The Kazan khanate (Tatar: Qazan Xanlığı) (1438-1552) was a Tatar state on the territory of former Volga Bulgaria with capital in Kazan. It covered contemporary Tatarstan, Mari El, Chuvashia, Mordovia, parts of Udmurtia and Bashkortostan.
It was founded by Olug Moxammat khan in 1437 or 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 Gengizides by Kazan noblemen and even by the citizens themselves.
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 capitals of the Kazan Khanate.
In 1552 the 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
The territory of the Kazan Khanate included the lands of Muslim Bolgar-populated Bolğar, Cükätäw, Kazan, Qaşan duchies and other lands, that originally was belong to Volga Bulgaria. The majority of population were Kazan Tatars, and Muslim Bolgars that adopted the Tatar language. Their self-idenitity was not restricted to Tatar, but was more commonly Muslims or the people of Kazan. According to Ginghizides tradition, the local Turkic population were also called Tatars by steppe nobility and, later, Russians. Local feudals were ethnic Bolgar, but the Kazan khans' seat and body-guard were composed of steppe Tatars (Kipchaks, later Nogais) that lived in Kazan. The higher nobility were also drawn from the Hordian. It included members of 4 families: Arghyn, Baryn, Qypchaq, and Shirin. Islam was the 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 languages, Mordvin languages and Bashkir language, that also originates from Bolgar and Kipchak languages. The state language was Tatar, and it's written form Old Tatar language. Volga, Kama and Vyatka was the main rivers of khanate, major trade ways. The most of khanate's territory was covered by forests, only the southern part was steppe. The Western Urals also was under Kazan's control.
Economics
Khanate's urban people produced clay ware, wood and metal handiworks, leather, armor, ploughs and jewels. The major cities was Qazan, Arça, Cükätaw, Qaşan, Çallı, Alat and Cöri. Urban people also traded with Central Asia, Caucasus, and Russia. In 16th century Russia became the main trade partner of khanate and khanate enjoyed the Russian economical system. The major markets were Taşayaq Bazaar in Kazan and Markiz Isle fair on Volga. Agricultural landownership was söyurğal and hereditary estates.
Society
The state was governed by khan. His action was based on the cabinet council Diwan's decisions and advisements.
The nobility included bäk (beg), ämir (emir), morza (murza). Military estate consist of uğlan (ulan), bahadir, içki (ichki). Muslim clergy also played major role. They divide into säyet (seid), şäyex (sheikh), qazí (qazi), imam. Clergy judged people, kept up madrassas and maktabs (scholls). The majority of population was qara xalıq (black people) – free Muslim blackness, lived at the state land. Feudal's lands was mostly settled by çura – serves. Prisoners of war, which wasn't sold to Turkey or Central Asia, became slaves (qol) and sometimes was settled to feudal's landownership to became çura later. Non-Muslim population of Khanate used to pay yasaq.
Culture
In general, people's culture was succeeding from Volga Bulgaria. Golden Horde's elements of culture also was preserved in noble circles.
A big part of population was literate. Big libraries was collected in mosques and madrassah. Kazan became a center of science and theology. Worldly literature also developed. The most prominent Old Tatar language poets were Möxämmädyar, Ömmi Kamal, Möxämmädämin, Ğärifbäk, Qolşärif. Möxämmädyar renovated poetry's traditions and his verses were very popular.
City of Bolghar still was preserved as scared place, but only as a scared place, due Kazan became a major economic and political center in 1430s.
The architecture of khanate is represented with white-stone architecture, wood carving.
Administrative division
Khnate was divided into 5 daruğa: Alat, Arça, Gäreç, Cöri and Nuğay. Term daruğa is similar to direction. They replaced some duchies khanate was originate from. Some feudals tended to gain an independence from Kazan, but those attempts used to be suppressed.
Military forces
Military of khanate consisted of armament by darughas and subject lands, khan guards, nobles' troops. The number of soldiers was unsteady, from 20'000 to 60'000. Often Nogay, Crimean and Russian troops also served for Kazan khans.
Fire-arms (arquebuse) were used for defending Kazan's walls.
History
At the Olug Moxammat's and his son Maxmud's reign Kazan army several times occupied Muscovy's territory and subject lands. The Grand Duke of Moscow Vassily II was defeated near the Suzdal and forced to pay a tribute. In July 1487 Grand Duke Ivan III of Moscow occupied Kazan and seated his supporter Möxämmädämin to Kazan throne. That was a beginning of Moscow protectorate. The Russian influence developed, Russian nobles and merchants received more gainful conditions that local. The supporters of union with Ottoman Empire and Crimea Khanate tried to used those contradictions to provoke revolts or devastation (1496, 1500, 1505), but it wasn't any result. In 1521 Kazan come out from Moscow protectorate, concluding a treaty about mutual aid with Astrakhan Khanate, Crimean khanate and Nogay Horde. Kazan and Crimean forces attack Muscovy together. The reinforcement of Crimea also made pro-Muscovy fraction displeased. Those noblemen provoke the revolt in 1545. The result was deposition of Safa Giray. Moscow supporter Şahğäli occupied the throne. Since those year Moscow organized several campaigns to take Kazan over own control, but it didn't gave any result. With the help of Nogays Safa Giray return the throne. He executed 75 noblemen, the rest of coup d'etat escaped to Moscow. In 1549 he was dead and his 3-years-old son Ütämeşgäräy was recognized as khan. Regent and actual ruler was his mother Söyembikä. The administration of ulan Qoşçaq comes to independent politics. At that time sons of Safa Giray Mübarek and Bülek, and grandson Devlet Giray was in Crimea. Even the invitation to throne was send to them, force that interested in instability protested. Qoşçaq's government continued to exasperate relations with Muscovy. Group of disagreed noblemen in the beginning of 1551 invited a supporter of Ivan the Terrible Şahğäli again. At the same time the right side of Volga was given to Muscovy. Ütämeşgäräy with mother was send to Moscow prison. Şahğäli occupied the Kazan throne till February 1552. Anti-Moscow group exiled Şahğäli and invited Astrakhan prince Yadegar Moxammad with Nogays. Kazan was almost besieged. In already built Russian castle Sviyazhsk forces of Ivan IV was concentrated. Later Kazan was completely besieged. In August 1552 Russians defeat Tatar inner troops, came to city, burnt Arsk and some castles. After 2 month of siege, after the explode of citadel's in October, 3 walls Russians entered the city with street battles. Some part of defenders escaped from the besiege, but the most couldn't. Yadegar Moxammad was prisoned. The most of city's population (nearby 50'000-60'000) was massacred. After fall of Kazan subjects such Udmurtia and Bashkortostan joined Russia without wars. The khanate's administration was liquidated, Moscow supporters and neutral nobles kept their lands, but another was executed. Tatars was resettled from rivers, roads and away from Kazan. Free lands was settled by Russians and sometimes by pro-muscovite Tatars. Orthodox bishops forcibly baptized many Tatars, executing resisters. Till the 1558 partisan war is going over the khanate. Governments was formed in Chalem and Mishatamaq. But [[Nogays] under Ğäli Äkräm often spoiled agricultural population and coalition ruined. After the terror against khanate's population partisans were suppressed, their commanders executed. By some estimates nearby 500'000 residents of khanate died during occupation wars. Colonial administration, known as Kazan Palace's Office continued discrimination and Russification of Tatars and other peoples. The term Khanate of Kazan was in use until 1708 when Kazan governorate was formed.
By some scholars in 1612 Khanate of Kazan was restored with the help of Russian population, but it was defeated. Russian forces under the leadership of Kuzma Minin suppressed the rebellion.
See also
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