• The Circassian honour guards' Commander, Ayman Yacoub, and Assistant Commander, Hytham Hakho, stand with other members at the royal court in Amman, Jordan. Photos: Reuters
    The Circassian honour guards' Commander, Ayman Yacoub, and Assistant Commander, Hytham Hakho, stand with other members at the royal court in Amman, Jordan. Photos: Reuters
  • 'The roles and responsibilities of the Circassian guards revolve around the presence of his majesty, the crown prince or the king’s deputy, in royal palaces and courts', says Commander Yacoub
    'The roles and responsibilities of the Circassian guards revolve around the presence of his majesty, the crown prince or the king’s deputy, in royal palaces and courts', says Commander Yacoub
  • 'King Abdullah I was really impressed with them, he told them to remain in their areas, Amman and its suburbs, the city centre', says former commander Ghazi Kasem
    'King Abdullah I was really impressed with them, he told them to remain in their areas, Amman and its suburbs, the city centre', says former commander Ghazi Kasem
  • Mr Kasem says the king issued a decree for this group to become special royal guards in 1921
    Mr Kasem says the king issued a decree for this group to become special royal guards in 1921
  • Circassians came from the Caucasus in 1864 until 1920. They were a group of 40 soldiers who guarded Shariff Abdullah the first, says Assistant Commander Hakho
    Circassians came from the Caucasus in 1864 until 1920. They were a group of 40 soldiers who guarded Shariff Abdullah the first, says Assistant Commander Hakho
  • Assistant Commander Hakho looks on as other members train on horses at the royal court in Amman. 'Circassians were all knights and fighters so horses and swords were inevitably present', he says
    Assistant Commander Hakho looks on as other members train on horses at the royal court in Amman. 'Circassians were all knights and fighters so horses and swords were inevitably present', he says
  • A member of the Circassian honour guards fixes his hat
    A member of the Circassian honour guards fixes his hat
  • Over one hundred years later, the Circassian knights still guard Jordan's current king, the crown prince, or the king’s deputy, when they are in the royal palaces or courts. The guards mainly play a ceremonial role
    Over one hundred years later, the Circassian knights still guard Jordan's current king, the crown prince, or the king’s deputy, when they are in the royal palaces or courts. The guards mainly play a ceremonial role
  • Displaced from the Caucasus in 1864, Circassians were among the first to settle in the Jordanian capital Amma Members of the Circassian honour guards walk at the royal court in Amman
    Displaced from the Caucasus in 1864, Circassians were among the first to settle in the Jordanian capital Amma Members of the Circassian honour guards walk at the royal court in Amman
  • The guards still adhere to their ancient traditions and adorn Circassian costume and train with swords and horses
    The guards still adhere to their ancient traditions and adorn Circassian costume and train with swords and horses
  • Military training for the guards includes various forms of fighting and shooting, Hakho says
    Military training for the guards includes various forms of fighting and shooting, Hakho says
  • Groups of Circassians started settling in Jordan in the late 1800s and continued until the early 1900s, according to historians
    Groups of Circassians started settling in Jordan in the late 1800s and continued until the early 1900s, according to historians
  • The Circassian honour guard's commander Ayman Yacoub walks with other members of the formation at the royal court in Amman, Jordan January 29, 2023. REUTERS / Alaa Al Sukhni
    The Circassian honour guard's commander Ayman Yacoub walks with other members of the formation at the royal court in Amman, Jordan January 29, 2023. REUTERS / Alaa Al Sukhni
  • Members of the Circassian honour guard gesture at Jordanian members of the military at the royal court in Amman, Jordan.
    Members of the Circassian honour guard gesture at Jordanian members of the military at the royal court in Amman, Jordan.

MENA

The Circassian honour guards serving Jordan's royals

When former King Abdullah I arrived in Amman in 1921, a group of 40 Circassian knights received him and volunteered to protect him

The National

February 14, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

More from The National:

Egypt’s tiny blue butterfly makes a comeback from near extinction thanks to Covid-19

Iranians enjoy snowfall in Tehran - in pictures

Wheat farm in Sharjah prepares to welcome first harvest

Exclusive first review of Bab Al Shams, Dubai's oldest desert resort - Hotel Insider

Dubai's first Ukrainian restaurant a haven for war migrants

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Abramovich London

A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.

A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.

Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.

Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

World Test Championship table

1 India 71 per cent

2 New Zealand 70 per cent

3 Australia 69.2 per cent

4 England 64.1 per cent

5 Pakistan 43.3 per cent

6 West Indies 33.3 per cent

7 South Africa 30 per cent

8 Sri Lanka 16.7 per cent

9 Bangladesh 0

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES

Mar 10: Norwich(A)

Mar 13: Newcastle(H)

Mar 16: Lille(A)

Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)

Apr 2: Brentford(H)

You might also like
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
MATCH INFO

Who: France v Italy
When: Friday, 11pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier

Event info: The tournament in Kuwait is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.

Teams: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar

Friday fixtures: 9.30am (UAE time) - Kuwait v Maldives, Qatar v UAE; 3pm - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain

Updated: February 14, 2023, 9:12 AM
Jordan