The Tatar-Mongol yoke at one time brought a lot of troubles to many Russian cities. Fortunately, such sad events in the life of the country are already in the distant past. The history of Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, one of the largest religious, political and economic centers, is now inextricably linked with the history of Russia.
Millennial history
Residents of the capital of Tatarstan recently celebrated the millennium of their native city very magnificently and solemnly. According to the official version, this is how many years have passed since the founding of the first settlement in the place where Kazan is now located.
This was confirmed by a Czech coin found during excavations that were carried out on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin, included in the famous UNESCO lists. True, not all historians and archaeologists agree with this dating, scientific disputes and polemics have continued for decades. Other artifacts do not have such a pronounced date, which is why some experts have doubts.
The second version is based on other facts - the foundation of the border fortress in the XIII-XIV centuries. At this time, Kazan was developing very quickly, playing an important political and commercial role in the Golden Horde. This rapid economic development is facilitated by a convenient location - between East and West, at the crossroads of trade routes.
The first written mention dates back to 1391, and it is determined that Kazan is one of the sultanates, that is, the settlement is quite large, having its own mint, respectively, its own currency.
Kazan Khanate
Ulu-Mukhamedd, khan of the Golden Horde, captured Kazan in 1438 and made it the main city of the khanate - this is how the history of Kazan sounds briefly, although it is difficult to put in a few lines what happened in the settlement and around it.
On the one hand, the city developed rapidly, new trades and crafts appeared, trade intensified. The Moscow principality paid tribute, which increased the wealth of Kazan. On the other hand, dissatisfaction with the tribute from neighbors led to constant military conflicts and armed uprisings.
In the end, Ivan the Terrible took Kazan in 1552, destroyed most of it, resettled local residents to the swamps, founding the Old Tatar settlement. A new era has begun in Kazan history as an integral part of the Russian state.
This era has been going on for more than one century. On the one hand, such an alliance contributed to the economic, scientific and cultural development of Kazan, its transformation into one of the largest cities in the Volga region. On the other hand, the question of the independence and independence of the capital of Tatarstan has always been acute.
