Historically the Shapsug controlled the ports of Dzhubga () and Tuapse to mountain Gorges, and they consisted of 5 aristocratic families and 81 () free clans, and were classified as one of the tree democratic Adyghe tribes, and were known to have supported the other Adyghe tribes in their struggle against the Crimean Khanate. During the Caucasian War, they were one of the most stubborn enemies of Imperial Russia, joining Shamil's alliance (which would last until 1859). In late 1860, a council was assembled by the representatives of three Adyghe tribes (Shapsug, Ubykh, and Natukhai). The council considered () Sochi to be the last capital of the Circassian resistance. In 1864, a major part of the Shapsug and other Adyghe tribes moved to the Ottoman Empire due to the Russian army occupation of the region (Circassia), as a result of the tsars' regular policy to cleanse the Circassian coast from Circassians (mainly physically then by expelling the remaining population to the Ottoman Empire. After the end of the Caucasian War (during the period of 1864 to 1870) a major part of the Shapsug, who lived on the territory of Shapsugia, were either killed in the Circassian genocide or expelled to the Ottoman Empire. Some 3,000 Shapsug remained on the Circassian coast.