Crimean historical review

The aim of our study is to analyze the state administration of Maksud Giray Khan (1767–1768 / 1771–1772), who ascended to the throne twice during the critical periods of the Crimean Khanate`s history, and the diplomatic relations in the Crimean Khanate during this time. The aim of this study is to determine the political status of the Crimean Khanate, located in the north of the Black Sea, and the importance of its geopolitical position, analyzing it through the eyes of Pierre Ruffin, a French diplomat and interpreter who was active in the triangle of the Russian Tsardom and Poland, and who was close to the Khan in Bakhchisaray during the period of his being on duty. In addition, one of the main objectives of our study is to identify, compile, chronicle and discuss the accuracy of the claims about Maksud Giray Khan, about whom, in the words of Vasily Smirnov, there is little information in the sources. Turkish historians do not feel the need to mention his name, and he is even accused of cowardice by the Ottoman Empire.

Our study is a qualitative research in terms of examining and evaluating the ongoing military, political and diplomatic relations in the Crimean Khanate in the light of historical sources. Using document analysis (Content Analysis), one of the data collection methods of qualitative research, the raw data obtained from historical documents, such as archival records, manuscripts, chronicles, letters, etc. of the Crimean Khanate, France and the Ottoman Empire were systematically analyzed and interpreted and evaluated with an inductive approach.

Thus, in this study, original information, that has not been reflected in this field before in terms of the history of Crimea, the Ottoman Empire, Poland and Russia, as well as France–Ottoman relations, will be brought to the literature.

The struggle over the territory of the Zaporizhian Sich between the Ottoman Empire, the Crimean Khanate and Russia continued even after the armistice in Bakhchisaray was concluded. The khan and sultan refused to recognize the Russian tsar’s sovereignty over the Sich despite claims of Russian envoys in Crimea. Hetman Ivan Samoilovich and the Russian government failed to keep this fact in secret from Zaporizhian Cossacks, who very soon faced a ban for hunting and fishing on the Lower Dniper, which was announced to them by Hussein Murawski bey, the governor of Gazikermen, the Ottoman fortress on the Lower Dniper. The Ottoman and Crimean diplomats decided to use such economic leverage to engage Zaporizhian Cossacks in separate agreements. It presumably caused unrest in Sich; Cossacks sent envoys to Murad Girey khan and then overthrew a koshevoy ataman, their commander. New appointed koshevoy ataman did not dare to keep separate ties with the khan and as his predecessor, asked the hetman and the Russian government to do their best to cancel the ban, which had been established by the Ottoman authorities. The Russian diplomacy had not any chance to do it immediately and that’s why kept Murawski’s ban as occasional violation of the peace treaty, promising to negotiate this issue in Turkey where Muscovite envoys were coming to.

This article examines the writings of European contemporaries (primarily diplomats and travelers who visited the Crimean Khanate and the Ottoman Empire during the period under review) on the specifics of the Girays' status with the Ottomans in the 18th century. The article analyzes the notes of French authors–diplomats and writers A. de La Motraie, A. Jaworki, F. Tott, C.-C. de Peyssonel, A. de Vergy du Vernoy, C. de Bar; the Englishmen D. Motley, W. Eaton, W. Tooke; and the Dutchman N.-E. Kleeman. In the last century of its existence, the Crimean Khanate increasingly came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire, but it was towards the end of its existence that it gained official independence (as a result of the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca). The author intends to trace the evolution of the Khanate's status in relation to the Ottoman Empire as it was presented by foreign contemporaries, to identify the most common observations, as well as stereotypes and errors that were characteristic of European authors, many of whom uncritically used the materials of their predecessors.

In February and March of this year, we discovered and copied unique documents related to the interrogation and imprisonment of the classic Crimean Tatar writer Asan Memetoglu Chergeev (1880-1946) in the Central Archives of Crimea. This occurred on April 27, 1931. This event marked the author's second imprisonment. The first was initiated and carried out by the tsarist regime in 1912 for a poem published in Dzhankoy in 1909 under the title “Eshit, mevta ne sevleyur” (“Listen to what the dead man says”).

The documents from 1931 are primarily biographical in nature, revealing interesting details of his private and family life.

This article examines various facts, juxtaposed with the recollections of the writer’s relatives, allowing us to more fully uncover the creative and personal trajectory of Asan Memetoglu Chergeev.

The article examines the consequences of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944, using the example of the museum collection of the Bakhchisarai Khan’s Palace. The museum`s surviving archival documents, which reflect the exhibits that disappeared during the war, were examined, and the list of items moved to the “ethnographic warehouse” were studied. The work on the search and identification of objects was carried out, scientific expertise and preventive conservation was made. The newly discovered exhibits, which are the most valuable heritage on the history and culture of the Crimean Tatars, were added to the collection of the Bakhchisarai museum-preserve.

The sixth chapter “The political issues typically present in the instruments of peace exchanged between Poland-Lithuania and the Crimea” (pp. 496–513) from the second part of Dariusz Kolodziejczyk’s scientific work examines political issues typically present in peace documents exchanged between Poland-Lithuania and Crimea. Apart from standard declarations to maintain peace and amity, contained in the instruments exchanged between the khans and the kings, one encounters a number of clauses typically entered in this instruments, such as: “donation” of lands to Lithuania, engagement not to commit harm to other rulers domains and subjects, mutual release of captives and prisoners and restoration of captured goods, security of trade, regular sending of gifts (or tribute), engagement not to mistreat or detain the envoys of the other side. The author analyzes diplomatic documents and treaties, concluded between those states and identifies key political issues that influenced their relations. The conclusion (pp. 514–515) summarizes the results of the study.

The journal "Golden Horde Review" is a leading international peer-reviewed publication specializing in the study of the history of the Golden Horde and post-Horde Turkic-Tatar states. Established in 2013 under the auspices of the Sh. Marjani Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, the journal has come a long way: from registration with Roskomnadzor and obtaining international identifiers to inclusion in prestigious world indices (Scopus Q1, Web of Science, RSCI) and achieving leading positions in the rankings. The uniqueness of the publication lies in its interdisciplinary approach, combining archaeological, historical and source studies, as well as active international cooperation with scholars from different countries. The journal adheres to an open access policy (CC BY 4.0 license), which ensures global visibility of publications. The editorial policy of the journal is based on the principles of double-blind peer review and strict adherence to academic standards. The Golden Horde journal has established itself not only as a scientific periodical, but also as a central tool and discussion platform for all those involved in the history of Eurasia. Its successful development clearly demonstrates the continuing relevance and high research interest in the study of the Golden Horde in the modern academic community. The journal plays a key role in uniting leading experts from different countries, providing open access to the latest scientific discoveries and promoting the dissemination of academic knowledge. Among the new tasks of the journal are further expansion of international cooperation, active implementation of digital technologies to improve the availability of content and maintaining high quality standards for published research.

The 70th anniversary of Ismail Asanovich Kerimov (Simferopol, August 5, 2025); the All-Russian conference with international participation "TERRA TATARICA: Crimea and the Turkic World in the Middle Ages and in Modern Times" (Simferopol - Stary Krym, September 17-19, 2025); the IV All-Russian scientific and practical conference "Topical Issues in the History of the Crimean Tatars" dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War (Simferopol - Bakhchisaray - Foros, October 19-20, 2025); the International scientific conference "The Golden Horde and the Black Sea Region. Between East and West" (St. Petersburg, November 12-14, 2025); the XXII All-Russian scientific and practical conference "Faizkhanov Readings". "The Historical and Cultural Heritage of Islam in Russia: Study and Popularization" (Saint Petersburg, November 17-19, 2025); Publications of the Sh. Marjani Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan at the Tatar Cultural Center of Moscow (Moscow, November 19, 2025); Presentation of publications of the Crimean Scientific Center of the Sh. Marjani Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan (Kazan, November 24, 2025); New publications on the history and culture of the Crimean Tatars