Recent from talks
Volga Tatars
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Volga Tatars
The Volga Tatars, also known as Volga-Ural Tatars or simply Tatars (Tatar: татарлар, romanized: tatarlar; Russian: татары, romanized: tatary) are a Turkic ethnic group native to the Volga-Ural region of western Russia, and contains multiple subgroups. Tatars are the second-largest ethnic group in Russia after ethnic Russians. They are primarily found in Tatarstan, where they make up 53.6% of the population. Their native language is Tatar, and are primarily followers of Sunni Islam.
"Tatar" as an ethnonym has a very long and complicated history, and in the past was often used as an umbrella term for different Turkic and Mongolic tribes. Nowadays it mostly refers exclusively to Volga Tatars (known simply as "Tatars"; Tatarlar), who became its "ultimate bearers" after the founding of Tatar ASSR (1920–1990; now Tatarstan). The ethnogenesis of Volga-Ural Tatars is still debated, but their history is usually connected to the Kipchak-Tatars of the Golden Horde (1242–1502), and also to its predecessor, Volga Bulgaria (900s–1200s), whose adoption of Islam is celebrated yearly in Tatarstan.[self-published source?] After the collapse of the Golden Horde, ancestors of modern Tatars formed the Khanate of Kazan (1438–1552), which lost its independence to Russia after the Siege of Kazan in 1552.
After hundreds of years under Russian rule, the Tatars are now well integrated into Russian society. However, they continue to maintain a distinct culture, characterized by their Islamic faith and native Turkic language. Since the industrialization of the Soviet Union, the Tatar language has been increasingly replaced by Russian in daily life, and separatist sentiments occasionally emerge. Islam has regained a stronger presence among the Tatars following the anti-religious policies of the Soviet era. The muftiate of Tatarstan is the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan, currently led by Kamil Samigullin.
Some notable Tatars include Gabdulla Tukay, Ayaz Ishaki, Shihabetdin Mardzhani, Galimdzhan Ibragimov, Rustam Minnikhanov, Rashid Nezhmetdinov, Rudolf Nureyev, Rinat Fakhretdinov, Aida Garifullina, and Marat Safin.
The cultural center for Idel-Ural Tatars is the Republic of Tatarstan (Russian Federation). Its predecessor was the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, established in 1920. It was the first successful Tatar formation since the Kazan Khanate. Tatars have been the subjects of Russia since after the Siege of Kazan in 1552. Many Tatars live in different regions of Russia, outside of Tatarstan as well. They have diasporas across the globe also, such as the Finnish Tatars.
During the period of the Russian Empire, the Turkic Muslim population of Idel-Ural region were generally called Tatars, and eventually, the name was extended to most of the other Turkic peoples of Russia as well (Azerbaijanis – Transcaucasian Tatars). The history of the ethnonym traces back to the times of the Golden Horde, when its feudal nobility used it to denote its citizens. Russian feudals and the Tsar government started using it also. These different tribes usually identified themselves by their geographical group name, or, generally as Muslims (Qazanlı, Möselman, etc.). The name Bolgar was also referenced. They avoided using the term Tatar due to the negative connotation of the Mongol-Tatars of the past.
Nowadays, many of the ethnic differences between Volga Tatar groups of Volga-Ural have disappeared. Some, especially unique dialectical features remain. The majority of Volga-Ural Tatars (Kazan Tatars and Mishars) are usually thought to be descendants of the Kipchaks of Golden Horde. Others emphasize the role of its predecessor, Volga Bulgaria, but many also think these both played a part. Tatar historian G. R. Yenikeev criticizes the phenomenon of identifying with Bulgars and thinks, that this happened due to the "pro-western rulers of the Romanov government", with the help of Bulgarist-mullahs and European historians, that created a negative and distorted image of the ancient Tatars, which ended up causing them to reject the term and lose national consciousness. Finnish historian Antero Leitzinger: "They [Bulgarists] emphasize the contribution of the Bulgars mainly due to the feeling of inferiority created by the Russians[clarification needed], which is often attached to the Orda (organization) population[clarification needed]".
Today, while the legacy of the Golden Horde is largely embraced, Volga Bulgaria is also seen as an integral part of the Tatar history, one way or another. The Bulgar conversion to Islam in 922 is celebrated yearly in Tatarstan. Tatar encyclopedia Tatarica: "The people of the Volga Bulgarian state formed the basis of the Tatar ethnos. The culture of the Volga Bulgarian state is one of the most important components of the historical and cultural heritage of the Tatar people".
Hub AI
Volga Tatars AI simulator
(@Volga Tatars_simulator)
Volga Tatars
The Volga Tatars, also known as Volga-Ural Tatars or simply Tatars (Tatar: татарлар, romanized: tatarlar; Russian: татары, romanized: tatary) are a Turkic ethnic group native to the Volga-Ural region of western Russia, and contains multiple subgroups. Tatars are the second-largest ethnic group in Russia after ethnic Russians. They are primarily found in Tatarstan, where they make up 53.6% of the population. Their native language is Tatar, and are primarily followers of Sunni Islam.
"Tatar" as an ethnonym has a very long and complicated history, and in the past was often used as an umbrella term for different Turkic and Mongolic tribes. Nowadays it mostly refers exclusively to Volga Tatars (known simply as "Tatars"; Tatarlar), who became its "ultimate bearers" after the founding of Tatar ASSR (1920–1990; now Tatarstan). The ethnogenesis of Volga-Ural Tatars is still debated, but their history is usually connected to the Kipchak-Tatars of the Golden Horde (1242–1502), and also to its predecessor, Volga Bulgaria (900s–1200s), whose adoption of Islam is celebrated yearly in Tatarstan.[self-published source?] After the collapse of the Golden Horde, ancestors of modern Tatars formed the Khanate of Kazan (1438–1552), which lost its independence to Russia after the Siege of Kazan in 1552.
After hundreds of years under Russian rule, the Tatars are now well integrated into Russian society. However, they continue to maintain a distinct culture, characterized by their Islamic faith and native Turkic language. Since the industrialization of the Soviet Union, the Tatar language has been increasingly replaced by Russian in daily life, and separatist sentiments occasionally emerge. Islam has regained a stronger presence among the Tatars following the anti-religious policies of the Soviet era. The muftiate of Tatarstan is the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan, currently led by Kamil Samigullin.
Some notable Tatars include Gabdulla Tukay, Ayaz Ishaki, Shihabetdin Mardzhani, Galimdzhan Ibragimov, Rustam Minnikhanov, Rashid Nezhmetdinov, Rudolf Nureyev, Rinat Fakhretdinov, Aida Garifullina, and Marat Safin.
The cultural center for Idel-Ural Tatars is the Republic of Tatarstan (Russian Federation). Its predecessor was the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, established in 1920. It was the first successful Tatar formation since the Kazan Khanate. Tatars have been the subjects of Russia since after the Siege of Kazan in 1552. Many Tatars live in different regions of Russia, outside of Tatarstan as well. They have diasporas across the globe also, such as the Finnish Tatars.
During the period of the Russian Empire, the Turkic Muslim population of Idel-Ural region were generally called Tatars, and eventually, the name was extended to most of the other Turkic peoples of Russia as well (Azerbaijanis – Transcaucasian Tatars). The history of the ethnonym traces back to the times of the Golden Horde, when its feudal nobility used it to denote its citizens. Russian feudals and the Tsar government started using it also. These different tribes usually identified themselves by their geographical group name, or, generally as Muslims (Qazanlı, Möselman, etc.). The name Bolgar was also referenced. They avoided using the term Tatar due to the negative connotation of the Mongol-Tatars of the past.
Nowadays, many of the ethnic differences between Volga Tatar groups of Volga-Ural have disappeared. Some, especially unique dialectical features remain. The majority of Volga-Ural Tatars (Kazan Tatars and Mishars) are usually thought to be descendants of the Kipchaks of Golden Horde. Others emphasize the role of its predecessor, Volga Bulgaria, but many also think these both played a part. Tatar historian G. R. Yenikeev criticizes the phenomenon of identifying with Bulgars and thinks, that this happened due to the "pro-western rulers of the Romanov government", with the help of Bulgarist-mullahs and European historians, that created a negative and distorted image of the ancient Tatars, which ended up causing them to reject the term and lose national consciousness. Finnish historian Antero Leitzinger: "They [Bulgarists] emphasize the contribution of the Bulgars mainly due to the feeling of inferiority created by the Russians[clarification needed], which is often attached to the Orda (organization) population[clarification needed]".
Today, while the legacy of the Golden Horde is largely embraced, Volga Bulgaria is also seen as an integral part of the Tatar history, one way or another. The Bulgar conversion to Islam in 922 is celebrated yearly in Tatarstan. Tatar encyclopedia Tatarica: "The people of the Volga Bulgarian state formed the basis of the Tatar ethnos. The culture of the Volga Bulgarian state is one of the most important components of the historical and cultural heritage of the Tatar people".
Recent media