On Recent Studies of Rus’ Relations with the Tatars of the Jochid Ulus

Research objectives: The goal of this article is to examine recent Englishlanguage publications about Rus' relations with the Tatars of the Jochid ulus in order to correct factual errors and analyze dubious conclusions.Research materials: The primary materials utilized in this study are three books.The first is Timothy May's new monograph synthesizing the history of the Mongol Empire.The second two are collective works by an international group of recognized specialists.The Golden Horde in World History.A Multi-Authored Monograph is a translation of an anthology originally published in Russian.The Cambridge History of Inner Asia.Volume 2: The Chinggisid Age continues a multi-volume series.Results and novelty of the research: Recent English-language studies of Rus'-Tatar relations sometimes idealize Rus'-Tatar cooperation.The Rus'-Tatar relationship rested upon destructive conquest and often destructive rule.Much Russian-language scholarship on Rus'-Tatar relations exaggerated the importance of Rus' in the Jochid ulus.In fact the Kipchaks played a far more important role than the Rus'.Some conclusions in recent English-language studies rely upon propagandistic Russian sources, often of later provenance.English-language authors do not always agree with each other, for example, on the level of medieval Rus' culture or the extent of Russian efforts to convert conquered Tatars.Discussions of Noghay's status and offices are very confused.Only a Chinggisid could have issued coinage, so Noghay must have been a Chinggisid.If he was a Chinggisid, he could not have been an emir or ulus beg, offices held by "black bone" commoners.