Wikipedia
The Kabardians (; ; ), or Kabardinians, are the largest one of the twelve Adyghe (Circassian) tribes (sub-ethnic groups). They are also commonly known by the plural terms Kabardin, Kebertei, or Kabarday. Along with the Besleney tribe, they speak a distinctive dialect of the Adyghe language. Despite the Soviet administrative divisions that placed Circassians under four different designations, namely Adygeans (Adyghe in Adygea), Cherkessians (Adyghe in Karachay-Cherkessia), Kabardians (Adyghe in Kabardino-Balkaria), Shapsugians (Adyghe in Krasnodar Krai), all the four are essentially the same people (Adyghe) residing in different political units. The Kabardian people represent one of the 12 stars on the green and gold Adyghe flag.
Kabardians are the largest Circassian (Adyghe) tribe in Russia (over 600,000), Turkey, Egypt, and some other countries in the region, except for Israel and Jordan, where the Shapsug and Abzakh tribe are the largest tribes, respectively. The Kabardian tribe are also the largest Circassian branch in the world in general. In 2002, they numbered around 520,000 in Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia. Significant populations of Kabardians are also found in Georgia. There are also communities in the United States. In Turkey, where a significant number live, they are concentrated on the Uzunyayla plateau of Kayseri province (Central Turkey), though there are certain Kabardian villages in Balıkesir, Düzce, and Eskişehir (Northwest Turkey).
Although being one of the earliest Christian communities in Europe, most Kabardin are Sunni Muslim (Hanafi) since the early 19th century. However, Kabardians living in Mozdoksky District in the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania are Orthodox Christians, since the late 2nd and early 3rd century. Some of the Kabardians living in the southern part of the neighbouring Kursky district of Stavropol Krai are also Orthodox Christians, while some are adherent to the Habze philosophy. There are also few Roman Catholic families who converted from Orthodoxy in the 13th century.