Avars

The Avars are an ethnic group of the Caucasus, primarily concentrated in Dagestan, Russia. They speak the Avar language, a Northeast Caucasian language, and are the largest ethnic group in Dagestan. The Avars are predominantly Muslim, with Sunni Islam playing the central role in community and daily life.

Historically, the Avars emerged as a prominent power in the eastern Caucasus. They established the Avar Khaganate in the region in the 6th century, exerting influence across the Caucasus and briefly extending into the Pannonian Basin in the 6th–7th centuries. The Pannonian Avar state declined by the 9th century amid pressures from Byzantium and Slavic polities. In Dagestan, the Avars later organized as the Avar Khanate, a regional polity that lasted roughly from the 15th century until Russian expansion in the 19th century during the Caucasian War.

Language and culture form a core part of Avar identity. The Avar language has several dialects and is part of the Northeast Caucasian language family. Many Avars are bilingual, using Russian in addition to Avar, and some also speak other Dagestani languages. Traditional life emphasizes clan networks, oral literature, music and crafts, and Islam has long shaped social norms and practices in Avar communities.

Today, the Avars remain the largest ethnic group in Dagestan and are recognized as a distinct people within the North Caucasus. Their history encompasses ancient statehood, medieval political and religious transformations, and participation in the broader history of the Caucasus and Russia.