Khanate of Kazan: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:32, 26 August 2005

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It was founded by [[Olug Moxammat]] [[khan]] in [[1437]] or [[1438|38]] as the [[Golden Horde]] finally disintegrated. An alternative theory suggests that by late 14th - early 15th century, the former territories of [[Volga Bulgaria]] (Kazan Ulus or Kazan Duchy within [[Golden Horde]]) managed to regain a degree of independence. The principality was self-governed and maintained a dynasty of [[Bolgar]] rulers. Olug Moxammat usurped the throne with help of local nobility. There are suggestions that the transfer of power was finalized by Moxammat's son [[Maxmud]] in [[1445]].

The Kazan Khanate was prone to civil turmoil and struggles for the throne. The khans were replaced 19 times in 115 years, for a total of 15 khans, some ruling 2 or 3 times. The Khan was often elected from [[Genghiz Khan|Gengizides]] by Kazan noblemen and even by peoplethe citizens themselves.

[[Image:Khanate of Kazan.gif|thumb|300px|left|Map of Kazan Khanate, [[1540s]].]]

The politics of the Kazan Khanate was strongly influenced by [[Muscovy]], [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]], and the [[Crimean Khanate]].

[[Kazan]] was the capital from [[1437]] to [[1552]]. In [[1487]] Russians briefly occupied the town of Kazan only to withdraw later. In the period of war against the conquerors (1552-1556) ''[[Mishatamaq]]'' and ''[[Chalem]]'' became capitalcapitals of the Kazan Khanate.

In [[1552]] itthe khanate was conquered by [[Tzar]] [[Ivan IV of Russia]]. Devlet Giray Khan, ruler of the [[Khanate of Crimea]] attacked [[Moscow]] to punish Russia.

==Khanate's geography and population==

Khanate's mainThe territory of the Kazan Khanate included the lands of [[Bolgars|Muslim Bolgar-populated]] [[Bolğar Duchy|Bolğar]], [[Cükätaw Duchy|Cükätäw]], [[Kazan Duchy|Kazan]], [[Qaşan Duchy|Qaşan]] duchies and other lands, that originally was belong to [[Volga Bulgaria]]. The majority of population waswere [[Kazan Tatars]], and Muslim Bolgars, that startedadopted to speakthe [[Tatar language]]. Their self-determinationidenitity wasn'twas not restricted to ''TatarsTatar'', but was more commonly ''Muslims'' or ''the people of Kazan''. According to Ginghizides tradition, the local Turkic population alsowere wasalso called ''Tatars'' by steppe nobility and, later, Russians. Local feudals waswere alsoethnic Bolgar, but the Kazan khans' seat and body-guard usedwere becomposed formed fromof steppe Tatars ([[Kipchaks]], later [[Nogais]]) that lived in [[Kazan]]. The higher nobility were also wasdrawn from the [[Golden Horde|Hordian]]. It included members of 4 families: Arghyn, Baryn, Qypchaq, and Shirin. [[Islam]] was athe state religion.

Subject territory included [[Chuvash]], [[Mari]], [[Mordva]], Tatar-Mishar, Udmurt, Bashkir lands, steppe areas of [[Volga Bulgaria]]. [[Perm]] and part of [[Komi]] lands also was incorporated to Khanate. The rulers, most of whom was Tatars (that also included Chuvash Bolgars, adopted [[Tatar language]]) and local people, adopted Tatar language and [[Islam]], as it was in Chuvash, Udmurt and Mari lands. Lands of Mishars, that settled to their lands during the [[Golden Horde]] period, also was settled by Finnic Mordvins and bulgarized Turkic [[Burtas]], assimilated to Mishars later. Their territory was governed by former steppe Tatars. Some of Mishar duchies never was belong to Kazan and enjoyed [[Qasim Khanate]] and [[Russia]].

Russian sourced say about 5 languages, used in khanate. The first was [[Tatar language]] (consisted of Middle dialect of Kazan Tatars (formerly Muslim Bolgars) and Western dialect of Mishars (formerly steppe Tatars, that spoke Kipchak). [[Chuvash language]] was a descendant of [[Bolgar language]], was still spoken around pagan [[Chuvash]]. [[Bolgar language]] also strongly influenced the Middle dialect of [[Tatar language]]. Another three was probably [[Mari language]]s, [[Mordvin language]]s and [[Bashkir language]], that also originates from Bolgar and [[Kipchak language]]s.