History The oldest people of Culman (Kama)
river basin consisted of various Finnish tribes (Cirmis, Moksi, Ar-mar), however, Turkish
tribes started to occupy Kaba river mouth and Ak-idil basin very early. It is found out
that a Turkish group named Suvar used to live in the southern zone of Kama river mouth in
1st century. We could not find out clear information about the nature and history of that
tribe. It is alleged that "Suvar" city in this region was constructed by them;
it is also probable that some of the names of other places and rivers may have relations
with this Turkish tribe.
We have seen that the
region between Yayık-İdil and Kama rivers was occupied by Huns between 100 and 374.
Therefore, Idil-Ural zone remained under a strong Turkish-Hun influence for more than two
and a half century. In 375, while the main mass of Huns were advancing toward the west, it
is strongly possible that some of them remained in Middle Idil and Kama region (river
mouth). Sabirs appeared in Ural-İdil basin after some time and probably did not stay
there for a long time and started out for Caucasus. The name of the Simbir (Simbirsik, now
Ulyanowsk) must be related with Sabir Turks just like Siberia name is referred to with
this tribe. Therefore, that this region was a complete Turkish country turned to be a
historical reality with Kama Bulgars settling down there.
Pursuant to the
collapse of Attila-Hun Empire (after 453), Bulgars, forming some of the Huns were in
Don-Kuban area. This Turkish group was divided into three groups toward the end of Vth
century due to the pressure of other tribes from East who were also Turks (Avar, Sabir,
Hazar). Some of them went to the west and took Danube Bulgars name, and going to Dobruca
in late 7th century, took the Slavs there under their domination and established Bulgarian
State, but since they were very few in number, were represented by the local people until
9th century. Some of the Bulgars went toward Caucasus and mingled with other nations
there; the Balkans in Caucasus must have had relations to them. The third group is the one
we are mostly concerned about: They climbed along Idil and occupied the area in Kama's
river mouth. Bulgars must have gone there coincidentally. It is also a probable that those
Bulgars were living in the vicinity of Kama even before Great Hun movement; they must also
have remained there after the great migration.
We cannot
determine the exact date of Bulgars' going to Kama river mouth area for the first time,
but it is probable that this movement occurred in late 5th century or early 6th century.
The area is very available in terms of geographical and natural conditions.As the deep
black soil is appropriate for agriculture, since it had many rivers, streams and rivulets,
it also had rich pastures, forests covering a vast zone containing many species of trees.
This country where two big rivers (Idil and Culman) joined and flew along, had the
possibilities of easy relations with far away countries too. It was not only possible to
reach bulgar country with Çulman (Kaman) and its branches, Perm and Vjatka-Middle Ural
the forests of which were full of precious fur animals, and rivers in Middle and South
Ural region with various and several mines, but also Skandinavian merchants from upper
Idil (Vareg Russians) and Slav-Russians from Oka clan could easily come there.
The relations of
Idil city with the suoth countries passed from Bulgarian country along Idil river. These
are the natural and economical conditions which gathered to determine the main occupations
and lifestyles of Kama Bulgarians: Bulgarians settled down in a short time and began to
plant crops and started large-scale trading by establishing cities in particular. They
raised some centers in a short time. Among them is Bulgar (great Bulgar city) about 6 km
inside of left coast of Idil in about 100 km to the south of the point where Kama and
Volga joined. Bulgarian city was the most important center of trade of Eastern Europe in
9th and 12th centuries. Among other cities were: Büler (Biler), Suvar, Bulımer, Cüke-Tav,
Oşal, Titiş, Layış, Züye, perhaps Kazan (Old Kazan) cities and many other cities,
towns and villages.
As to the
political end of Bulgarian State, Bulgars attacked and defeated the Mongol-Tatar army
which was turning back from Caucasus-Don expedition in 1224. The first target of Batu Khan
in western expedtion was to take revenge from Bulgars. In 1236, Mongol-Tatar army attacked
on Bulgars having many Turkish tribes with them.They were engaged in driving Kumans out of
Deşt-i Kipchak in years of 1238 and 39. The majority of Kumans mingled with Kama Bulgars
meeting them while they went to Hungary.
The number of
Kuman-Kipchaks who lived there for a long time and then afterwards met Bulgars must be
high because Kipchak language is dominant in the language of Kazan Turks who emerged as a
result of mingling of the Turkish and local people. It is understood that after
Mongol-Tatar invasion, in times of rule of Altinordu, the capital city of which was Saray
city on the left coast of lower Idil, Bulgars kept their political independence up to a
limit. Even in a period, their country was subject to destruction again. When the power of
palace government decreased, it seems as if the "independence" of the local
khans in Bulgarian country increased; the Bulgarian country and city was destroyed also by
Bulat-Timur (1361). It is told that on this situation, some of the people went toward
north near Kazan waters and even established a city named Kazan where a khan was
inhabited. The crowd used to a state organization and civilized life had already found a
people emerged by mingling of Bulgar-Kipchaks in 1437 when Palace Khan Uluğ-Muhammet Han
came from Crimea to Kazan.
Geography
Although the
exact borders of the area occupied by Bulgars in Kirmencik, Mamadış, Idil-Kama zone, the
following borders may be determined based on archeological studies and names of places:
Cirmişen, şuşma and Zey river sources in the East, river mouth of Ik river, Vjatka
river and Kazan river to the north, Zuye waters in the West as far as Sura (Suru) stream;
as far as Çirmişen and Samar waters in the south. Çirmişes, Mokşı (Mordva) and Ars,
the previous peoples of this area of Finnish origin were in a lower step compared to
Bulgarians with regard to Bulgars, therefore they began to be represented by Turks
gradually. It is also possible that such "being Turk" trend may have started by
other Turkish tribes (Suvar, Hun, Sabir), which came there before. In a short time (within
8th century) Middle Idil region became a Bulgarian-Turkish country. It is understood that
Başkırt (Başkurt)s living in Ak-Idil and South Ural zone comprised Bulgars' eastern
neighbors in the same years. Burtases, who lived in between Idil and Middle Don and who
were either Turk or Finnish in origin were the southwestern neighbors of Bulgars. In the
south there were Hazars and towards the west, there were Eastern Slavs (Russians).
Economical
and Social Structure
We understand
that Kama Bulgars consisted of a few groups (clans); however, seemingly, principally four
or five groups existed each of which had a khan in power, it is thought that all of them
were under command of first Buler and then Bulgar Khan who made Bulgar city capital city.
It is obvious that they paid taxes for a period of thime to Hazar Khan; however, we see
that Bulgar Khans gained their independence as much as Hazar state weakened. As from
mid-9th century, it is strongly probable that Kama Bulgars became totally independent. It
is undoubtless that Bulgar Turks who had an organized state in Middle Idil and Kama river
mouth and a very strong economical organization based on agriculture and commerce kept
their former Turkish military and social institutions and traditions.
Most of this
group consisted of peasants who were totally dependent on soil and ploughed. It is obvious
from their producing much provisions that Bulgars were perfect farmers, they also sent to
their neigbors the excess barley, millet, rye, and wheat they planted. It is certain that
there were horses, cattles, goats and sheep in the Bulgarian country which was much
appropriate for cattle breeding; therefore, Bulgars were far advanced in leather dealing;
Bulgarian processed leather was one of the commodities which was much demanded in the
market of this period. That Bulgarian people carried "citik", that is
"boot" contrary to their neighbors who carried "rawhide sandal"
confirms that. The high number of various animals with valuable furs in the forests near
Ural and Vjatka caused much increasing of this type of fur trade. The skins of sables,
foxes, red squirrels and other animals were sent to Turkistan, Iran, Arab and Byzantium
countries at hands of Bulgars.
Even red squirrel skin
was used as "money" in a period when "money" was little. The word
"tiyin" meaning red squirrel means "money" in Hazar Turks, which is
probable to have remained from Bulgars. In addition, we know that hunting had an important
role. Most of the rivers caused development of fishing. Therefore, Bulgarian country was
established on fundamentals each of which were multidimensional and contributed increasing
"national wealth" by supplementing each other. There we see that agriculture,
trade, hunting, animal husbandry, fishing, commissioning and industry came together which
made Bulgars superior to all Turk and several non-Turk nations of their period.
As to the villages and cities of Bulgars, they used to construct houses of tree-stumps put
onto each other as a requirement of the climate; the roofs were made of either timber or
straw and was steep for protection from rain; houses were made of a few rooms according to
the wealth of their owners. As to cities, they were totally different from villages with
their population and wealth and fields of occupation. The cities and villages were mostly
near forests and rivers.
Bulgars did not
neglect military art apart from being a farmer and merchant nation. However, their
military forces were not used for assault but defense mostly. Bulgars' military history is
not much known, but they were under attack of Russians to the end of 10th century; those
attacks were mostly repulsed, and it is known that Bulgars sometimes advanced as far as
Oka region. The number and names of Bulgar Khans cannot be determined. We have only little
information about their language and culture. Some scientists think that Bulgar language
is the old form of Chuvash language of today; although Chuvashes are considered to be the
successors of non-Muslim Bulgar peasants, we need several evidences to put forth a
definite opinion on this issue. Ibn-i Fadlan, who was one of the envoys of the Baghdad
caliph as a clerk left interesting information about Bulgar state and people in 922.
Although it is reported that Bulgarian Kadi Yakup-İbni-Numan wrote a Bulgar History in
the second half of 12th century, the book could not be found. The remaining material
traces of Bulgar city are ruins, some gravestones and epitaphs, city and village places,
jewels, weapons (arrow, sword, helmet, armor, knife), agricultural devices, house goods,
animal equipment and coins.
Bulgars got stronger as the Hazar State weakened. Bulgar city became center of trade more
important than Idil. Merchants from Arabia, Iran, Turkistan, Caspian area, Scandanivia,
Russia, and Baltic countries used to go there; in time, that are turned to be the greatest
and oldest festival place in the history where Eastern European and Asian commodities were
exchanged. The tradition passed generations; afterwards, Kazan city became the festival
place instead of Bulgar city. Makar'es and at last Nijniy-Novgorod (Gorki) festivals are
nothing but the continuance of this tradition.
Religion
It is certain that
Bulgars were members of shaman religion in the beginning and worshipped "earth and
water", had many historical things for which they gave sacrifices, and they
considered horse as the most appropriate sacrifice in particular. However, Islam religion
and culture began to spread by the influence of merchants from Turkistan and other Islam
countries toward late 9th century; so much that, the number of converted Bulgarians
increased about 900 and Bulgarian Khan Almış applied to and requested Baghdad Caliph to
send him religious scholars and architects. A crowded envoy delegation sent by Caliph
Muktedir-Billah arrived in Bulgarian country in 922 May.
Seykeyoğlu Almiş
Khan and his retinues welcomed the envoys and as from that date, Bulgar country became a
Muslim country linked to Abbasi Caliphs; they printed coins in the name of Abbasi caliph
and Bulgar Khan, and constructed stone mosques, palaces, castles and other buildings. The
Bulgars, having accepted Islam, gained great importance by being the farthest
"end" of Turkish-Islam civilization in the north. Since Bulgar people consisted
of clean, honest and hardworking people, it is understood that they kept several of their
national wisdoms because they were far away from the assuaging effects of the east. We
have to admit that their such qualification played a role in economical elevation of
Bulgar country.
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