The Laks (self-designation: Лак, [Lək] ) are a Northeast Caucasian ethnic group native to an inland region known as Lakia within Dagestan in the North Caucasus . They speak the Lak language . Laks historically live in the Lakskiy and Kulinskiy districts of Dagestan. This ethnocultural area is known as Lakia . There are about 200,000 ethnic Laks in the world.
36-581: [REDACTED] Look up laks in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Laks may refer to: Laks (Caucasus) , an ethnic group of Dagestan, North Caucasus, Russia Lak (tribe) , a Kurdish tribe in southwestern Iran Simon Laks (1901-1983), Polish composer and violinist who became head of the prisoners' orchestra at Birkenau-Auschwitz concentration camp See also [ edit ] All pages with titles containing Laks Lacs (disambiguation) Lachs ,
72-700: A surname Lak (disambiguation) Lakh , a unit in the Indian numbering system LAX (disambiguation) Laksha (disambiguation) Laksa (disambiguation) Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Laks . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laks&oldid=1222931256 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Disambiguation pages with surname-holder lists Hidden categories: Short description
108-497: A system of free societies, which were composed of the more democratic tukhums. These free societies were military and economic arrangements that were fluid in structure and worked on a democratic and voluntary basis. The laws governing the relations of groups within these free societies were codified in adat. The native language of all Laks is the Lak language . Lak is a member of the highly diverse Northeast Caucasian language family . Within
144-582: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Laks (Caucasus) The word "Lak" is the self-designation of the Lak people as in Lak expressions: "zhu Lak buru" — we are Lak; "zhu Lakral khalq buru" — we are Lak people; "Laktal" — Laks; "Lakssa" — Lakian, Laks, Lak man; "Lakkuchu" — Lakian man; "Lakku maz" — Lakian language; "Lakkuy" — Lakia; "Lakral kanu" — Lak place; "Lakral kanu" — Lak district; "Lakku bilayat" — Lak country; "Lakral pachchahlug" — Lak state. Laks use
180-453: Is frequented very seldom, meanwhile it is one of the most famous in Dagestan. Some residents are engaged in agriculture but more in manufacturing of weapons, copper utensils, as well as trade. At the end of the 19th century Laks went to work in different cities of Russia. In 1868 Alexander Komarov wrote that from Gazi-Kumukh District "almost all adult men travel to work to different places". At
216-437: Is today being eroded by modernization and continuing emigration. Marriages were traditionally arranged by the families of the couple, with the oldest women taking the most prominent role in the decision making. The bride and groom were most likely to be from the same clan. The custom of paying kalïm (bride-price) persists to a limited degree, but the transaction is more symbolic than financial. The Laks are reported to have been
252-478: The 10th century mentioned "Gumik" as a city or a principality. Al-Kufi in the 10th century mentioned fortress "'Amik" which is taken as "Gumik ". Ibn Rushd in the 10th century named Kumukh as a fortress "Alal and Gumik". The prefix "Alal" can be taken as "al-Lak" that was the name of the inhabitants of Kumukh or its territory. In the 14th century Kumukh was named "Gazi-Gumuk" (in Lak). The prefix "Gazi" meant that Kumukh
288-575: The 19th century Russians capturing Kumukh named it "Kazi-Kumyk" and its inhabitants "Lak" which for the Laks also meant a toponym . Kumukh is the historical center of the Lak people and existed before they converted to Islam. The first reliable information about Kumukh dates to the 6th century when Kumukh was part of Sassanid Empire . In 734 Kumukh became part of the Arab caliphate . General and historian Vasily Potto wrote: "The Arabs have put someone named Shah-Bal
324-583: The 8th century. In the 13th century the shamkhals of Kumukh accepted Islam and Lakia became an Islamic state. In the 15th century Kumukh became the main Islamic and political center of Dagestan. The third part is the era of the khans of Kumukh who opposed the colonial policy of Persia, Russia and Turkey. Most Laks believe in Sunni Islam ( Shafi'i school ). Sunni Islam encourages group solidarity; their members help each other find work and housing, arrange marriages, pay
360-585: The Laks in the lands of the Kumyks. This is why most Lak males were multilingual. Many villages specialized in artisanry and crafts. Kumukh was famed for its jewelers and coppersmiths; Kaya was known for its merchants and markets; Unchukatl for saddle and harness makers; Ubra for masons and tinsmiths; Kuma for candy makers; Shovkra for shoe- and bootmakers; Tsovkra for acrobats; and Balkar for ceramics and jug makers. Lak women also engaged in cottage industries such as rug weaving, spinning, textile making, and ceramics, whereas
396-405: The Laks was Kumuk . Soviet and Russian onomatologist (onomast), philologist and toponymist R. A. Ageeva writes: "The use of the term 'varnish' as a self-designation of the Laks is a secondary phenomenon ... In a number of surrounding languages, the more ancient self-name of the Laks has been preserved - gumuk, gumek, kumuk, etc. " Kumukh historically was a fortress-city where the residence of
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#1732852406302432-530: The Paris exhibition in 1889 there was presented a copper washstand with a lantern of Lak master Ali Buta Shaban. In Kutaisi province there were over 50 registered Lak jewelers, 120 in Tiflis province, and 90 in Tiflis along. Gunsmiths to Vladikavkaz came mainly from Dagestan and in particular from Gazi-Kumukh and Kubachi. Among Lak gunsmiths families of Guzunov, Abdullah Akiyev and Mulla Omarov were well known. Osman Omarov
468-454: The area of Caucasionic race (Northcaucasian race) in Dagestan. In this paper the groups that belong to Caucasionic race are those of western variant. These are the Ando-Tsunti people and the bulk of Avars, Laks, Dargin. According to the specifics of pigmentation, but not the size of the face, Rutuls are close to them". Because the traditional Lak lands are mountainous and very dry, agriculture
504-701: The artisanal crafts of the Northern Caucasus in 1882": "In the past Kumukh village deservedly became famous as a kind of capital and production center of the district, known for the most exquisite examples of weapons art." Lak artisans were mainly engaged in weapons manufacturing. After the completion of Caucasian War, Laks began to develop other types of crafts — gold and silver processing, production of footwear and clothing, copper work. The best known jewellers were from Kumukh, Nitsovkra, Duchi, Khurukra, Chitur, Churtakh, Tsushar, Chari and Unchukatl. Gold and silver produce decorated with enamel and ivory of Kumukh masters
540-416: The cities) and to other surrounding areas to find employment. Whereas in the traditional pattern of transhumant animal husbandry, Lak males and their animals walked over the treacherous mountain passes and forded rivers, the herds are now taken by truck to their winter pastures in the lowlands and similarly brought back in the spring. Traditionally, extended families held the limited amount of agricultural land,
576-640: The end of the Caucasian War the tsarist administration banned residents of the Caucasus and master gunsmiths to produce modern firearm). The Lak scholar and madrassa teacher Ali Kayaev was born in Gazi-Kumukh. The city's historic craftsmen, including Munchaev, Abdurahman Shakhshaev, Haji-Muhammed, are well known. Kumukh has a warm-summer humid continental climate ( Köppen climate classification Dfb ). The city's economy centers on farming and construction, and
612-444: The family, its position is highly debated, but it is generally thought to be an isolate, which either developed separately from an early point or, alternatively, a language of whose close relatives all have gone extinct. Initially, Lak by lexicon was found to be close to Dargin and the two were often combined in one Lak–Dargin subgroup of Dagestani languages. However, further research has led linguists to conclude that this association
648-414: The first Dagestani people to establish a feudal system. Their feudal society consisted of the khans; the bagtal (beks), who were the khan's family and the nobility; the chankri (children of marriages between beks and women of lower social orders); the uzdental (uzden), who were free peasants (numerically the largest of all classes); the rayat (serfs); and the laghart (slaves). This feudal system coexisted with
684-448: The kalim, maintain burial societies, resolve disputes, and so forth. The first mosque of the Lak people was built in 777-778 in Kumukh . Historian A. V. Komarov (1869) wrote: "Laki and in particular the residents of their main village of Gumuk were among the first Dagestani tribes who accepted Islam ... Abu Muselim himself went to Gumuk and built there a mosque in 777 AD as the inscription on
720-528: The men engaged in leather working and tool making. Many of these traditions survived during the Soviet period because it was difficult to develop the Lak territories, which are isolated and have few resources. Textiles and clothing, leather working and shoe making, and the production of meat, cheese, and butter are still the dominant industries in this region. Many Laks continue to migrate (both permanently and seasonally) to other areas of Daghestan (and in particular to
756-574: The mosque reads". According to Al-Masudi, the residents of Kumukh in the 8th century were Christians. Shamkhals of Kumukh embraced Islam at the end of the 13th century. In the 14th century, Kumukh became the gazi-center and was named Gazi-Kumukh. In the 15th century, shamkhals played a role in spreading Islam in Dagestan . According to prof. Gadjiyev A.G., Lak people belong to the Northcaucasian race : "Our research in 1961 has led to some clarification of
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#1732852406302792-526: The name "Lak" as their ethnonym and placename. P. K. Uslar (1864) reported on the use of self-designation "Lak" by residents of Gazi-Kumukh : "Lakkuchu, Lakkuchunal, nominative plural Lak, genitive Lakral — Kazikumukh man; Lak — the name of the whole country; ta uri Lakkuy — he lives in Kazikumukh; ta nai uri Lakkuya — he comes from Kazikumukh; ta Lakku mazray galga ti uri — he speaks in Laks language; Lakku adat — Kazikumukh custom; Lakral kanu — Kazikumukh, lit.
828-418: The pastures, and the herds in common and did not have a strong sense of individual ownership. The Laks nevertheless resisted Soviet collectivization policies. Traditionally Laks, like most Daghestani highlanders, lived in patriarchal clan units ( tukhums ) consisting of a large extended family having a common ancestor, either recently deceased or still living. All members had the same patronymic and all property
864-425: The place of Lak people". Russian army generals and historians A. V. Komarov (1869) and N. F. Dubrovin (1871) in their distinct writings on the history and ethnography of Caucasus mentioned that the self-designation of the residents of Gazi-Kumukh was "Lak" whom they named "Laki" (Laks). In the population census of Dagestan Oblast of 1886 the residents of Kazikumukh Okrug were named "Laki" (Russian "Лаки"). On
900-641: The ruler of the Laks". In 778 the construction of the first mosque was completed in Kumukh and Islam got established in Lakia . Gazi-Kumukh had been in the past a large trading and political center of Dagestan and capital of Gazikumukh Khanate . During the Russian Empire , the settlement was the administrative capital of the Kazikumukhsky Okrug . In the 19th century the main market for products of Kazi-Kumukh Khanate
936-406: The rulers of Lak people was. Kumukh is the ancient capital of Lakia . The history of the Laks can be divided into several parts. The first part is the era of Anushirwan, who appointed a ruler called Kumukh. In the 6th century Kumukh was one of the political centers in the highlands of Dagestan. The second part is the era of the shamkhals of Kumukh, who were first mentioned as the rulers of the Laks in
972-513: The schematic map of the Dagestan Oblast of 1895, compiled by historian and ethnographer E. I. Kozubskiy, the residents of Kazikumukh Okrug are called "Laki". According to the Soviet and Russian scientist-philologist, linguist-Iranian scholar and etymologist V. I. Abaev, the self-name "lak" is in connection with the term "lag", as the Caucasian peoples called the "serf". The former self-name of
1008-438: The surrounding villages as "Lakral sharhurdu" meant that they belong to Lak. In all probability, in ancient times Laks lived in the small village of Lak. The toponym "Lak" was adopted only in the Lak language. In the understanding of Laks, Kumukh was a fortress of Lak city and then in the general sense became the capital of the Lak principality . Historical literature mentioned Kumukh in a variety of pronunciations. Al-Masudi in
1044-446: Was a chronic shortage of wood for building and fuel. Wheat and fruits and vegetables were grown in the lower areas, especially in the new Lak areas in northern Daghestan. The practice of transhumant sheepherding required that for several months each year, males moved to the lowlands to pasture their animals. Here they came into contact with different Daghestani peoples. Other Daghestani mountaineers grazed their sheep along with those of
1080-616: Was a master of cold arms, the native of Gazi-Kumukh, who led a workshop in Vladikavkaz that employed 15–20 people. Osman's blades were highly priced and enjoyed the greatest popularity. Frequent customers were the Cossacks. Guzun Guzunov was master of cold arms and silversmiths, the native of Gazi-Kumukh, who led the workshop with his brother Durpal. In 1889 the workshop of Guzun had expanded and employed 20–30 people from Gazi-Kumukh and Kubachi. Guzunov produced sabers, swords, daggers or kinjals (after
1116-540: Was in Kazi-Kumukh where one could see not only Laks with their goods, but also Avars, Dargins and Lezgins. Inhabitants of Kazi-Kumukh supplied almost all of Dagestan with different sorts of copperware. The pottery products of Lak Balkhar was popular in Dagestan. Kazi-Kumukh was the center of arms production too. O. V. Markgraf, one of the members of the Committee on artisanal crafts of the Caucasus, wrote in his book "Essay on
Laks - Misplaced Pages Continue
1152-592: Was insufficient. According to genetic studies in 2023, the following haplogroups are found to predominate among Laks : Kumukh Kumukh ( Russian : Кумух ; Lak : Гъумук ), also known as Gazi Kumukh , is a village and the administrative center of Laksky District in Dagestan . It is located on the banks of the Kazikumukh Koysu, a branch of the Sulak River . Laks use the name "Lak" or "Lakral kanu" (the Lak place) to refer to Kumukh. The naming of
1188-455: Was of secondary importance in the traditional economy. In the mountainous regions, the economy was dominated by the raising of sheep and goats, and also some horses, cattle, and mules. Meat and milk products were major components of the Lak diet, although they also grew barley, peas, wheat and some potatoes. Most animal husbandry was the responsibility of males, whereas agriculture was mostly that of women. The Lak territory had no forests, and there
1224-422: Was owned mutually by the clan; decision making was the responsibility of either the elder patriarch or the elder males. Clan members were expected to provide mutual assistance in work and in family affairs, and to assume collective responsibility in vendettas, as prescribed by adat. The term for close family members within the tukhum is kk'ul, and they refer to each other as usursu (sibling). The importance of tukhums
1260-513: Was the military and political center of Muslims. In the 14th century Turkic historians (Shami, Yezdi) mentioned Kumukh as "Gazi-Kumuk" (the possession of shamkhal). In the 15th–16th centuries the inhabitants of northern Dagestan named Kumukh as "Kazi-Kumuk" (in Turkic) and "Kazi-Kumukh" (in Russian). In the chronicle Derbent-Nameh (17th century) Kumukh of 6th century and the 8th century was named "Kumuk". In
1296-544: Was well priced. There were 150 goldsmiths in Kumukh along. J. L. Lazorev noted that "In the industrial and property sense Kazikumuks serve as an example for all the mountaineers of Dagestan, like the Armenians in Transcaucasia they are smart, brave and warlike". In 1882 Gazi-Kumukh was visited by Russian scientist Dmitry Anuchin (earned a worldwide reputation in research on archaeology and ethnography) who wrote that "Kazi-Kumukh
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