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Hacı I Giray (1397–1466, ruled circa 1441–1466) was the founder of the
Crimean Khanate The Crimean Khanate ( crh, , or ), officially the Great Horde and Desht-i Kipchak () and in old European historiography and geography known as Little Tartary ( la, Tartaria Minor), was a Crimean Tatar state existing from 1441 to 1783, the long ...
and the Giray dynasty of
Crimea Crimea, crh, Къырым, Qırım, grc, Κιμμερία / Ταυρική, translit=Kimmería / Taurikḗ ( ) is a peninsula in Ukraine, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. It has a p ...
. As the
Golden Horde The Golden Horde, self-designated as Ulug Ulus, 'Great State' in Turkic, was originally a Mongol and later Turkicized khanate established in the 13th century and originating as the northwestern sector of the Mongol Empire. With the fragment ...
was breaking up, he established himself in Crimea and spent most of his life fighting off other warlords. He was usually allied with the
Lithuanians Lithuanians ( lt, lietuviai) are a Balts, Baltic ethnic group. They are native to Lithuania, where they number around 2,378,118 people. Another million or two make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the Lithuanian Ame ...
. His name has many spellings, such as Haji-Girei and Melek Haji Girai ( crh3, Bır Hacı Geray, بیر-حاجى كراى; ', ). He is said to have introduced the new state symbol, ''taraq
tamğa A tamga or tamgha (from otk, 𐱃𐰢𐰍𐰀, tamga, lit=stamp, seal; tr, damga; mn, tamga; ; ); an abstract seal or stamp used by Eurasian nomads and by cultures influenced by them. The tamga was normally the emblem of a particular tribe, ...
'', or "the trident of the Girays", which is derived from the
scales Scale or scales may refer to: Mathematics * Scale (descriptive set theory), an object defined on a set of points * Scale (ratio), the ratio of a linear dimension of a model to the corresponding dimension of the original * Scale factor, a number ...
insignia of the Golden Horde. A contemporary European source, ''The Chronicle of Dlugosz'', described him as a person of outstanding personal values and a perfect governor.


Origin of the Girays

Milner (1855) tells this story. His original name was Devlet. He was called Haji although there seems to be no evidence that he had made the Hajj. As a boy, when his family was defeated, he was protected by a shepherd. When he grew powerful he asked the old shepherd what reward he wanted. The man replied that Haji Devlet should take the shepherd's name of Giray. His early ancestor was Togay Timur, a younger son of
Jochi Jochi Khan ( Mongolian: mn, Зүчи, ; kk, Жошы, Joşy جوشى; ; crh, Cuçi, Джучи, جوچى; also spelled Juchi; Djochi, and Jöchi c. 1182– February 1227) was a Mongol army commander who was the eldest son of Temüjin (aka G ...
. The story of Girays begin with Öreng Timur, son of Togay Timur, receiving Crimea from
Mengu-Timur Munkh Tumur or Möngke Temür ( mn, ᠮᠦᠨᠺᠬᠲᠡᠮᠦᠷ, Мөнхтөмөр; russian: Мангутемир, Mangutemir) (?–1280), son of Toqoqan Khan and Köchu Khatun of Oirat (daughter of Toralchi Küregen and granddaughter of Qu ...
. Haji's grandfather was Tash-Timur bin Cansı and his father was Gyyas-ed-Din (Гыяс-эд-Дин, Gıyaseddin). Tash-Timur minted coins in Crimea in 1394/95 (=A.H. 797), which might imply some degree of independence. During one of Tamerlane's wars (1395?) Tash-Timur was driven from Crimea. His sons Gyyas-ed-Din and Devlet-Berdi fled to Lithuania. Haji was born in 1397, probably at
Trakai Trakai (; see names section for alternative and historic names) is a historic town and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Because of its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular tourist destination. ...
. The brothers supported Tokhtamysh against
Edigu Edigu (or Edigey) (also İdegäy or Edege Mangit) (1352–1419) was a Mongol Muslim emir of the White Horde who founded a new political entity, which came to be known as the Nogai Horde. Edigu was from the Crimean Manghud tribe, the son of ...
and in one of these battles Gyyas-ed-Din was killed. It is said that a servant of Gyyas-ed-Din hid Haji for six years. After Edigu's death in 1419 Devlet-Berdi and his nephew Haji Giray established themselves in Crimea. In 1427 Devlet-Berdi captured Sarai, but was killed by ‘Borak’ (? Barak Khan)


Gaining Crimea 1428–1441

*For reference, Haji was at 1428:Crimea, 1429?: steppe, 1431:Crimea, 1434: hostage in Lithuania, 1441: Crimea, 1442: steppe, 1449: Crimea. *At this time the steppe was being contested by
Ulugh Muhammad Ulugh Muhammad (1405–1445; ; tt-Cyrl, Олуг Мөхәммәт, translit=Oluğ Möxəmmət; written as Ulanus by orientalists) was a medieval Tatar statesman, Gengisid, Khan of the Golden Horde (before 1436), ruler of Crimea (1437), and the ...
, Küchük Muhammad (Big and Little Muhammad) and Sayid Ahmad I, a grandson of Tokhtamysh near the Don. Barak Khan was east of the Volga. *Crimea was held by the following: 1419: Ulugh, 1427 Devlet Berdi, 1428 Haji, c1429 Ulugh, 1431: Haji, 1434: Ulugh, 1437: Kuchuk, 1438?: Sayid, 1441: Haji, 1442: Sayid, then no clear ruler, 1447: Haji and thereafter the Giray dynasty. According to Vasary, in 1426/27 Crimea was ruled by Ulugh Mohammad and by March 1427 by Devlet Berdi. In 1428 Haji took over Crimea with the support of 16000 men,
Vytautas Vytautas (c. 135027 October 1430), also known as Vytautas the Great (Lithuanian: ', be, Вітаўт, ''Vitaŭt'', pl, Witold Kiejstutowicz, ''Witold Aleksander'' or ''Witold Wielki'' Ruthenian: ''Vitovt'', Latin: ''Alexander Vitoldus'', Ol ...
of Lithuania and the Shirin mirzas. He took Solkhat/ Stary Krym and Kyrk-Er/
Chufut-Kale __NOTOC__ Chufut-Kale ( crh, Çufut Qale, italic=yes ; Russian and Ukrainian: Чуфут-Кале - ''Chufut-Kale''; Karaim: Кала - קלעה - ''Kala'') is a medieval city-fortress in the Crimean Mountains that now lies in ruins. It is a nat ...
. Ulugh Muhammad invaded, many nobles changed sides, including Shirin chief Tegene-Bey, and Haji fled to the steppes and Lithuania. In 1431 Haji returned with troops collected in the Lithuanian lands. Tegene-Bey joined him at Perekop. Both Ulugh and Küchük failed to drive him out. In 1433 Haji allied with Prince Alexios I of the
Principality of Theodoro The Principality of Theodoro ( el, Αὐθεντία πόλεως Θεοδωροῦς καὶ παραθαλασσίας), also known as Gothia ( el, Γοτθία) or the Principality of Theodoro-Mangup, was a Greek principality in the southern pa ...
. That fall Alexios took the Genoese port of Cembalo/
Balaklava Balaklava ( uk, Балаклáва, russian: Балаклáва, crh, Balıqlava, ) is a settlement on the Crimean Peninsula and part of the city of Sevastopol. It is an administrative center of Balaklava Raion that used to be part of the Cr ...
. In the summer of 1434 the Genoese returned with a fleet and captured Balaklava and Alexios. They then took Kalamita/
Inkerman Inkerman ( uk, Інкерман, russian: Инкерман, crh, İnkerman) is a city in the Crimean peninsula. It is ''de facto'' within the federal city of Sevastopol within the Russian Federation, but '' de jure'' within Ukraine. It ...
, moved inland but were defeated by Haji near Stary Krym. When Haji besieged Kaffa, the Genoese paid a ransom and recognized him as khan. In 1434 Ulugh Mohammad invaded Crimea, the Shirins changed sides and Haji fled to the Lithuanian lands to gather a new army.
Sigismund Kęstutaitis Sigismund Kęstutaitis ( lt, Žygimantas I Kęstutaitis, pl, Zygmunt Kiejstutowicz; 136520 March 1440) was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1432 to 1440. Sigismund was his baptismal name, while his pagan Lithuanian birth name is unknown. He was ...
decided to hold him hostage and gave him a castle at
Lida Lida ( be, Лі́да ; russian: Ли́да ; lt, Lyda; lv, Ļida; pl, Lida ; yi, לידע, Lyde) is a city 168 km (104 mi) west of Minsk in western Belarus in Grodno Region. Etymology The name ''Lida'' arises from its Lithuan ...
. In 1437 Ulugh was driven out by Kuchuk Mohammad. Soon Sayid Ahmad I gained Crimea. He became unpopular when his officials greatly increased taxes and nomads several times raided the peninsula. Around 1440 the Crimean nobles asked
Casimir IV Jagiellon Casimir IV (in full Casimir IV Andrew Jagiellon; pl, Kazimierz IV Andrzej Jagiellończyk ; Lithuanian: ; 30 November 1427 – 7 June 1492) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440 and King of Poland from 1447, until his death. He was one of the m ...
of Lithuania to release Haji. He went to Kiev, met the Beys and went to Crimea with a large army and Radvila Astikas (the founder of the Radziwills) and drove out Sayid's governor. Tegene-Bey of the Shirins swore allegiance.


Reign 1441–1466

In March 1441 Genoese sources name him as the new khan. In that year he minted coins with his name at Chufut-Kale, so 1441 is often taken as the official start of his reign and the foundation of the Crimean Khanate. Other possible dates are 1428 (above) and 1449 (below). Vasary says that the traditionally accepted date is August 1449 In 1442 the Genoese consul at Kaffa allied with Sayid and the Genoese republic sent troops. Haji defeated the Genoese and an arrangement was made. At the same time Sayid invaded and took Solkhat. The Shinins changed sides and Haji fled to the Dnieper. Sayid collected tribute and burned Solkhat which cost him local support. Sayid returned to the steppes. While Sayid was fighting on the Don Haji entrenched himself at Perekop. He tried to capture Sayid's steppe subjects and failed. Sayid's governor failed to break thru Perekop. Haji strengthened Perekop and awaited an attack. In 1445 Sayid unsuccessfully besieged Perekop. He retreated, was defeated, lost many men and horses and fled beyond the Don. Haji, supported by the Shirins and Baryns entered Crimea and became khan. (in August 1449?) Haji allied with Alexios I of Theodoro (1410–1447), gave him financial and military support and sent troops to help him re-take Kalamita/Inkerman from the Genoese. His son
Meñli I Giray Meñli I Giray ( crh3, I Meñli Geray, ۱منكلى كراى) (1445–1515), also spelled as Mengli I Giray, was a ''khan'' of the Crimean Khanate (1466, 1469–1475, 1478–1515) and the sixth son of Hacı I Giray. Biography Struggle f ...
lived in Alexios's court and Alexios's heir was brought up in Stary Krim with Haji's children. Since he was fighting the steppe warlords he was necessarily a friend of the Lithuanians. In 1452 Sayid made a deep raid into Podolia almost as far as Lvov. Returning with many captives and much loot, Haji attacked him while crossing the Dnieper. He was surrounded and defeated, many of his soldiers went over to Haji and Sayid broke out with a few men. He went to Kiev and asked for Lithuanian help (sicHoworth implies that Podolia was Polish and Kiev Lithuanian and that the two were sufficiently hostile for this to be reasonable. Howorth, Hist Mongols, 1880, part 2, p. 451). He was arrested and spent the rest of his life in Kovno. In 1453 the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople. Next year a Turkish fleet (56 ships under Demir-Khyakhi) approached Crimea to raid the Genoese ports. They landed at Kaffa in July but could not storm the fort. Three days later Haji Giray arrived with 6000 men and negotiated with the Turkish commander. We do not know what was said, but the next day the Turks withdrew, received supplies from the Genoese and headed out to sea. In 1456 Haji defeated Mahmud bin Küchük as he was crossing the Don after a raid on Russia. Mahmud was replaced by his brother
Ahmed Khan bin Küchük Ahmed Khan bin Küchük () was a Khan of the Great Horde between 1465 and 1481. Life In 1465, Ahmed Khan seized power in the Horde by rising against his brother Mahmud bin Küchük, who had been its ruler since 1459. In 1472, Ahmed Khan e ...
and fled to Astrakhan. Many of his men took service with Haji and were settled on Haji's lands, further increasing his strength. It is said that in 1456 his son
Hayder of Crimea Hayder Khan Girai, Hayder () (lived ?–1487, reigned 1456?, 1475) was either once or twice briefly a Khan of Crimea. He was one of the sons of the dynasty's founder Hacı I Giray (c. 1441–1466). It is reported that in 1456 he rebelled agains ...
briefly seized the throne, but this is not certain. He moved his capital from Stary Krim to the rock-fort of Chufut-Kale. (Mengli I Geray moved it down to the valley at Salachik and Sahib I moved it to Bakhchisaray). He died in August 1466 and was buried in Salachik which is now on the outskirts of Bakhchisarai.


Afterwards

His important sons were: Mubarek,
Hayder of Crimea Hayder Khan Girai, Hayder () (lived ?–1487, reigned 1456?, 1475) was either once or twice briefly a Khan of Crimea. He was one of the sons of the dynasty's founder Hacı I Giray (c. 1441–1466). It is reported that in 1456 he rebelled agains ...
(1456?), second son Nur Devlet (three reigns between 1466 and 1476), sixth son
Meñli I Giray Meñli I Giray ( crh3, I Meñli Geray, ۱منكلى كراى) (1445–1515), also spelled as Mengli I Giray, was a ''khan'' of the Crimean Khanate (1466, 1469–1475, 1478–1515) and the sixth son of Hacı I Giray. Biography Struggle f ...
(three reigns 1468–1515). For more descendants see Mengli's son Mehmed I Giray. After his death, in 1466–1478 Haji's sons Mengli and Nur Devlet fought for the throne. In 1475 the Turks captured the Genoese colonies on the south coast and in 1478 made Mengli I Giray (1478–1515) khan as a vassal or ally, an arrangement that lasted until 1774. In 1502 Mengli destroyed the remnant of the Golden Horde. Mengli's son Mehmed I Giray (1515–1523), tried to rejoin the three khanates but was killed. In 1523–1532 the khanate was contested by Mehmed's sons and brothers until Sahib I Giray (1532–1551) established a firm rule.


See also

* Crimea#Geography for places mentioned *
History of Crimea The recorded history of the Crimean Peninsula, historically known as ''Tauris'', ''Taurica'' ( gr, Ταυρική or Ταυρικά), and the ''Tauric Chersonese'' ( gr, Χερσόνησος Ταυρική, "Tauric Peninsula"), begins around th ...
*
List of Crimean Khans This is a list of khans of the Crimean Khanate, a state which existed in present-day southern Ukraine from 1441 until 1783. Crimean Tatars, although not a part of the Ukrainian ethnos, are deeply interconnected, having ruled a large part of m ...


Sources and footnotes

*The original sources are poor and contradictory, as are the sources in English. This is extracted from the Russian Wikipedia which appears to follow Gaivoronsky. *Oleksa Gaivoronsky «Повелители двух материков», Kiev-Bakhchisarai, 2007, , pages 13–30 {{Khans of Crimea 1466 deaths 1397 births People from Lida Crimean Khans Founding monarchs 15th-century rulers in Europe