Tatars in Romania
Encyclopedia
Tatars were present on the territory of today's Romania
since the 13th century. According to the 2002 census, 23,935 people declared their nationality as Tatar, most of them being Crimean Tatars
living in Constanţa County
. They are the main factor of Islam in Romania
.
in the mid-13th century at the height of power of the Golden Horde
. In 1241, under the leadership of Kadan, the Tatars crossed the Danube, conquering and devastating the region. The region was probably not under the direct rule of the Horde, but rather, a vassal of the Bakhchisaray
Khan.
It is known from Arab sources that at the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th century that descendants of the Nogai Horde
settled in Isaccea
. Another Arab scholar, Ibn Battuta
, who passed through the region in 1330-1331, talks about Baba Saltuk (Babadag
) as the southernmost town of the Tatars.
The Golden Horde began to lose its influence after the wars of 1352-1359 and at the time, a Tatar warlord, Demetrius is noted defending the cities of the Mouths of the Danube.
Toward the end of the 16th century, about 30,000 Nogai Tatars from the Budjak
were brought to Dobruja
..
were brought to Dobruja by the Ottomans following the increasing power of the Russians in the region and its annexation of Crimea in 1783. However, after the independence of Romania in 1877-1878, between 80,000 and 100,000 Crimean Tatars moved to Anatolia
, a migration which continued afterwards. As such, the number of Tatars in Northern Dobruja
decreased from 21% in 1880 to 5.6% in 1912. In 2002, they formed 2.4% of the population.
component of the Tatar population are not separately enumerated in Romanian censuses. Most have emigrated to Turkey
but it is estimated that a few thousand Nogais still live in Dobruja, notably in the town of Mihail Kogălniceanu
(Karamurat) and villages of Lumina
(Kocali), Valea Dacilor
(Hendekkarakuyusu) and Cobadin
(Kubadin).
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
since the 13th century. According to the 2002 census, 23,935 people declared their nationality as Tatar, most of them being Crimean Tatars
Crimean Tatars
Crimean Tatars or Crimeans are a Turkic ethnic group that originally resided in Crimea. They speak the Crimean Tatar language...
living in Constanţa County
Constanta County
Constanța is the name of a county in the Dobruja region of Romania. Its capital city is also named Constanța.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 715,151 and the population density was 101/km². The degree of urbanization is much higher than the Romanian average. In recent years the...
. They are the main factor of Islam in Romania
Islam in Romania
Islam in Romania is followed by only 0.3 percent of population, but has 700 years of tradition in Northern Dobruja, a region on the Black Sea coast which was part of the Ottoman Empire for almost five centuries . In present-day Romania, most adherents to Islam belong to the Tatar and Turkish ethnic...
.
Early history
The Tatars first reached the mouths of the DanubeDanube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
in the mid-13th century at the height of power of the Golden Horde
Golden Horde
The Golden Horde was a Mongol and later Turkicized khanate that formed the north-western sector of the Mongol Empire...
. In 1241, under the leadership of Kadan, the Tatars crossed the Danube, conquering and devastating the region. The region was probably not under the direct rule of the Horde, but rather, a vassal of the Bakhchisaray
Bakhchisaray
Bakhchisaray is a town in Central Crimea, centre of the Bakhchisaray raion , best known as the former capital of the Crimean Khanate...
Khan.
It is known from Arab sources that at the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th century that descendants of the Nogai Horde
Nogai Horde
The Nogai Horde was a confederation of about eighteen Turkic and Mongol tribes that occupied the Pontic-Caspian steppe from about 1500 until they were pushed west by the Kalmyks and south by the Russians in the 17th century. The Mongol tribe called the Manghits constituted a core of the Horde...
settled in Isaccea
Isaccea
Isaccea is a small town in Tulcea County, in Dobruja, Romania, on the right bank of the Danube, 35 km north-west of Tulcea. According to the 2002 census, it has a population 5,374....
. Another Arab scholar, Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta
Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta , or simply Ibn Battuta, also known as Shams ad–Din , was a Muslim Moroccan Berber explorer, known for his extensive travels published in the Rihla...
, who passed through the region in 1330-1331, talks about Baba Saltuk (Babadag
Babadag
Babadag is a town in Tulcea county, Romania, located on a small lake formed by the Taiţa river, in the densely wooded highlands of northern Dobruja. Its name means "the mountain of the father" in Turkish...
) as the southernmost town of the Tatars.
The Golden Horde began to lose its influence after the wars of 1352-1359 and at the time, a Tatar warlord, Demetrius is noted defending the cities of the Mouths of the Danube.
Toward the end of the 16th century, about 30,000 Nogai Tatars from the Budjak
Budjak
Budjak or Budzhak is a historical region in the Odessa Oblast of Ukraine. Lying along the Black Sea between the Danube and Dniester rivers this multiethnic region was the southern part of Bessarabia...
were brought to Dobruja
Dobruja
Dobruja is a historical region shared by Bulgaria and Romania, located between the lower Danube river and the Black Sea, including the Danube Delta, Romanian coast and the northernmost part of the Bulgarian coast...
..
Crimean Tatars
Crimean TatarsCrimean Tatars
Crimean Tatars or Crimeans are a Turkic ethnic group that originally resided in Crimea. They speak the Crimean Tatar language...
were brought to Dobruja by the Ottomans following the increasing power of the Russians in the region and its annexation of Crimea in 1783. However, after the independence of Romania in 1877-1878, between 80,000 and 100,000 Crimean Tatars moved to Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
, a migration which continued afterwards. As such, the number of Tatars in Northern Dobruja
Northern Dobruja
Northern Dobruja is the part of Dobruja within the borders of Romania. It lies between the lower Danube river and the Black Sea, bordered in south by Bulgarian Southern Dobruja.-Geography:...
decreased from 21% in 1880 to 5.6% in 1912. In 2002, they formed 2.4% of the population.
Nogais
The NogaiNogais
The Nogai people are a Turkic ethnic group in Southern Russia: northern Dagestan and Stavropol Krai, as well as in Karachay-Cherkessia and the Astrakhan Oblast; undefined number live in Chechnya...
component of the Tatar population are not separately enumerated in Romanian censuses. Most have emigrated to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
but it is estimated that a few thousand Nogais still live in Dobruja, notably in the town of Mihail Kogălniceanu
Mihail Kogalniceanu, Constanta
Mihail Kogălniceanu is a commune in Constanţa County, Romania, and is located 25 km northwest of Constanţa proper. The commune includes three villages:* Mihail Kogălniceanu - historical names: Kara Murat , Bulgari and Ferdinand I* Palazu Mic...
(Karamurat) and villages of Lumina
Lumina, Constanta
Lumina is a commune in Constanţa County, Romania.The commune includes three villages:* Lumina * Oituz - named after Oituz...
(Kocali), Valea Dacilor
Medgidia
-History:Archaeological findings show that Dobruja was inhabited since the Neolithic period. Starting with 46 BC the region was administered by the Roman Empire. A castrum was built in the Carasu Valley, becoming the cradle of the settlement....
(Hendekkarakuyusu) and Cobadin
Cobadin
Cobadin is a commune in Constanţa County, Romania. The commune includes five villages:*Cobadin *Viişoara *Negreşti...
(Kubadin).