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The Chuvashs
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The Chuvashs are Turkic speaking people,
living in the Middle Volga region (they are probably the ancient
mix of turkis with cheremiss). The Shuvashs speak the Chuvash language
(Bulgarian group of Turkic languages), that is a little bit changed
under influence of Finnish language. They are firstly mentioned
In Russian annals in 1524 during the foundation of Vasilsursk city,
then in 1551 during the foundation of Sviyazhsk city. Before Russian
mixed them partly with Cheremiss and Tatars. Number of Chuvashs
in Russia is 1 million 773,6 thousand persons. Area of their living
is territory of the Chuvash Republic and adjoining to it areas and
republics. From them there is more than half, that is 50,8 %, are
settled outside of the Chuvash Republic - in Tatrstan (7,3 % from
total number of Chuvashs), in Bashkiria (6,4 %), Kuibyshevskaya
oblast (Samara) (6,4 %), Ulyanovsk (6,3 %). The religion is Orthodox.
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The Chuvash are the people of Chuvashia.
The population was 1,843,300 in the Soviet Union, according to
the census of 1989; 907,000 of these lived in Chuvashia. The remainder
live in Tatarstan's Aqsubay, Bua, Nurlat, Tates, Cirmesan, Cuprale
rayons, Bashkortostan, Samara, Ulyanovsk, Tyumen, Kemerovo, Orenburg,
Moscow oblasts of Russia, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
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They are divided into three groups:
Hill Chuvashs (viryal, turi) in northern and northeastern Chuvashia;
Meadow Chuvashs (anat yenci) in central and southwestern Chuvashia;
and Downer Chuvashs (anatri) in southern Chuvashia and outside of
Chuvashia).
They speak the Chuvash language and are Orthodox Christians, with
some traditions of pre-Christianity. Knowledge of the Russian and
Tatar languages is also high.
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Some scholars believe a part of the
Chuvash people converted to Islam in Middle Ages and merged with
the Tatars.
They originate from the Volga Bolgars' Suars or Sabir tribe, mixed
with local Mari tribes. In the 15th-16th centuries their lands were
incorporated into the Khanate of Kazan, and then in 1550 annexed
by Russia. From 1708 to 1920, the Chuvash lands were part of the
Kazan governorate.
Another meaning is that Chuvash are remainders of pre-Bolgar Turkic
(Hunnic) population of Volga Bulgaria, partly merged with Scythians,
Bolgars and Mari.
Chuvashs are the third nation in the city of Kazan (1.2%).
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