Abstract
THE KIRIM KHANATE FROM THE FOUNDATION TO ANNEXATION BY TSARIST RUSSIA
The Crimean Khanate, founded by Haji Giray in 1441-42 with the decline of the Golden Horde State's dominance over its lands, started to be patronized by the Ottomans from the year 1474. Thus, the Ottomans secured their northern borders, especially against the Russian threat, while the Crimean Khanate became part of the most important military power of the time and region. This subordination granted the khanate authority in all respects, and the khanate became able to dominate the Northern Black Sea territories. However, as a result of the decisions taken by the Ottoman rulers prioritizing the interests of the state, the Crimean Khanate gradually began to lose its influence against the Russian threat. The increasing Russian threat was not prioritized due to the Ottoman policy of expansion on other fronts. Not only did this delay in taking necessary measures against the Russians, but it also rendered the Crimean Khanate vulnerable to internal unrest as the forces of the Crimean Khanate were allied with the Ottomans on all fronts. Eventually, the Crimean Khanate, which was first granted independence by the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca signed between the Ottomans and the Russians, was annexed by the Russians in 1783. In this study, the political process that led to the collapse of the Crimean Khanate, which had become quite powerful and gained influence in its region under Ottoman patronage, and the impact of Ottoman policies in this respect are discussed. On the other hand, the state administration and administrative structure of the Crimean Khanate, which continued its existence in the north of the Black Sea for about three hundred and fifty years, was also the subject of the study.
Keywords
Crimea, Crimean Khanate, Ottoman Empire, Russians