Khan Akhmat, the Great Horde. History of Central Asia

Khan Akhmat is considered the last ruler, from which the Russian princes were dependent. His policy was aimed at uniting the Tatar states. In his quest to establish supremacy in the territory formerly owned by the Great Horde, he achieved considerable success. A key role in the administration of the ruler belonged to Beklerbek Timur (grandson of Yedigei).

Eastern policy

Territories that once owned the Great Horde, gained independence. In all likelihood, the main goal of the eastern policy of the last ruler was the restoration of his power over Khorezm. Khan Akhmat claimed the land for at least two reasons. First of all, he tried to unite the territory under his authority. In addition, according to ancient testimonies, the eastern lands were dowries of Sister Husayn Baikara (descendant of Timur) - his wife Badi-al-Jamal. In this situation, the interests of Ahmat contradicted the policy of Aboul-Khair. The latter was at that time a powerful Uzbek ruler from the Shibanid lineage. Khan Akhmat did not dare to conflict with him. Therefore, he simply waited for his death in 1468. Abu-l-Khair was distinguished by cruelty and power. This caused a negative attitude towards him and his descendants from both the neighbors and the Uzbek nobility. Representatives of the latter brought to power Yadgar Khan, with whom Ahmat concluded an alliance. In 1469 the new Uzbek ruler died, and the power was in the hands of Abu'l-Khair's son Shaykh-Khaydar. Against him, however, formed a powerful opposition. As a result, in 1470-1471 years. Shaykh-Haidar lost most of his possessions. After a while, the Siberian ruler Ibak caught him off guard and killed him. Khan Akhmat concluded a peace agreement with the opponents of Shaykh-Khaydar, took as his wife the sister of the Nogai rulers of Yamgurchi and Musa. In addition, it is likely that he also made them promise not to interfere with his actions to seize Khorezm. But the plans prevented the death of his brother in the Volga region.

Independence of the Crimea

The deceased brother left Akhmat many problems. One of them was the independence of the Crimea. The peninsula at one time was the goal of the Great Horde. In 1476, the ruler decides to intervene in the situation in the Crimea. In 1475, Haydar and Noor-Devlet overthrew their brother Mengli-Giray. The latter sought refuge in the Cafe (Theodosia), by that time already captured by the Turks. In 1467 a contemporary of Khan Ahmad - Hajik did not get along with his brother and called on the Tatar ruler. He, taking advantage of the situation, put his nephew Janibek on the throne in the Crimea. Having strengthened his position, Khan Akhmat began to believe that the former power of the Tatar-Mongolian state was restored.

Relations with Russia

Judging by the ancient chronicles, the first trip of Khan Ahmat took place back in 1460. Then the ruler sent his army to Pereslavl Ryazan. The ruler aspired to restore the real dependence of Russia. However, he did not have enough strength for this. In 1468, the Tatars raided the area of Besput (right-bank Oka) and Ryazan principality. In 1471, Akhmat accepted a proposal from Casimir IV (Polish-Lithuanian king) to conclude a military alliance against Ivan III, who stopped paying tribute. In July 1472, an unsuccessful foray into Moscow took place. In the course of it, the Tatar ruler managed to only burn Aleksin. At this time the detachment of Muhammad Sheibani (the Uzbek khan) attacked the uluses of Akhmat. Therefore, the Tatars had to retreat.

Participation of Venice

This state carried out active diplomatic actions against the Tatar khan. The policy of Venice was aimed at finding a major ally, with the help of which it would be possible to stop Mehmed II, the Turkish ruler. In 1470, before the Senate, the adventurer Giovanni-Battista della Volpe (the diplomat Ivan Fryazin, who came from Italy) was on the Russian service. In his report, he pointed out that Ahmat can provide 200 thousand soldiers. In 1471 Giovanni Battista Trevisano was sent to the Tatar governor. However, he was detained for 3 years in Moscow. During this time, Volpe once again visited Ahmat. In 1472 he reported to the Senate about his readiness to start a war with the Turks through the territory of Hungary under the condition of a one-time payment of 6,000 ducats and an annual payment of 1,000 ducats. In 1476, Trevisiano returned to Venice with the ambassadors from Akhmat. The Senate accepted a proposal to launch military operations across the Danube. Against the campaign, however, Casimir spoke.

Khan Akhmat and Ivan 3

Over the next few years, despite the regular exchange of embassies, the Tatar ruler could not get Moscow to restore the payment of tribute. Moreover, he failed to prevent the formation of the Moscow-Crimean alliance with Mengli-Girey. Back in 1467, after the invasion and capture of the peninsula, Akhmat sent Ambassador Buchuk to Moscow. The ruler demanded not only the renewal of the payment of tribute, but also insisted on the arrival of the Russian prince to him. At that time the situation was extremely unfavorable for Ivan III. In this regard, as some sources have shown, he showed prudence and friendly disposition. Probably even that he paid tribute. But in 1479 the situation changed. Ivan III managed to subjugate Novgorod, and Achmat lost influence in the Crimea. That is why the next ambassadors in Moscow were taken demonstratively hostile. The Russian ruler tore up the charter, which Khan Ahmat had previously issued. 1480 was the last year of the latter's reign. Casimir IV promised to help the Tatar ruler. With his support, Ahmat decides to commit a large-scale invasion of the Moscow lands. However, it ended extremely unsuccessfully.

Standing on the Ugra (1480)

On September 30, the Moscow prince returned from Kolomna to the council with the boyars and the metropolitan. As a result, he received unanimous approval for his speech against the Tatar-Mongols. In the same days, the ambassadors from Boris Volotsky and Andrei Bolshoy came to the prince, who announced the end of the insurrection. The Russian ruler granted them forgiveness and ordered them to collect shelves and go to the Oka. October 3, Ivan went to the city of Kremenets. Leaving a small detachment with him, he sent most of the troops to the Ugra. In the meantime, the Tatars ravaged the lands along the upper Oka. Taking the cities here, they intended to exclude the attack from the rear. On October 8, the Tatar ruler tried to cross the river. Ugru. However, the forces of the Russian prince repulsed the attack. Over the next few days, the Tatars tried several times to cross the river to the other side. But each time they were stopped by Russian artillery. As a result, they had to retreat by 2 versts and get up in Luza. The Russian prince took up defense on the opposite shore. So began the "standing on the Ugra" in 1480. From time to time a shooting started, but neither of them took a serious attack.

Ending the confrontation

Negotiations began between the sides. The Tatar khan demanded that a Russian prince or his son (or at least a brother) appear to him, declaring obedience, and paid tribute for 7 years. Ivan sent as an ambassador Ivan Tokatov - boyar son - with gifts. At the same time, the demand to pay tribute was rejected. Accordingly, the gifts of the Russian prince were not accepted. It is likely that Ivan went to negotiate in order to gain time. The situation began to change in his favor - the reinforcement of Boris Volotsky and Andrei the Great was expected. In addition, Mengli-Giray fulfilled his promise and attacked the southern territories of the principality of Lithuania. Akhmat, therefore, was deprived of all hope of helping Casimir.

The maneuver of the Russian prince

The Tatar governor mobilized all the inhabitants of his state and did not leave any capable troops. Ivan sent to the possession of Akhmat a small detachment headed by Vasily Nozdrevatogo. October 28, the Russian prince decides to withdraw his troops to Kremenets, then to concentrate at Borovsk. Here he planned to give battle in a favorable atmosphere. Akhmat, in turn, found out that in his possession there was a detachment of Nozdrevaty. Because of the long stay in one place, the Tatar army began to lack a supply. The fact is that they ate the sheep that they led. After a long stand, all stocks of food ran out. Therefore, on November 11, Akhmat decides to return to his domain. After returning some time later, he was killed in a sudden attack by his former allies.