Purgaz or Inäzor Purgaz ( myv, Пургаз (Инязор Пургаз), russian: Пургас, ''Purgas'') was an Erzän leader in the first half of the 13th century. He was a Grand Duke (''inäzor'') of the Erzän Principality of Purgaz. Being an ally of

Volga Bulgaria Volga Bulgaria or Volga–Kama Bulgaria, was a historic Bulgar state that existed between the 7th and 13th centuries around the confluence of the Volga and Kama River, in what is now European Russia. Volga Bulgaria was a multi-ethnic state wi ...

, he resisted easterly Slavic expansion of Suzdalian Rus forces into the region. In later times, he became a symbol of Erzän independence and a figure of legend.

Life

Purgaz was named in the Russian chronicles several times. In January, 1229 his army repulsed a raid of the Russian princes Yaroslav Vsevolodovich,

Vasily Konstantinovich Vasily Konstantinovich (russian: Василий Константинович) (died 1308) was the Prince of Ryazan in 1301–1308, son of Konstantin Romanovich. The only recorded mentioning of Vasily Konstantinovich dates back to 1308, when he wa ...

and

Vsevolod Konstantinovich Vsevolod or Wsewolod (russian: Все́волод ; uk, Все́волод ) is a Slavic male first name. Its etymology is from Slavic roots 'vse' (all) and 'volodeti' (to rule) and means 'lord-of-everything/everybody', (similar to another princ ...

. Then Purgaz defeated the Mokshan prince,

Puresh Puresh ( mdf, Пуреш, Puresh, pureh brewing time born) was a Moksha Kanazor, ruler of Kingdom Moxel in ( Middle Volga) mentioned in Russians sources as Murunza. He was an ally of Russian Grand Prince Yuri II of Vladimir and of the Cuman Kh ...

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, 1377">Laurentian Codex">Laurentian Codex
, 1377/ref> In April, 1229 he tried to regain Nizhny Novgorod from the hands of Zalesyean Rus' people, Rus', which was formerly the Erzyan settlement of Obran Osh. His troops burned down the settlement, but the citadel stayed safe. Several months later he was defeated by Puresh. During Purgaz's reign his land noted an influx of ruthenian slavic peasants into it. In the summer of 1237, he successfully resisted the advance of the

Mongols The Mongols ( mn, Монголчууд, , , ; ; russian: Монголы) are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, Inner Mongolia in China and the Buryatia Republic of the Russian Federation. The Mongols are the principal membe ...

, he was defeated between the autumn of 1238 and the winter of 1239.

Later perception

Since the 13th century, Purgaz had been idolized as a mythical hero; he started to be erroneously called a King of Mordovia. In the following centuries, Purgaz continued to be seen as an Erzän hero.

Life

Later perception

Sources

See also