A Manuscript Written in Arabic on the History of Tatar: Tarikh-i Selatin-i Tatar
50th Annual Meeting of the PIAC, Kazan 2007
This unpublished Arabic manuscript is kept at the public library of the city of Burdur, one of the south-west cities from Turkey, in good condition, during the long years. Its owner was a former Ottoman prime minister of the nineteenth century, Halil Hamid Pahsa, a Muslim state man, originally from the city of Burdur. After his death, this manuscript was donated it to the Islamic foundation by his heirs that set up in the name of him in the year of 1827.
In spite of being the only copy in Turkey, it has not attracted attention of scholars throughout long years. For this reason, it was not referred to by historians who have researched on the history of Asia, including Kazan, in their books or articles as a main source.
However, this manuscript is very important from Tatar history and Islamic rulers of Asia point of view and gives much information on the history of all Muslim states that were founded in Asia, including Russian and Mongolian steppes, Anatolia, Iran, India and Arab lands from the appearing of Chingiz Khan in Inner Asia.
In fact this manuscript was copied in the year of 1594 in the period of Murad the Third, Ottoman Sultan, by a Naqshibendi dervish. Aforementioned prime minister gets hold of it.
The manuscript was put in order chronically. It contains on the history of the rulers of Chingizs, Bulgars, Artuqis, Selchuqs, Safavis etc. Especially it shines on their dates of birth and death and vast lands governed by them.
Besides it sometimes gives the name of Muslim scholars who becomes eminent on the lands ruled by Tatar and their works. I think when any scholar does study it carefully; they can found much new information on the history of Tatar, in particular on the rulers of Tatar. To re-indicate its value to scholars who interest in it, my paper is based mainly on this manuscript.