The Mari (/ˈmɑːri/ MAR-ee),[a] also formerly known as the Cheremis or Cheremisses,[b][7][8] are a Finno-Ugric people in Eastern Europe, who have traditionally lived along the Volga and Kama rivers in Russia.

[7] They live mostly in the Mari El republic, with significant minorities in Bashkortostan, Perm Krai, Tatarstan and Udmurtia.

[7] The ethnic name mari derives from the Proto-Indo-Iranian root *márya-, meaning 'human', literally 'mortal', which indicates early contacts between Finno-Ugric and Indo-Iranian languages.

[17] Some scholars consider the speakers of Northwestern Mari dialects in Kirov and Nizhny Novgorod Oblasts a separate ethnographic group.

Mari folkore mentions a legendary hero named Chotkar and the semi-legendary king Chumblat, who ruled around the year 1100.

[21] Around 1200, Vladimir-Suzdal gradually took control of the Volga valley down to the mouth of the river Vetulga, and pressure intensified after the founding of Nizhny Novgorod in 1221.

[21] In the 14th century, Russian pressure grew with increased raids, while the Mari responded with attacks on territories including Vyatka and even Ustyug.

[23] In 1572, the last Siberian khan, Kuchum, sent an army consisting of Bashkirs, Khanty, Mansi and Mari vassals to carry out reconnaissance into the lands held by the Stroganovs and to devastate the settlements there.

In the following centuries under tsarist Russia, the Mari were able to retain their ethnic and cultural identity, reinforced by repeated waves of returning to their traditional pre-Christian religion.

In practice this involved facilitating grain requisitions by the Soviet state, the recruitment of soldiers for the Red Army and the implementation of Bolshevik control of the society.

[28] Furthermore, Bolshevik policies officially aimed at combating undue influence of nationalism in a multi-nation union, resulted in the murder of leading Mari figures, such as Sergei Čavajn and Olyk Ipai and other teachers, scientists, artists, as well as religious and community leaders.

However, following the appointment of Leonid Markelov as Head of the republic in 2001, the government of Mari El has pursued a policy of intense Russification in the region.

Nature also serves as a source of absolute good who always helps humans as long as they refrain from harming or opposing it.

[36] Attempts to convert the Maris to Christianity began in the 16th century after their territory was incorporated into the Russian state during the reign of Ivan IV ("the Terrible").

Pressure to convert to Christianity and adopt Russian culture by the tsarist authorities in the 17th and 18th century led to backlash by the Maris as they faced persecution to conform.

[35] Lastly, there is a neopagan revivalist movement called Kugu Sorta which rejects Christianity altogether in favour of "pure" pagan faith.

[40] Autosomally, Mari people stand out as an ethnic group in Europe by having a high level of Siberian-related admixture.