Selim I Giray

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Selim I Giray
Khan of the Tatar Crimean Khanate
(1st reign)
Reign1671–1678
Predecessor Adil Giray
Successor Murad Giray
Khan of the Tatar Crimean Khanate
(2nd reign)
Reign1684–1691
Predecessor Haci II Giray
Successor Saadet III Giray
Khan of the Tatar Crimean Khanate
(3rd reign)
Reign1692–1699
Predecessor Safa Giray of Crimea
Successor Devlet II Giray
Khan of the Tatar Crimean Khanate
(4th reign)
Reign1702–1704
Predecessor Devlet II Giray
Successor Ğazı III Giray
Born1631
Died22 December 1704
Dynasty Giray dynasty
Religion Islam

Selim I Giray, Selim Khan Girai (Crimean Tatar : I Selim Geray, Turkish : 1. Selim Giray) was four times Khan of the Crimean Khanate in the period from 1671 to 1704. During this time Crimean khans were regularly appointed and replaced by the Ottomans. The main events of the period were the continuing conflicts in Ukraine, the Russian capture of Azov and the Great Turkish War during which the Turks were pushed back from Vienna in 1683 to about the line of Belgrade. Unlike other khans of the period, he ruled well and had no conflicts with his nobles. He was born in 1631.

Contents

Background

Crimean khans were the direct descendants of Genghis Khan, the Mongol Emperor. After the death of Genghis Khan (1227) the empire was partitioned and the part in East Europe and Northwest Asia was named Golden Horde. The Golden Horde khans embraced Islam. That region which was also called Desht-i Qipchaq was the home of Kypchak Turks and the khanate was Turkified. In the early 15th century Golden Horde was further partitioned. One of the parts was the Crimean Khanate founded in and around the Crimean Peninsula, modern Ukraine in 1441. Giray was the name of the dynasty of khans. However, after partitioning, the parts of the khanate were no longer the major powers in the East Europe and in 1478 after an Ottoman campaign to Cremea, the Crimean Khanate had to accept the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire. Being the main Muslim vassal of the empire, Crimean Khanate had a privileged status in the Ottoman Empire.

Family

Selim's father Bahadır I Giray (1637) was one of the many sons of Selâmet I Giray (1608). Selamet was the ancestor of most subsequent khans. He had 10 daughters and either 10 or 13 sons, five of whom were khans. Among his sons were Devlet II Giray (1699, 1709), Gazi III Giray (1704), Qaplan I Giray (1707, 1713, 1730), Saadet IV Giray (1717), Meñli II Giray (1724, 1737) and Selâmet II Giray (1740) and Azamet, Adil, Muhamed, Shabaz, Maksud, Sahib and Safa. Most subsequent khans were descended from Devlet II, except for the sons of Saadet and Selyamet and the son and grandson of Qaplan.

First reign (1671-1678)

He was appointed as the khan in 1671 while he was in retirement at 'Cholmek' near Yambol in modern in Bulgaria. It is said that he obtained the khanship by bribing vizier Kologi. [1] His kalga and nureddin were his brother Selyamet and his cousin Safa. He was immediately called to fight in the Polish–Ottoman War (1672–76). Howorth [2] says that he and his two sons contributed to the capture of Kamianets-Podilskyi. He captured many prisoners in Pokutia and Volhynia but was forced to abandon them by Jan Sobieski. When the Nogais near Akkerman revolted against the Porte Selim forced them to move to Crimea, but they drifted back.

In 1676 the pro-Turkish Doroshenko was defeated at Chyhyryn by the Russians and forced to abdicate. In 1677 Turkish and Crimean troops were sent to re-take Chyryhin. The Russians barely won the siege, Selim received part of the blame and was removed. See Russo-Turkish War (1676–1681). He spent the winter in Kaffa and retired to Rhodes.

1678-1684

He was followed by Murad Giray and then Haci II Giray. In 1683 Murad was removed for his part in the Ottoman defeat at Vienna. Haci was soon driven out by the Crimean nobles.

Second reign (1684-1691)

The Turkish disaster at Vienna led to the so-called Great Turkish War (1683-1699) in which all the neighboring powers ganged up to push the Turks south. Russia's role was to send two expeditions against Crimea (Crimean campaigns of 1687 and 1689). Both failed due to supply problems, but they kept Crimean troops away from the main fighting in the west. In 1688 Selim defeated some Austrians. In 1689 he was again successful near Belgrade, but his son was killed. He chose to resign the khanship and make the pilgrimage to Mecca. On his return he settled at an estate called ‘Kazikui near Silivri’. [3]

1691-1692

He was followed by Saadet III Giray who was removed after less than a year. The next khan, Safa Giray of Crimea, was replaced by Selim at Crimean request. Saadet failed the Turks militarily and Safa was accused of drunkenness, among other things,

Third Reign (1692-1699)

His kalga was his son Devlet. His nureddin was Shahin, the son of his nephew Selyamet. His reign was dominated by three problems: fighting in the Balkans, raiding and fighting in Ukraine and the Russian capture of Azov.

In 1692 he was immediately called to fight in the Balkans. In September 1695 he was again called west and took part in the battle of Lippa or Lugos. (see de:Friedrich von Veterani)

During the Azov campaigns (1695–96) Peter the Great tried to capture Azov, the second campaign being successful. Russia held Azov until 1711.

The Crimeans raided Domanchov (1692), Poltava (1692,1693) and Pereiaslav (1694). In return the Cossacks raided Ochakov and Perekop. Following the Azov campaigns the Cossacks built forts near the mouth of the Don and Crimeans raided toward Lemburg (1697). Crimeans fought Poles at the Battle of Podhajce (1698).

It is not clear why Selim chose to leave the throne. He retired to an estate near Silivri. His departure roughly coincided with the Treaty of Karlowitz (1699) which ended the Great Turkish War and the Treaty of Constantinople (1700) which ended Russian involvement in the same war.


1699-1702

During this time Selim suffered from gout and moved to various places near Istanbul in hope of a cure. Selim was followed by his son Devlet II Giray. Devlet was removed and replaced by his father (fourth reign) because of conflicts with his brothers and because of his provocative hostility to Russia.

Fourth reign (1702–1704)

The 71-year old Selim appointed his sons Gazi and Qaplan as kalga and nureddin. In 1704 Selim warned the Porte of Russian expansionism, just as his son had done. He died in Bahçesaray, Crimea and was buried in the tomb of the mosque named after him (22 July 1704). He was followed by Ğazı III Giray (1704), Qaplan I Giray (1707) and Devlet II Giray again (1709).

Personality

Although a war hero, Selim is also known for his talent as a poet and a musician. As a poet, he wrote the zafername (book of victories) about his victories against Russians at Perekop. During his frequent stays in İstanbul, he supported musicians like Hafız Post (1630–1694).

His sons

Selim was the son of Bahadır I Giray and grandson of Selyamet I, another khan who was the father of many khans. From 1704 to 1743 the khanship was held by six of Selim's sons, with one exception. After 1743 all khans were descended from Selim's sons Saadet IV (1), Qaplan I (2), Selyamet II (1) and Devlet II (majority).

Selim's six ‘royal’ sons were Devlet II Giray, Ğazı III Giray, Qaplan I Giray, Saadet IV Giray, Mengli II Giray and Selyamet II Giray. His non-royal sons were Azamat, Adil, Mukhammed, Sakhbez( ru:Шахбез Герай), Maksud, Sahib and Safa.

The Era of Selim's six sons (1699–1743)

In this period Istanbul regularly imposed and replaced Crimean rulers. According to one author [4] the Crimean begs were on the Turkish payroll. In 1699 Selim resigned and went on the Hajj. His eldest son Devlet II (first reign) became khan. In 1702 the Selim (fourth reign) was restored. In 1704 Gazi III became khan on his father's death. In 1707 Qaplan (first reign) was enthroned by the Turks. In 1709 Devlet II (second reign) was restored after Qaplan was defeated by the Circassians. In 1713 Qaplan (second reign) was restored because Devlet mishanded the Swedish king after the battle of Poltava. In 1716 Devlet III was enthroned. In 1717 Saadet IV was enthroned. In 1724 Mengli II followed and fought the Nogais. In 1730 Qaplan (third reign) was restored. Russia invaded Crimea, Qaplan was blamed and deposed. In 1736 Feti II Giray was enthroned. He was not one of the six brothers but the son of one of the brothers, Devlet II. He was deposed after 10 months because of a Russian victory. In 1737 Mengli was restored. He fought the Russians and died after two years. In 1739 Selyamet II was enthroned on Mengli's death. In 1743 Selyamet was deposed, thus ending the era of the six brothers.

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Islyam II Giray was a khan of the Crimean Khanate. His long stay in Turkey, theological training, and possibly age, may have unfitted him to rule. Most of the fighting was done by his brother Alp Giray. He was one of the many sons of Devlet I Giray. His reign was briefly interrupted by the usurpation of his nephew Saadet, and much of his reign was spent in conflict with Saadet and his brothers, the sons of his murdered brother and predecessor, Mehmed II Giray. Unlike many Crimean khans he died of natural causes.

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Qaplan I Giray was three times khan of the Crimean Khanate. He was the son of Selim I Giray and thus one of the six brothers who ruled for most the period from 1699 to 1743. During his first reign he was defeated by the Kabardians. His second reign ended when he did not fully support the Turks in the Balkans. During his third reign Russia invaded Crimea and burned the capital.

Gazi III Giray was a khan of the Crimean Khanate. He was the second son of Selim I Giray. His brothers were khans Saadet IV Giray, Mengli II Giray, Devlet II Giray, Qaplan I Giray and Selyamet II Giray. None of his sons were khans. He succeeded his father Selim and was followed by his brother Qaplan.

Mengli II Giray (1678–1740) was twice khan of the Crimean Khanate. He was a son of khan Selim I Giray and thus one of the six brothers who were khans during most of the period from 1699 to 1742. He was said to be intelligent, a lover of literature and involved with the Sufi order. He funded mosques and madrassas in Crimea, Budjak and Istanbul. During his first reign he regained control the Crimean nobles and then the Nogais in Budjak and the Kuban region.

Selyamet II Giray was a khan of the Crimean Khanate. His four-year reign was relatively uneventful. He was described as honest, gentle, pious and inclined to charity and good works. He was the youngest son of Selim I Giray and thus the last of the six brothers who ruled for most of the period 1699–1743. His son Maqsud Giray became khan in 1767.

Arslan Giray was twice khan of the Crimean khanate. He was the second son of Devlet II Giray (1699). His son was Devlet IV Giray (1769) and his grandson was the historian Halim Giray. Two of his brothers were khans. He was said to be noble, brave and respected by his subjects. His name means 'lion'.

References

  1. ↑ Howorth, p559. "Vizier Kologi" is hard to find in other sources.
  2. ↑ p560, hard to find in other sources
  3. ↑ The French Wikipedia (left link) has this unsourced information. He occupied Budjak while Azamat ravaged Volhynia. He went to Adrianople and Bessarabia but in May 1689 returned to Crimea to block the Russians. He returned to Sofia and Skoplje. In October 1690 the Turks retook Belgrade and in December Selim went to Istanbul where he abdicated in March 1691.
  4. ↑ Howorth, p 573
Preceded by Khan of Crimea
1671–1678		Succeeded by
Preceded by Khan of Crimea
1684–1691		Succeeded by
Preceded by Khan of Crimea
1692–1699		Succeeded by
Preceded by Khan of Crimea
1702–1704		Succeeded by
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