ETHNONYMS OF THE NORTHWEST CAUCASUS IN XIII-XV CENTURIES: INTERCONNECTION OF LEADING TERMS
An ethnonim Circassian and, accordingly, the name of the territory - Circassia, were approved in the ethnonymic and geographical nomenclature of the Northwest Caucasus. This term is synonymous with old term Zikhs (name of the territory - Zikhia). The article examines the question of the causes of the introduction of a new term, and the circumstances that contributed to its statement in historical literature as the main name for Adyghe ethnic group.