Inal the Great of Circassia
Inal Nekhu (Adyghe: Инал Нэф, romanized: Yinal Nəf, lit. 'Inal the Radiant'; Kabardian: Инал Нэху, romanized: Yinal Nəxw, lit. 'Inal the Radiant'; also known as Inal the Great in Georgian sources) was the Supreme Prince (King) of Circassia from 1427 to 1453 who unified all Circassians (then divided into several princedoms) into one state. He led campaigns into several countries and expanded borders on all directions. He was the founder of several Circassian tribes, mainly Kabardia, Besleney, Temirgoy, Zhaney, and Hatuqwai.
| Inal the Great Inal the Radiant Inal the Blind | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of Circassia | |||||
Depiction of inal the great | |||||
| Grand Prince of All Circassia | |||||
| Reign | 1427 – 1453 | ||||
| Predecessor | Office established | ||||
| Successor | Various princes self-proclaim themselves | ||||
| Grand Prince of Zhaney-Zichia | |||||
| Reign | 1427 – 1453 | ||||
| Predecessor | Parsabok (Berzebuch) | ||||
| Successor | Temruk (?) | ||||
| Grand Prince of Chemguy-Hatuqway | |||||
| Reign | 1427 – 1453 | ||||
| Predecessor | Office established | ||||
| Successor | Temruk | ||||
| Grand Prince of Kabardia | |||||
| Reign | 1434 – 1453 | ||||
| Predecessor | Office established | ||||
| Successor | Tabulda | ||||
| Grand Prince of Besleney | |||||
| Reign | 1434 – 1453 | ||||
| Predecessor | Office established | ||||
| Successor | Beslan | ||||
| Born | Taman, Zichia | ||||
| Died | 1458 Grand Principality of Circassia | ||||
| Burial | |||||
| Spouse | Two wives, an unnamed Abkhaz Anchabadze princess & an unnamed Circassian noblewoman | ||||
| Issue | Тэбылду (Tabulda) Темырикъу (Temruk) Жанхъуэт (Jankhot) Минболэт (Minbolat) Беслъэн (Beslan) Унэрмэс (Wunarmas) Къэрмыщэ (Qermisha) | ||||
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| Dynasty | Inalid | ||||
| Father | ХъурыфэлӀ (Xhurıfəl') | ||||
| Religion | Eastern Orthodox Christianity syncretised with Khabzeism | ||||
Although the origin of Inal's nickname (Nef/Nekhu) is not known, sources claim that he had one eye blind, therefore it came from the word "Нэф" meaning "blind" in Circassian, and some claim that it came from the word "Нэху" meaning "enlightened" in Circassian.