Ulug Bitigchi: A Turko-Mongol Institution in the Islamic Government System of Chinggisid States, 13th–14th Centuries (Analyzing Materials of Dastur al-Katib)
Introduction. The article examines a yarliq from the medieval Persian treatise Dastur al-Katib to characterize the institution of ulug bitigchi that used to be widespread in the Mongol Empire and states of Genghis Khan’s descendants. Goals. The study attempts an interdisciplinary analysis of the his...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Российской академии наук, Калмыцкий научный центр
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | Монголоведение |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://mongoloved.kigiran.com/jour/article/view/1203 |
| _version_ | 1797792566506160128 |
|---|---|
| author | Lenar F. Abzalov Marat S. Gatin Ilyas A. Mustakimov Roman Yu. Pochekaev |
| author_facet | Lenar F. Abzalov Marat S. Gatin Ilyas A. Mustakimov Roman Yu. Pochekaev |
| author_sort | Lenar F. Abzalov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction. The article examines a yarliq from the medieval Persian treatise Dastur al-Katib to characterize the institution of ulug bitigchi that used to be widespread in the Mongol Empire and states of Genghis Khan’s descendants. Goals. The study attempts an interdisciplinary analysis of the historical monument — one yarliq appointing an ulug bitigchi (head of scribes) and contained in Dastur al-Katib fi Tayin al-Maratib (A Scribe’s Guide to Determining Ranks) compiled in the mid-14th century by Persian official Muhammad ibn Hindushah Nakhchivani. Materials and methods. The paper focuses on Dastur al-Katib and the mentioned yarliq proper, involves related medieval sources on Mongol Iran and other Chinggisid states, including works by Juvayni, Rashid al-Din, Fasih Khwafi, etc., official documents of the Chinggisid chancelleries. The work employs a series of historical and legal research methods, such as those of source criticism, diplomatics analysis, comparative historical research, formal legal approach, historical legal and comparative legal analyses. Results. The paper introduces the yarliq appointing an ulug bitigchi from the medieval Persian treatise Dastur al-Katib into Russian-language scientific discourse and supplements it with a detailed interdisciplinary analysis. The work clarifies specific features of an ulug bitigchi’s legal status — including his functions, rights, requirements for candidates in Chinggisid chancelleries — and traces its evolution. It also shows reasons for the survival of the institution in those states even after the official conversion to Islam and shaping of a corresponding government system in accordance with traditions that had existed across the Volga Region, Iran and Central Asia long before the Mongol conquest. Conclusions. The fact that the institution of ulug bitigchi did survive the subsequent Islamization was to primarily position of Ilkhans as heirs of the Mongol Empire where it had first been established as well as to seek a compromised approach in governing their various subjects — nomadic and sedentary peoples, Turko-Mongols and those who spoke Iranian languages, Moslems and adherents of other religions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:34:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-05ce382c8fe04c73a16304940b0bd50e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2500-1523 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:34:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Российской академии наук, Калмыцкий научный центр |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Монголоведение |
| spelling | doaj.art-05ce382c8fe04c73a16304940b0bd50e2023-06-29T06:41:39ZengРоссийской академии наук, Калмыцкий научный центрМонголоведение2500-15232023-06-0115182810.22162/2500-1523-2023-1-8-28Ulug Bitigchi: A Turko-Mongol Institution in the Islamic Government System of Chinggisid States, 13th–14th Centuries (Analyzing Materials of Dastur al-Katib)Lenar F. Abzalov0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3952-6715Marat S. Gatin1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7698-0450Ilyas A. Mustakimov2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0052-5136Roman Yu. Pochekaev3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4192-3528Kazan (Volga Region) Federal UniversityKazan (Volga Region) Federal UniversityL. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National UniversityNational Research University Higher School of Economics Introduction. The article examines a yarliq from the medieval Persian treatise Dastur al-Katib to characterize the institution of ulug bitigchi that used to be widespread in the Mongol Empire and states of Genghis Khan’s descendants. Goals. The study attempts an interdisciplinary analysis of the historical monument — one yarliq appointing an ulug bitigchi (head of scribes) and contained in Dastur al-Katib fi Tayin al-Maratib (A Scribe’s Guide to Determining Ranks) compiled in the mid-14th century by Persian official Muhammad ibn Hindushah Nakhchivani. Materials and methods. The paper focuses on Dastur al-Katib and the mentioned yarliq proper, involves related medieval sources on Mongol Iran and other Chinggisid states, including works by Juvayni, Rashid al-Din, Fasih Khwafi, etc., official documents of the Chinggisid chancelleries. The work employs a series of historical and legal research methods, such as those of source criticism, diplomatics analysis, comparative historical research, formal legal approach, historical legal and comparative legal analyses. Results. The paper introduces the yarliq appointing an ulug bitigchi from the medieval Persian treatise Dastur al-Katib into Russian-language scientific discourse and supplements it with a detailed interdisciplinary analysis. The work clarifies specific features of an ulug bitigchi’s legal status — including his functions, rights, requirements for candidates in Chinggisid chancelleries — and traces its evolution. It also shows reasons for the survival of the institution in those states even after the official conversion to Islam and shaping of a corresponding government system in accordance with traditions that had existed across the Volga Region, Iran and Central Asia long before the Mongol conquest. Conclusions. The fact that the institution of ulug bitigchi did survive the subsequent Islamization was to primarily position of Ilkhans as heirs of the Mongol Empire where it had first been established as well as to seek a compromised approach in governing their various subjects — nomadic and sedentary peoples, Turko-Mongols and those who spoke Iranian languages, Moslems and adherents of other religions. http://mongoloved.kigiran.com/jour/article/view/1203mongol iranilkhanmongol empiregolden hordechagatai ulusturkic languagemongolian languageyarliqbitigchiulug bitigchi |
| spellingShingle | Lenar F. Abzalov Marat S. Gatin Ilyas A. Mustakimov Roman Yu. Pochekaev Ulug Bitigchi: A Turko-Mongol Institution in the Islamic Government System of Chinggisid States, 13th–14th Centuries (Analyzing Materials of Dastur al-Katib) Монголоведение mongol iran ilkhan mongol empire golden horde chagatai ulus turkic language mongolian language yarliq bitigchi ulug bitigchi |
| title | Ulug Bitigchi: A Turko-Mongol Institution in the Islamic Government System of Chinggisid States, 13th–14th Centuries (Analyzing Materials of Dastur al-Katib) |
| title_full | Ulug Bitigchi: A Turko-Mongol Institution in the Islamic Government System of Chinggisid States, 13th–14th Centuries (Analyzing Materials of Dastur al-Katib) |
| title_fullStr | Ulug Bitigchi: A Turko-Mongol Institution in the Islamic Government System of Chinggisid States, 13th–14th Centuries (Analyzing Materials of Dastur al-Katib) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ulug Bitigchi: A Turko-Mongol Institution in the Islamic Government System of Chinggisid States, 13th–14th Centuries (Analyzing Materials of Dastur al-Katib) |
| title_short | Ulug Bitigchi: A Turko-Mongol Institution in the Islamic Government System of Chinggisid States, 13th–14th Centuries (Analyzing Materials of Dastur al-Katib) |
| title_sort | ulug bitigchi a turko mongol institution in the islamic government system of chinggisid states 13th 14th centuries analyzing materials of dastur al katib |
| topic | mongol iran ilkhan mongol empire golden horde chagatai ulus turkic language mongolian language yarliq bitigchi ulug bitigchi |
| url | http://mongoloved.kigiran.com/jour/article/view/1203 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lenarfabzalov ulugbitigchiaturkomongolinstitutionintheislamicgovernmentsystemofchinggisidstates13th14thcenturiesanalyzingmaterialsofdasturalkatib AT maratsgatin ulugbitigchiaturkomongolinstitutionintheislamicgovernmentsystemofchinggisidstates13th14thcenturiesanalyzingmaterialsofdasturalkatib AT ilyasamustakimov ulugbitigchiaturkomongolinstitutionintheislamicgovernmentsystemofchinggisidstates13th14thcenturiesanalyzingmaterialsofdasturalkatib AT romanyupochekaev ulugbitigchiaturkomongolinstitutionintheislamicgovernmentsystemofchinggisidstates13th14thcenturiesanalyzingmaterialsofdasturalkatib |