Place · polity

Khazar Khaganate

Lower Volga, around Atil

What the sources say here: 6 passages

Daily life Atil (Khazar capital, lower Volga)10th century

A Jewish king ruling Muslims, Christians and pagans

Editorial contextThe author describes Atil's four gates and a king who is Jewish, with judges from each faith: Muslim, Jewish, Christian and pagan. Most inhabitants were Muslims and Christians, and the leading citizens were Muslim merchants. On the same page he notes that their language resembles that of the Turks, glossed by the translator as 'Tartars'.

The king of this country is a Jew : he has in his train four thousand Mussulmans, and Khozrians (Christians), and Idolaters ; but his principal people are Jews … The principal persons of Atel are Mussulmans and merchants: their language is like that of the Turks (or Tartars), and is not understood by any other nation.

The 10th-century author attributed to Ibn Hawqal (translated by William Ouseley, 1800; bracketed words are Ouseley's)

See the original page (p. 186)

About Khazars

Keep in mind

'(or Tartars)' is the translator's gloss for 'Turks'.

Continue in this sourceThe Oriental Geography of 'Ebn Haukal' (a 10th-century Islamic geography)10th century · 4 passages

Buildings Atil (Khazar capital, lower Volga)10th century

Atil: a capital of tents with one brick palace

Editorial contextThe Khazar capital on the Volga is described as mostly tents. Only a few market halls and bathhouses were of clay, and the king's residence was the only burnt-brick building in the country, because nobody else was allowed to build in brick. It is a precise picture of a steppe capital before the Mongols, on the same river where Sarai and Astrakhan later stood.

Here are many tents ; and in this country there are but a few edifices of clay, such as bazars (market-places) and bathing houses. … it is constructed of burnt bricks ; and this is the only building of such materials in all the country : they will not allow any body but the king to erect such a dwelling.

The 10th-century author attributed to Ibn Hawqal (translated by William Ouseley, 1800)

See the original page (p. 185)

About Khazars

Keep in mind

The Khazars are not called Tartars in the original; this is the pre-Mongol Volga.

Continue in this sourceThe Oriental Geography of 'Ebn Haukal' (a 10th-century Islamic geography)10th century · 4 passages

Strange tales Khazaria (lower Volga)early 10th century

The Khazar king's tomb under a river, its builders beheaded

Editorial contextThe Khazar excerpt says that when the supreme king died, a great building with twenty rooms was raised over a river, with a grave dug in every room, so that no one would know which held the king. The men who buried him were then beheaded. The tomb was called 'paradise'. A page later (n30) it adds that a king was killed if he reigned a day beyond forty years.

When the supreme king dies, a great palace divided into twenty rooms is built, and a grave is dug in each one… Once the king is buried, the necks of those who buried him are cut, so that no one may know in which of the rooms his grave lies.
Working translation
Original wording
Regi supremo mortuo magnum exstruatur palatium in viginti divisum conclavia, inque singulis sepulchrum fodiatur… Sepulto Rege, colla eorum, qui eum composuere, amputantur, ne quis sciat, in quonam eorum conclavium ejus sepulchrum sit.

Ibn Fadlan as quoted by Yaqut (Latin translation by C. M. Frähn, De Chasaris, 1822)

See the original page

About Khazars

Keep in mind

Hearsay about a court the author had not seen.

Continue in this sourceIbn Fadlan's mission to the Volga, as preserved by Yaqut921 to 922 · 9 passages

The name Lower Volga (Khazaria)late 9th century

The Khazars' Jewish king and Turk-like people

Editorial contextIbn Rusta says the Khazars had a king called Isha who ran the army, while the supreme king, the Khazar Khaqan, had only the name. The supreme ruler was of the Jewish religion, as were Isha and the commanders and nobles who followed him; the rest followed a religion like that of the Turks.

They have a king called Isha; the supreme king is the Khazar Khaqan, but he has nothing of the Khazars' obedience except the name … Their supreme chief follows the religion of the Jews, and so do Isha and those commanders and great men who lean his way; the rest of them follow a religion like the religion of the Turks.
Working translation
Original wording
ولهم ملك يقال له ايشا والملك الاعظم انما هو خزر خاقان وليس له من طاعة الخزر الا الاسم … ورئيسهم الاعظم على دين اليهود وكذلك ايشا ومن يميل ميله من القواد والعظماء والبقية منهم على دين شبيه دين الاتراك

Ibn Rusta (Arabic text ed. M. J. de Goeje, 1892)

See the original page (p. 139)

About Khazars

Keep in mind

Copied from an earlier report; the Khazar state was destroyed c.965, long before the word Tartar came into use.

Transcribed from the page image (corpus OCR of the Arabic is garbled); vowel marks omitted.

Continue in this sourceIbn Rusta's Book of Precious Records: the peoples of the Volga c.9009th century · 4 passages

Show 2 more passages

Daily life Khazaria (lower Volga and North Caucasus)10th century

Crowning a khagan by half-strangling him

Editorial contextWhen a new Khazar khagan was made, a silk cord was tied tight around his throat and he was asked how many years he would reign. If he outlived the number he named, he was put to death. The author also says the khagan had a golden throne and pavilion, and that nobles would kill themselves on his order.

they bring him forth, and tie a piece of silk about his throat, so tight that he can scarcely draw his breath. At that moment they ask him, how long he will hold the sovereignty ? He answers, " so many years." … when that space is fulfilled, they put him to death.

The 10th-century author attributed to Ibn Hawqal (translated by William Ouseley, 1800)

See the original page (p. 189)

About Khazars

Keep in mind

Reported by hearsay; similar sacred-kingship customs are described by other Arabic writers.

Continue in this sourceThe Oriental Geography of 'Ebn Haukal' (a 10th-century Islamic geography)10th century · 4 passages

Cities Lower Volga (Khazaria)late 9th century

Winter in the towns, summer on the steppe

Editorial contextHaving named the Khazar towns (Sarighshin and a second, garbled name) as the people's winter quarters, Ibn Rusta continues that in spring they go out to the steppe and stay there until winter comes. The two towns held many Muslims, with mosques, imams, muezzins and Quran schools. It is a pattern of town and pasture later seen among the Golden Horde.

[these two] towns. When spring comes they go out to the steppes and stay there until winter approaches. In these two towns there is a multitude of Muslims, who have mosques, imams, muezzins and Quran schools.
Working translation
Original wording
المدينتين فاذا كان ايام الربيع خرجوا الى الصحارى فلم يزالوا بها الى اقبال الشتاء وفى هاتين المدينتين خلق من المسلمين لهم مساجد وائمة ومؤذنون وكتاتيب

Ibn Rusta (Arabic text ed. M. J. de Goeje, 1892)

See the original page (p. 140)

About Khazars

Keep in mind

The sentence begins on the previous page, which names the towns.

Transcribed from the page image (corpus OCR of the Arabic is garbled); vowel marks omitted.

Continue in this sourceIbn Rusta's Book of Precious Records: the peoples of the Volga c.9009th century · 4 passages

4 sources and maps name this place

c. 846–885approximate
Book of Routes and Realms
WIbn Khurradadhbihclaimed or disputedW203
c. 903–913approximate
Book of Precious Records, seventh part
WIbn RustacompilationW202
943exact year
Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems
Wal-Mas'udimixedW201
1224–1228a range
Geographical Dictionary, Arabic text edited by F. Wuestenfeld
WYaqut al-HamawicompilationW205