Question about the Tatars: who are Bulgars and who are not? How to distinguish a Kazan Tatar from a Siberian one Why do many Russians look like Tatars

Tatars by haplogroup or race, briefly. Selective genetic studies have established that in different samples or villages, 34.1% of Tatars have the Scythian haplogroup R1a-Z2123. It is also important that this fossil Scythian does not fall into the ancestors of the Slavs of haplogroup R1a, because the Z2123 subclade is not typical for the Slavs. It is more typical of the Karachay-Balkars, Bashkirs, and Tatars. R1a-Z93 is also the most common haplogroup among the Tatars. It was also found among the ancient (fossil) Cimmerians, Scythians and Khazars and Barsils, i.e. Barsils called “Bulgars” but in fact bilәr and heard and recorded by the Arabs in Balar and further transcribed into the erroneous “Bulgars”, about which written by ABU HAMID AL-GARNATI .

Russians practically don’t have such Z93s. Among Russians and other Europeans, the most common ones are R1a-Z280 and R1a-M458. and so: Among the fossil Scythians, haplogroups R1a-Z645-Z93-Z2123 (Volga steppes of the Samara region), R1a-Z645 (Tuva), R1a-Z645-Z93 (Pazyryk Altai culture), as well as R1b-Z2103 (Samara region) have already been found and Q1a-F903 (huns) (East Kazakhstan). Haplogroup R1a-Z645-Z93 was also found in fossil Khazars - see and. Once again: The Scythians, as the ancestors of part of the Tatars, will definitely be of different haplogroups - R1a, R1b, G2a, C, ("Mongolian") Q (Huno-Indian) and others. In any case, ethnic Russians do not descend from the Scythians of haplogroup R1a-Z93, And this is the main point!

The answer to the question why did the Aryans (not Slavs) R1a-Z93 from the Southern Urals, from Arkaim go to India about 3600 years ago? The answer becomes clear, if you look at the history of global disasters. 3,600 years ago, one of the largest eruptions in the history of mankind occurred at the Santorini volcano, also known as Thera, in the Aegean Sea.

Haplogroup or DNA genes among the Belarusian Tatars Q are on average 10% (called American Indian or Xiongnu), and now it is up to 95% among the Siberian Kets, whose self-name is Dene, as for example among the Apache Indians, Tlingits and others on the Dene. The same Q for some Siberian Tatars reach 40% , It wouldn’t be out of place to say that some Turkmens will have somewhere around 75%.

8.7% of Tatars with haplogroup R1b are paternal descendants of the Celts. Even more descendants of the Celts are found among the Bashkirs. About 20% are descendants of Finno-Ugric peoples with haplogroup I1. As a matter of fact, they are the descendants Volga Bulgars, i.e. biller . The remaining 37% have various variants of haplogroup C3, inherited from the Far Eastern Tatars, who gave the remnants of the descendants of the Scythian-Cimmerians their name. And since it is their descendants who make up the relative majority, the history of the Tatars should be traced back to Mongol-Tatar, Hun origins. The question arises: how did these two genes end up in the seemingly “Iranian-speaking” Scythians and Cimmerians? - if you remember how the leaders of the Cimmerians killed themselves, (harakiri, a custom that was also among the Indians) from powerlessness will repel the Scythians, who, apparently, were also ruled by their own relatives, we can make an unambiguous conclusion that their leaders were people controlled as gods from the Hun tribe ! About haplogroup N

• Haplogroup N1-M231(xN1a-M128, xN1c-Tat) was the main one in the Hongshan culture (6500-5000 years ago) and later cultures of the same region, and N1c-Tat also appeared 3000 years ago. .
• Subclade N1a1a1a1a-L392 or N3a3′5 of specimen OLS10 (Kunda, Lääne-Viru) from the Estonian Iron Age (EstIA) dates to 770–430 AD. BC, the subclade N3a3a was identified in two other EstIA samples.
• N1a was found in an inhabitant of pile structure No. 1 from the Serteya II site (Zhizhitsa archaeological culture of the late Neolithic, 4300 years ago) and in a representative of the Pskov long barrow culture from a burial mound in a possible Krivichi burial of the Maiden Mountains burial ground near Lake Sennitsa (1200 years ago )

Each nation has its own distinctive features, which make it possible to determine a person’s nationality almost without error. It is worth noting that Asian peoples are very similar to each other, since they are all descendants of the Mongoloid race. How can you identify a Tatar? How do Tatars look different?

Uniqueness

Without a doubt, every person is unique, regardless of nationality. And yet there are certain common features that unite representatives of a race or nationality. Tatars are usually classified as members of the so-called Altai family. This is a Turkic group. The ancestors of the Tatars were known as farmers. Unlike other representatives of the Mongoloid race, Tatars do not have pronounced appearance features.

The appearance of the Tatars and the changes that are now manifested in them are largely caused by assimilation with the Slavic peoples. Indeed, among the Tatars they sometimes find fair-haired, sometimes even red-haired representatives. This, for example, cannot be said about the Uzbeks, Mongols or Tajiks. Do Tatar eyes have any special characteristics? They do not necessarily have narrow eyes and dark skin. Are there any common features of the appearance of Tatars?

Description of the Tatars: a little history

The Tatars are among the most ancient and populous ethnic groups. In the Middle Ages, mentions of them excited everyone around: in the east from the shores of the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic coast. A variety of scientists included references to this people in their works. The mood of these notes was clearly polar: some wrote with rapture and admiration, while other scientists showed fear. But one thing united everyone - no one remained indifferent. It is quite obvious that it was the Tatars who had a huge influence on the course of development of Eurasia. They managed to create a distinctive civilization that influenced a variety of cultures.

The history of the Tatar people has had both ups and downs. Periods of peace were followed by brutal times of bloodshed. The ancestors of modern Tatars took part in the creation of several strong states at once. Despite all the vicissitudes of fate, they managed to preserve both their people and their identity.

Ethnic groups

Thanks to the works of anthropologists, it became known that the ancestors of the Tatars were not only representatives of the Mongoloid race, but also Europeans. It was this factor that determined the diversity in appearance. Moreover, the Tatars themselves are usually divided into groups: Crimean, Ural, Volga-Siberian, South Kama. The Volga-Siberian Tatars, whose facial features have the greatest characteristics of the Mongoloid race, are distinguished by the following characteristics: dark hair, pronounced cheekbones, brown eyes, a wide nose, a fold above the upper eyelid. Representatives of this type are few in number.

The face of the Volga Tatars is oblong, the cheekbones are not too pronounced. The eyes are large and gray (or brown). Nose with a hump, oriental type. The physique is correct. In general, the men of this group are quite tall and hardy. Their skin is not dark. This is the appearance of the Tatars from the Volga region.

Kazan Tatars: appearance and customs

The appearance of the Kazan Tatars is described as follows: a strongly built, strong man. The Mongols have a wide oval face and a slightly narrowed eye shape. The neck is short and strong. Men rarely wear a thick beard. Such features are explained by the fusion of Tatar blood with various Finnish nationalities.

The marriage ceremony is not like a religious event. From religiosity - only reading the first chapter of the Koran and a special prayer. After marriage, a young girl does not immediately move into her husband’s house: she will live with her family for another year. It is curious that her newly-made husband comes to her as a guest. Tatar girls are ready to wait for their lover.

Only a few have two wives. And in cases where this happens, there are reasons: for example, when the first one is already old, and the second one, younger, now runs the household.

The most common Tatars are of the European type - owners of light brown hair and light eyes. The nose is narrow, aquiline or hump-shaped. Height is short - women are about 165 cm.

Peculiarities

Some features were noticed in the character of a Tatar man: hard work, cleanliness and hospitality border on stubbornness, pride and indifference. Respect for elders is what especially distinguishes the Tatars. It was noted that representatives of this people tend to be guided by reason, adapt to the situation, and are law-abiding. In general, the synthesis of all these qualities, especially hard work and perseverance, makes a Tatar man very purposeful. Such people are able to achieve success in their careers. They finish their work and have a habit of getting their way.

A purebred Tatar strives to acquire new knowledge, showing enviable perseverance and responsibility. Crimean Tatars have a special indifference and calmness in stressful situations. Tatars are very curious and talkative, but during work they remain stubbornly silent, apparently so as not to lose concentration.

One of the characteristic features is self-esteem. It manifests itself in the fact that the Tatar considers himself special. As a result, there is a certain arrogance and even arrogance.

Cleanliness sets Tatars apart. They do not tolerate disorder and dirt in their homes. Moreover, this does not depend on financial capabilities - both rich and poor Tatars zealously monitor cleanliness.

My home is your home

Tatars are very hospitable people. We are ready to host a person, regardless of his status, faith or nationality. Even with modest incomes, they show warm hospitality, ready to share a modest dinner with a guest.

Tatar women are distinguished by their great curiosity. They are attracted by beautiful clothes, they watch with interest people of other nationalities, and follow fashion. Tatar women are very attached to their home and devote themselves to raising children.

Tatar women

What an amazing creature - a Tatar woman! In her heart lies immeasurable, deepest love for her loved ones, for her children. Its purpose is to bring peace to people, to serve as a model of peacefulness and morality. A Tatar woman is distinguished by a sense of harmony and special musicality. She radiates a certain spirituality and nobility of soul. The inner world of a Tatar woman is full of riches!

Tatar girls from a young age are aimed at a strong, long-lasting marriage. After all, they want to love their husband and raise future children behind solid walls of reliability and trust. No wonder the Tatar proverb says: “A woman without a husband is like a horse without a bridle!” Her husband’s word is law for her. Although witty Tatar women complement - for any law, however, there is an amendment! And yet these are devoted women who sacredly honor traditions and customs. However, don’t expect to see a Tatar woman in a black burqa - this is a stylish lady who has a sense of self-esteem.

The appearance of the Tatars is very well-groomed. Fashionistas have stylized items in their wardrobe that highlight their nationality. For example, there are shoes that imitate chitek - national leather boots worn by Tatar girls. Another example is appliques, where patterns convey the stunning beauty of the earth's flora.

What's on the table?

A Tatar woman is a wonderful hostess, loving and hospitable. By the way, a little about the kitchen. The national cuisine of the Tatars is quite predictable in that the basis of the main dishes is often dough and fat. Even a lot of dough, a lot of fat! Of course, this is far from the healthiest diet, although guests are usually offered exotic dishes: kazylyk (or dried horse meat), gubadia (a layer cake with a wide variety of fillings, from cottage cheese to meat), talkysh-kalev (an incredibly high-calorie dessert from flour, butter and honey). You can wash down all this rich treat with ayran (a mixture of katyk and water) or traditional tea.

Like Tatar men, women are distinguished by their determination and perseverance in achieving their goals. Overcoming difficulties, they show ingenuity and resourcefulness. All this is complemented by great modesty, generosity and kindness. Truly, a Tatar woman is a wonderful gift from above!

According to the 2010 census, there are more than 5 million Tatars in Russia. The Kazan Tatars have their own national autonomy within the Russian Federation - the Republic of Tatarstan. Siberian Tatars do not have national autonomy. But among them there are those who want to call themselves Siberian Tatars. About 200 thousand people declared this during the census. And this position has a basis.

One of the main questions: should the Tatars be considered a single people or a union of close ethnolinguistic groups? Among the Tatar subethnic groups, in addition to the Kazan and Siberian Tatars, the Mishar Tatars, Astrakhan Tatars, Polish-Lithuanian Tatars and others also stand out.

Often even the common name - “Tatars” - is not accepted by many representatives of these groups. For a long time, Kazan Tatars called themselves Kazanians, and Siberian Tatars called themselves Muslims. In Russian sources of the 16th century, the Siberian Tatars were called “Busormans”, “Tatarovya”, “Siberian people”. The common name for the Kazan and Siberian Tatars appeared through the efforts of the Russian administration at the end of the 19th century. In Russian and Western European practice, even representatives of peoples who did not belong to them were called Tatars for a long time.

Language

Now many Siberian Tatars have accepted the official point of view that their language is an eastern dialect of literary Tatar, spoken by the Volga Tatars. However, there are also opponents to this opinion. According to their version, Siberian-Tatar is an independent language belonging to the northwestern (Kypchak) group of languages; it has its own dialects, which are divided into dialects. For example, the Tobol-Irtysh dialect includes Tyumen, Tar, Tevriz and other dialects. Not all Siberian Tatars understand literary Tatar. However, it is the language that is taught in schools and the language that is studied in universities. At the same time, Siberian Tatars prefer to speak their own language at home.

Origin

There are several theories of the origin of the Tatars: Bulgaro-Tatar, Turkic-Tatar and Tatar-Mongolian. Supporters of the idea that the Volga and Siberian Tatars are two different peoples adhere mainly to the Bulgaro-Tatar version. According to it, the Kazan Tatars are the descendants of the Bulgars, Turkic-speaking tribes who lived on the territory of the Bulgar state.

The ethnonym “Tatars” came to this territory with the Mongol-Tatars. In the 13th century, under the onslaught of the Mongol-Tatars, Volga Bulgaria became part of the Golden Horde. After its collapse, independent khanates began to form, the largest of which was Kazan.

At the beginning of the 20th century, historian Gainetdin Akhmetov wrote: “Although it is traditionally believed that the Bulgars and Kazan are two states that replaced one another, with careful historical comparison and study it is easy to find out their direct inheritance and, to some extent, even identity: in Kazan The same Turkic-Bulgar people lived in the khanate.”

The Siberian Tatars are defined as an ethnic group formed from a complex combination of Mongolian, Samoyedic, Turkic, and Ugric components. First, the ancestors of the Khanty and Mansi came to the territory of Siberia, followed by the Turks, among whom were the Kipchaks. It was from among the latter that the core of the Siberian Tatars was formed. According to some researchers, some of the Kipchaks migrated further to the territory of the Volga region and also mixed with the Bulgars.

In the 13th century, the Mongol-Tatars came to Western Siberia. In the 14th century, the first state formation of the Siberian Tatars arose - the Tyumen Khanate. At the beginning of the 16th century it became part of the Siberian Khanate. Over the course of several centuries, there was also mixing with the peoples living in Central Asia.

The ethnic groups of the Kazan and Siberian Tatars emerged at approximately the same time - around the 15th century.

Appearance

A significant part of the Kazan Tatars (up to 60%) look like Europeans. There are especially many fair-haired and light-eyed people among the Kryashens - a group of baptized Tatars who also live on the territory of Tatarstan. It is sometimes noted that the appearance of the Volga Tatars was formed as a result of contacts with Finno-Ugric peoples. Siberian Tatars are more similar to the Mongols - they are dark-eyed, dark-haired, with high cheekbones.

Customs

Siberian and Kazan Tatars are mostly Sunni Muslims. However, they also retained elements of pre-Islamic beliefs. From the Siberian Turks, for example, the Siberian Tatars inherited the veneration of ravens for a long time. Although the same ritual of “crow porridge”, which was cooked before the start of sowing, is now almost forgotten.

The Kazan Tatars had rituals that were largely adopted from the Finno-Ugric tribes, for example, weddings. Ancient funeral rituals, now completely supplanted by Muslim traditions, originated in the rituals of the Bulgars.

To a large extent, the customs and traditions of the Siberian and Kazan Tatars have already mixed and unified. This happened after many residents of the Kazan Khanate conquered by Ivan the Terrible migrated to Siberia, and also under the influence of globalization.

Each nation has its own distinctive features, which make it possible to determine a person’s nationality almost without error. It is worth noting that Asian peoples are very similar to each other, since they are all descendants of the Mongoloid race. How can you identify a Tatar? How do Tatars look different?

Uniqueness

Without a doubt, every person is unique, regardless of nationality. And yet there are certain common features that unite representatives of a race or nationality. Tatars are usually classified as members of the so-called Altai family. This is a Turkic group. The ancestors of the Tatars were known as farmers. Unlike other representatives of the Mongoloid race, Tatars do not have pronounced appearance features.

The appearance of the Tatars and the changes that are now manifested in them are largely caused by assimilation with the Slavic peoples. Indeed, among the Tatars they sometimes find fair-haired, sometimes even red-haired representatives. This, for example, cannot be said about the Uzbeks, Mongols or Tajiks. Do Tatar eyes have any special characteristics? They do not necessarily have narrow eyes and dark skin. Are there any common features of the appearance of Tatars?

Description of the Tatars: a little history

The Tatars are among the most ancient and populous ethnic groups. In the Middle Ages, mentions of them excited everyone around: in the east from the shores of the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic coast. A variety of scientists included references to this people in their works. The mood of these notes was clearly polar: some wrote with rapture and admiration, while other scientists showed fear. But one thing united everyone - no one remained indifferent. It is quite obvious that it was the Tatars who had a huge influence on the course of development of Eurasia. They managed to create a distinctive civilization that influenced a variety of cultures.

The history of the Tatar people has had both ups and downs. Periods of peace were followed by brutal times of bloodshed. The ancestors of modern Tatars took part in the creation of several strong states at once. Despite all the vicissitudes of fate, they managed to preserve both their people and their identity.

Ethnic groups

Thanks to the works of anthropologists, it became known that the ancestors of the Tatars were not only representatives of the Mongoloid race, but also Europeans. It was this factor that determined the diversity in appearance. Moreover, the Tatars themselves are usually divided into groups: Crimean, Ural, Volga-Siberian, South Kama. The Volga-Siberian Tatars, whose facial features have the greatest characteristics of the Mongoloid race, are distinguished by the following characteristics: dark hair, pronounced cheekbones, brown eyes, a wide nose, a fold above the upper eyelid. Representatives of this type are few in number.

The face of the Volga Tatars is oblong, the cheekbones are not too pronounced. The eyes are large and gray (or brown). Nose with a hump, oriental type. The physique is correct. In general, the men of this group are quite tall and hardy. Their skin is not dark. This is the appearance of the Tatars from the Volga region.

Kazan Tatars: appearance and customs

The appearance of the Kazan Tatars is described as follows: a strongly built, strong man. The Mongols have a wide oval face and a slightly narrowed eye shape. The neck is short and strong. Men rarely wear a thick beard. Such features are explained by the fusion of Tatar blood with various Finnish nationalities.

The marriage ceremony is not like a religious event. From religiosity - only reading the first chapter of the Koran and a special prayer. After marriage, a young girl does not immediately move into her husband’s house: she will live with her family for another year. It is curious that her newly-made husband comes to her as a guest. Tatar girls are ready to wait for their lover.

Only a few have two wives. And in cases where this happens, there are reasons: for example, when the first one is already old, and the second one, younger, now runs the household.

The most common Tatars are of the European type - owners of light brown hair and light eyes. The nose is narrow, aquiline or hump-shaped. Height is short - women are about 165 cm.

Peculiarities

Some features were noticed in the character of a Tatar man: hard work, cleanliness and hospitality border on stubbornness, pride and indifference. Respect for elders is what especially distinguishes the Tatars. It was noted that representatives of this people tend to be guided by reason, adapt to the situation, and are law-abiding. In general, the synthesis of all these qualities, especially hard work and perseverance, makes a Tatar man very purposeful. Such people are able to achieve success in their careers. They finish their work and have a habit of getting their way.

A purebred Tatar strives to acquire new knowledge, showing enviable perseverance and responsibility. Crimean Tatars have a special indifference and calmness in stressful situations. Tatars are very curious and talkative, but during work they remain stubbornly silent, apparently so as not to lose concentration.

One of the characteristic features is self-esteem. It manifests itself in the fact that the Tatar considers himself special. As a result, there is a certain arrogance and even arrogance.

Cleanliness sets Tatars apart. They do not tolerate disorder and dirt in their homes. Moreover, this does not depend on financial capabilities - both rich and poor Tatars zealously monitor cleanliness.

My home is your home

Tatars are very hospitable people. We are ready to host a person, regardless of his status, faith or nationality. Even with modest incomes, they show warm hospitality, ready to share a modest dinner with a guest.

Tatar women are distinguished by their great curiosity. They are attracted by beautiful clothes, they watch with interest people of other nationalities, and follow fashion. Tatar women are very attached to their home and devote themselves to raising children.

Tatar women

What an amazing creature - a Tatar woman! In her heart lies immeasurable, deepest love for her loved ones, for her children. Its purpose is to bring peace to people, to serve as a model of peacefulness and morality. A Tatar woman is distinguished by a sense of harmony and special musicality. She radiates a certain spirituality and nobility of soul. The inner world of a Tatar woman is full of riches!

Tatar girls from a young age are aimed at a strong, long-lasting marriage. After all, they want to love their husband and raise future children behind solid walls of reliability and trust. No wonder the Tatar proverb says: “A woman without a husband is like a horse without a bridle!” Her husband’s word is law for her. Although witty Tatar women complement - for any law, however, there is an amendment! And yet these are devoted women who sacredly honor traditions and customs. However, don’t expect to see a Tatar woman in a black burqa - this is a stylish lady who has a sense of self-esteem.

The appearance of the Tatars is very well-groomed. Fashionistas have stylized items in their wardrobe that highlight their nationality. For example, there are shoes that imitate chitek - national leather boots worn by Tatar girls. Another example is appliques, where patterns convey the stunning beauty of the earth's flora.

What's on the table?

A Tatar woman is a wonderful hostess, loving and hospitable. By the way, a little about the kitchen. The national cuisine of the Tatars is quite predictable in that the basis of the main dishes is often dough and fat. Even a lot of dough, a lot of fat! Of course, this is far from the healthiest diet, although guests are usually offered exotic dishes: kazylyk (or dried horse meat), gubadia (a layer cake with a wide variety of fillings, from cottage cheese to meat), talkysh-kalev (an incredibly high-calorie dessert from flour, butter and honey). You can wash down all this rich treat with ayran (a mixture of katyk and water) or traditional tea.

Like Tatar men, women are distinguished by their determination and perseverance in achieving their goals. Overcoming difficulties, they show ingenuity and resourcefulness. All this is complemented by great modesty, generosity and kindness. Truly, a Tatar woman is a wonderful gift from above!

Igor Mikheev. Russians and Tatars - testing the strength of symbiosis

From the book by Igor Mikheev

RUSSIAN WAYS. BOOK II. Russia: between Scylla and Charybdis

In addition to the Russian and the remnants of the relict circumpolar super-ethnos, the borders of historical Russia included peoples belonging to the Turkic-Mongol super-ethnos, whose area was originally the Great Steppe. Today the largest of them are Tatars and Bashkirs. Since the 14th century, the steppe people have been joining the Russian superethnos, which as a result becomes no longer Russian, but Russian. This is quite possible. Two superethnoses cannot coexist within the framework of one cultural and political integrity - competition flares up between them, which ends with the victory of the ethnocultural dominant of one of the two. But elements of one superethnos can themselves be included in the structure of another if there is cultural and psychological complementarity between them, associated, in particular, with their formation in the same ethnolandscape zone. Among the Russians, such complementarity was precisely revealed at the time of the formation of Russian statehood after liberation from the Horde vassalage with the steppes of Eurasia. In addition, the steppe Central Asian super-ethnos proper has not existed as a cultural and political entity for many centuries.

The nature of relations between Russians and Tatars and Bashkirs for many centuries has been defined by the term symbiosis. Which means, I repeat, the relatively conflict-free coexistence of different ethnic groups in one region, when each occupies its own ecological niche. Among other things, common religious preferences are a manifestation of complementarity. There is a common belief that the Tatar faith is Islam. In fact, the original faith of the Kipchaks, from whom the current Tatars were formed, and who were divided into three branches - the Cumans, the Volga Bulgars and the Nogai - is Christianity. Some of their ancestors, who lived in the Black Sea region, the Caspian region, and Central Asia, accepted the faith of Christ when Islam had not yet been born - in the 5th - early 6th centuries.

Among the Kipchaks, the first to accept Islam were the Volga Bulgars, the ancestors of the current Kazan Tatars, in the 10th century. At one time, this steppe people lived in the Caspian region, and in the 6th century they were pushed back by the Khazars to the Middle Volga, where they founded the city of New Bulgar. New, because the Bulgarians-Saragurs lived there before. In the new place, the Bulgars began to lead a partially sedentary lifestyle, actively engaged in trade, and adopted the Arab faith in 922 in order to find an ally to fight the Khazar Khaganate in the person of the Baghdad Caliphate. The Caliphate did not help the Bulgars, since it was too far away and soon disintegrated. Khazaria, where Jews ruled, imposed tribute on the Bulgars, but the Islamic faith took root among them. After all, Islam arose in Arabia itself as the faith of traders and shepherds. It is no coincidence that the Bulgars and their descendants, the Kazan Tatars, were actively involved in the slave trade, in contrast to the Orthodox Russians, where this was considered unacceptable.

The Cumans, the Russians called them Polovtsians, lived in the steppe between the Volga and the Dnieper; they, by the way, were similar in their anthropological type to the Slavs - blue-eyed and fair-haired, as well as the Nogai, who roamed east of the Yaik, remained partly pagans, partly Christians until the 14th century. th century. Back in the 12th century, under Vladimir Monomakh, the westernmost Cumans, who wandered from the Don to the Carpathians, were included in Rus'. The Russians called them “their filthy ones,” distinguishing them from the “wild filthy ones” in the East. The word filthy did not have an offensive connotation at that time; it comes from the Latin “ paganus ” and literally means “pagan”. But gradually “my filthy ones” accepted Orthodoxy. Relations between the Cumans and the Russians were often allied, and there was cross-breeding and assimilation of the Cumans. When the Mongols invaded the Polovtsian possessions in 1223, the Russian princes decided to defend the allied Polovtsians and refused the proposal of the Mongol ambassadors to break the Russian-Polovtsian alliance. In the tragic battle of Kalka, Russians and Polovtsians fought together. After the defeat from Batu, the Russian princes turned out to be vassals of the Mongol Khan, and the Kipchaks formed the core of the new state created by the Mongols - the Golden Horde.

There was religious tolerance in the horde at that time; numerous Orthodox Tatars were cared for by the Sarai diocese, established by the Russian metropolis at the khan's headquarters in the lower Volga - Sarai. When in the 14th century Khan Uzbek decided to convert the entire horde to Islam, the Tatars - Christians, not wanting to renounce their original faith, went to Rus'. The pagan Tatars also left with them, since Uzbek Khan persecuted all non-Muslims. The latter in Rus' accepted Orthodoxy, since this was a firm condition for entering the service of the Moscow Tsar. After Ivan the Terrible captured Kazan in 1552, another part of the Tatars were baptized. The majority of Orthodox Tatars assimilated as a result of miscegenation with Russians, but some retained Tatar ethnocultural characteristics. Today in Russia there live Orthodox Kryashen Tatars, Orthodox Kasimov and Nagaybak Tatars.

Thus, almost the majority of the descendants of the Kipchaks are Orthodox. Islam remained as the ethnocultural dominant of the Kazan Tatars - the descendants of the Volga Bulgars and the Bashkirs. Let us not sin against the truth and assert that the fall of these peoples under the rule of the Russian Tsar occurred voluntarily and bloodlessly.

However, the Bashkirs, divided between the Kazan and Siberian khanates, after the fall of Kazan, preferred the power of the Mongol Khan to the power of the Russian Tsar, and the Bashkir beys themselves in the second half of the 16th century asked to join him. But Ivan the Terrible took Kazan by storm. However, after the fall of the Kazan Khanate, the Tatar Murzas and even many simple warriors who accepted the Russian faith joined the Russian upper class; almost a third of the Russian nobility had Tatar roots. The Tatars who remained faithful to Islam were also not disadvantaged. Otherwise, during the Time of Troubles, the Tatar Murzas would not have sent detachments of Tatar horsemen to help the Russian militia against the Poles and Swedes. The common historical destinies of the Volga Muslims with the Russians for half a millennium, their preservation of ethnocultural identity proves the fruitfulness of this symbiosis for them.

However, the ethnic complementarity of the Uruss with the descendants of the Volga Bulgars - Kazan Tatars - traders and city residents is obviously less than with the descendants of the Kipchaks - steppe nomads. This was reflected during the latest crisis of the Russian world. The Russian-Tatar symbiosis is being seriously tested for strength today. The weakening of Russian Russia at the end of the 20th century immediately gave rise to the separatist aspirations of the Kazan Tatars. The city of Kazan, in which half the population is Russian and which for 4 centuries has been an example of the symbiosis of the Tatar and Russian communities

began to position itself as Tatar and Islamic. And this Tatar Muslim Kazan in the 90s did not openly pay taxes to the federal budget, and now, although formally it pays, it returns “its” back through abundant subsidies. In fact, the Muslim Tatars transferred to the Russians the worries about the state, which they no longer considered completely theirs. Tatar separatism is closely connected with the phenomena of political Turkism and political Islam, about which we will say in more detail here

Indicative is the activity of one of the most famous and influential, especially in the 90s, Tatar national organizations VTOC - an all-Tatar public center, which regularly delegated its representatives to the Supreme Council and the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Created in the late 80s, the VTOC throughout the entire period of its existence advocated for Tatarstan independent from Russia, boycotted the elections to the all-Russian federal authorities in the 90s, did not recognize the Treaty between the Republic of Tatarstan and the Russian Federation of 1994. In conditions of a deep crisis, which Russian statehood was experiencing at that time, the separatism of the VTOC reached extreme degrees. He developed the “Military Doctrine of the Republic of Tatarstan”, and even created the “National Guard”. The independence of Tatarstan was justified by the fact that in the 16th century the Kazan Khanate was captured by Moscow by force. Numerous organizations of the Tatar national movement celebrate October 15, the day of the capture of Kazan by enemy troops of Ivan the Terrible in 1552, as a day of remembrance.

The VTOC program, adopted in the late 90s, also considers the consolidation of all Turkic peoples of the Volga region and the Urals to be the most important task in the context of the establishment and development of the national sovereignty of the Tatar people. At the same time, consolidation should be expressed in the formation of such a political and cultural space that would ensure in the future the creation of the Turkic-Islamic state of Idel-Ural in the Volga-Ural region. In the 90s, one of the plenums of the VTOC, demonstrating enviable sobriety and realism, declared the need to create a confederation in this territory, to begin with. The idea of ​​the Idel-Ural state is warmly supported by the ideologists of all Tatar national organizations. Considering that the existence of Russians and other Orthodox Christians on the Volga and Urals is simply not noticed by the VTOC leaders, one can imagine our fate if the mentioned plans were realized.

For the period of temporary forced stay of Tatarstan within Russia, among the requirements of the VTOC is the recognition of the Tatar language as the only state language of the Republic of Tatarstan, the creation of a separate Tatar higher school, and the translation of the Tatar alphabet from Cyrillic to Latin. Outside of Tatarstan - the creation in regions of compact residence of Tatars of extraterritorial national-cultural autonomies, united within the framework of the Milli Majlis - the National Assembly of the Tatars, conceived as a form of implementation of national Tatar sovereignty. At the same time, the Mejlis should receive legislative rights in the national-cultural sphere and interact with the parliament of Tatarstan. At the all-Russian level, the idea of ​​​​creating a “chamber of nationalities” was also put forward, where each nation would have one vote. Considering that Islamic experts themselves number 37 Muslim peoples in Russia, one can imagine how comfortable one Russian, representing almost 100 million fellow tribesmen, would feel in this chamber. It is also noteworthy that the VTOC in the internal political situation in Russia has always supported the so-called right-wingers - Gaidar and Chubais. Apparently, the desire to spoil Russians overpowers even primordial Islamic anti-Semitism.

Let us note that the mood of the official leadership of Tatarstan has not been very different all these years from the mood within the VTOC. Many VTOC initiatives were voiced by regional authorities, and in relation to others we can say: what is on the tongue of the VTOC members is on the minds of Tatarstan officials. However, sometimes it comes off the tongue. It is noteworthy, for example, the statement of the Chairman of the State Council of Tatarstan Farid Mukhametshin in 2001 regarding the refusal of the Constitutional Court of Russia to allow, at the request of the State Council of Tatarstan, to switch to the Latin alphabet: “Nothing! Soon all of Russia will switch to the Latin alphabet! Let's wait! At the same time, he recalled that the Constitution of the Russian Federation of 1993 was not adopted on the territory of Tatarstan.

The symbol of the anti-Russian subtext of the rise of Tatar-Islamic nationalism and Russian Islam, in general, the unity in this matter of the Turkic-Islamic elites, clergy and masses of believers, became the Kul Sharif mosque built in 2005 in Kazan. The largest mosque in Europe and one of the largest mosques in the world not just built - in this case, God forbid, but recreated on the site of the legendary main mosque of the capital of the Kazan Khanate, destroyed during the storming of the city by the Russian troops of Ivan the Terrible. The name of the mosque, by the way, built with budget money - Kul Sharif - is also very symbolic, unambiguous and meaningful - in honor of the imam who organized the most fierce resistance to the troops of the Muscovite kingdom, whose detachment killed the most Russians.

It is noteworthy that when the Tatars of the Astrakhan region chose a name for the Tatar public association at their congress in 2003, they also settled on the symbolic “Hadzhi-Tarkhan” - the name of Astrakhan before its conquest by the Muscovite kingdom.

But it is especially noteworthy that, unlike the 20s of the last century, political Islam and political Turkism set as their goal not only the creation of states separate from Russia - this has already been accomplished in Central Asia, but also pursue goals previously unknown to Russia - the acquisition of political power is not in the Muslim regions of Russia alone, but also on an all-Russian scale. Thus, Islamic organizations, politicians and public figures are increasingly demanding the introduction of the post of vice-president, assigned to a representative of the ummah, and the establishment of a one-fifth quota for Muslims in federal and regional authorities, in particular, the authorities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The size of the quota is determined taking into account the percentage of Muslims among the country's residents, which is, of course, overestimated.

The idea of ​​quotas in itself is quite normal and has a right to exist. Especially, it would suit the Russians, who find themselves today in their own country as political pariahs. In this regard, it would be logical to start by securing a quota for Russians in the Supreme Council and State Council of Tatarstan, and the City Duma, and the Executive Committee of Kazan. In Tatarstan there are approximately 40% Great Russians, and about half are Orthodox - Russians, Chuvash, Mordovians, Mari, and in Kazan itself even more than half. It is logical to assign to them the corresponding number of mandates in elected bodies and half of the administrative positions. However, needless to say, the Tatar-Islamic leaders do not stutter about this.

Here it must be borne in mind that political Islam and Turkism have very unique ideas about justice in the state structure. Kazakhstan is indicative. There, the share of Russians in the population in the early 90s was half, and in government bodies and administration - 10%. There are other equally eloquent examples. In Adygea, two-thirds are Russian, and there are almost three times fewer Circassians, approximately 24%, while the president is invariably Circassian. When the Adyghe oligarch Khazret Sovmen became the local president in 2002, there were almost no Russians left in power in the republic, all leading positions were occupied by Muslims, and today less than half of the ministers are Russian.

Moreover, all of the above positions would satisfy only a moderate part of the VTOC, which is a supporter of Jadidism - a modernized Islamic tradition that seeks to combine Muslim values ​​with the achievements of the West in its doctrine. Jadidism became widespread in Tatar society at the beginning of the twentieth century. It was developed by the above-mentioned I. Gasprinsky. It is believed that the values ​​of Jadidism are combined with the historical role of the Tatar people - to be a mediator in the relationship between East and West over the heads of the Russians!

And there are also radicals who advocate the revival of the conservative Islamic tradition, which is close to fundamentalist movements, including Wahhabism. Other Tatar-Islamic organizations, for example, the Ittifaq party, also gravitate here.

However, where the line between radicals and moderates lies in the Russian ummah is sometimes very difficult to understand. If someone thinks that only Wahhabis do not like us, and that Hanbali Sunnism, to which the majority of Russian Muslims belong, is always and in everything our reliable ally in the construction of an all-Russian Eurasian home, this is an illusion. In this regard, noteworthy, for example, is the program of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, entitled “Scenarios for the political representation of the ummah in the power circles of the Russian Federation and the urgent need for the unity of the country’s Muslim community.” Nobody classifies DUMN as a radical organization, but how should we perceive, for example, the demands put forward in this program to the federal authorities:

Partial legitimization of Islamic law (Sharia) in places where Muslims live compactly, with the simultaneous creation of one or two spiritual centers playing the role of arbiter of the Ummah before the state, and with the condition of non-interference of the state in the internal affairs of the Ummah... Or: Creation of the Council of Ulema of Russia - to resolve two main tasks: 1) discussion, formulation and dissemination in Muslim communities (mahallas) of fatwas - decisions on specific issues of Sharia, including family law, social and moral issues, etc.

As we can see, in essence, we are talking about the creation of legal parallel authorities. Illegal parallel structures already exist in large numbers, and not only in the Caucasus, but in almost all regions of Russia. Most often they are called jamaats - from the Arabic “jamaa” - society, community. It is significant that the jamaats are led not by spiritual authorities - imams, but by amirs - military commanders, and their ultimate goal is the creation of a caliphate, including the south of Russia, the Volga region, the Urals and Southern Siberia. In the Caucasus, jamaats are organized into larger territorial structures - vilayats and the pan-Caucasian emirate, which the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation recognized in February 2010 as a terrorist organization.

Yes, peace with the Volga and Ural Muslims is the most important condition for Russia’s internal stability. On our side, firstly, the fact that in the territory of compact residence of Tatars and Bashkirs, miscegenation is widespread, and a significant part of families are mixed. When Russian Russia weakens, these families remember their Tatar blood, when Russian Russia grows stronger, they feel themselves to be part of Russian Russia. Secondly, the ethnic affinity of these ethnic groups with the Turks of the same faith is very weak, and there is none at all with the Arabs. Iran is also not close to them in cultural and religious terms, since the Iranians are Shiites, and our Tatars are Sunnis. They accepted Islam as pagan barbarians, and the same Arabs and Iranians are still considered barbarians. Russian Muslims are equal in Arab-Iranian they will never be recognized in the world, even if they learn Arabic and Farsi. Arab Wahhabism is even more alien to Volga Muslims. Finally, thirdly, Russian culture is not afraid of competition from Arab culture, which experienced its heyday eight centuries ago. There is no need to talk about competition from, to put it mildly, not outstanding Turkish culture. All these are our serious trump cards.

We, however, know how the post-Soviet Russian political elite can easily turn any trump card into dust. In addition, today in Russia there are many media resources that do not miss the opportunity to surreptitiously artificially incite discord between Orthodox Russians and indigenous Russian Muslims. So you need to keep your ears open.

If the Tatars and Bashkirs separated emotionally and culturally from the Russians and ceased to be part of the Russian super-ethnic group, the latter, of course, would not cease to exist. However, given that the territory of the compact settlement of Tatars and Bashkirs - Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, are internal regions of the country, a “divorce” would be very painful. Moreover, on the territory of both republics, half of the urban population is Russian.

It is clear that we, Russians, as a state-forming people, must take care that our symbiosis continues to be strong, mutually beneficial and does not infringe on either our or the Tatar national dignity. This requires an open and thoughtful approach. The Muslim peoples of the Volga region must not be allowed to become isolated in their ethnic environment. Their political, economic and intellectual elites should naturally be incorporated into the all-Russian elite. And we are interested in these national elites remaining sober and pragmatic.

However, man proposes, but God disposes. Orthodox Christians and Muslims in Russia, indeed, managed to get along for half a millennium. However, the primary condition for this peace was not the “friendship of peoples,” but the power and strength, spiritual and military, of the Orthodox Russians. The experience of the 90s clearly shows and we must soberly realize that no “friendship of peoples” by itself will keep the Volga Muslims in the Russian state. They will remain in it only as long as the Russians as a people have enough strength to perform the functions of a system-forming element of a complex national-state structure and maintain complete control over the country. And here, I repeat, demography works against our long-term union. In the event of a continuation of catastrophic depopulation in the Russian regions and a sharp change in the proportions of the Orthodox and Muslim populations, we must be prepared for a “divorce” sooner or later with the Volga Muslims. The great-heartedness and infantilism in this matter are similar to death, as well as the continued stay in power of the current Russian political elite, which, in principle, is not capable of solving demographic, interfaith and interethnic problems. The catastrophe of the early 90s, when Russians were beaten along the entire perimeter of the collapsed USSR, when it was lost without compensation The industrial potential of the national republics, created by Russian engineers and workers at the cost of backwardness and poverty of the Russian regions proper, should not be repeated. But now the mistakes made at that time are not even discussed.

The marriage of Orthodox Russians and Islamic communities of Russia - Muslims of the Volga region and the Urals has always remained a misalliance. And this was the key to his strength. After all, as already mentioned above, a complexly structured system can be stable only if there is a clear dominance in it. The Volga and Ural Muslims accepted the role of a politically subdominant community due to the fact that the very proportions of the Russian Christian and Tatar Muslim populations did not suggest anything different. But the fact of the matter is that today the situation is changing radically. Now our power and strength are in big question. Russians are experiencing an acute crisis, and not only political and economic, but an identity crisis, a spiritual crisis. In the misalliance mentioned above, we seem to be in danger of switching roles. But whether Muslims, if they turn into a “big brother” for Orthodox Russians, will leave us the right to their ethnocultural and religious identity, what the boundaries of this identity will be and in what geographic area it will be allowed is a big question.

Reply from Stroev

At one of the events in March 2012, I heard about the real state of affairs in Tatarstan among newly formed small parties. This autonomy traditionally gives a high percentage of votes for United Russia. The author of these lines, due to ignorance of the real situation, believed that we were talking about voting in the eastern satrapy. But, as it turned out, the situation there is more complicated. When the Luzhkov-Shaimiev project to create the Fatherland-All Russia party failed, local Tatar nationalists quickly assessed the prospects for the near future and... quickly moved to United Russia, thereby creating their absolute majority there. Voting for United Russia in Tatarstan is not a vote for Putin and Medvedev sitting in the Moscow Kremlin (the former, by the way, is freely called a “blue-eyed fascist” there).

In fact, this is a vote for ourselves - for the Tatar nationalists who are temporarily lying low, sitting today in the United Russia in the Kazan Kremlin. This is a purely situational and opportunistic vote - today it is for “United Russia”, and tomorrow, perhaps, for “United Tataria”. Moreover, voting with the same personal set of national elites in both party options....