Zolotoordynskoe Obozrenie (Dec 2015)
Report of a Continuator of Ötemish Hajji’s “Chingiz-name” as a Source on the History of the Siberian Shibanids »
Abstract
In 2014, I.M. Mirgaleev published a part of the work of Ötemish Hajji’s Continuator. This part is devoted to the history of the Siberian Shibanid dynasty whose activity is known only by very few written sources. So, the introduction of a new work requires a source analysis undertaken in this article. A significant part of this work is devoted to the genealogy of the Shibanids, where special attention is paid to descendants of Bek Konda oglan. All rulers of Tyumen and Siberian Yurts originated exactly from these descendants. The author often confuses the degree of relationship, and also distorts the names of some representatives of the dynasty. Despite this, the majority of these names correspond to other sources on this issue. At the same time, Continuator leads a genealogical list not only up to the children of Tyumen khan Ibrahim but also includes his grandchildren and great grandchildren. A detailed listing of the recent descendants indicates that Continuator got information from one of the representatives of the dynasty. His informants could be the descendants of khan Kuchum, who proved to be on the territory of the Moscow State in the beginning of the 17th century. Continuator’s narrative is also similar to the content of Siberian chronicles in relation to such details as the reign in Kazan of khan Ibrahim and the degree of relationship between Kuchum and Muhammad Kul. At the same time, the author does not always adequately describe the specific borders of Shibanid uluses. He attributes the power in the territory of Volga-Oka interfluve to both khan Haji Muhammad (ruled in 1420s) and his distant descendant Kuchum. In general, Continuator was not familiar with the history of Siberian possessions of this dynasty and the events of the 15th century paying special attention to the affairs of the Volga region and Central Asian. Simultaneously, the author reports such unknown historical events as the Hajji Muhammad’s capture of the city of Tura, future center of Tyumen khanate. However, for the middle of the 16th century, a series of reports by this author are of unique nature. This concerns information both on submission by khan Murtaza of Maverannahr territory and about the wars of Kuchum on the Syr Darya in the region of Otrar. This information highlights the Central Asian policy of Siberian Shibanids and points to the considerable extent of their possessions during the 15th–16th centuries. Unlike other Tatar authors, Continuator relates the collapse of the Siberian Shibanids state and seizure of its territory by the Russians not to Kuchum but to his son Ali.
