Selim I Giray
Encyclopedia
Selim I Giray was a Crimean khan (1631 – 1704) He reigned four times between 1671 – 1704.
, the Mongol Empreror
. 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 a Turkified
. In the early 15th century Golden Horde was further partioned. One of the parts was the Crimean Khanate
founded in and around the Crimea
n peninsula, modern Ukraina in 1441. Giray
was the name of the dynasty of khan
s. However, after partitioning, the parts of the khanate were no longer the major powers in East Europe steps and in 1478 Crimean Khanate had to accept the suzerainty
of the Ottoman Empire
. Being the main Moslem vassal of the empire, Crimean Khanate had a privileged status in the Ottoman Empire.
(then a part of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth). However he failed in his next mission during the siege of Chyhyryn
(moden central Ukraina) in 1677. He was dethroned.
n army in Bulgaria
and a Russia
n army in Ukraina. But, after Köprülü Mustafa Pasha
was appointed as the grand vizier
, the difference of opinions (and probably competition) between the two led Selim to resign.The news about his son's death in the war might also contribute to his decision.
, then an Ottoman territory for hajj
(pilgrimage) after resignation. During this period Köprülü Mustafa Pasha had been killed in the battle of Slankamen
. While returning home, in 1692, in İstanbul
, he was again enthroned as the khan. During his third reign he continuously fought against Peter I of Russia
. The war ended by the treaties of Karlowitz
(1699) and İstanbul (1700). After the treaty of Karlowitz, Selim resigned again and moved to his farm in Silivri
, what is now a suburb of İstanbul.
, Selim was called back to throne by the porte. During his last reign, Selim put an end to interior chaos in Crimea. He died in Bahçesaray, Crimea and was buried in the tomb of the mosque named after him.
(22 July 1704)
. During his frequent stays in İstanbul, he supported musicians like Hafız Post
(1630–1694).
Background
Crimean khans were the direct descendants of Genghis KhanGenghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
, the Mongol Empreror
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
. After the death of Genghis Khan (1227) the empire was partitioned and the part in East Europe and Northwest Asia was named Golden Horde
Golden Horde
The Golden Horde was a Mongol and later Turkicized khanate that formed the north-western sector of the Mongol Empire...
. The Golden Horde khans embraced Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. That region which was also called Desht-i Qipchaq was the home of Kypchak Turks
Kipchaks
Kipchaks were a Turkic tribal confederation...
and the khanate was a Turkified
Turkification
Turkification is a term used to describe a process of cultural or political change in which something or someone who is not a Turk becomes one, voluntarily or involuntarily...
. In the early 15th century Golden Horde was further partioned. One of the parts was the Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate, or Khanate of Crimea , was a state ruled by Crimean Tatars from 1441 to 1783. Its native name was . Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
founded in and around the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
n peninsula, modern Ukraina in 1441. Giray
Giray dynasty
Giray , alternative spellings Guirey, Ghirai, Ghiray, Geray, is the Genghisid dynasty, which reigned in the Khanate of Crimea from its formation in 1427 until its downfall in 1783. The dynasty also supplied several khans of Kazan and Astrakhan between 1521 and 1550...
was the name of the dynasty of khan
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
s. However, after partitioning, the parts of the khanate were no longer the major powers in East Europe steps and in 1478 Crimean Khanate had to accept the suzerainty
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Being the main Moslem vassal of the empire, Crimean Khanate had a privileged status in the Ottoman Empire.
First reign (1671–1678)
In 1671 Selim ascended to throne as the 25th khan. In 1672 he was assigned to join Ottoman army during the Polish–Ottoman War (1672–1676) in which he was successful in the conquest of Bar, UkraineBar, Ukraine
Bar is a city located on the Rov River in the Vinnytsia Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Barskyi Raion , and is part of the historic region of Podolia. The current estimated population is 17,200 .-History:The city was a small trade outpost named Row...
(then a part of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth). However he failed in his next mission during the siege of Chyhyryn
Chyhyryn
Chyhyryn is a city located in Cherkasy Oblast of central Ukraine. In 1648 to 1669 the city was the capital of Ukraine .- Location :...
(moden central Ukraina) in 1677. He was dethroned.
Second reign (1684–1691)
During the Great Turkish War both Murat Giray, Selim’s successor, and Hacı Giray had been dethroned. Selim was called back. During his second reign, Selim was successful in defeating an AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n army in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n army in Ukraina. But, after Köprülü Mustafa Pasha
Köprülü Fazil Mustafa Pasha
Fazıl Mustafa Köprülü, Ghazi Fazıl Mustafa Köprülü was an Ottoman grand vizier in the 17th century when the Ottoman Empire was engaged in a war against Holy Alliance countries in the Great Turkish War. He was a member of the Köprülü family of Albanian origin...
was appointed as the grand vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
, the difference of opinions (and probably competition) between the two led Selim to resign.The news about his son's death in the war might also contribute to his decision.
Third reign (1692–1699)
Selim travelled to MeccaMecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
, then an Ottoman territory for hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
(pilgrimage) after resignation. During this period Köprülü Mustafa Pasha had been killed in the battle of Slankamen
Battle of Slankamen
The Battle of Slankamen was fought near Slankamen in the Ottoman Sanjak of Syrmia on August 19, 1691 between the Ottoman Empire, and the forces of Austria and states of the Holy Roman Empire as part of the Great Turkish War.The Ottomans had suffered partial military collapse against the Austrians...
. While returning home, in 1692, in İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, he was again enthroned as the khan. During his third reign he continuously fought against Peter I of Russia
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
. The war ended by the treaties of Karlowitz
Treaty of Karlowitz
The Treaty of Karlowitz was signed on 26 January 1699 in Sremski Karlovci , concluding the Austro-Ottoman War of 1683–1697 in which the Ottoman side had been defeated at the Battle of Zenta...
(1699) and İstanbul (1700). After the treaty of Karlowitz, Selim resigned again and moved to his farm in Silivri
Silivri
Silivri is a city and a district in Istanbul Province along the Sea of Marmara in Turkey, outside of metropolitan Istanbul, containing many holiday and weekend homes for residents of the city. The largest city in the district is also named Silivri...
, what is now a suburb of İstanbul.
Forth reign (1702–1704)
After the short reign of Devlet II GirayDevlet II Giray
Devlet II Giray was Crimean Khan in 1699-1702 and 1709-1713. He occupied the throne between the board and Qaplan I Giray. The eldest son was Selim II Giray.- First Rule :...
, Selim was called back to throne by the porte. During his last reign, Selim put an end to interior chaos in Crimea. He died in Bahçesaray, Crimea and was buried in the tomb of the mosque named after him.
(22 July 1704)
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 PerekopPerekop
Perekop is a village located at the Perekop Isthmus connecting Crimean peninsula to the Ukrainian mainland. It is known for the Fortress Or Qapi that served as the gateway to Crimea...
. During his frequent stays in İstanbul, he supported musicians like Hafız Post
Hafız Post
Hafız Post was a composer and performer of Turkish music during Ottoman Empire era in İstanbul.- Biography :...
(1630–1694).