Chorni KlobukyorChornye Klobuki, meaning "black hats" (from Russian: Чёрные клобуки, romanized: Chërnyye klobuki and Ukrainian: Чорні клобуки, romanized: Chorni klobuky) was a generic name[1] for a group of semi-nomadic Turkic tribes of Berendei, Torki, Kovui of Chernihiv, Pechenegs, and others[2] that at the end of 11th century settled on the southern frontier of Kiev and Pereyaslav principalities along the Ros River valley.[2][3]
They are first mentioned in the Kiev Chronicles of 1146.[4]
In the 12th century many of these tribes became sedentary[2] and town-based (within modern Cherkasy and southern Kyiv oblasts). Their main city was Torchesk (next to the modern city of Kaharlyk).[4] They also were used by Rus' princes for the defense of their southern borders against Cumans[2] and took part in the political life of Kievan Rus'.[2] After the Mongol invasion they were partially assimilated by neighboring people[2] and partially deported by the Golden Horde rulers such as Uzbeg Khan (between 1340-1390) to the Central Asia.[2][5]
Their name means "Black Hats" or "Black Hoods", and in Turkic languages it is "Karakalpak"; presumably this refers to their national costume. It is unclear whether the Chornyi Klobuki are related to the Karakalpaks of today.[6]
In the Moscow Chronicle collection of the 15th century under the year 1152 it explains that all Chorni Klobuky were called Circassians as they arrived from the north Caucasus.[1]
Klym Polishchuk's short story “God of Chorni Klobuky” is based on a Ukrainian legend. The story comprises Treasure of the Ages: Ukrainian Legends [Skarby vikiv: Ukrainski Lehendy].[7]
