Posts from Bashkiria – 450 years as part of Russia.

The indigenous population of Bashkiria are the Bashkirs. The first mention of them dates back to the 10th century AD. In 921, the Arab writer and traveler Ibn Fadlan visited Bashkiria in passing and left a description of the life of the ancient Bashkirs. According to Ibn Fadlan, the Bashkirs were a numerous people leading a nomadic lifestyle. They wandered across a vast expanse lying on both sides of the Middle and Southern Urals, from the Volga to the Tobol. In addition to nomadic animal husbandry, they engaged in hunting, fishing, and wild beekeeping—the gathering of honey from wild bees. In the 10th-12th centuries, the Bashkirs lived in tribal communities. These clans, in turn, united into tribes, which had their own names. The tribes of Burzyan, Kypsyak, Yurmaty, and others wandered across the Southern Urals. Many tribes lived along the lower reaches of the Belaya River. The powerful Min tribe wandered along the entire length of the Dema River. Each clan and tribe was led by elders—the biys. There was also a folk assembly of tribes and clans. Each folk assembly concluded with sporting competitions in wrestling, horse racing, and archery. Until the 12th century, the Bashkirs were pagans and worshipped various forces of nature. Later, Islam began to penetrate Bashkiria through the Bulgar Khanate. Bulgar preachers lived among the Bashkirs for years, spreading the Muslim religion, which helped the Bulgar nobility, as well as the upper echelon of the Bashkirs themselves, to keep the working people in submission. At the beginning of the 13th century, Eastern Europe came under attack by the Mongol-Tatars. First, they fell upon the Bulgar Khanate, under whose authority the northwestern Bashkir tribes were. After the defeat of the Bulgars in 1236, Bashkiria fell under Mongol rule and later became part of the Golden Horde, founded by Khan Batu in 1243. In the 14th-15th centuries, the Golden Horde disintegrated into the Kazan, Siberian, and Crimean Khanates and the Nogai Horde. The territory of Bashkiria was divided into three parts. Its southern and central parts fell under the authority of the Nogai Horde; the western and northwestern parts—under the authority of the Kazan Khanate; the eastern and northeastern parts—under the authority of the Siberian Khanate. These khanates were in constant hostility with one another, and the Bashkir population suffered greatly from these internecine wars.
In 1552, the troops of Ivan the Terrible defeated one of the strongest khanates—Kazan. This was done to secure the eastern borders of the Russian state from Tatar raids, to conquer new lands for distribution to the nobility, and to seize the Volga trade route. Having defeated the Kazan Khanate, which included a significant part of Bashkiria, Ivan the Terrible approached the Bashkirs with a proposal to become his subjects. He promised not to touch their lands, religion, or customs. He promised protection and patronage against all enemies. The Bashkirs welcomed the Russian Tsar's proposal favorably. For them, it was salvation from devastating internal strife and wars. True, the Nogai murzas intimidated the Bashkirs, claiming that the Russians would seize their property and destroy their faith and customs. They even tried to lead the Bashkirs of the Min tribe to the Kuban. But the Nogai murzas met with resolute resistance and were expelled by the Bashkirs. The Bashkirs decided to ask the Russian Tsar to accept them as his subjects. The tribes living along the lower reaches of the Belaya River were the first to recognize themselves as subjects of the Moscow Tsar. This occurred in 1554-1555. Legend tells that Aisukbiy traveled from the Gaina tribe to Kazan, to the Tsar's governor. They were followed by the Bashkirs of the Min tribe, whose possessions extended along the Dema River. After expelling the Nogai murzas in 1555, they sent 11 biys to Kazan with a request to be accepted into Russian subjecthood. Embassies to Kazan were also sent by the Yurmaty, Kylsyak, and other tribes. In 1557, Bashkir embassies had already visited Moscow. They brought rich gifts to the Russian Tsar and yasak (tribute) to the treasury. The Tsar gave them charters of privilege, which formalized their subjecthood to the Russian Tsar. Ivan the Terrible left in the possession of the Bashkirs all the lands where they and their ancestors had wandered, confirming his previous promises. In return, the Bashkirs were obliged to pay the Tsar an annual yasak in furs, livestock, honey, etc. Eastern Bashkiria joined Russia after the conquest of the Siberian Khanate in 1598. The conditions of accession were the same.
Thus, Bashkiria became part of the Russian state. However, the Bashkirs have always been a freedom-loving people. On numerous occasions, they took part in uprisings against oppression by Russian officials. They supported Emelyan Pugachev in his desperate struggle. Salavat Yulaev is a great hero of the Bashkir people. Yet, the Bashkirs were always faithful to their obligations, participating on Russia's side in all wars. Few know that during the Northern War of 1700-1721, it was specifically a raid by Bashkir cavalry across the ice of the Gulf of Finland toward Stockholm that forced the Swedes to make peace. Throughout all the years of Bashkiria being part of Russia, the Bashkirs never sought to leave its subjecthood. Even during the turbulent times of revolutions, they remained loyal. In the Great Patriotic War, the Bashkirs fought bravely for Soviet power.
Today, Bashkiria is one of the republics of the RF. Despite significant changes, many people still hold stereotypes about the Bashkirs. In reality, they have long since ceased to live in yurts (for the most part). Industry and culture are developing in Bashkiria. At the same time, it should be noted that while there is a general demographic decline in the RF, the number of Bashkirs is increasing. If in 1989 there were slightly more than 800 thousand Bashkirs in Bashkiria, now there are more than 1 million 200 thousand people. This suggests that, perhaps, Bashkiria is the future of Russia.

A small fact: the population of Bashkiria is increasing due to the growing number of Russians living there. But as a Bashkir, I support you.