Crimean Khanate

The first khan of the Crimean Khanate, Haji Gerai, was born in Lithuania, where a large diaspora of Crimean Tatar and Horde nobility lived at the time due to the constant strife for the throne in the Golden Horde. In 1436, Said Ahmat II became the ruler of Crimea. Later, after another diasgreement in 1441, the Crimean beys elected Haji Gerai as khan. In the spring of 1442, the Crimean nobility swore allegiance to him.

It is known that at that time two other state entities coexisted on the peninsula: the Greek Principality of Theodoro, centred in Mangup, and the Genoese factories with the capital in Kefe.

The khan’s relations with the Principality of Theodoro were much better than with the Italians, but during the Ottoman landings near Kefe in 1454, the Crimean khan defended the Genoese city. Haji Gerai also established friendly relations with neighbouring states, in particular with Lithuania, opposing Said Ahmat, who did not give up his attempts to seize power. The Crimean khan was also called the “guardian of Ukrainian lands”. Haji Gerai also had a nickname Melek (meaning “angel” in Crimean Tatar). Not only his subjects, but also foreign rulers and traders spoke positively of him.

The people of the Crimean Khanate were famous for their hospitality. Also, the phenomenon of serfdom in Crimea appeared only in 1783, after the occupation of the peninsula by the Russian Empire. Peasants in Crimea had many more privileges than in neighbouring feudal states. For example, they had the right to use the forest plots of landowners to graze their cattle and cut down trees, which was rather an exception in other states. A rural resident of the Crimean Khanate had to work for a week or two a year for the murza, bey or khan whose land he ploughed. This duty was called “toloka”. There was also another duty – ashur (tithe). It was a military tax, obligatory for all segments of the population.

The cultural life of the Crimean Khanate was actively developing. During the 16th century, the most outstanding cultural buildings were created, some of which have survived to this day. The largest of them is the Khan’s Palace in Bakhchysarai, which was founded by Sahib Gerai in 1532. Since the creation of the Crimean Khanate, the handicraft production has been rapidly developing there, especially in large cities. In addition, the khanate developed foundry and blacksmithing.

Many Crimean khans were not only prudent rulers, but also talented poets, diplomats and philosophers. Crimean Khan Ghazi II Gerai was not only an outstanding commander, but also a poet and musician. He wrote poetry under the pseudonym Gazai. The literary heritage of this khan includes the works “Coffee and Wine”, “Dolab”, “A Rose and a Nightingale”. Many of the Crimean rulers were brilliant diplomats and experts in international relations.

Historical materials contain a lot of information about the bravery of the Crimean khans on the battlefield. Successful military campaigns against enemies characterise the rulers of the Crimean Khanate as talented strategists, such as Devlet I Gerai.

The Crimean rulers had diplomatic relations with countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Mehmed Gerai tried to build an anti-Moscow coalition by inviting the Danish king to join it, but unfortunately, no significant results were achieved.

The relations between Crimea and Ukraine were rather businesslike. In addition to the well-known political alliance between Islam III Gerai and the Cossacks, there were many cases of mutual assistance between the states. The Crimean Khanate’s relations with the Ottomans were complicated at some point. The Crimean khans had the right to pursue a free international policy, but sometimes they could even get deposed for certain decisions.

Many historians are of the opinion that in the 16th century the Crimean Khanate was still ahead of the Moscow kingdom in terms of military power, but the situation changed within a hundred years. At the beginning of the 18th century, Russia became the main geopolitical opponent of Crimea. The policy of the khanate was heavily dependent on the policy of the Ottoman Empire at that time, so despite decades of attempts against the policy of peaceful coexistence with Moscow, the khans failed to defend Crimea.

The last Crimean khan, Shahin Gerai, completely lost the peninsula. He proved to be the worst khan in the history of the state. Due to his brutality, political ambitions and rapprochement with Russia, Crimea lost its independence.

Sources:

1. Історія Криму та кримськотатарського народу. Навчальний посібник. / Бекірова Г., Іванець А., Тищенко Ю., Громенко С., Аблаєв Б. – К.: «Кримська родина»; «Майстер Книг», 2020.

2. Гульнара Абдулаєва «Кримські татари: від етногенезу до державності».

Article by Esma Ametova, Daria Piskun, Olena Sudak