Mamai and Shibanids

In the present research we analyze the relations between Mamai and Shibanids, who were the pretenders to the supreme power in Golden Horde during "Great Zamyatnya" period. The selection of this research objectives is due to the fact that Shibanids were the most active participants in the struggle for the throne in the New Saray. In previous studies the author identified 17 khans parties of "Great Zamyatnya" -Culpa, Nauruz, Khizir-Khan, Timur-hodge, Ordumelik, Kildebek, Murid, Hair-Pulad, Aziz-Sheikh, Abdullah, Bulek, Hadg-Cherkes, Ilbek, Kaganbek, Urus-Khan, Arapsha, Tokhtamysh. 7 of them belong to the Shibanids khans (Khizir-Khan, Timur-hodge, Murid, Aziz-Sheikh, Arapsha, Ilbek, Kaganbek), 3 of them belong to the Tukatimurids khans (Hair-Pulad, Urus-Khan, Tokhtamysh), genealogy of the other khans is unknown. The major information sources are Eastern sources (persian and arabic chronicles, collected by V. G. Tizengauzen; the works of Mahmoud ben Emir-Wali), Russian Chronicles ("Rogozhsky chronicle", "Patriarchal chronicle", "Novgorod chronicle", "Lviv chronicle") and numismatics data (materials published by A.P. Grigoriev and R.Z. Sagdeeva). The cross-sectional analysis of three types of sources allows to determine the most objective picture of the relations between Mamai and Shibanids. As a result of the research it was found out that initially Mamai participated in the invitation to the throne by the first of Shibanids -Khizir-Khan, and the rebellion was raised only when Khizir-Khan was killed by his son. Mamai's military conflict during the "Great Zamyatnya" period was only with one of the Shibanids - Murid. Mamai supported Aziz-Sheikh (who ruled for 3 years), his coins were minted in Azov, Mamai referred to him in one of the labels cited in the "Lviv chronicle" (where the name Aziz-Sheikh stands next to the name of Berdibek). With Ilbek Mamai do not conflict, having a common enemy - Urus-Khan. The Kaganbek, despite the call by Tokhtamysh, also did not go to the conflict with the Mamai (although at the same time, Tokhtamysh was ready to recognize the Kaganbek as "Great Khan"). With the arrival of Shibanid Arapsha - the allied Mamai Mordovian princes acted together with him, however Arapsha subsequently preferred an alliance with Tukatimurid Tokhtamysh. This alliance, as well as Battle of Kulikovo, led to the final defeat of Mamai. These conclusions allow us to make a revaluation of Mamai's role in the events of "Great Zamyatnya", because traditionally in Russian historiography it is believed that Mamai was in conflict with all pretenders to the throne. In fact, the main destabilizing factor in the politics of the Golden Horde in this period was not Mamai (who was trying to unite the Horde under the authority of either controlled Khan or someone from the Shibanids), and the urban aristocracy and Tukatimurids. A member of the Tukatimurids dynasty Tokthamysh had won.

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