from Russian occupation in 1840 during the
Circassian Resistance. The
Shapsugs were a very large tribe that occupied extensive territories of the Black Sea coast and the
Kuban River. Different sources note that, prior to the Russo-Caucasian War, the number of Shapsug people was between 150,000 and 300,000 people. The Shapsug had divisions of Big and Small Shapsug land, the latter being very close to the
Natukhai tribe's land. The Shapsug took an active role in the Caucasian war. They had a reputation of invincibility and were one of the last to lay down their weapons under the pressure of tsarist troops in 1864. Some Shapsug troops fought until the 1880s. After the end of the war the overwhelming majority of the Shapsug were forcefully evicted to Turkey and elsewhere in the
Middle East. No more than 6,000 Shapsug people remained on their native land. Presently, these Shapshug live in the territory of
Krasnodarsky Krai and make up about 20 villages. From 1924 to 1945, there was a Shapsug national district, which was abolished during the time of repressions . Historically the Shapsug controlled the ports of Dzhubga () and
Tuapse to the mountain gorges, and consisted of 5
aristocratic families and 81 () free clans. They were classified as one of the three
democratic Adyghe tribes. The Shapsug were known to have supported the other Adyghe tribes in their struggle against the
Crimean Khanate. During the
Caucasian War, they were one of the most stubborn enemies of
Imperial Russia, joining
Shamil's alliance (which would last until 1859). In late 1860, a
council was assembled by the representatives of three Adyghe tribes (Shapsug,
Ubykh, and
Natukhai). The council considered ()
Sochi to be the last
capital of the
Circassian resistance. In 1864, a major part of the Shapsug and other Adyghe tribes moved to the
Ottoman Empire due to the Russian army occupation of Circassia, as a result of the tsars' regular policy to
cleanse the
Circassian coast of Circassian people (mainly physically; later by expelling the remaining population to the Ottoman Empire. Some 3,000 Shapsug remained on the Circassian coast. The Shapsug, as an Adyghe tribe, have always appreciated and honored their "immortals" (heroes and fighters) who sacrificed their lives to keep
Circassia independent in the battles and war with the
Russian Empire during the Circassian resistance; by elegies such as the Elegy of the Shapsugs () ==Shapsugsky national district==