Circassians in Romania

This Dobrujan Circassian community influenced the area, having indirectly funded the construction of buildings still standing today in Tulcea and having two villages in Romania's Northern Dobruja, Cerchezu and Slava Cercheză, named after them.

Today, there are some people in both Romania and the closely related Moldova with the surname Cerchez or similar, which are derived from the Circassians.

People like this were also attested in the Principality of Wallachia; documents from the 17th century record Cercheza Maria, wife of a treasurer named Aslan.

They would raid villages of the various populations of the region and then give parts of their gains to the Ottoman authorities, who would in turn do nothing to stop their attacks.

Thus, during the conflict, many Circassian fighters massacred Bulgarians and also Lipovans (ethnic Russians of Dobruja) and Ukrainians, especially in Tulcea.

Because they were perceived as highly problematic, in the Treaty of San Stefano that put an end to the war, a clause was added whereby the Circassians of the newly liberated Balkan lands, including Dobruja, would be expelled.