2025, vol. 13, no. 2. Vorotyntsev L.V., Galimov T.R.

2025, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 375-391

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22378/2313-6197.2025-13-2.375-391

EDN: https://elibrary.ru/QETBGY

   THE IMAGE OF THE “TATARS” IN THE WRITTEN SOURCES
OF OLD RUSSIA AND THE STATES OF THE “CHRISTIAN WORLD”

L.V. Vorotyntsev 1 * , T.R. Galimov 2
1 Bunin Yelets State University
Yelets, Russian Federation
2 Kazan Federal University
Kazan, Russian Federation
* leonrus1245@mail.ru

Аbstract. Research objectives: To identify the main features of the image of the “Tatars” reflected in the narrative sources of Old Russia and other Christian states.
Research materials: A body of Russian chronicle sources, historical and literary works of Old Russia (“The Teaching of St. Serapion”, “Zadonshchina”), “The Story of Mikhail and Andronik Palaiologos” by George Pachymeres, the Georgian chronograph “Zhamta agmtsereli”, “The History of the Nation of Archers” by the monk, Magakia, “The History of Armenia” by Kirakos Gandzaketsi, “Epistle to the Sorrowful Lament about the Destruction of the Hungarian Kingdom by the Tatars” by Master Roger, and “The Great Chronicle” (Chronica Maiora) by Matthew Paris.
Results and novelty of the research: Based on the comparative use of Russian, Caucasian, and European sources, the authors come to the conclusion that the image of the “Tatars” presented in Russian written sources combines both the characteristics of the Eastern conquerors common to the Christian cultural and historical narrative, and a number of differences. The general features include the correlation of the “Tatars”, at the initial stages of their military expansion, with the peoples of the “End Times” or the idea of them as a “scourge of God” sent as punishment for the sins of Christians. A specific feature of the image of the “Tatars” contained in Russian chronicles is the almost complete lack of information about their appearance, everyday culture, and military skills.

Keywords: the image of “Tatars”, “reclusive” peoples, “divine peoples”, Biblical tradition, eschatological ideas, world picture, mental perception

For citation: Vorotyntsev L.V., Galimov T.R. The image of the “Tatars” in the written sources of Old Russia and the States of the “Christian world”. Zolotoordynskoe obozrenie = Golden Horde Review. 2025, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 375–391. https://doi.org/10.22378/2313-6197.2025-13-2.375-391 (In Russian)

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Leonid V. Vorotyntsev – Cand. Sci. (History), Researcher Fellow, Bunin Yelets State University (28, Kommunarov Str., Yelets 399770, Russian Federation); ORCID: 0000-0002-6139-3392. E-mail: leonrus1245@mail.ru

Teymur R. Galimov – Cand. Sci. (History), Senior Lecturer at the Department of History of Tatarstan, Anthropology and Ethnography of the Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental Studies, Kazan Federal University (44, Levo-Bulachnaya Str., Kazan 420111, Russian Federation); ORCID: 0000-0002-3052-8063. E-mail: galimov_t_r@mail.ru

Received  03.03.2025
Revised  22.05.2025
Accepted  02.06.2025