sadzy, who speak the Sadzy dialect of the Abkhaz language. This dialect shares notable similarities with Adyghe, Abaza, and the Bzyb of Abkhaz.

The Abkhaz tribe of the Sadzy traditionally lived in the area known as Lesser Abkhazia, between Gagra and Matsesta. Individual families and settlements extended as far as the Sochi River and its surrounding areas.

In Turkey, the Sadzy divide themselves into two main groups:

• Akhaltsy (Ахалцы);
• Tsvidzhi (Цәыџьы).

Each group has its own dialectal distinctions. The Sadzy in Turkey refer to themselves as Apsaua, meaning “Abkhaz.” The Akhaltsy Sadzy are further divided into subgroups such as Khamyshevtsy, Gagrtsy, Taapsa, and others.

At present, most Sadzy reside in Sakarya Province, with smaller settlements in Bilecik Province.

In 1533, according to the Paris (Georgian) Chronicle, Mamia Dadiani and Mamia Gurieli launched a naval expedition against Jiketi. Although initially victorious, they were later surrounded and defeated due to desertion among their troops. Many nobles and warriors were killed or captured. Catholicos Malakia managed to ransom both the living and the dead.

In the 1570s, Giorgi Dadiani employed troops consisting of Abkhazians, Djikets (Sadzy), and Circassians in a conflict against his younger brother Mamia, who had seized the princely throne with the support of Giorgi Gurieli.

In 1623, Levan Dadiani defeated King George III in the Battle of Gochorauli with a combined Odishian-Abkhaz-Djiket force. The historical sources emphasize that Dadiani did not rule over the Abkhazians and Djikets, but maintained alliances with them for strategic purposes.

By the end of the Caucasian War in 1864, nearly all Sadzy (also referred to as Djikets) were either killed or deported to the Ottoman Empire.

The Sadzy speak a distinct dialect known as Sadzy-Abkhaz (асаӡыԥсуа бзшәа). This dialect is characterized by: A high number of loanwords from Adyghe, the use of geminated (doubled) consonants.

The consonant system of the Akhaltsy dialect closely matches that of the Abzhuy dialect of Abkhaz.

There were also smaller Djiket subgroups or communities, including the Tsvidzha and the Hamysh community. In the mountainous areas, two additional communities were known: Chuzhi, on the Khudapsy (Kudepsta) River, Chua, on the Mtsa (Matsesta) River

Among these groups, the self-designation “Abadze” was widespread.

Along the coast, from Khosta to Sochi and into the surrounding mountains, the Djikets lived alongside the Ubykhs. Several coastal Djiket communities, often named after local nobles or clans, are recorded: Art (Artkuadzh), on the Khudapsy River; Ared and Art, near the mouth of the Mzymta River at Cape Adler (possibly derived from Turkish Artlylar); Gech (Kech or Kyach), including the Gech-kuadzh on the right bank of the Psou River near its mouth; Tsan, on the Khashupse River; Bag, in the Begerepsta River valley near Gagra.

The last Djiket village before the border with Abkhazia was Bagripsh.

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