a) The Berendeis during the time of the Kievan Russia and their
settlements:
The main sources we refer to about the Berendeis are solely the Russian
annals and the archeological relics discovered in the excavations that have started
in Russia in the XIX century. Also, even though they do not supply information
about the history of the Berendeis, Hungarian chronicles still contain information
about their settlements in Hungary.
None of the sources remaining from the era of the Turks in Turkistan, where
they had lived throughout their ancient history, mentions the name Berendei among
the Turkic tribes who dwelt in this geography. The steppes in the northern Black
Sea region lying on the main routes of the Turkic tribes migrating from Turkistan
to the west have become the habitat for these Turkic tribes that settled here for a
while. However, during the IX century, the natural expansion area of the
Principality of Kiev, which was established and strengthened by the Russians who
consisted of an amalgamation of people of Slavic, Finn-Ugor and Vareg (Viking)
origins began to expand into the area inhabited by the Turkic tribes. Since the
Principality of Kiev had designs on the west, the Byzantine lands and especially on
Istanbul, the rulers avoided - i.e. did not dare enter into - conflicts with the Turks in
the X. century. During this era, the Pechenegs were the representatives of the Turks
in these lands. However, in the XI century, things started to change and the
Principality of Kiev gained in strength. Thus, the Pechenegs were forced to leave
their settlements and move westwards as of 1036. No matter how strong towards
the outside the Principality of Kiev seemed in this century, within the country, the
Principality had to deal with intense rivalries between the princes. It was exactly at
this time, towards the end of the XI century - in 1097 to be precise - that the annals
mentioned the Berendeis for the first time [1, p. 184 ]. The role given to the
Berendeis in the annals is either the duty of mercenary, or border guard. Also, the
fact that the number of their cavalry had reached 30,000 led the Princes of Kiev to
assign them a special importance, because benefiting from this considerable force
for their own ambitions in the internal rivalries was an interesting prospect for
every prince.
After the XI century, we see the Berendeis initially within the land of the
Principality of Kiev, and later on Hungarian territory. The most important clue that
leads us to this idea is the place names in this region that have survived even until
today.
As also stated above, the first entry concerning the Berendeis in the annals
dates back to l097. However, Tatischev, who is considered as one of the most
prominent authorities about the annals in Russia, mentions in his book Russian
History the following record in reference to the annals about the one-on-one
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between the Pereyaslav Russians and the Pechenegs in the year 992-3:
“Vladimir mounted his sleigh, and sent all his warriors to the Berendeis and
the Uzes who were in their quarters, and inquired: Is there anyone who can fight
and defeat the Pechenegs in battle? [17].
However, the entry of the year 992 in the annals is as follows:
“Vladimir went against the Croats. As he was returning from the battle with
the Croats, he came across the Pechenegs at the passage of Trubej, where the city
of Pereyaslavl near the Sula River is located. Thus, two armies confronted each
other. Vladimir halted on one side of the passage while the Pechenegs stopped on
the other side. Neither we, nor they could decide to, or dare pass to the side of the
other. The chieftain of the Pechenegs came to the bank of the river and called
Vladimir and told him: “You choose one of your men, and I choose one of mine.
Let them wrestle. If your man prevails, let us not fight for three years; if mine
prevails, then we shall fight for three years”. Thus, they talked and went their own
way. Vladimir returned to his side, sent messengers to the encampment where his
quarters were, and asked: “Do we not have such a soldier who is able to fight the
Pechenegs?” [1, p. 109].
We should interpret this as “ He sent word to everyone in order to find a strong
soldier who could fight the Pechenegs”. Although Tatischev points to the annals as
his sources, as we can see, the annals mention neither the name Berendeis, nor the
Uzes. Although Rasovsky claims that the information is wrong, he is of the opinion
that the Berendeis and the Pechenegs have started to enter the Russian territory
during the reign of Vladimir [4, p. 61]
We come across the name “Berendei” twice in the entries dated 1097 in the
Russian annals. At the first occasion, the name is mentioned within the narrative of
the torture endured by Vassily Rostislavich, Prince of Terebovl, in the wake of his
capture during the internal conflict between Vladimir Monomah, who was the
Prince of the city of Pereyaslavl at that time but would assume the throne of the
Great Principality of Kiev in 1113; Svyatopolk Mikhail Izyaslavich, Prince of
Turov; David Svyatoslavich, Prince of Chernigov; and Vassily (Vasilco)
Rostislavich, Prince of Terebovl:
“... two men came, and producing another oven board, pressed it on his
shoulders. The bones in his chest started to crackle. The shepherd from Svyatopolk
named Berendei of the Torks (Uzes) came forth and tried to stab his eyes with the
knife in his hand, but could not aim well. He just wounded him on his face, and this
wound is still visible on Vasilco’s face today. Then the Berendei hit first one eye,
then the other with the knife as if he were a sacrifice. They lifted him from the rug
and put him into the carriage like a corpse...” [1, p. 61].
The second occasion is when Vassily Rostislavich, Prince of Terebovl, enters
a reckoning with himself after he is blinded, and explains the reason for his action
against David Svyatoslavich, Prince of Cherngov as “ his wish to pull the
Berendeis, Pechenegs and Uzes to his side” [1, p.185].
The Cuman-Kipchaks, who were responsible for the continued attacks the
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Russian steppes endured after the Pechenegs, did not show much compassion for their
fellow ethnics who escaped their sovereignty and sought refuge with the Russians.
Disregarding that they were in Russian territory, the Cuman-Kipchak troops have
advanced upon the Uzes, Pechenegs and Berendeis; and defeated the Berendeis, who
are at our focus, in the winter of 1105 together with the Uzes in Zarubej:
“ In the year 1105, the chieftain of the Cumans came to Bonyak Zarub (Zarubej)
and defeated the Uzes and the Berendeis [18].
In 1116, the Uzes, Pechenegs and the Berendeis, who could not survive in the
steppes where the Cuman-Kipchaks were wreaking havoc, started a last large-scale
migration across the Russian border into the depths of the Russian territory. No such
entrance from the steppe has been heard of after the year 1116. However, this
migration was not received well in Russia; and shortly after, according to the annals:
“1120: This year, the Tork and the Berendeis escaped from the Russian territory,
and thus escaped annihilation” [1, p. 186].
“1121: Vladimir chased the Berendeis out of Russia; the Torks and the Pechenegs
escaped of their own accord” [18].
According to these records, Prince Vladimir Monomah personally chased the
Berendeis out of Russia in 1121, while the Pechenegs and the Uzes escaped
themselves. The reason for this must be that the Berendeis, like the other Turkic tribes,
have violated Russian sovereignty and pestered the Russians with their raids, becoming
a great nuisance for Russia. Therefore, Vladimir Monomah in person faced them to end
these raids once and for all by driving them away from the Russian soil.
The Berendeis mentioned in the Russian annals after this date are those who were
settled in the Russian principalities and undertook the above-mentioned duties. The
annals mention the Berendeis beginning from 1138; and every year as of 1146, the
Berendeis were named as Kara-Kalpaks in combination with the Pechenegs and the
Uzes. The years the entries were made are as follows: 1147, 1148, 1149, 1150, 1151,
1153, 1154, 1155, 1157, 1159, 1160, 1161, 1162, 1167, 1169, 1171, 1174, 1174, 1183,
1185 and 1206 [1, p. 186-238].
In fact, what rendered the Berendeis the most important power both in the
Principality of Kiev and in the other principalities was the rather large number of their
troops. The annals give their numbers as 1500 [1, p. 233], 2100 [1, p. 237], and 30.000
[1, p. 186], spread on a massive geography stretching from the northeast of Russia,
towards Hungary and Bulgaria [4, p. 11],
This military assignment brought the Berendeis to an important position in the
history of ancient Russia. This example shows us how important the military presence
of this Turkish tribe serving in the military forces of the Russian princes was for the
Russians: In 1154, the Berendeis had captured many prisoners from the Cumans who
were conducting raids to the Russian borders. The next year (1155), the Cumans who
came to make peace with the Prince of Kiev demanded that these prisoners captured a
year ago be returned. However, the Berendeis refused to return the prisoners; replying
to Yuri, Prince of Kiev: “We are dying for the Russian soil together with your son and
we put our neck on the line for your honour”. Whereupon the Prince of Kiev had to
bow to this wish and sent the Cumans away with various valuable presents instead [1,
p. 217]. As it is well known, Yuri Dolgoruky was a prince who stood out among the
Princes of Kiev with his fury and violence. The fact that even such a prince refrained
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from massacring the Berendeis and tried to win their hearts in order to make peace with
the Cumans is a clear indication of their importance and value as a force on the side of
Russia [19].
Although the Berendeis are mentioned synchronously with the Uzes and the
Pechenegs in Russia, they have never been confused with these two tribes and were
always mentioned individually [20]. However, considering the historical links, we
may claim that they were more closely associated with the Uzes.
Besides the Uzes and the Pechenegs, the Berendeis are usually observed to be
mentioned in the annals together with another Turkic tribe, namely the Kayepich
(Kpeich). For instance, during the civil war in the Principality of Chernigov in 1160,
Chernigov was together with the Berendeis and the Kayepich in a battalion that was the
ally of the Kievan and Galician warriors [1, p. 224]. Also, it is recorded that Prince
Vladimir Andreyevich fought together with Kiev’s troops of Berendei origin in the
year 1160 [1, p. 223]. We also observe that he was earlier sent by the Great Prince of
Kiev to Olesia (Oleşye) together with the Berendeis in 1153 [1, p. 217].
As far as we can determine from the annals, the Berendeis - like the Uzes - had
settled Galicia, the territory of the Principality of Kiev, and around Suzdal-Rostov on
the Russian soil. This settlement is the main reason that gave rise to the view that the
Berendeis were a sub-tribe of the Uzes. However, we do not agree with this view. This
only shows us that both tribes were moving simultaneously and together (which is a
view also supported by Rasovsky) [19, p. 52]. It should also be stated that although the
Berendi were an independent tribe, they were also intermingled with the Uzes and the
Pechenegs to a certain degree. From the annals, we understand that they were settled
near the western and eastern borders of the Principalities of Pereyaslavl and Chernigov
on the other side of Dnieper. Due to their large number, this tribe has served as border
guards on the Russian frontiers during the XII century and performed a similar duty to
that of the Uzes in the struggles between the Russian Princes [21].
Radzivilovskaya Letopis among the Russian annals
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Later, the Russian annals united all these Turkic tribes (Pechenegs, Uzes
Berendeis, Kayepich, Koviy, Turpey) under a single name as the Kara-Kalpak or
Kara-Kalpakli [19, p. 248-258]. Since the annals mention the remaining elements
of the Pechenegs, Uzes and Berendeis as the Kara-Kalpaks in the entries from the
XII and XIII centuries, from that point on, we should follow the Berendeis in
history under the Kara-Kalpaks. The annals state their history within the Kievan
Russia, their role in the political life and their geographical settlements within the
territory of Kievan Russia during these centuries.
The Kara-Kalpak settlements in Russia were located in the west, on the first
border between Hungary and the Russian Principalities. Indeed, Pecheneg, Uz and
Berendeis settlements have been observed on the route starting from Galicia on the
north-eastern border of Hungary. Before the Kara-Kalpaks in Russia, there were
the Pechenegs, Uzes and the Berendeis at the western border of Galicia, protecting
the Russian border against the Hungarian side. At first, the Russians “sheltered” the
Kara-Kalpaks and their families in townlets surrounded by medium-sized wooden
stakes in order to protect them from the Cuman raids coming from the steppe.
Later, the majority of them left Porusye with the help of a prince from the inner
regions of Russia and went to Kiev. Some of these townlets founded by the Kara-
Kalpaks for defence purposes came under the sovereignty of various Kara-Kalpak
chieftains and started to be called with their names. As the events of the year 1190
are related in the annals, one of these chieftain townlets is named as Churnayev
(Çürnayev) and described as being surrounded by wooden stakes [1, p. 180].
The size of the Kara-Kalpak troops in the Principality of Kiev was rather
large. The number of the Kara-Kalpaks settled along Porusye may be expressed in
ten thousands including all the villages [19, p. 252]. Also, we see that the Russians
from Porusye, i.e. the Porshans, were also mentioned together with the Kara-
Kalpaks in the annals as “Kara-Kalpaks and Porshans” [1, p. 252].
The Kara-Kalpaks in Porusye were under the rule of their own khans, or to use
the terminology of the Russian annals, their own “knezes”. Kuntuvdey, Kulder, and
Churnay (Çürnay) were also mentioned under this title [1, p. 420]. Rarely, these
khans are also mentioned with the name of their kinfolk, like the “Chiteevich”
(they are claimed to be a Cuman tribe) [19, p. 91]. or “Bastev” [1, p. 277]. Apart
from these, we often come across with the kins of the Kara-Kalpak aristocrats [1, p.
287]., who were the rulers of the Kara-Kalpaks. For instance: “ 1190: In the winter
of this year, the finest soldiers of the Kara-Kalpaks (and these are the aristocratic
kins) came to visit Rostislav Ryurikovich in Torchesk; their aim was to prepare for
a war against the Cumans” [1, p. 286-287].
In Kievan Russia during the XI-XIII centuries, the Kara-Kalpaks in Porusye
lived a half-nomadic steppe life and in a culture peculiar to themselves. They had
their villages, horses and herds: “They had a great many herds and horses”. In the
graves of these people in Porusye, people were invariably buried together with
their horses.
The city of Torchesk within the territory of the Principality of Kiev is named
after the Uzes who were known under the name Tork. The remaining element of
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the Pechenegs, Uzes and the Berendeis also continued to live here, to be replaced
by the Kara-Kalpaks who later inhabited the city. However, Rasovsky claims:
“Although the name of the city of Torchesk derives from the word Tork and the
inhabitants of the city included also the Kara-Kalpaks, it should not be concluded
that this city belonged to the Kara-Kalpaks.” Indeed, according to the Russian
historians, this city was a Russian city with permanent inhabitants of Kara-Kalpak
origin who were the subjects of the Russian Princes or of the governors appointed
by them [3, p. 434].
On the other hand, the annals show that Russians lived in peace with the Kara-
Kalpaks and no clashes occurred between them [20, p. 32]. They usually
cooperated against the Cumans and drove out their raids successfully [20, p. 32].
Beginning from the end of the XI century and the beginning of the XII century, the
Cumans also refrained from attacking the townlets and fortifications of the Kara-
Kalpaks in spite of their attacks to the Russian cities, and used the slaves they
captured to serve the benefits of the Kara-Kalpaks
[1, p. 288].
The kinfolk of the Kara-Kalpaks who can be considered as aristocrats have
lived in Kiev; and Turkic troops, primarily the Berendeis, were also generally
settled here [19, p. 250-256]. This Kara-Kalpak, and in particular Berendei
aristocracy had a substantial weight in the complicated political life of Kiev. The
cultural interaction went as far as changing the religion and we even see the name
of a certain Kuzma among the aristocratic kins, who was referred to as a Christian
[1, p. 219].
While L.N. Gumilev claims that the Berendeis and the Kara-Kalpaks looked
for a way to enter the patronage of the princes of Kiev [22], N.I. Kostomanov is of
the opinion that the Uzes and the Berendeis who intermingled with the Slavs to live
under the flag of the Principality of Kiev supported the progress of the civilisation
in ancient Russia [23]. Although there are no archeological findings at hand
pointing out that the Kara-Kalpaks and the Berendeis have lived in the Suzdal-
Rostov region; certain traces, even though small, have remained in the names of
certain places.
We see Berendei settlements in three regions:
1.
In the upper parts of Klyazma and Istra, in the mid section of the road
between Moscow and Dmitrov. Indeed, the Berendeyeva village, Berendeyeva
district or army headquarters have been found at a point slightly westwards from
the Moscow-Dmitrov road since the ancient times. The Berendeyeva district started
to be known after the eighth decade of the XIV century [4, p. 60].
2.
Northwards from the first spot, at the basin of Lake Plesheyev, 15 km
southwards from Pereyaslavl Zalesskagy, there was the Berendeyevo railway
station. Northwards from here lie the Berendeyevo marshlands (10 km long and 4-
5 km wide). Near the marshland, there is a hill, and a story told about this hill states
that there was never a city called Berendeyev here, but a ruler with the name
Berendey with extraordinary mythical powers [24]. The residential areas near this
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marshland today have clearly Turkish names like Abashevo, Baksheyevo,
Balakirevo and Itlar [4, p. 61].
3.
Further east, there is the region including Yuryev, Polskagy (Polskagıy)
and Suzdal. Near river Nerla (a tributary of Klyazma), 15 km northeast of Suzdal,
the Torchino village still exists today; whereas 15 km northwest of Suzdal, we find
the Torky countryside at river Irmiz (1462)
[8]. It is very interesting that the
related place names are in compliance with the archeological findings. In the Yurev
Mountain and the city of Yurev, the Poles have excavated nomadic graves where
also horses were buried. The manner of burial, and the excavated materials were
classified by A. A. Spitsin, and it has been demonstrated that these graves remain
from the XII-XIII centuries and show similarities either to the graves of the Kara-
Kalpaks from Kiev, or the Abkhazians from northern Caucasus. The author
interpreted these as “doubtlessly cairns of Kipchak origin” [25]. Rasovsky believes
that the Yurev graves belong to the Berendeis or the Uzes [4, p. 61].
According to what we learn from the annals, there were also Turkish nobles
(bey) who served the principalities individually and rose to certain ranks within the
Russian Principalities. Among these, a Berendei nobility who interests us is
mentioned as a part of the events of the year 1097: “The shepherd named Berendi
from Svyatopolk who is of the Torks” [1, p. 183].
According to Rasovsky: “In the chronological timeline where the events of the
end of the XI century and the beginning of the XII century took place, the Russian
territory was widely inhabited by the Pechenegs, Uzes and Berendeis. Therefore,
since the names of various Turkic tribes could not be recorded among the
numerous events, we have to classify them under the Torks, Berendeis or the
Pechenegs” [4, p. 67].
While the last record about the Berendeis in the annals is in the year 1206 [1,
p. 239] (“In 1205-6, Chernigov and the Polish army tried to capture Galicia with
the help of the Berendeis, but were repelled by the Hungarians” [26]); the last
entry with the common name Kara-Kalpak is found in the year 1202 [1, p. 291].
As it is well known, after the arrival of the Mongols, the Kara-Kalpaks were
also driven away from their homeland as the other tribes living on these lands, and
lost their national unity. According to certain historians, they stayed in their
settlements following the Mongolian occupation and were assimilated among the
Russians there, to shape the Cossacks later [23, p. 189]. However, we should also
take Yablonovsky’s observation into consideration, underlining that there are no
sources giving direct information about the Kara-Kalpaks after the Mongolian
occupation [4, p. 63]. Still, M. Grushevsky specially emphasizes that this point of
view is unfounded [20, p. 584-585].
The Kara-Kalpaks in Turkistan today are considered as the descendants of the
Kiev Kara-Kalpaks by some [27].
During the XVI-XVII centuries, we come across a few people in Ukraine
assumed to be the descendants of the Kara-Kalpaks and carrying the name
Berendei: Berendey Pimenovich (1500), a landlord in Kiev; Mishko Berendeyevich
(1552), inhabitant of
Cherkas; Jdan
Berendeyevich (1582), and Cossack commander
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Berendey in the XVII century.
In the XVII century, the
name Berendei was used in for a
special type of hat in Moscow
Russia, and this name later
became “ berendeyka”. V. Dal
also
states
that
the
word
“berendeyka” refers to a “ portable
weapon
using
bullet
or
gunpowder, hung by a holster and
carried in a gun case”
[28].
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