Kazan Khanate

The Kazan Khanate (- 1552 ) was a Tatar state on the territory of former Volga Bulgaria with its 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.
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The politics of the Kazan Khanate was strongly influenced by Muscovy , the Grand Duchy Of Lithuania , and the Crimean Khanate . Kazan was the capital from 1437 to 1552 . In 1487 the Russians briefly occupied the town of Kazan, only to withdraw shortly thereafter. During the war against the Russian occupation (1552-1556) '' Mishatamaq '' and '' Chalem '' became capitals of the Kazan Khanate.

In 1552 the khanate was conquered by Tzar Ivan IV Of Russia . In retaliation, Devlet I Giray of Crimea attacked Moscow .

KHANATE'S GEOGRAPHY AND POPULATION

The territory of the Kazan Khanate included the lands of was the state religion.

Subject territories included the Chuvash , Mari , Mordva , Tatar-Mishar, Udmurt , and Bashkir lands, and the steppe areas of Volga Bulgaria . Perm and some of the Komi tribes were also incorporated into the Khanate. The lands settled by the Mishars, who arrived during the period of the Golden Horde period, was also settled by Finnic Mordvins and Burtas , who were later assimilated into the resident Mishar population. Their territory was governed by former steppe Tatars. Some of the Mishar Duchies Never Belonged To Kazan and instead joined the Qasim Khanate or Russia .

Russian sources state that about 5 languages were used in the Kazan khanate. The first was the Tatar Language (consisting of the Middle dialect of the Kazan Tatars, formerly Muslim Bolgars) and the Western dialect of the Mishars (formerly steppe Tatars that spoke Kipchak). The Chuvash Language was a descendant of the Bolgar Language , which was still spoken around pagan Chuvash . The Bolgar Language also strongly influenced the Middle dialect of Tatar Language . Another three was probably Mari Language s, Mordvin Language s and Bashkir Language , which also originated from the Bolgar and Kipchak Language s.

The state language was Tatar, and its written form Old Tatar Language was predominant.
The Volga , Kama and Vyatka were the main rivers of the khanate, as well as the major trade ways. Most of the khanate territory was covered by forests, and only the southern part consisted of steppe. The main population of steppes were Manghites, aka Nogais , sometimes recognized the rule of Kazan khan, but often spoiled agricultural Tatars and Chuvash s, as they did in Golden Horde period.

Later, Nogais were transplanted and replaced with Kalmyks , and later this area were settled by Tatars, Chuvashs, Russians, but some defencive walls were built to keep southern border. Since khanate was established, Tatar Cossack troops defended khanate from Nogais.The Western Urals also were under the control of Kazan.

ECONOMICS

The Khanate's urban population produced clay ware, wood and metal handiworks, leather, armor, ploughs and jewels. The major cities were Qazan , Arça , Cükätaw , Qaşan , Çallı, Alat and Cöri. The urban populattion also traded with the people of Central Asia , the Caucasus , and Russia . In the 16th century, Russia became the main trading partner of Kazan, and the khanate shared the economic system utilized by the Russians. The major markets were Taşayaq Bazaar in Kazan and Markiz Isle fair on the Volga River. Agricultural landownership was by the Söyurğal and hereditary estates.

SOCIETY

The state was governed by the Khan . His action was based on the cabinet council Diwan 's decisions and advisements.

The nobility included bäk ( Beg ), ämir ( Emir ), and the morza ( Murza ). Military estates consisted of the uğlan ( Ulan ), Bahadir , içki ( Ichki ). Muslim clergy also played a major role. They were divided into säyet ( Seid ), şäyex ( Sheikh ), qazí ( Qazi ), and Imams . The '' Ulema '' or clergy played a judicial role, and maintained the Madrassa s and Maktab s (schools).
The majority of the population were ''qara xalıq (black people)'': a free Muslim population, who lived on state land (the designation "black" in Turkic culture was often used to refer to commoners, and not intended as a racial designation; on this point see also Khazars ). The feudal lands were mostly settled by ''çura'' (serfs). Prisoners of war were often sold in Turkey or Central Asia . Occasionally they were sold within the Khanate as slaves (''qol'') and sometimes were settled on feudal lands to became ''çura'' later. The non-Muslim population of the Khanate were required to pay the Yasaq .

CULTURE

, sometimes considered to be an only building, preserved since khanate's epoch]]
In general, the culture of the Kazan Khanate descended from that of Volga Bulgaria . Cultural elements of the Golden Horde were also present in noble circles.

and later was a crown of poets were Möxämmädyar , Ömmi Kamal , Möxämmädämin , Ğärifbäk , and Qolşärif . Möxämmädyar renovated the traditions of Kazan poetry, and his verses were very popular.

The city of Bolghar still was preserved as a sacred place, but only served this function due to the emergence of Kazan as a major economic and political center in the 1430s .

The architecture of khanate is represented by white-stone architecture, and wood carvings.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION

Khanate was divided into 5 Daruğa : Alat, Arça, Gäreç, Cöri and Nuğay. The term daruğa translates into ''direction''. They replaced some ''duchies'' that the khanate originated from. Some feudal lords gained independence from Kazan, but those attempts were later suppressed.

is still unclear. Nevertheless, Hollander Carlus (Carel) Allard noted that ''Caesar of Tataria'' used two flags, and Zilant was pictured on the first. Whether he meant that ''Caesar of Tataria'' was Khan of Kazan is also unclear.]]

MILITARY FORCES

The military of the khanate consisted of armament and men from the darughas and subject lands, khan guards, and the troops of the nobility. The number of soldiers was never constant, ranging from 20,000 to 60,000 in number. Often, troops from Nogay , the Crimean and Russia also served for the Kazan khans.

Fire-arms (arquebuse) were used for defending the walls of Kazan.

HISTORY

During the reign of Olug Moxammat and his son Maxmud , Kazan forces occupied Muscovy and its subject lands several times. The Grand Duke of Moscow Vassily II was defeated in a battle near the Suzdal , and was forced to pay tribute to the Kazan khan. In July 1487 , Grand Duke Ivan III of Moscow occupied Kazan and seated a puppet leader, Möxämmädämin , to the Kazan throne. The Kazan Khanate subsequently became a ''Moscow protectorate''. As Russian influence grew stronger, Russian nobles and merchants received more advantageous conditions than the local population.

The supporters of a union with the Ottoman Empire and the Crimean Khanate tried to use those greivances to provoke revolts ( in 1496 , 1500 , and 1505 ), but with negligible results. In 1521 , Kazan emerged from the dominance of Moscow, concluding a mutual aid treaty with the Astrakhan Khanate , Crimean Khanate and the Nogay Horde . Kazan and Crimean forces then attacked Muscow jointly.

The reinforcement of Crimea displeased the pro-Moscow elements of the Kazan Khanate, and some of these noblemen provoked a revolt in 1545 . The result was the deposition of Safa Giray . A Moscow supporter, Şahğäli , occupied the throne. Following that year, Moscow organized several campaigns to impose control over Kazan, but the attempts were unsuccessful. With the help of the Nogays , Safa Giray returned to the throne. He executed 75 noblemen, and the rest of his opposition escaped to Moscow. In 1549 he died, and his 3-years-old son Ütämeşgäräy was recognized as khan. His regent and the de-facto ruler of the khanate was his mother Söyembikä .

The administration of ulan Qoşçaq gained a degree of independence under her rule. At that time sons of Safa Giray Mübarek, Bülek, and Safa Giray Mubarek's grandson Devlet I Giray were in Crimea . Even when an invitation to the Kazan throne was sent to them, the elements of the nobility that were interested in fostering instability protested. Qoşçaq's government continued to exasperate relations with Muscovy. Group of disgruntled noblemen in the beginning of 1551 invited a supporter of Tsar Ivan The Terrible , Şahğäli , for the second time.

At the same time the lands to the east of the Volga River ( Chuvashia ) was given to Muscovy. Ütämeşgäräy, along with his mother, was sent to a Moscow prison. Şahğäli occupied the Kazan throne until February 1552. Anti-Moscow elements in the Kazan government exiled Şahğäli and invited the Astrakhan Prince Yadegar Moxammad , along with the Nogays , to aid them.

Kazan was then put under siege. In a Russian castle ( Sviyazhsk ), where the forces of Ivan IV were concentrated. Later Kazan was completely besieged. In August 1552 Russians defeated the Tatar inner troops, burnt Archa and some castles. After 2 month of siege, and after the distruction of the Citadel walls on October 3 , the Russians entered the city. Some defenders escaped from the besiege, but the most were unable to. Yadegar Moxammad was imprisoned and the majority of the population of Kazan (nearby 50'000-60'000) were massacred.

After fall of Kazan, territories such as Udmurtia and Bashkortostan joined Russia without conflict. The khanate's administration was liquidated, pro-Moscow and neutral nobles kept their lands, but some were executed. Tatars were then 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.

Until 1558, however, a partisan war was waged by the population. Rebel governments were formed in Chalem and Mishatamaq . But the Nogays under Ğäli Äkräm often spoiled the agricultural population, and the coalition went to ruin. After a brutal repression against Kazan partisans ended, their commanders were executed. By some estimates nearby 500'000 residents of the khanate died during the occupation wars. The Colonial administration, known as the Kazan Palace's Office undertook the Russification of the Tatars and other peoples. The term ''Khanate of Kazan'' was in use until 1708 when the Kazan Governorate was formed.

With the aid of some scholars, the Khanate of Kazan was restored in 1612 with the help of the ethnic Russian population, but it was later dismantled. Russian forces under the leadership of Kuzma Minin suppressed the rebellion.

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Kazan Khanate