2019, vol. 7, no. 3. Uzelac A.

2019, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 416-433

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22378/2313-6197.2019-7-3.416-433

   TATARS IN THE DANUBE-DNIESTER INTERFLUVE
IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY

Aleksandar Uzelac
Institute of History, Belgrade
Belgrade, Serbia
aleksandar.uzelac@iib.ac.rs

Abstract: Research objectives: This article offers a critical overview of the political position and destiny of the Tatar lands between the Danube Delta and the Lower Dniester in the timespan between the death of Özbeg (1313–1341), khan of the Golden Horde, and the migrations of the Tatars of Aktau to the Balkans in 1398–1399. Attention is also dedicated to the organization of these territories, their nomadic character, and to the local Tatar leaders: Prince Atlamish, and his successors Demetrius/Temur (Demetrius princeps Tartaro­rum), Kutlubuga and Hadjibey. The article discusses the relations between the Tatars and the Ottomans during the last two decades of the fourteenth century as well.
Research materials: Latin, Slavic, Asian and Greek contemporary sources and archaeological material, related to this region.
Results and novelty of the research: The Tatars in the Danube-Dniester interfluve lost their political and military supremacy over the neighboring lands during the age of the so-called Great Turmoil in the Golden Horde. The external pressure from the Hungarian Kingdom, Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Principality of Moldavia led to the gradual reduction of their territory to the area that included Budjak (the southwestern tract of Ukraine and south Moldova) and northern Dobrudja. Nonetheless, the Tatars in the West of the Dniester, remained independent and continued to play a significant role in the regional events. There are also indications that they continued to recognize the authority of the khans of the Golden Horde until the end of the fourteenth century. Some of these facts are either unrecognized or neglected in contemporary historical studies.

Keywords: Golden Horde, Danube-Dniester Interfluve, Atlamish, “Demetrius princeps Tartarorum”, Aktau Tatars

For citation: Uzelac A. Tatars in the Danube-Dniester Interfluve in the Second Half of the Fourteenth Century. Zolotoordynskoe obozrenie=Golden Horde Review. 2019, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 416–433. DOI: 10.22378/2313-6197.2019-7-3.416-433

Acknowledgements: The author expresses his gratitude to Roman Hautala for his translation of the paper that served as the basis of this article, and presented at the International Scientific Conference “Scientific Heritage and Social Activities of Shigabutdin Mardzhani” (Kazan, September 20–21, 2018), dedicated to the 200th anniver­sary of the birth of this outstanding Tatar scholar and educator.

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About the author: Aleksandar Uzelac – PhD (History), Senior Research Associate, Institute of History, Belgrade (36/II, Kneza Mihaila Str., Belgrade 11000, Serbia); ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0626-2928. E-mail: aleksandar.uzelac@iib.ac.rs

Received May 31, 2019   Accepted for publication  August 26, 2019
Published  online September 29, 2019