Andemirqan yi Wered (Андемыркъан И Уэрэд) - (The Song of Andemirqan)

Андемыркъан и уэрэд; Andemirqan yi Wered (The Song of Andemirqan). (Kabardian) Amjad Jaimoukha, Jordan The words of the song (in Kabardian) are found in Ziramiku Qardenghwsch (Qardengush), АДЫГЭ УЭРЭДЫЖЬХЭР. Adyghe Weredizchxer [Ancient Circassian Songs], Nalchik: Elbrus Book Press, 1979, pp 32-4. [61 songs; words in Kabardian; no sheet music; stories of the songs at end of the book]. Andeimirqan (b. circa 1509), the equivalent of Robin Hood in the Circassian ethos, was a contemporary of the 16th-century potentate Prince Beislhen (Beslan) (son of Zhanxwet), nicknamed Ptsaptse (The Obese), who is credited with modifying the structure of the peerage system and updating the Xabze (Khabze). Andemirqan was the progeny of a mésalliance; his father was a prince, his mother was of unknown stock. According to one legend, he was found by Andemir while on a hunting expedition. When his hound barked at the trunk of a tree, he wondered what the matter was, only to find a twig-basket perched on a forked branch. He brought it down and found a tiny baby covered in the basket. Andemir, who was childless, was joyful at the find, and he brought up the child as his own. Andemirqan grew up to be an intrepid horseman. The news of his exploits went far and wide. He was in the entourage of Prince Beislhen, and one day while the potentate was on a hunting expedition carted in a carriage, as the Prince was too large to fit on a horse the Prince took aim at a wild boar, but missed the mark, and the boar fled into the forest. As the boar was driven out of the forest, the Prince took another aim, but missed again. However, Andemirqans arrow pierced the boar and stuck him to the Princes carriage. By some accounts, it was there and then that Beislhen resolved to get rid of Andeimirqan. He instigated Qaniybolet, one of Andemirqans closest friends and younger brother of Prince Temriuk Idarov, to betray him. One day, Qaniybolet asked Andemirqan to go out with him on a hunting expedition. A contingent of Beislhens troops lay in ambush, and they put the hero to the sword. Some analysts maintain that the murder was a result of the internecine war for supremacy over Kabarda, as Andemirqan, despite the obscurity of his mothers lineage, could have claimed the mantle of sovereignty for his warrior character and bravery. It is thought that Andemirqan was killed before 1552. He was Christian. At the time, the Circassians venerated Dawischjerjiy (St. George) and Yele (Prophet, or St. Elijah), in addition to their pagan gods. It was Beislhen Ptsaptses son Prince Qaniqwe who left Kabarda (in the second half of the 16th century) to establish the Beislheney (Beslanay) nation-tribe. Special thanks to Amjad Jaimoukha. CW.