Political Activity of Nur-Devlet in the Crimean and Qasim Khanates

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  Oleksandr Fedchuk

Abstract

The article presents the political activity of Nur-Devlet – the Crimean and Qasim Khan. His image in the Crimean chronicles and in the contemporaries’ correspondence is analyzed. It has been suggested that before the enthronement, Nur-Devlet killed his older brother Devlet-Yar. The concepts of duumvirate in the Crimean Khanate and dating of Nur-Devlet’s second reign in 1477 are further developed. The key aspects of the khan’s foreign and internal policy are defined. The reasons that twice led to his dethronization have been traced. It has been found that Nur-Devlet was a prominent khan of the Qasim Khanate.

Contemporaries recognized Nur-Devlet as a legitimate Crimean monarch because he was elected by Kurultai. Only in the 18th century his image was distorted. Hacı Geray didn’t create system of succession, so various applicants disputed his heritage. Before the enthronement, Nur-Devlet committed a seditious act. Most likely it was murder of Devlet-Yar, after which he could claim the throne on the principle of seniority. After long struggle, the khan established himself in power (first with co-ruler Meñli Geray, later as independent ruler). He had a conflict with Mamak and was focused on supporting of Poland and the Horde elite (the Kungrats and Akhmed-khan). The Crimean Tatars sought to become independent of Saray – therefore, the khan’s policy led to dethronization. Nur-Devlet had to seek refuge in Kaffa. There he became a participant of intrigues. It caused to imprisonment from which the Ottomans released him. In 1475 Nur-Devlet didn’t become khan for the second time. In fact, he received the Berat in 1477 and ruled with Hayder. The khan had tense relations with Eminek and the co-ruler, tried to collaborate with Casimir IV, lost power and was forced to flee. At the Muscovian service and as the Qasim Khanate ruler, Nur-Devlet proved himself capable military leader. Therefore, the khan can be characterized as an intermediate Crimean ruler, but an outstanding ruler of the Qasim Khanate.

How to Cite

Fedchuk, O. (2025). Political Activity of Nur-Devlet in the Crimean and Qasim Khanates. The World of the Orient, (1 (126), 35–48. https://doi.org/10.15407/orientw2025.01.035
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