About the Medieval Bulgar-Tatar Architectural Tradition (in the case of Golden Horde Mausoleums)

Abstract

Research objectives: The purpose of the article is to complement the existing scientifically based narratives about the origin of the stone mausoleums in the Bulgar ulus of the Golden Horde. Research materials: In the territory of the Volga-Ural region, to varying degrees of preservation, we have the medieval mausoleums in the city of Bolgar (Khan’s tomb, Eas­tern and Northern mausoleums). Located in the territory of the Chishminsky district of Bashkortostan, we have the Keshene mausoleum (currently called the Tura Khan mausoleum) and mausoleum of Husain Bek. The sources for this analysis were architecture and construction techniques, drawings of plans and sections of buildings, materials from archaeological excavations, and descriptions from scientific expeditions of the 19th century. Research results and scientific novelty: A reliable and significant source in the study is the architecture of the Golden Horde mausoleums in the territory of the city of Bolgar and the periphery of the state that is now the territory of the Chishminsky district of Bashkortostan. The specific features of the architectural appearance of the mausoleum buildings and the influence of regional schools of Muslim monumental architecture are revealed. Comparative analogies of the architecture of buildings make it possible to outline the problem of the origin of the Chishma mausoleums and draw a conclusion about the common style and traditions of Bulgarian Golden Horde architecture over the vast territory of the Volga-Ural region.

Keywords

• architecture
• monumental architecture
• building material
• design features
• space-planning solution
• “mamluk section”
• ivan
• portal
• vaulted and pyramidal tromp
• dome