Khamkhins (Ingush: Хамхий), also known as Ghalghaï,[1][2] were an historical Ingush society, who were located in the upper reaches of the Assa River. The Khamkhin society, like the Tsorin society, was formed from the former "Ghalghaï society" as a result of the transfer of rural government to Khamkhi.[3][1]
The Khamkhin society continued to be synonymously called "Ghalghaï", after the name of the historical region "Ghalghaïche", on the territory of which the society was formed. The name "Ghalghaïche" in turn comes from the self-name of the Ingush - "Ghalghaï", which had a central and broad meaning in Ingushetia, being a common self-name for other Ingush societies, united by a common territory, common language and culture.[4][5] The Ingush are a people of the Chechen tribe inhabiting the central and southern parts of the Sunzha department (the former Ingush district) of the Terek region. and got its name from the large, now defunct aul Angusht or Ingush in the Tara Valley; I. call themselves lamour. I. break up into Dzherahovtsy, Kistins (Kists), Gal (a) Gaevtsy, Nazranians and Galashevtsy, according to the name of the villages, valleys, mountains or rivers on which they live; the transfer of rural administrations from one aul to another sometimes entailed a change in the name of the society.[6]
In the west Khamkhins bordered with the Fyappins, in the north with the Galashkians, in the east with the Tsorins, in the south with Georgia.