The Crimean Khanate lasted a little over three hundred years. The state, which arose on the fragments of the Golden Horde, almost immediately entered into a fierce confrontation with its neighbors surrounding it. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Kingdom of Poland, the Ottoman Empire, the Grand Duchy of Moscow - they all wanted to include Crimea in their sphere of influence. However, first things first.
Forced union
The first penetration of the Tatar conquerors into the Crimea is recorded by the only written source - the Sudak Sinaksar. According to the document, the Tatars appeared on the peninsula at the end of January 1223. The militant nomads did not spare anyone, very soon the Polovtsians, Alans, Russians and many other peoples were subjected to their blows. The large-scale conquest policy of the Genghisides was an event of global significance that engulfed many states.
For a rather short period of time, the conquered peoples assimilated the customs and traditions of their new masters. Onlyinternal strife that engulfed the Golden Horde could shake its power. The transformation of one of its uluses into an independent state, known in historiography as the Crimean Khanate, became possible thanks to the help of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Litvins did not bow their heads before the yoke. Despite the destructive raids of the nomads (and the Russian princes incited by them), they continued to courageously defend their independence. At the same time, the Principality of Lithuania tried not to miss the opportunity to pit its sworn enemies against each other.
The first ruler of the Crimean Khanate Hadji Giray was born in the Belarusian city of Lida. A descendant of forced emigrants who, together with Khan Tokhtamysh, raised an unsuccessful rebellion, he enjoyed the support of the Lithuanian princes, who staked on him. The Poles and Litvinians rightly believed that if they succeeded in planting a descendant of the Crimean emirs in the ulus of their ancestors, then this would be another significant step in the destruction from within the Golden Horde.
Hadji Giray
One of the main features of the Middle Ages was the unceasing struggle of various specific principalities, plunging their own peoples into darkness and horror. All medieval states passed this inevitable stage of their historical development. Ulus Jochi as part of the Golden Horde was no exception. The formation of the Crimean Khanate became the highest expression of separatism, which undermined a mighty state from within.
The Crimean ulus was significantly isolated from the center due to its own noticeable strengthening. Now under his controlwas the southern coast and the mountainous regions of the peninsula. Edigey, the last of the rulers who kept at least some order in the conquered lands, died in 1420. After his death, unrest and unrest began in the state. The conceited beys fashioned the state at their own discretion. The Tatar emigration in Lithuania decided to take advantage of this circumstance. They united under the banner of Hadji Giray, who dreamed of returning the possessions of his ancestors.
He was a smart politician, an excellent strategist, who was supported by the Lithuanian and Polish nobility. However, not everything in his position was cloudless. In the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, he was in the position of an honorary hostage, although he had his own castle with a district in the city of Lida.
Power came to him unexpectedly. Devlet-Berdi, uncle of Hadji-Girey, dies without leaving male heirs. Here again they remembered the descendant of the great Crimean emirs. The nobility sends an embassy to the lands of the Litvins to persuade Casimir Jagiellon to release his vassal Hadji Giray to the khanate in the Crimea. This request is granted.
Building a young state
The return of the heir was triumphant. He expels the Horde governor and mints his own gold coins in Kyrk-Yerk. Such a slap in the face could not be ignored in the Golden Horde. Soon, hostilities began, the purpose of which was to pacify the Crimean yurt. The forces of the rebels were clearly small, so Hadji Giray surrendered Solkhat, the capital of the Crimean Khanate, without a fight, and he retreated to Perekop, going on the defensive.
Meanwhile, his rival Khan of the Great Horde, Seid-Ahmed, made mistakes that cost him the throne. To begin with, he burned and plundered Solkhat. By this act, Seid-Ahmed very strongly set the local nobility against himself. And his second mistake was that he did not stop trying to harm the Litvins and Poles. Hadji Giray remained a true friend and defender of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In the end, he defeated Seid-Ahmed, when he once again made a predatory raid on the southern Lithuanian lands. The army of the Crimean Khanate surrounded and killed the troops of the Great Horde. Seid-Ahmed fled to Kyiv, where he was safely arrested. The Litvins of all captured Tatars traditionally settled on their lands, gave allotments, liberties. And the Tatars turned from former enemies into the best and most loyal warriors of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
As for the direct descendant of Genghis Khan Hadji Giray, in 1449 he moved the capital of the Crimean Khanate from Kyrym (Solkhat) to Kyrk-Yerk. Then he began to carry out reforms to strengthen his state. To begin with, he simplified the complex system of ancient customs and laws. He brought closer to himself representatives of the most noble and influential families. He paid special attention to the heads of the nomadic Nogai tribes. It was they who were a special category of persons responsible for the military power of the state, protecting it at the borders.
Management of the yurt had democratic features. The heads of the four noble families had extensive powers. Their opinion had to be listened to.
Hadji Giray, sparing no effort, supported Islam, strengthening the spiritual and cultural development of his young state. NotHe also forgot about Christians. He helped them build churches, pursuing a policy of tolerance and peacefulness.
Through nearly 40 years of thoughtful reforms, the provincial ulus has blossomed into a strong power.
Geographic location of the Crimean Khanate
Vast territories were part of one of the most powerful states of that time. In addition to the peninsula itself, which was the central part of the country, there were also lands on the continent. In order to better imagine the scale of this power, it is necessary to briefly list the regions that were part of the Crimean Khanate, and tell a little about the peoples who inhabited it. In the north, immediately behind Ork-Kapa (a fortress that covered the only land route to the Crimea), East Nogai was spread. In the northwest - Yedisan. In the west was an area called Budzhak, and in the east - Kuban.
In other words, the territory of the Crimean Khanate covered the modern Odessa, Nikolaev, Kherson regions, part of Zaporozhye and most of the Krasnodar Territory.
Peoples that were part of the Khanate
To the west of the Crimean peninsula, between the Danube and Dniester rivers, there was an area known in history as Budzhak. This area without mountains and forests was inhabited mainly by Budzhak Tatars. The lands of the plain were extremely fertile, but the local population experienced a shortage of drinking water. This was especially observed in hotsummer. Such geographical features of the area left their mark on the life and customs of the Budzhak Tatars. For example, digging a deep well was considered a good tradition there.
The Tatars, with their characteristic frankness, solved the lack of forest by simply forcing representatives of one of the Moldavian tribes to harvest wood for them. But Budjaks were engaged not only in war and campaigns. They were primarily known as farmers, herders and beekeepers. However, the region itself was turbulent. The territory constantly changed hands. Each of the parties (Ottomans and Moldavians) considered these lands to be their own, until at the end of the 15th century they finally became part of the Crimean Khanate.
Rivers served as natural borders between the khan's regions. Yedisan, or Western Nogai, was located in the steppes between the Volga and Yaik rivers. In the south, these lands were washed by the Black Sea. The territory was inhabited by the Nogais of the Yedisan Horde. In their traditions and customs, they differed little from other Nogais. Most of these lands were occupied by plains. Only in the east and north were mountains and valleys. Vegetation was sparse, but sufficient for cattle grazing. In addition, the fertile soil gave a bountiful harvest of wheat, which brought the main income to the local population. Unlike other regions of the Crimean Khanate, there were no problems with water due to the abundance of rivers flowing in this area.
The territory of Eastern Nogai was washed by two seas: in the southwest by the Black Sea, and in the southeast by the Sea of Azov. The soil also brought a good crop of cereals. But in thisarea was particularly acute shortage of fresh water. One of the distinguishing features of the steppes of the Eastern Nogai was the mounds that were available everywhere - the last resting places of the most noble people. Some of them appeared in Scythian times. Travelers left many testimonies about the stone statues on top of the mounds, whose faces were always turned to the East.
Small Nogai, or Kuban, occupied part of the North Caucasus near the Kuban River. The south and east of this region bordered on the Caucasus. To the west of them were the Dzhumbuluks (one of the peoples of the Eastern Nogai). Borders with Russia in the north appeared only in the 18th century. This area, due to its geographical location, was distinguished by its natural diversity. Therefore, the local population, unlike their steppe tribesmen, did not lack not only water, but also forests, and orchards were famous throughout the region.
Relations with Moscow
If we analyze the history of the Crimean Khanate, then the conclusion involuntarily suggests itself: this power was practically not fully independent. At first, they had to conduct their policy with an eye on the Golden Horde, and then this period was replaced by direct vassal dependence on the Ottoman Empire.
After the death of Hadji Giray, his sons grappled with each other in a struggle for power. Having won this fight, Mengli was forced to reorient politics. His father was a loyal ally of Lithuania. And now she has become an enemy, because she did not support Mengli Giray in his strugglefor power. But with the Moscow Prince Ivan III found common goals. The Crimean ruler dreamed of gaining supreme power in the Great Horde, and Moscow systematically sought independence from the Tatar-Mongol yoke. For a period of time, their common goals coincided.
The policy of the Crimean Khanate was the skillful use of the contradictions that existed between Lithuania and Moscow. The descendants of Genghis Khan alternately took the side of one neighbor, then another.
Ottoman Empire
Hadji Giray did a lot to develop his offspring - a young state, but his offspring, not without the influence of powerful neighboring states, plunged their people into a fratricidal war. In the end, the throne went to Mengli Giray. In 1453, a fateful event for many peoples happened - the capture of Constantinople by the Turks. The strengthening of the caliphate in this region had a huge impact on the history of the Crimean Khanate.
Not all representatives of the old nobility were satisfied with the results of the struggle for power between the sons of Hadji Giray. Therefore, they turned to the Turkish Sultan with a request for help and support. The Ottomans only needed a pretext, so they gladly intervened in this conflict. The described events took place against the backdrop of a large-scale offensive of the Caliphate. The possessions of the Genoese were in danger.
On May 31, 1475, the vizier of the Sultan Ahmed Pasha attacked the Genoese city of Cafu. Mengli Giray was among the defenders. When the city fell, the ruler of the Crimean Khanate was captured and taken to Constantinople. Being in honorary captivity, he had the opportunity to repeatedly talk withTurkish sultan. During the three years spent there, Mengli Giray was able to convince his masters of his own loy alty, so he was allowed to go home, but with conditions that severely limited the sovereignty of the state.
The territory of the Crimean Khanate became part of the Ottoman Empire. The khan had the right to judge his subjects and establish diplomatic relations. However, he could not solve key issues without the knowledge of Istanbul. The Sultan determined all matters of foreign policy. The Turkish side also had leverage on the obstinate: hostages from among the relatives at the palace and, of course, the famous Janissaries.
The life of the khans under the influence of the Turks
The Crimean Khanate in the 16th century had powerful patrons. Although the Tatars retained the custom of choosing a ruler at the kurultai, the last word was always with the sultan. At first, this state of affairs completely satisfied the nobility: having such protection, one could feel safe, concentrating on the development of the state. And it really flourished. The capital of the Crimean Khanate was moved again. It was the famous Bakhchisarai.
But a fly in the ointment for the Crimean rulers was added by the need to listen to the Divan - the State Council. For disobedience, one could easily pay with one's life, and a replacement would be found very quickly from among relatives. They will eagerly take the vacant throne.
Russian-Turkish war of 1768 - 1774
The Russian Empire needed an air outlet to the Black Sea. The prospect of colliding in thisthe fight against the Ottoman Empire did not frighten her. A lot has already been done by the predecessors of Catherine II in order to continue the expansion. Astrakhan, Kazan were conquered. Any attempt to recapture these new territorial acquisitions was severely suppressed by the Russian soldiers. However, it was not possible to develop success due to the poor material support of the Russian army. A foothold was needed. Russia received it in the form of a small region in the Northern Black Sea region. It turned out to be Novorossiya.
Fearing the strengthening of the Russian Empire, Poland and France dragged the Supreme Caliph into the war of 1768-1774. During this difficult time, Russia had only two of its most faithful allies: the army and navy. Impressed by the actions of the Russian heroes on the battlefield, the Caliphate began to shake very soon. Syria, Egypt, the Greeks of the Peloponnese revolted against the hated Turkish invaders. The Ottoman Empire could only capitulate. The result of this company was the signing of the Kyuchuk-Kainarji agreement. According to its terms, the fortresses of Kerch and Yenikale retreated to the Russian Empire, its fleet could surf the Black Sea, and the Crimean Khanate became formally independent.
The fate of the peninsula
Despite the victory in the recent war with Turkey, the goals of the foreign policy of the Russian Empire in the Crimea were not achieved. Understanding this forced Catherine the Great and Potemkin to develop a secret manifesto on the acceptance of the Crimean peninsula into the bosom of the Russian state. It was Potemkin who was supposed to personally lead all the preparations for this trial.
For these purposes, it was decided to hold a personal meeting with Khan Shahin Giray anddiscuss various details about the accession of the Crimean Khanate to Russia. During this visit, it became clear to the Russian side that the majority of the local population is not eager to take an oath of allegiance. The khanate was going through a most difficult economic crisis, and the people hated their legitimate head of state. Shahin Giray was no longer needed by anyone. He had to abdicate.
Meanwhile, Russian troops were hastily gathered in the Crimea with the task of suppressing discontent if necessary. Finally, on July 21, 1783, the Empress was informed about the annexation of the Crimean Khanate to Russia.
