Qasim Khanate

Qasim Khanate
Vassal state of Russia
1452–1681
Map of the Qasim Khanate
Capital Kasimov
Political structure Monarchy
Khan
 •  1452–1469 Qasim Khan
Historical era Middle Ages
 •  Established 1452
 •  Disestablished 1681
 Succeeded by
Tsardom of Russia

Qasim Khanate or Kingdom of Qasim or Khanate of Qasım[1] (Tatar: Cyrillic Касыйм ханлыгы/Касыйм патшалыгы, Latin Qasím xanlığı/Qasím patşalığı, Arabic قاسيم حانلئعئ/قاسيم پاتسالئعئ; Russian: Касимовское ханство/Касимовское царство, Kasimovskoye khanstvo/Kasimovskoye tsarstvo) was a Tatar khanate, a vassal of Russia, which existed from 1452 till 1681 in the territory of modern Ryazan Oblast in Russia with its capital Kasimov, in the middle course of the Oka River. Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi (and thus a grandson of Genghis Khan). It was established in the lands which Grand Prince Vasily II of Moscow (reigned 1425-1462) presented in 1452 to the Kazan prince Qasim khan (d. 1469), son of the first Kazan khan Olug Moxammat.

Pre-history

The original populations were Finnic tribes Meshchyora and Muroma, Mordvins. The land was under Kievan Rus' and Volga Bulgaria's influence. Local tribes were tributaries of Russian dukes. Later, the area was incorporated into Vladimir-Suzdal. In 1152, duke of Vladimir Yuri Dolgoruky founded Gorodets-Meshchyorskiy. After the Mongol conquest, the territory was incorporated into the territory of the Golden Horde. Turkic settlers appeared in those areas, and most of them accepted Islam under influence from the Volga Bulgars. The semi-independent principality Mishar Yurt was founded by Hordian Mohammad Shirin beg. From 1393, the area became a part of Russia. After the battle of Suzdal in 1445, Olug Moxammad claimed to return those lands to the Tatars.

According to some historians, such as Khudyakov, Vassily executed the claim and Moxammat's son Qasim was crowned as a ruler of Meshchyora lands. The area and capital were renamed after him. Another version is that Qasim came into Russian service and was granted those lands to create a buffer state between Grand Duchy of Moscow and the Khanate of Kazan. However, the Khanate was a vassal of Russia. From the beginning, Khans governed the Khanate's territory, but the inner politics were controlled by Russia.

Population

The land was settled by Mishar Tatars (the descendants of the earliest Turkic population), Russians, and Mordvins. The Meshchyora and Muroma tribes had been already assimilated into the Mishar Tatars. Some Kazan Tatars resettled to Qasim lands, and were called Qasim Tatars. The most of Qasim Tatars served at the khan's palace or served in the khan's military. This group had been assimilated into the Mishar Tatars, but nearby 1,000 Qasim Tatars are still living in the city of Kasimov.

The noble families were the Manghyt (Manğıt), Arghyn (Arğın), Jalair (Cälair), Qipchaq (Qıpçaq). Moscow's administrators elected the khans from ruling families of the Tatar khanates: Khanate of Kazan, the Crimean Khanate, and the Siberia Khanate.

History

The minaret of the Khan's Mosque in Kasimov dates from the 15th century.

Qasim khans with their guard participated in all of Russia's raids into Kazan (1467–1469, 1487, 1552). Qasim khan Şahğäli (1515–1567) was three times crowned as Kazan khan with the aid of Russia. After the conquest of Kazan, the self-government of the khans was abolished and the khanate came to be governed by Russian voyevodas. However, khans still reigned. One of the khans, Simeon Bekbulatovich, was baptised and proclaimed Grand Duke of Moscow in 1574. He never really reigned and was used for a short period by Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible as a puppet head of state. At the reign of Sayed Borhan khan (1627–1679) Russia started a policy of Christianization. Begs, who had a status equal to Boyars, were switched to Serving Tatars, equal to Dvoryans. This policy provoked a Tatar revolt in 1656. After the death of khanbika (queen) Fatima Soltan in 1681, the Khanate was abolished.

See also

References

Bibliography

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