Khazar Empire Koestler
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go Arthur Koestler. The thirteenth tribe. The collapse of the Khazar Empire and its Heritage ------------------------------------------ ARTHUR KOESTLER THE THIRTEENTH TRIBE THE KHAZAR EMPIRE AND ITS HERITAGE HUTCHINSON OF LONDON, LONDON 1976 publishing "Eurasia" St. Petersburg 2001 OCR Sergei Vasil ------------------------------------------ For assistance in the implementation of the publication of this book publishing "Eurasia" thanks Kiprushkina Vadim Albertovich Scientific editor: Yurchenko AG Arthur Koestler. The thirteenth tribe. The collapse of the Khazar Empire and its Heritage. Trans. from English. Kabalkina AY - SPb .: Publishing Group "Eurasia", 2001. - 320 p. Arthur Koestler found an original response to the ideology of anti- Semitism. According to him opinion, the fall of the Khazar khanate spawned several waves of migration, constituting the main core of the population professing Judaism in Eastern Europe. Since ethnic migrants from the Khazars were not Semites, it is untenable and anti-Semitism. Drawing on texts for Arab travelers ninth and tenth centuries. Byzantine sources, "Tale of Bygone Years", works Artamonov Kokovtsov Toynbee, Vernadsky, Dunlop, Kucera, Poles and many others historians, the author provides several different vision of the formation and collapse of Khazar state. Other accents becomes paradoxical at first view the choice of faith. A fascinating study of the history of the Khazar khanate, throughout its existence was under the cross countervailing pressure state, religious and political interest will not leave the reader indifferent, for history, for getting up Koestler pages of the book, does not tolerate indifference. Publisher "Eurasia" is grateful to the publisher Hutchinson & Co (Publishers) Ltd for reporting that the rights to the Arthur Koestler work are regarded as public domain. X ISBN 5-8071-0076- c Kabalkin A., translation 2000 c P. Losev, cover 2001 c Publishing Group "Eurasia", 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Part One RISE AND DOWNFALL KHAZAR I for takeoff II APPEAL III DECLINE IV DOWNFALL Part two HERITAGE V EXODUS VI WHERE? VII counter flow VIII RACE AND MYTH Applications Annex I About Writing Annex II SOURCES A) Ancient sources B) Modern Literature Annex III. "Khazar Correspondence" Annex IV. About the consequences. Israel and the Diaspora Annex V Editor's Note Annex VI REFERENCES For the original edition Annex VII REFERENCES TO RUSSIAN EDITION Preface In his study on the history of the Khazars Arthur Koestler quotes or paraphrases many medieval sources in Arabic, Hebrew, Latin, Greek and Old Russian. He uses these translations news in English or German. In preparing Russian edition Koestler's book, we found it necessary to quote from medieval sources give Academic Russian translations. This technique allows you to keep the atmosphere intense scientific research and convey the spirit of the ancient texts, and at the same time avoid confusion in the field as thin as, for example, the transfer of medieval religious disputes between Christians, Jews and Muslims saturated sharp accusations. As far as possible, in the notes we give complete translations, which describes certain significant situation (for example, "the choice of faith" Kievan Prince Vladimir). For the same because in Annex III "Khazar Correspondence" we provide a complete translation the longer version of the response letter of the Khazar king Joseph (published by PK Kokovtsov in 1932), whereas Koestler was limited historical perspective and bibliographic remarks. It is known that the art of citation is a matter of manipulation. These the art of A. Koestler has brilliantly. His attitude to the game with Koestler quotes, we expressed the fact that the Russian translation of the preface of his book double-epigraph from al-Muqaddasi. Of course, the investigator has the right to suspend the quotation from the source to the point where he sees fit. However, unsuspecting reader might get the impression that all the described It corresponds to a certain reality. Often this reality creates itself Koestler, interrupting the voice of the author in the medieval most interesting place. In such if we have the right (in the editorial notes or special brackets "") to continue to quote and make sure that is not so simple as we would like writer and historian. Primarily, this is due to the key points of the theory Koestler, in particular, the cultural superiority of the Khazars to Judaism, Oguz over the nations and Muslims Bulgars; and an attempt to extend the the existence of the Khazar state to the XIII century. Estimation of the author's concept of Koestler Khazar contribution to Eastern European Jewry is not our problem; our goal is more modest: to present to the reader an interesting and courageous books mentioned only pitfalls associated with citing sources. Especially impressive evidence of medieval customs and obscure customs of foreigners. For example, Koestler results without comment Arab geographers information about some unsavory customs Russes, Bashkirs, Guzzi. Presenting these materials, Koestler impressively silent, achieving easy way its goal: the neighbors of the Khazars gain little attractive image. In fairness, it should be noted that most historians avoid relate these stories for the simple reason that these stories are not subject to objectively verifiable, but may be the subject of historical psychology, as are estimates. A separate question - how correctly use these certificates as some characters time. Such kind of "surveillance" of medieval authors should be referred to the area ethnic and religious stereotypes and be the subject has not yet written misunderstanding of world history. A number of minor errors and typos, missed English editor, we have eliminated, especially without specifying the circumstances. In some cases in the editorial notes, we found it useful and interesting add scenes from the new translations, made by modern researchers. K The publication also included a detailed bibliography of all Russian range of topics, A. Koestler affected. PART ONE V3LET and the collapse of Khazar The epigraph to the original edition "In a large number of the Khazars sheep, honey and Jews. " Muqaddasi, "Description of the Muslim empire." X. The epigraph to the Russian edition "As for al-Khazar, it is - a vast area of the Caspian Sea. Dirt impassable, many sheep, honey and Jews. " Al-Mukadassi. "Best of divisions climates for knowledge. "985 I To take off 1 In those days, when Charlemagne wore the crown of Emperor of the West, on the the eastern edge of Europe, between the Caucasus and the Volga, to dominate the Jewish state known as the Khazar empire. At the peak of its power, with VII to X century AD, it played an important role in the fate of the medieval Europe. The Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (913-959 gg.) It must be well aware of the situation when said in the "Book of ceremonies Byzantine court "(32; 690), that the message of the Pope and the Emperor West carried a gold seal advantage of two solidus, while printing on letters should be the ruler of the Khazars three solidus. It was not flattery, and Realpolitik. "Probably, in occupying our time - wrote John. Bury - Hazar Khan meant to Byzantine foreign policy, no less than Charlemagne and his successors "(21; 402). The country of the Khazars, a people of Turkic origin, occupied a strategic position between the Black and Caspian Seas, which at the time faced interests of the largest eastern powers. She played the role of a buffer, protecting Byzantium intrusion of strong barbarian tribes from the northern steppes - Bulgars, Hungarians, Pechenegs et al., and later Viking and Russian. But more important with the point of view of Byzantine diplomacy and of European history that Khazar army actually prevented the Arab invasion in the early, the destructive stage, and thus prevented the Arab conquest of the East Europe. Professor Dunlop of Columbia University, one of the most reputable researchers in the history of the Khazars, very briefly It characterizes this crucial, but it is unknown episode of the story: "Land of the Khazars ... lay in the path of the natural advancement of the Arabs. For a few years after the death of Muhammad (632) Army of the Caliphate, a breakthrough in north and destroying two empires reached the great mountain barrier - Caucasus Mountains. As soon overcome this barrier - and in front of them would open the way to Eastern Europe. But it was the turn of the Arabs in the Caucasus faced with organized military force, to prevent them to continue winning in this direction. War of the Arabs and the Khazars, which lasted more than a century, but now almost unknown, we had great historical significance. Franks under led by Charles Martel repelled the Arab invasion in the Battle of Poitiers (732). At the same time Europe was threatened no less serious danger to East ... The victorious Muslims were stopped by the Khazar Kingdom ... There is little doubt that if not for the Khazars inhabited the area north of the Caucasus, Byzantium, the bulwark of European civilization east, it would be circumvented by the Arabs from the flanks, and then the history of Christianity and Islam was very different from the known to us today "(37, p. IX-X). Given these circumstances, it is not surprising that in 732, After loud Khazar victory over the Arabs, the future Emperor Constantine V (741-775) married a Khazar princess. Over time their son became Emperor Leo IV (775-780), known as Leo the Khazar. Ironically, the last battle of the war which broke out in 737, It ended with the defeat of the Khazars. But by this time the driving force of the Holy Muslim war has already been wasted, shaken by internal strife Caliphate, so the Arab conquerors crossed the Caucasus Mountains in reverse direction without leaving a foothold in the north, whereas the Khazars became more powerful than before. A few years later, about 740, Hagan, his courtiers and top brass went into the Jewish faith and the state religion of the Khazars He became Judaism.