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The Matrimonial Unions and the Fosterage as an Instrument of the Circassian Principalities’ Foreign Policy, the 13th–16th Centuries
Circassian principalities constituted not a unifi ed state, but, nevertheless, a sufficiently sustainable political and cultural space. In a number of important foreign-political directions rulers of Circassian principalities sought to hold a
consolidated political line. The Circassian politics, being aimed onto conclusion of a defensive alliance with Moscow in the middle of the 16th century, became one of such lines. The main instruments of the foreign policy were embassies,
some of which were headed by senior princes of the principalities. There was also the practice of departing to service for powerful rulers (a Russian tsar, an Ottoman Sultan, a Crimean Khan and others).
One of the diplomatic instruments was a matrimonial union. In the middle of the 16th century three powerful lords – Ivan IV, Suleyman I, Devlet Geray I –married Circassian women, representatives of the princely families of Circassia. The matrimonial alliance strengthened the political union and enhanced not only the influence of a suzerain on his Circassian vassal, but also the infl uence of the vassal on the policy of his reigning son-in-law.
The second similar instrument was the fosterage (atalychestvo). That practice was used within the framework of the political, diplomatic and family relations in the Turkic-Muslim world. The sons of Khans, since the 14th century, were fostered in Circassian princes’ families as relations between a fosterer and his foster-child were considered as much more important than a blood kinship. Becoming a khan, a young “Circassian” ruler favored to the people, among which he had grown up and acquired his military skills. In that way the dynastic marriages and the fosterage helped
to elevate the military and political status of Circassia in the framework of the vast region of the Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East.
consolidated political line. The Circassian politics, being aimed onto conclusion of a defensive alliance with Moscow in the middle of the 16th century, became one of such lines. The main instruments of the foreign policy were embassies,
some of which were headed by senior princes of the principalities. There was also the practice of departing to service for powerful rulers (a Russian tsar, an Ottoman Sultan, a Crimean Khan and others).
One of the diplomatic instruments was a matrimonial union. In the middle of the 16th century three powerful lords – Ivan IV, Suleyman I, Devlet Geray I –married Circassian women, representatives of the princely families of Circassia. The matrimonial alliance strengthened the political union and enhanced not only the influence of a suzerain on his Circassian vassal, but also the infl uence of the vassal on the policy of his reigning son-in-law.
The second similar instrument was the fosterage (atalychestvo). That practice was used within the framework of the political, diplomatic and family relations in the Turkic-Muslim world. The sons of Khans, since the 14th century, were fostered in Circassian princes’ families as relations between a fosterer and his foster-child were considered as much more important than a blood kinship. Becoming a khan, a young “Circassian” ruler favored to the people, among which he had grown up and acquired his military skills. In that way the dynastic marriages and the fosterage helped
to elevate the military and political status of Circassia in the framework of the vast region of the Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East.
atalychestvo ( fosterage), Mariya Temryukovna, Makhidevran, Circassia, the Golden Horde, the Khanate of Astrakhan, the Crimean Khanate, Russia, the Ottoman Empire, Safavid Iran, Georgia