Historically the Shapsug controlled the ports of Dzhubga ( ) and Tuapse to mountain Gorges , and they consisted of 5 aristocratic families and 81 ( ) free clans , and were classified as one of the tree democratic Adyghe tribes , and 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 the region ( Circassia ) , as a result of the tsars ' regular policy to cleanse the Circassian coast from Circassians ( mainly physically then by expelling the remaining population to the Ottoman Empire . After the end of the Caucasian War ( during the period of 1864 to 1870 ) a major part of the Shapsug , who lived on the territory of Shapsugia , were either killed in the Circassian genocide or expelled to the Ottoman Empire . Some 3,000 Shapsug remained on the Circassian coast
Circassian genocide
Circassian genocide
Shapsugs