Lithuanian Tatars

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Our Muslims The Lithuanian

Tatars and the Russian imperial

governmentTheodore R. Weeks

a

aSouthern Illinois University , Carbondale

Published online: 01 Mar 2007.

To cite this article:Theodore R. Weeks (1999) Our Muslims The Lithuanian Tatars

and the Russian imperial government, Journal of Baltic Studies, 30:1, 5-17, DOI:

10.1080/01629779800000201

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01629779800000201

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O U R M U S L I M S - T H E L I T H U A N I A N T A T A R S A N D T H E

R U S S IA N I M P E R IA L G O V E R N M E N T

The odo re R. Weeks , So u the rn I ll ino is Un ive rs i ty , Ca rbon da le

n 1897 , acco rd i ng t o o f f ic i a l f i gu re s , M us l i m s m ade up som e e l even

.pe rce n t o f t he po pu l a t i on o f the Rus s i an Em pi re , tha t i s to s ay , nea r l y

d o u b l e t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f th e b e t t er k n o w n ( b o t h t h e n a n d n o w ) J e w i s h

m i n o r i t y Obshchii svod 1 : 250 -1 ). In r ecen t yea r s s cho l a r l y and gene ra l

i n te r e s t in t h e M u s l i m m i n o r i ty ( to u s e a c o n v e n i e n t , t h o u g h

m i s l ead i ng and ana l y t i ca l l y unhe l p fu l t e rm ) has g row n s i gn i f i can t l y ; t he

p r e s e n t p a p e r a i m s t o d i s c u s s o n e s m a l l a n d l it tl e -k n o w n s e g m e n t o f th e

Em pi re ' s M us l i m pop u l a t i on , t ha t i s, t he so -ca l l ed L i t huan i an Ta t a r s. ~

A s m a n y r e c e n t s t u d ie s h a v e p o i n t e d o u t, t h e E m p i r e ' s n a t i o n a l it y

p o l i c y d i d n o t f o l l o w a n y o n e c o n s i s t e n t l in e . C e r t a in l y , a n y o n e t r y in g

t o f i nd a s i ng l e and i n t eg ra ted M us l i m po l i cy w i l l s eek i n va i n . Bu t

e v e n g i v e n t h e d i v e r s i t y o f M u s l i m s l i v i n g u n d e r R u s s i a n r u l e , t h e

L i t huan i an Ta t a r s r ep re sen t an excep t i ona l g roup . The i r sm a l l num bers ,

geog raph i ca l l oca t ion , l anguage , cu l t u re , and po l i t ic a l s i t ua t ion in a

reg i on dom i na t ed by Po l i sh -Russ i an s t r i f e a l l con t r i bu t ed t o m ake t he

L i t h u a n i a n T a t ar s a m o s t u n u s u a l M u s l i m p o p u l a t io n , a n d o n e g e n e r a l ly

u n k n o w n o u t si d e o f t h e r e g io n .

The L i t huan i an Ta t a r s t r ace t he i r ances t ry back t o t he fou r t een t h

c e n t u r y , w h e n t h e G r a n d D u k e s i n v it e d T a ta r w a r r io r s a n d t h e ir f a m i l i e s

t o se t t l e i n t he G rand D uchy . O f pa r t i cu l a r s i gn i f i cance he re w ere t he

G r a n d D u c h y ' s w a r s w i th M u s c o v y , d u ri n g w h i ch T a t a r a n d L i t h u a n ia n

ru l e r s a l l i ed aga i ns t t he M uscov i t e s (M ar t i n 207 -19 ) . In t he l a t e

fou r t een t h cen t u ry the T a t a r s w e re t hem se l ve s r i ven by i n te rna l s t r if e ,

m ak i ng se t t l em en t in the d i s t an t L i thuan i an l ands seem a t t rac t ive . In t h is

c o n t e x t G r a n d D u k e V y t a u t a s ( W i t o l d ) e n c o u r a g e d t h e f i r s t m a j o r

se t t l em en t o f Ta t a r s on h i s l ands i n t he 1380s. O n e Ru ss i an w r i t e r o f the

ea r l y t w en t i e t h cen t u ry w ro t e t ha t t he f i r s t Ta t a r t o vo l un t a r i l y s e t tl e i n

L i tv a w a s t h e K h a n o f t h e G o l d e n O r d e r T o k h t a m y s h w h o f le d h er e

f r o m t h e o v e r l o r d s h i p o f T a m e r l a n e i n 1 3 96 ( S h i m e l e v i c h 6 3) . T a t a rs

con t i nue d t o m i g ra t e t o L i t huan i a un t il the ea r l y s i x t een t h cen t u ry ,

p l ay i ng a s i gn i f i can t m i l i t a ry ro l e w i t h i n t he G rand D uchy , r a t he r l i ke

t h a t o f th e C o s s a c k s i n t h e R u s s ia n E m p i r e ( L a s o c k i 3 7 2 -5 ) . W h i l e t h is

m i l i t a r y r o l e w o u l d d i m i n i s h o v e r t i m e , e v e n i n t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y

T a t a rs s e r v e d in m i l it a r y u n it s in th e C o m m o n w e a l t h a n d L i t h u a n i a n

JBS, Vol XXX, No 1 Spring 1999) 5

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iversity]at04:3917Decem

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6 Theodore R Weeks

T a t a r g e n e r a l s w e r e n o t u n k n o w n e v e n i n t h e R u s s i a n I m p e r i a l A r m y

(K rycz yf i sk i 1 -42 and . 2

t r y n k l e w l c z - K o r z o n ) .

I n t h e l a te e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y t h e o n c e m i g h t y P o l i s h - L i t h u a n i a n

C o m m o n w e a l t h w a s p a r ti ti o n e d b e t w e e n its t h r e e m o r e p o w e r f u l

n e i g h b o u r s , P ru s s ia , R u ss ia , a n d t h e H a b s b u r g E m p i r e L i t h u a n i a c a m e

u n d e r t h e R o m a n o v s c e p te r a n d th e L i t h u a n i a n T a t a rs f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s

s u b j e c t s o f t h e O r t h o d o x T s a r ( B a i ra g a u s k a it 6 5 7 4 - 7 ). W h i l e i n it ia l ly t h e

R u s s i a n a u t h o r i t i e s p r o m i s e d t o r e t a i n t h e s t a t us quo i n t h e n e w l y -

acq u i r ed l ands , t he i mp os i t i on o f a cen t r a l i zed ( a t l e a st , in p r i nc i p l e ) ,

a u t o c ra t ic p o w e r o v e r t h e f o r m e r G r a n d D u c h y n e c e s s a r il y h a d a s tr o n g

i m p a c t o n t h e p o p u l a t i o n t h e r e , w h e t h e r S l a v i c o r L i t h u a n i a n p e a s a n t s ,

J ew s o r T a t a r s . W hi l e t he exac t l ega l s t a t u s

sos lov ie)

o f t h e L i t h u a n ia n

T a t a r s i s t h e s u b j e c t o f h i st o r ic a l d e b a t e , i t s e e m s c l e a r t h a t s o m e o f

t h e m , a t l e a s t , c o n t i n u e d t o o w n l a n d e d e s t a t e s , e v e n e s t a t e s p e o p l e d

w i t h C h r i s t i a n s e r f s ( R y c h l i k o w a 7 7 - 1 2 2 ) A f t e r t h e I n s u r r e c t i o n o f

1 8 63 , T a t a r s w e r e n o t s u b j e c t t o t h e a n t i- P o l is h l a w s p r o m u l g a t e d i n t h e

m i d - a n d l a t e - 1 8 6 0 s a n d i n d e e d w e r e i n c e r t a i n w a y s f a v o u r e d b y t h e

a u t h o r i t i e s i n t h e i r a t t e m p t t o d i m i n i s h P o l i s h c u l t u r a l a n d e c o n o m i c

p o w e r in th e r e g io n . B u t w e m u s t r e m e m b e r t h a t b y t h e s e c o n d h a l f o f

t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y -- t h e t i m e u p o n w h i c h t h i s p a p e r w i ll f o c u s - - t h e

L i t h u a n i a n T a t a r s w e r e i n n o w a y a m o n o l i t h i c , u n i f i e d e t h n i c g r o u p

s o c i a l ly o r e c o n o m i c a l l y A sh o r t a n t h r o p o l o g i c a l d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e

L i t hu an i an T a t a r s w i l l mak e th i s c lea r

A s w e h a v e s e e n , th e L i t h u a n i a n T a t a r s tr a c e d t h e i r a n c e s t r y b a c k t o

C e n t r a l A s ia B y t h e n i n e t e e n th c e n t u r y , h o w e v e r , th e y h a d l os t m u c h o f

t h e i r o r ig i n a l d i st i n c ti v e c u l t u r e a n d h a d a s s i m i l a te d m a n y e l e m e n t s f r o m

t h e s u r r o u n d i n g P o l i s h a n d B e l a r u s i a n c u l t u r e s . T o q u o t e f r o m t h e

i n t r o d u c t i o n t o a n e a r ly p a m p h l e t , T h e L i t h u a n i a n T a t ar s , t h o u g h b y

l a n g u a g e a n d a p p e a r a n c e [ z m o w y i g t o w y ] h a v e b e c o m e t ru e d e n i z e n s

[krajowcy] i n L i t h u a n i a , n o n e t h e l e s s t h e i r o r i g i n s a n d r e l i g i o n s e t t h e m

a p a r t f r o m t h e s u r r o u n d i n g p o p u l a t i o n , a n d a s i d e f r o m t h i s t h e y a l s o

h a v e t h e i r o w n l e g e n d s , c u s t o m s [obrzgdy] a n d e v e n t h e i r o w n h i s t o r y in

t h i s r eg i on [ k r a j ] ( K r um an 3 -4 ) . T o s t a rt w i t h , c e r t a i n s u r nam es in

L i t h u a n i a h a r k e d b a c k t o T a t a r r o o ts , e v e n w h e n t h e i r b e a r e r s h a d o f t e n

l o n g s i n c e b e e n t o t a l l y a b s o r b e d i nt o t h e s u r r o u n d i n g C a t h o l i c m i l i e u . 4

M a n y T a t a r f a m i l i e s o f n o b l e o r i g i n p r o u d l y p r e s e r v e d t h e d i s t in c t i v e

c o a t s o f a r m s ( w h i c h , f o l l o w i n g M u s l i m t r a d it io n , l a c k e d p i c t o r ia l

e l e m e n t s ) f T h e y a l s o l e f t t h e ir m a r k o n t h e ir l a n d in t h e f o r m o f p l a c e

n a m e s d e r i v e d f r o m t h e i r o r i g i n a l T u r k i c t o n g u e , s u c h a s S o r o k T a t a r ,

K y r l d a r , a n d K o l n o l a r . F r e q u e n t l y s t r e e t n a m e s a t t e s t t o e a r l i e r

s e t t l em en t s o f T a t a r s ( e .g . , U l i ca T a t a r s ka i n S l on i m, T a t an / g a t v6 i n



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L i th u a n i a n T a t a r s 7

V i l n i u s . 6

From an an thropo logica l po in t of v iew , Ta tars ex hib i ted l i tt le

phys i ca l d i f f e r ence f rom the su r round ing popu la t ion . To quo te one

com m enta to r o f t he ea r ly twen t i e th cen tu ry : "L i thuan ian T a tar s d o no t

cons t i tu te a spec ia l e thnic group in the reg ion

(krai),

l iv ing separa te f rom

others . Rather , they l ive in c lose contac t w i th (vperemeshku) Bela rus i ans

and L i thuan ians and d i f f e r f rom them ha rd ly a t a ll ." Indeed , f ew c a l l ed

themse lves "Ta ta r s , " p re fe r r ing in s t ead the des igna t ion "Mus l im

szlachta (o r nob i li t y ) (Dobr i ansk i i 17 ) . W e n eed no t co nce rn ou r se lves

today w i th Kryc zyf i sk i ' s de ta i led s ta t is t ics on sku l l -shapes ( 17) , and h is

gene ra l i ti e s abou t t he i r p sycho log ica l make -up ( "The s imple T a ta r i s no t

inc l ined to be as tonished . " 120) may be som ew hat suspec t. B ut the

pho tographs he inc ludes o f Ta ta r s choo lch i ld ren and pa ren t s f rom

M uraw szczyz na and Los t a i ( a ft e r 120) show peop le qu i te

indis t inguishable in phys ica l type f rom Poles , Li thuanians , o r

Be la rus i ans . Tuhan-Baranowsk i sugges t s one r ea son why th i s migh t be

the ca se : "Mar r i ages be tween [ma le ] Mus l ims and [ f ema le ] Chr i s t i ans

[a l ready before 1700] exer ted an inf luence on [ fu ture] genera t ions . This

fac t expla ins above a l l the c i rcumstance tha t Ta tars quickly forgot the i r

l anguage and began to speak among themse lves i n Po l i sh" (Tuhan-

Baranowsk i 58 ) . Conve r s ions to Ca tho l i c i sm (o r t o o the r Chr i s t i an

d e n o m i n a t i o n s ) w e r e h o w e v e r u n u s u a l a n d w h e n t h e y o c c u r r e d w e r e

gen era l ly l inked w i th m arr iages in to the nobi l i ty . 7 In g enera l , des p i te

the i r l inguis t ic and cu l tura l ass imi la tion , the Li thua nian Tatars re ta ined a

h igh degree of e thnic so l idar i ty which expressed i t se l f , in te r a l ia , in

end og am y (Kryczyf i sk i 126 , 133) .

Ce r t a in p ro fe s s ions were cons ide red typ ica l ly Ta ta r . As we have

seen , the T atars cam e to Li thuan ia pr imar i ly as a mi l i ta ry cas te , and th is

t rad i t ion cont inued in to the n ine teenth century not only in the d i rec t

mi l i ta ry f ie ld , bu t a l so in those profess ions having to do wi th

hor semansh ip . Hence Ta ta r s were p redominan t i n ca r t i ng OCurma~two),

but a l so in two o ther f ie lds : gardening and tanning h ides (Talko-

H rync ew icz 63-4). By the ea r ly twen t i e th cen tu ry , howev e r , t he num bers

o f Ta tar s engag ed in these l a s t two occupa t ions had dec l ined

s ign i f i can t ly , i n g rea t pa r t because o f compe t i t i on f rom loca l J ews

(Kryczyf i sk i 151-61). As w e wi l l see be lo w f rom of f ic ia l sources , man y

Tatars a l so worked the land as peasant agr icu l tura l i s t s or se rved in the

Ru ss ian c iv i l se rv ice or m i l ita ry .

L i thuan ian Ta ta r s were Sunn i Mus l ims . However , by the n ine t een th

cen tu ry the i r gene ra l knowledge o f t he sac ra l Arab ic l anguage had

dec l ined a lmos t to n i l and they w ere com pe l l ed to r e ly on t r ans l a tions o f



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8 Theodore R Weeks

a n d c o m m e n t a r ie s o n t h e Quran i n P ol i sh (an d , a t t ime s , B elarus i an) . 8

N o n e t h e l e s s , t h e y c o n t i n u e d to t e a c h t h e i r c h i ld r e n M u s l i m p r a y e r s e v e n

t h o u g h th e y w o u l d t h e n s e n d t h e m t o g o v e r n m e n t s c h o o l s , t h e r e b e i n g n o

w e l l - d e v e l o p e d M u s l i m e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s i n t h e r e g i o n ( T a l k o -

H r y n c e w i c z 7 6 ) . T h e L i t h u a n i a n M u s l i m s h a d t h e i r o w n m o s q u e s ,

u s u a l ly s m a l l w o o d e n s tr u c tu r e s . T h e s e w e r e r e m a r k a b l e i n t h e ir l a c k o f

m i na re t s , so t he f a i t h fu l w e re ca l l ed to p ray e r i n f ron t o f t he m osq ue

i t s e l f (K ryczy r isk i 188 ). L i t huan i an Ta t a r s a l so se l ec t ed t he i r ow n

re l i g ious l eade r s , o f t en f rom ou t s i de t he r eg i on .9 Th e i r l eve l o f r e l i g ious

s o p h i s ti c a ti o n w a s u n s u r p r i s in g l y l ow : B e c a u s e o f t h e l a ck o f

t heo l og i ca l s choo l s , t he i gn o rance o f t he l i t u rg i ca l A rab i c l anguage an d

l iv i ng so fa r f rom t he cen t e r s o f M us l i m cu l t u re , t he L i t huan i an Ta t a r s

k n o w t h e f u n d a m e n t s o f t h e ir r e l ig i o n o n l y s u p e r fi c ia l ly ( K r y c zy r is k i

1 73 ). A s m i g h t b e e x p e c t e d o f a s m a l l m i n o r i t y g r o u p s u r r o u n d e d b y t w o

of t en l e s s - t han - t o le ran t and c om ba t i ve Chr i s ti an de nom i na t i ons , I s l am i n

L i t h u a n i a w a s o f a g e n t le a n d t o l e r a n t n a t u r e ( T a l k o - H r y n c e w i c z 5 7 -8 ).

T h e t e n e t s o f I s l a m w e r e a l s o r e f l e c t e d i n b e h a v i o u r a n d m a t e r i a l

cu l t u re . Ta t a r dw e l l i ngs d i f f e red l it tl e f rom t hose o f t he i r C hr i s t ian

n e i g h b o u r s , b u t l a c k e d i c o n s o r i m a g e s o f a n y k i n d , th e s e b e i n g r e p l a c e d

b y d e c o r a t iv e

muhiry

( q u o t a ti o n s f r o m t h e

Quran .

M aj or f e s t i va l s such

a s R a m a z a n - b a j r a m a n d K u r b a n - b a j r a m w e r e c e l e b r a t e d , t h o u g h o n l y

ve ry f ew s t r ic t ly fo l l ow ed the f a s t s du r i ng Ram adan (K ryczy f i sk i 164 ,

1 7 9- 81 ). T h e M u s l i m p r o h i b i t io n a g a i n st th e c o n s u m p t i o n o f p o r k

c o n t i n u e d t o b e o b s e r v e d , b u t t h e L i t h u a n i a n T a t ar s d i d n o t r e f ra i n f r o m

d r i n k i n g a l c o h o l, s o m e t i m e s to e x c e s s . 'l M u s l i m i n f l u e n c e s c o u l d a l s o

be se en i n the ce l eb ra t ion o f w e dd i ng s , fune ra ls , and - - m o s t d i s t inc t i ve l y

- - r i t ua l c i r cum c i s i on o f boys , siunniet. T a t a r g r a v e s t o n e s w e r e o f t e n

i nsc r i bed i n A rab i c and Turk i sh a s w e l l a s Po l i sh and Be l a rus i an ( a f t e r

1863, in Russ i an) , and fo lk be l i e fs in ev i l sp i r i t s and fa i th hea l ing bore ,

acc o rd i ng t o K ryczy f isk i , s i m i l a ri ti e s w i t h s i m i l a r fo l kw ays am on g o t he r

Tu rk i c peo p l e s , tl M us l i m g i r l s i n t he L i t huan i an r eg i on en j oye d s i ng i ng

fo l k songs , bu t t he se songs w ere e s sen t i a l l y i den t i ca l t o t hose o f t he i r

C h r i s t ia n n e i g h b o u r s ( S h i m e l e v i c h 7 1 ).

I n t h e s e c o n d h a l f o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu r y , to s u m u p , t h e

L i t huan i an Ta t a r s fo rm ed a sm a l l m i no r i t y , d i f f e r i ng f rom t he i r Po l i sh ,

L i t h u a n i a n , a n d B e l a r u s i a n n e i g h b o u r s m a i n l y i n f a i t h a n d c e r t a i n

spec i f i c cus t om s . U n l i ke t he Jew s , t he L i t huan i an Ta t a r s d i d no t d i f f e r

f r o m t h e i r n e i g h b o u r s i n l a n g u a g e o r d r e s s . F u r t h e r m o r e , L i t h u a n i a n

T a t a r s h a d m o r e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e i r C h r i s t i a n n e i g h b o u r s a n d w e r e n o t

bu rdened by t he gene ra l hos t i l i t y t ha t l oca l peasan t s f e l t t ow ard Jew s .

A l so un l i ke Jew s , Ta t a r s cou l d be foun d a t a ll l eve l s o f soc i e ty , f rom t he



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ithuanian Tatars

l a n d o w n i n g n o b i l i ty t o t h e i m p o v e r i s h e d p e a s a n t r y . F i n a ll y , t h e r e l a ti v e

l a c k o f c u lt u r a l a n d l in g u i s ti c d i s ta n c e b e t w e e n t h e L i t h u a n i a n T a t a r s

a n d t h e i r C h r i s ti a n n e i g h b o r s , c o m b i n e d w i th t h e T a t a r s ' s m a l l n u m b e r s ,

m a d e i t p o s s i b l e f o r t h e R u s s i a n a u t h o r i t i e s t o l o o k f a v o u r a b l y u p o n

t h e s e n o n - C h r i s t ia n s a s l o y a l s e r v a n t s o f t h e T s a r , i n e f f e c t , o u r

M u s l i m s .

I n t he ea r l y 1860s , L i t huan i an T a t a r s a r e o f t en men t i oned - - a l be i t

f l e e t i n g l y -- in t h e a n n u a l r e p o r t s o f t h e g o v e r n o r s o f G r o d n o , V i l ' n a ,

M i n s k , a n d K o v n o p r o v i n c e s . 12 T h r o u g h o u t t h e r e g i o n , th e n u m b e r o f

M u s l i m s r e m a i n e d s m a l l a n d t o t a l l e d , a c c o r d i n g t o o f f i c i a l f i g u r e s , n o t

q u i t e 7 0 0 0 . 1 3 T h e s e n u m b e r s a r e g i v e n , a l o n g w i t h s t a t i s t i c s o n J e w s

u n d e r t h e r u b r i c i n o r o d t s y o r a l i e n s. '1 4 A n o t h e r s o u r c e , n o t o f f i c ia l

b u t d r a w i n g o n g o v e r n m e n t s ta t is ti c s ( f o r 1 8 55 ), g a v e s l i g h t ly s m a l l e r

f i gu r e s : 2330 T a t a r s i n V i l ' na p r ov i nce , 415 i n K ovno , 694 i n G r odno ,

1 5 8 6 i n M i n s k p r o v i n c e s ( M u k h l i n s k i i 4 2 - 3 ) . T o b e s u r e , t h e s e f i g u r e s

m u s t b e t r e a t e d w i t h s o m e c a u t i o n a s w e k n o w v e r y w e l l t h a t R u s s i a n

p r ov i nc i a l au t ho r i t ie s s e l dom f o l l ow ed p r ec i s e s t a ti s ti c a l m e t ho ds . S t il l,

t h e s e f i g u r e s d o g i v e a r o u g h i n d i c a ti o n o f t h e n u m b e r s o f T a ta r s

r e s i d e n t i n t h e s e p r o v i n c e s .

O n t h e w h o l e t h e g o v e r n o r s s a y l i t t l e a b o u t t h e M u s l i m p o p u l a t i o n

d u r i n g t h e y e a r s p r e c e d i n g t h e 1 86 3 u p r is i n g . F a r m o r e i n t e re s t in g - - a n d

d i s t u r b i ng - - f o r the l oca l au t ho r i t i e s w er e t he ac t i v i t ie s o f t he Po l i s h a nd

C a t h o l i c ( t h e t w o t e r m s a r e u s u a l l y u s e d i n t e r c h a n g e a b l y ) p o p u l a t i o n

d u r i n g t h e s e y e a r s ] s S til l, in g r e a t c o n t r a s t to t h e g o v e r n o r s ' r e p o r t s o n

P o l e s o r J e w s - - t h e o t h e r t w o l a rg e n o n - R u s s i a n ( u s i n g th e i r c a t e g o r i e s )

e t hn i c i t i e s - - w hen t he T a t a r s a r e men t i oned , i t i s nea r l y a l w ays i n a

pos i t i ve o r a t l e a s t neu t r a l ve i n . Fo r i n s t ance , i n 1855 t he G r odno

g o v e r n o r w r o t e t h a t s o m e 1 1 00 T a t a r s i n h a b i t e d h i s p r o v i n c e a n d t h a t

w h i l e t h e y r e m a i n n o b l e f a m i l i e s, a l m o s t a ll o f th e m a r e o c c u p i e d i n

p e a s a n t w o r k . 'I6 A f e w y e a r s l a te r i t w a s r e p o r t e d f r o m t h e s a m e

p r o v i n c e t h a t a f t e r c o m p l e t i n g s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l y o u n g T a t a r s o f t e n

g l ad l y w en t i n t o gov e r n m en t s e r v i ce , i n pa r t i cu l a r i n t he a r m y . t7 A y ea r

l a te r t h e s a m e g o v e r n o r r e m a r k e d t h a t, B y t h e w a y , i t is h a r d l y p o s s i b le

t o ca l l t hem a l i ens

[ i n o r o d t s y ]

b e c a u s e w h i l e p r e s e r v i n g o n l y t h e i r

M u s l i m f a it h , t h e y h a v e c o m p l e t e l y l o st th e i r e t h n i c i t y [ n a r o d n o s t ] a n d

l a n g u a g e a n d h a v e f u s e d

[ s l i l i s

'] w i t h t he l oca l pop u l a t i on , e n j o y i n g t he

r i gh t s o f nob i l i t y and eve n o w n i n g i nhab i t ed e s t a t e s. '~ 8 T h a t i s t o s ay ,

t h e s e M u s l i m s n o t o n l y o w n e d l a n d ; t h e y a l s o h e l d s e r f s . W h i l e n o t

e n t i r e l y u n h e a r d o f , it w a s c e r t a i n l y u n u s u a l f o r n o n - C h r i s ti a n s t o h o l d

C hr i s t i an s e r f s in the R us s i an E m pi r e .

E v e n m o r e e n t h u s ia s ti c a b o u t t h e T a t a rs w a s t h e g o v e r n o r o f M i n s k



ber2014


8/15

1

Theodore R Weeks

p r o v i n c e . W r i t i n g a b o u t t h e i nor od t s y ( a l i ens ) i n t he p r ov i nce i n h i s

1 8 57 r e p o r t, h e m e n t i o n e d T a t a r s a n d J e w s

[ Evr e i i ll Zh idy ] .

A c c o r d i n g to h i s r e p o r t o v e r t w o t h o u s a n d T a t ar s m a d e t h e i r h o m e s in

M i n s k p r o v i n c e . H i s d e s c r i p t io n o f T a t a r s a n d t h e b i a s e d c o n t r a s t h e

d r a w s b e t w e e n t h e m a n d t h e l o c a l J e w s i s t y p i c a l a n d d e s e r v e s t o b e

q u o t e d :

The Tatars are honest, calm [spokoiny] and di ligent. Som e o f them

serve in the military an d in the civil service, but the largest part o f them

are occupied in agriculture [khlebopashes tvom i ogorodniches tvom],

the tanning o f leather and other useful labors. T he Jews, how ever, are

pushy, wily, avaricious, a nd sly. The y are e ng age d exc lusive ly in trade,

as middlemen, suppliers , and on gov ernm ent contracts . On ly a few o f

them w ork as artisans and eve n fe w er in agriculture. 19

D ur i n g t he 1863 I n s u r r ec t i on t he T a t a r s app a r en t l y l a id l ow . 2 I n any

c a s e , t h e y a r e r a r e l y m e n t i o n e d e i t h e r in c o n t e m p o r a r y a c c o u n t s o r i n th e

h i s t o r i og r ap hy . 21 W ha t d oes s eem c l ea r , how eve r , i s t ha t t he T a t a r s d i d

n o t s u p p o r t t h e u p r i s i n g in a n y a c t i v e f o rm . B y r e m a i n i n g a l o o f f r o m t h e

r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i v i ti e s o f t h e i r P o l i s h (a n d , t o s o m e e x t e n t,

L i t h u a n i a n ) n e i g h b o u r s , t h e L i t h u a n i a n T a t a r s w o n t h e r e s p e c t a n d

g r a t i tu d e o f t h e R u s s ia n a u t h o r i ti e s . I n t h e e n s u i n g d e c a d e s t h is m e m o r y

o f T a t a r l o y a l t y w o u l d b e r e f l e c t e d in o f f ic i a l R u s s i a n a t t i tu d e s a n d

p o l i c ie s t o w a r d t h e m .

P o l is h c o m m e n t a t o r s a n d h i s to r ia n s h a v e f r e q u e n t l y c o m m e n t e d t h a t

a f t e r 1 8 63 t h e R u s s i a n g o v e r n m e n t f a v o u r e d t h e T a t a r s o v e r l o ca l

Po l e s . 2~ A cc o r d i ng t o one h i s t o r i an w r i t i ng in t he t w e n t i e t h cen t u r y , a t

f ir s t t h e T a t a r s w h o h a d a l so t a k e n p a rt i n t h e In s u r r e c t i o n w e r e a l s o

h i t b y r e p r e s s i o n m e a s u r e s , w e r e f o r b i d d e n t o p u r c h a s e e s ta t e s , f o r c e d t o

p a y s p e c i al l e v i e s fo r t h e b e n e f i t o f lo c a l O r t h o d o x c h u r c h e s , a n d c o u l d

n o l o n g e r u s e t h e P o l i s h l a n g u a g e o n t h e i r g r a v e s t o n e s . A f t e r a f e w

yea r s , h ow eve r , t he s e r e s t r i c t ions w er e a bo l i s hed . 23 L as o ck i doe s n o t c i t e

s p e c i f i c s o u r c e s f o r h i s c l a i m , t h o u g h h e d o e s m e n t i o n T a l k o -

H r y n c e w i c z a s e v i d e n c e f o r h i s s t a t e m e n t t h a t t h e r e p r e s s i v e m e a s u r e s

a g a i n s t t h e T a t a r s w e r e d o n e a w a y w i t h q u i t e s o o n a f t e r t h e r e s t o r a t i o n

o f o r d e r . W r i ti n g in t h e 1 8 9 0 s, T a l k o - H r y n c e w i c z a r g u e d t h a t t h e

m i l d n e s s o f th e R u s s ia n a u t h o r i ti e s t o w a r d t h e T a t a r s w a s p a r t a n d p a r c e l

o f t h e p r o g r a m o f r u s s i f i c a t i o n p u r s u e d a f te r 1 86 3. A s P o l e s w e r e p u s h e d

o u t o f o f f ic i a l j o b s i n t h e s e p r o v i n c e s , T a t a r s w e r e a c t i v e l y r e c r u i te d t o

t a k e t h e i r p l a c e s . I n p a r t ic u l a r, to q u o t e T a l k o - H r y n c e w i c z , d u r i n g

c e r t a in y e a r s , t h e p o l i c e re c r u i t e d p r i m a r i l y a m o n g t h e M u s l i m s ( T a l k o -

H r y n c e w i c z 7 8 -9 ) . D e s p i t e t h is fa c t , d r a w i n g f ro m p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e



ber2014


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i t huan i anTa ta r s

T a l k o - H r y n c e w i c z a s s e r te d t h a t t h e s e T a t a r s e r v i to r s o f th e R u s s i a n

c r o w n w e r e n e i t h e r p a r t i c u l a r l y z e a l o u s i n c a r r y i n g o u t r e s t r i c t i o n s n o r

i n en f o r c i ng t he ba n on Po l i s h i n o f f i c i a l p l aces ( Po l i s h w as , a f t e r a ll , the

m o t h e r to n g u e o f t h e se T a t a r

c h i n o v n i k i ) .

S p e a k i n g o f h i s e x p e r i e n c e s i n

t h e 1 89 0s, T a l k o - H r y n c e w i c z c o n c l u d e d : e a c h t im e I c o u l d a t te s t t h a t

n o t o n l y a m o n g t h e T a t a r p o p u l a ti o n a s a w h o l e , b u t al so a m o n g M u s l im

b u r e a u c r a t s t h e r e w e r e m a n y h o n e s t e l e m e n t s w h o r e m a i n e d d e v o t e d t o

t h e i r f o r m e r P o l i s h m o t h e r l a n d

[ d a w n e j s w e j p o l s k i e j m a c i e r z y

. ~ ~ 4

o a a a n y c n l . -

O n t h e w h o l e , L a s o c k i a n d T a l k o - H r y n c e w i c z ' s r e m a r k s a b o u t

R u s s i a n p o l i c y a n d t h e L i t h u a n i a n T a t a rs a f t e r 1 86 3 s e e m v a l i d , b u t t h e

m o t i v a t i o n s t h e y a s c r i b e t o R u s s i a n o f f i c i a l d o m m u s t b e s o m e w h a t

m od i f i ed . F i rs t o f al l, i t s eem s h i gh l y que s t i onab l e t ha t T a t a r s

pa r t i c i pa t ed i n any s i gn i f i can t number s i n t he up r i s i ngs . I n any ca s e ,

T a t a r p a r t ic i p a t io n i n t h e m u t i n y is n o t m e n t i o n e d in a n y o f t h e

g o v e r n o r s ' r e p o r ts f ro m t h e s e p r o v i n c e s ( G r o d n o , K o v n o , M i n s k , V i l ' n a )

f o r t he y ea r 1863. 25 N or a r e T a t a r s m en t i o ne d in t he ex t e ns i ve r epo r t s ,

l a w s , a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e m e a s u r e s i s s u e d b y t h e g o v e r n o r g e n e r a l o f

V i l n a (t h e in f a m o u s M . N . M u r a v ' e v , t h e H a n g m a n ) o r in t h e s o -c a l le d

W e s t e rn c o m m i tt e e Z a p a d n y i k o m i t e t ) in S t . Pe te r sbu rg . 26 To be sure ,

w e a r e f a c e d w i th a c o m p l i c a te d a n d f u n d a m e n t a l l y i n so l v a b le

c o n c e p t u a l d i ff i c u l ty : i t m a y w e l l b e t h a t w h e n t h e r u b r i c r e b e l l i o u s

P o l e s a s u s e d b y R u s s ia n o f f ic i a ld o m h a r b o u r e d a c e r ta i n n u m b e r o f

T a t a r s. C e r t a i n l y R u s s ia n o f f i c i a l d o m w a s n o t k n o w n f o r i ts p r e c i s i o n i n

m a t t e r s o f e t h n i c i t y , a n d s m a l l e r g r o u p s s u c h a s T a t a r s ( o r e v e n

L i t h u a n i a n s ) o f t e n d i s a p p e a r e d e n t i r e l y f r o m t h e o f f i c i a l v i e w , b l o t t e d

o u t c o m p l e t e l y b y t h e l o o m i n g P o li sh m e n a c e ( e v e n J e w s d i s a p p e a r

a l mos t en t i r e l y i n t he s e r epo r t s ) . S t i l l , i t i s i mpor t an t t o r ecogn i ze t ha t

f r o m t h e o f f i c i a l v i e w , t h e T a t a r s w e r e n o t i m p l i c a t e d i n t h e d i s o r d e r s o f

1 86 3. H e n c e it s t an d s to r e a s o n t h a t t h e R u s s ia n g o v e r n m e n t w o u l d

r e w a r d t h e s e a p p a r e n t l y l o y a l e le m e n t s i n th e a f t e r m a t h o f th e

i n s u r r ec t i on .

A m o n g t h e m o s t n o t o r io u s r e s t ri c ti o n s o n P o l e s in t h e W e s t e r n

p r o v i n c e s w a s t h e l a w o f 1 0 D e c e m b e r 1 8 6 5 w h i c h f o r b a d e t h e m f r o m

a c q u i r i n g l a n d in a n y w a y o t h e r t h a n d i r e c t i n h e r i ta n c e .27 O n l y a f t e r t h e

p r o m u l g a t i o n o f t h e l a w d i d th e i ss u e o f t h e L i t h u a n i a n T a t a r s a r i se - -

o n c e a g a i n w e s e e t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t d i d n o t h a v e t h e T a t a r s f o r e m o s t

i n i t s m i n d . H o w w e r e t h e s e P o l i s h - s p e a k i n g , t h o u g h n o t C a t h o l i c ,

n o b l e s t o b e t r e a t e d ? ( N o n - n o b l e T a t a r s w e r e i n t h i s c o n t e x t n o t

c o n s i d e r e d . ) T w o r e p o r t s t o t h e c o m m i t t e e c o n s i d e r e d t h e L i t h u a n i a n

T a t a r s ' p a s t a n d p r e s e n t l e g al a n d s o c i a l p o s it io n in t h e N o r t h w e s t



ber2014


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12 Theodore R W eeks

p r o v i n c e s . B o t h w e r e e x c e e d i n g l y f a v o r a b l e to t h e T a t a rs . T h e f i r s t

de t a i l ed t he i r l ega l s t a t u s i n t he p r e - r e f o r m pe r i od , po i n t i ng ou t t ha t t hey

had been pe r mi t t ed t o pos s es s C hr i s t i an s e r f s and t o h i r e C hr i s t i ans .

S i d e - s t e p p i n g t h e i s s u e o f P o li s h c u l t u re , t h e r e p o r t c l a i m e d t h a t t h e

L i t h u a n i a n M u s l i m s h a d p r e s e r v e d t h e i r f a i t h a n d c u l t u r e , a s w e l l a s

l o v e f o r t r u t h a n d a n u n s h a k a b l e d e v o t i o n t o t h e l e g a l [ R u s s i a n ]

G o v e r n m e n t . A t t h e sa m e t im e , s o m e a d m i n i st ra t o r s a n d c o u r ts

(subednye vlast i) i n t h e W e s t e r n P r o v i n c e s h a d a p p l i e d t h e r e s t r ic t i o n s o f

1 0 D e c e m b e r 1 86 5 t o t h e T a t a rs , a p r a c t ic e w h i c h t h e r e p o r t c r it i c iz e d a s

un j u s t i f i ed a nd co n t r a r y t o t he s p i ri t o f t h is l aw . 28

T h e o t h e r r e p o r t w a s i f a n y t h i n g e v e n m o r e p r o - T a ta r . N o t o n l y i n

1 8 63 , it c l a i m e d , b u t a l r e a d y d u r i n g t h e u p r i s in g o f 1 8 3 1 h a d t h e

L i t h u a n i a n T a t a r s s h o w n th e i r u n w a v e r i n g l o y a l ty t o t h e le g a l R u l e r

[gosudar'] . F u r t h e r m o r e , in t h e t h i r ty y e a r s s i n c e 1 8 31 , L i t h u a n i a n

T a t a r s h a d p r o v i d e d t h e R u s s i a n E m p i r e w i t h f i v e g e n e r a l s , a n d m o r e

t h a n o n e h u n d r e d o f f ic e r s. E a r li e r r u li n g s b y t h e W e s t e rn C o m m i t te e h a d

s e t do w n t ha t t he r e s t r i c t ions i s s ued i n t he yea r s a f t e r 1863 ne i t he r a i m ed

t o p u n i s h t h e T a t a r s n o r i n a n y w a y w e r e d e s i g n e d w i t h t h e m i n m i n d ,

h e n c e t h e l a w o f 10 D e c e m b e r 1 86 5 s h o u l d a l s o n o t b e a p p l i e d t o t h e m . 29

F o l l o w i n g t h e s e r e p o r t s , t h e C o m m i t t e e o f M i n i s t e r s d e c i d e d n o t

o n l y t h a t t h e l a w o f 1 0 D e c e m b e r 1 86 5 c o u l d n o t b e a p p l ie d t o t h e

L i t h u a n i a n T a t a r s, b u t t h a t t h e y w e r e a l s o e n t i t le d t o t h e s a m e p r i v i l e g e s

i n a c q u i r i n g l a n d i n t h e r e g i o n a s w e r e O r t h o d o x a n d P r o t e s t a n t

l a n d o w n e r s . T h e s o l e d i f fe r e n c e h e r e w a s t h a t T a t a r s c o u l d n o t u s e t h e s e

p r i v i le g e s to a c q u i r e a t a l o w p r i c e t h o s e e s t a te s t h a t w e r e u n d e r a n o r d e r

o f ob l i ga t o r y sa l e ( po d l ez has hch i e [...] ob i az a t e l ' no i p r oda zbe , i .e .

e s t a te s h a v i n g b e l o n g e d t o p a r ti c ip a n t s i n t h e i n s u r r e c t i o n th a t w e r e n o w

b e i n g s o l d a t v e r y f a v o u r a b l e p r i c e s - - b u t p r i m a r i l y t o R u s s i a n

l a n d o w n e r s ) . 3 I t m a y w e l l b e t h a t t h e r e v e r sa l in p o l i c y s e e n b y t h e

Po l i s h h i s t o r i ans c i t ed above - - t ha t a t f i r s t T a t a r l and l o r ds w er e

p u n i s h e d , b u t t h e n r e w a r d e d - - c a m e o u t o f t h is p a r t ic u l a r d e c i s io n . F r o m

t h e R u s s ia n p o i n t o f v i e w , h o w e v e r , t h is w a s n o r e v e r s a l a t a ll , b u t

m e r e l y a c o r r e c t in g , a m a k i n g m o r e p r e c i s e o f a d e f in i t io n . O n c e t h e

L i t hu an i an T a t a r s w er e l ega l l y de f i ned a s ou r s - - t ha t is , no t Po l e s - -

t h e y c o u l d b e , i n d e e d h a d t o b e , r e w a r d e d a s p r a c t ic a l l y t h e o n l y r e l ia b l e

a n d l o y a l l o ca l e l e m e n t a m o n g t h e n o b i l i ty .

W h a t d o e s t h e R u s s ia n g o v e r n m e n t ' s t r e a tm e n t o f t h e L i t h u a n ia n

T a t a r s t e ll u s a b o u t t h e R u s s i a n E m p i r e i n th e l as t h a l f - c e n t u r y o f its

e x i s t e n c e a n d a b o u t i ts n a t i o n a l i t y p o l i c y ? F ir st o f a ll , it r e m i n d s u s o f

t h e g r e a t a m o u n t o f i m p r e c i s i o n a n d h a z i n e s s i n t h e o f f i c ia l m i n d

r ega r d i ng e t hn i c i t y , i n pa r t i cu l a r w he n t h i s i nvo l ve d sma l l , ah i s t o r i ca l



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Lithuanian Tatars 3

g r o u p s . It w o u l d s e e m t h a t t h e R u s s i a n a u t h o r it ie s c o u l d o n l y d e a l w i t h

o n e n a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n a t a t i m e ; h e n c e , a t a t i m e w h e n t h e P o li s h t h r e a t

s e e m e d o v e r w h e l m i n g , a l l o t h e r e t h n i c i t i e s a n d r e l i g i o n s - - M u s l i m s ,

L i t h u a n i a n s , J e w s - - e i t h e r d i s a p p e a r e d o r w e r e m e n t i o n e d o n l y a s

po t en t i a l ( o r r ea l ) a l l ie s e i t he r o f t he l ega l go ve r nm en t ( i. e ., t he

R u s s i a n s ) o r t h e r e b e l s . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e L i t h u a n i a n T a t a r s w h o

c o m b i n e d P o l i s h l a n g u a g e a n d c u l t u r a l e l e m e n t s w i t h a s e p a r a t e

e t h n i c i t y a n d r e l ig i o n c o u l d b e c a t e g o r i z e d a t f i rs t w i th t h e r e b e l s a n d

t h e n , u p o n c l o s e r r e f l e c t i o n , w i t h t h e l o y a l i s t s . F u r t h e r r e s e a r c h m a y

p o s s i b l y a s c e r t a i n j u s t h o w c o r r e c t

i t h r

o f t h e s e c a t e g o r ie s w e r e .

S e c o n d l y , t h e R u s s i a n a u t h o r i t i e s ' b e n e v o l e n t a t t i t u d e t o w a r d t h e

T a t a r s s h o w s th a t t h e r e w a s n o M u s l i m p o l i c y a n d t h a t in f i g h t in g t h e

C a t ho l i c Po l e s , even f avou r i ng non - C hr i s t i ans w as a pos s i b i l i t y .

C e r t a i n l y o f f i c ia l d i s c u s s i o n s o f t h e L i t h u a n i a n M u s l i m s e v i n c e n o

f e a r o f t h e t h r e a t o f I s la m -- t h o u g h a p e r v a s i v e f e a r a n d l o a t h i n g o f

m i l i t a n t C a t h o l i c i s m a n d J e s u i t i s m c o m e s u p a g a i n a n d a g a i n . T h e

s m a l l n u m b e r s o f T a t a r s i n L i th u a n i a a n d t h e n o n - t h r e a t e n i n g ,

E u r o p e a n i z e d f o r m th a t t h e i r r e l ig i o u s p r a c t i c e s t o o k c o m b i n e d to

m a k e t h e s e M u s l i m s p r e f e ra b l e , f r o m th e o f f i c ia l R u s s ia n p o i n t o f v i e w ,

t o t he l oca l C a t ho l i c s . I n t h i s s ens e t he R us s i an au t ho r i t i e s mi gh t w e l l

hav e r e f e r r ed t o the T a t a r s a s ou r M us l i m s . '3~

o t e s

Research for this article was supported in part by a grant from the International Research

and Exchanges Board (IREX) with funds provided by the National Endowment for the

Humanities, and the United States Department of State which administers the Title VIII

Program. Writing and revision was aided by a short-term grant from the Kennan Institute

for Advanced Russian Studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

in Washington, DC. The author alone bears responsibility for the views expressed here.

I. Ibid. As will be seen, the adjective, Lithuanian, is used here in an entirely

geographical -- and not ethnic -- sense.

2. For more details on the early history of the Lithuanian Tatars, see Kryczynski 1-42.

Specifically on the (mainly early) history of Tatars in the Minsk region see

Strynkiewicz-Korzon.

3. A recent, extremely thorough work on the Lithuanian Tatars in the nineteenth

century, taking into account legal, administrative, religious, and cultural factors, is:

Baira~auskait6,

Lietuvos Totoriai XIX am~uje

For non-Lithuanophones, some of

Dr. Baira~auskait~'s principal arguments are summed up in her pamphlet The



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4

Theodore R Weeks

Lithuanian Tatars in the Nineteenth Century

a n d h e r S y t u a c j a p r a w n a .

4 . K r y c z y f i s k i m e n t i o n s a s T a t a r n a m e s , f o r e x a m p l e , K o r y c k i, U t a n o w , K o r y c k i (7 4 ) ,

B a r a n o w s k i ( 7 6 ) , P u f i s k i ( 7 7 ) , a s w e l l a s T a l k o w s k i , S i e n i a w s k i , a n d P o p {a w s k i

(115) .

5 . K r y c z y f i sk i 8 4 - 9 2 - p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t i n g a r e t h e p l a te s s h o w i n g v a r i o u s c o a t s o f

arms herby).

O n t h i s to p i c , s ee a l s o D z i a d u l e w i c z . I n f o r m a t i o n o n L i t h u a n i a n - T a t a r

f a m i l i e s w a s a l s o c o l l e c t e d b y t h e R u s s i a n a u t h o r i t i e s , i n p a r t i c u l a r i n r e f e r e n c e t o

q u e s t i o n s o f w h e t h e r t h e y s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d n o b l e o r n o t . S e e , fo r e x a m p l e ,

L i t h u a n i a n C e n t r a l S t a t e H i s t o r ic a l A r c h i v e ( L i e t u v o s C e n t r i n i s V a l s t y b i n i s I s t o r ij o s

A r c h y v a s , V i l n i u s [ L V I A ] ) , f. 3 9 1 , a p . 4 , b. 1 2 5 : A l f a v i t n y i s p i s o k t a t a rs k i k h r o d o v

u t v e r z h d e n n y k h i n e u t v e r z h d e n n y k h v d v o r i a n s t v e . I n t h i s l i s t f r o m t h e e a r l y

n in e tee n th cen tu ry , 111 fami l i e s a re l i st ed .

6 . K r y c z y f i s k i 9 2 - 1 0 4 . T h e s u f f i x - l a r i n T a t a r ( a n d m o d e r n T u r k i s h ) i n d i c a t e s t h e

p lu ra l .

7 . I n a n y ca s e , t h e R u s s i a n a u t h o r i t ie s d i d n o t l o o k w i t h f a v o u r u p o n c o n v e r s i o n s t o

C a t h o l i c i s m . S e e, f o r e x a m p l e , L V I A , f . 3 7 8 , B S 1 8 5 2 , b . 2 0 3 8 : P o o t n o s h e n i i u

M i n i s t ra V n u t r e n n i k h D e l o t n o s i t e l 'n o i z ' ia v l e n i i a z h e l an i ia m a g o m e t a n a m i

M i l ' k a m a n o v i c h a m i p r in i a t ' k h r i s t i a n s k u i u r i m s k o - k a t o l ic h e s k u i u v e r u .

8 . T u h a n - B a r a n o w s k i 5 8 : Q u i c k l y [ th e L i t h u a n i a n T a t ar s ] c e a s ed t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e

w o r d o f t h e

Quran

a n d w e r e f o r c e d t o t r a n s l a t e i t a n d e x p l i c a t e i t in P o l i s h . T h e

m a n u s c r i p t s o f t h e s e P o l i s h

Qurans,

wri t t en in Arab ic sc r ip t , a re s t i l l ex tan t in

s i g n i f i c a n t n u m b e r s i n L i t h u a n i a . O n t h e f ir s t t r a n s l a t i o n s in t o P o l i s h o f t h e Quran,

s e e B a i r a~ a u s k a it 6 , P e r m a s i s K o r a n o v e r ti m a s .

9 . O n t h e s e l e c ti o n o f M u s l i m c l e ri c s b y t h e L i t h u a n i a n T a t a r s a n d t h e R u s s i a n

g o v e r n m e n t ' s r e g u l a t i o n s o n th i s p r o c e s s , s e e L V 1A , f . 3 7 8 , B S 1 8 4 9 , b . 1 7 4 7 a n d

ib id , BS 1851 , b . 2233 .

1 0. T a l k o - H r y n c e w i c z 7 6 . S h i m e l e v i c h c l a i m e d t h a t t h e L i t h u a n i a n T a t a r s s tr i c tl y k e p t

M u s l i m f a s ts b u t d o e s n o t s p e c if i c al ly c o m m e n t o n a l c o h o l c o n s u m p t i o n ( 69 ) .

1 1. K r y c z y f i sk i 2 4 1 - 2 5 8 ( c e r e m o n i e s ) , 2 6 2 - 2 8 0 ( c e m e t e r i e s) , 2 8 1 - 3 0 8 ( m a g i c a n d f o l k -

h e a l i n g ) .

1 2. F o r c o n v e n i e n c e a n d c l a r i ty , I w i l l u s e t h e R u s s i a n f o r m o f th e n a m e s o f t h e s e

p r o v i n c e s. T h i s d o e s n o t , o f c o u r se , i m p l y a n y e n d o r s e m e n t o f R u s s i a n n a t i o n a l

p re t ens ion s to th i s t e r r i to ry .

1 3. T h e e x a c t n u m b e r b y p r o v i n c e w a s : K o v n o - 5 3 6, M i n s k - 2 65 3 , G r o d n o - 1 1 69 , a n d

V i l ' n a - 2 60 5 . T h e s e n u m b e r s ar e o b t a i n e d f r o m a n n u a l re p o rt s

otchety)

f r o m t h e s e

p r o v i n c e s . R o s s i i s k i i G o s u d a r s t v e n n y i I s t o r ic h e s k i i A r k h i v , ( R G I A ) S t. P e t e r s b u r g ,

f . 1281 , op . 6 , 1863 , d . 32 , 1 . 14v (Vi l ' na 1862) ; ib id , d . 42 , I . 7v (Grodno 1861) ;

ib id , d . 11 , 1 .9 (Min sk 1861) ; ib id , d . 36 , 1. 12v (Ko vn o 1862) .

1 4. F o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h i s h i g h l y i m p r e c i s e t e r m , s ee S l o c u m 1 7 3 - 1 9 0 .

1 5. F o r a f e w e x a m p l e s o f t h e l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s ' c o n c e r n a b o u t t h e a c t i v it i e s o f t h e

Ca tho l ic po pu la t io n in 1863 , see LV IA, f . 378 , PS 1863 , b . 13 ; ib id , b . 1 785 ; and



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L i th u a n i a n T a t a r s 1 5

R G I A , f . 8 2 1 , o p . 1 5 0 , d . 2 2 3 .

1 6 . R G I A , f. 1 2 8 1 , o p . 6 , 1 8 5 6 , d . 6 7 , 1. 1 1 v -12 .

1 7 . R G I A , f . 1 2 8 1 , o p . 6 , 1 8 6 2 , d . 4 2 G ro d n o 1 8 6 1 ) , 1 . 8 .

18. Ibi d, 1863, d. 60, I. 5.

19. R G IA , f. 1281, op. 6, 1858, d. 76, I. 8 (M in sk 1857).

2 0. A re c e n t , s o me w h a t p o p u la r i z in g , P o l i s h w o rk c l a ims th at th e T a ta rs s y mp a th iz e d

with , bu t d id no t ac t ive ly pa r t ic ipa te in, the Insurrec t ion o f 1863 . B orawsk i and

D u b i f i s k i 1 3 3 . B a ira ~ a u sk a i t6 p o in t s o u t th a t w h i l e b o th th e in s u rg e n ts a n d th e

R u s s ia n a u th o r i ti e s w o o e d th e T a ta r s d u r in g th e e v e n ts o f 1 8 63 -1 86 4 , T h e m a jo r i ty

of Ta ta rs [ . .. ] were ra the r ind i f fe ren t to the upr is ings [a lso in 1831]

Lithuanian

Tatars

32).

21 . The l i te ra tu re on 1863 is enorm ous . On the insurrec t ion in the No rthw es t p rov inces ,

see ,

inter alia,

G ie y s z to r , L ia s k o v s k i i , a n d S mi rn o v .

2 2. T o q u o te o n ly o n e v e ry r ec e n t e x a mp le : In o rd e r to s p o i l t h e i r [T a ta r s '] r e l a t io n s

w i th th e P o le s , t h e t s a r is t a u th o r i ti e s o p e n e d u p fo r th e T a ta r s m i l i t a ry an d c iv i l i a n

caree r s (Bo rawsk i and Du bi i i sk i 134-5) .

2 3 . L a s o c k i 3 7 6 : P o p o w s ta n iu s ty c z n io w y m 1 8 6 3 r . , T a ta r6 w , k t6 rz y r6 w n ie ~ w z i~ l i w

ty m p o w s ta n iu u d z ia l, s p o tk a ly r6 i n e r e p re s j e : p o z b a w io n o i c h p ra w a n a b y w a n ia

ma ja ~tk6 w , o d e b ra n o b ro i l, n a lo io n o k o n t ry b u c j , z a b ro n io n o u mie s z cz a ~ p o l s k ie

n a p i s y n a n a g ro b k a c h , k a z a n o p ta c i i n a b u d o w c e rk w i p ra w o s la w n y c h , i t d . P o

k i lk u l a t a ch z a rz , ld z e n ia t e z o s ta ly o d w o la n e .

2 4 . T a lk o -H ry n c e w ic z 8 0. T h e a u th o r i l lu s t r a t es h i s r e ma rk s q u i t e l i t e ra l ly w i th a p l a t e

(8 1 ) s h o w in g o n e A . P io t ro w s k i w h o w a s th e d i r e c to r o f th e R u s s ia n th e a te r in

Kowno in 1867 .

25. RG IA , f . 1267, op .l , 1864, d . 6 , 11. 171-263 (G rod no 1863); ib id , d . 4 (V il 'n a

1863); ib id , d . 7 (M insk 1863); RG IA , f .1281, op . 6 , 1864, d . 44 (K ov no 1863).

2 6 . F o r th e r e p o r t s an d a d m in i s t ra t iv e o rd e r s o f th e Zapadnyi komitet, s e e R G IA , f .

1267, op. 1, 1861, d. 1 and ibid , d. 3.

Fond

1 2 6 7 a t R G IA c o n ta in s th e a rc h iv e o f

th e c o mmi t t e e . F o r M. N . Mu ra v ' e v ' s r e p o r t s o n h i s p o l i c i e s a n d th e r a t io n a le

beh in d them, see R GIA , f. 908 , op . 1 , d . 171 ( Don esen i ia v i lenskogo genera l -

g u b e rn a to ra M. N . M u ra v ' e v a P . A . V a lu e v u i sh e fu z h a n d a rm o v V a s . A n d r .

Do lgoruk ovu ) ; RG1A, f. 1622, op . 1 , d . 719 (M . N. M ur av 'ev ' s repor t fo r 1863-

1 86 4 ); a n d Z a p i s k a o n e k o to ry k h v o p ro s a k h p o u s t ro i s tv u S e v e ro -Z a p a d n o g o

k ra ia ( a me m o ra n d u m g iv e n b y Mu ra v ' e v to th e T s a r o n 1 4 M a y 1 86 4 )

(S h e re me te v ) .

2 7 . T h e s e r e s t r i c t io n s w e re in p la c e n o t o n ly in th e s ix L i th u a n ia n a n d B e la ru s ia n

p ro v in c e s , b u t a l s o in th e th re e S o u th w e s t o r U k ra in ian

gubernii

o f K ie v , P o d o l i a ,

a n d V o lh y n ia .

28. R G IA , f. 1284, op . 189, 1865, d. 4, 11. 72-5.

29. Ibi d, 11.76-82.

30 . lb id , 11. 89-90 ( V yp iska iz zhurn a lov Ko m ite ta M in is t rov 4go i 18go I iu l ia 1867



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Theodore R Weeks

31.

goda ) .

Tho usand s of Tatars cont inue to l ive in Li thuania (most notably in and aro und the

tow n o f Trakai) and in Belarus. On their present cul ture, see the quarterly Bairam

and Dum in and Kanapatski.

W o r k s i te d

Bairam: Tatary na zemli Belarusi. Kvartalnyk tatarskaha hramadska-kulturnaha

abiadnannia AI-Kitab' minskai voblastsi

(published from 1989, in Belarusian).

Bai ragauskait6 , Tamara. Sytu acja praw na Tatar6w l itewskich w guberniach zacho dnich

Cesars twa Ros yjskiego (przed rokiem 1869), Przeg#d Wschodni If, 3(7) (1992/93):

573-93.

- -- . P i rmasis Ko rano ver t imas Lietuvoje . MOsqpraeitis 4 (Vilnius 1995): 5-18.

---. Lietuvos Totoriai XIX am~'uje. Vilnius: Mintis, 1996.

---. The Lithuanian Tatars in the Nineteenth Century, Sum m ary of the research repor t

presented f or habilitation, Hum anities, 05 H History. Vilnius: Lith ua nian Institute

o f History, V ytau tas M agn us University, 1998.

Borawski , Piotr and Aleksander Dubirlski , Tatarzy polscy. Dzieje. obrz~cly, legendy,

tradyeji.

Warsaw: Iskry, 1986.

Dobrianskii, F. N. O

Litovskikh tatarakh.

V il 'na: Russki i poch in, 1906.

Dumin, S.U. and I . B. Kanapatski , Belaruskiia Tatary. Minulae i suchasnasts' (Minsk:

Polymia, 1993) .

Dziadulew icz, S . Herbarz rodzin tatarskieh w Polsce. Warsaw, 1929.

Gieysztor, Jak6b.

Pamictnikiz lat 1857-1865.

W ilno: Bibljotek a Pami~tnik6w, 1913.

Kru m an, Antoni . Wst~p. In Maciej Tuhan-Baranowski, O MusIimach Litewskich. Z

notat i przeklad6w Maeieja Tuhana-Barnowskiego. Warsaw: Gebethner i Wolf f ,

1896.

Kryczyfiski, Stanistaw. Tatarzy Litewscy: Pr6ba monografii historyczno-etnografiezne.

W arsaw: W yd anie Ra dy Centralnej Zwi~zku Kulturalno-O~wiatowego Tatar6w

Rz eczy pos poli tej Polskiej , 1938.

Lasocki , W iesiaw An toni . O l itewskich Yatarach. In Pami~tnik Wiletiski. L o n d o n :

Polsk a Fun dacja Kul turalna, 1972. 371-80.

Liaskovskii, A. I. Litva i Belorussiia v vozstanii 1863 g. (po novym arkhivnym

materialam).

Berlin: Spe er & Schm idt, 1939.

Martin, Janet. Medieval Russia 980-1584. Cambridge: Cambridge Univers i ty Press ,

1995.

Mukhlinskii , Antonii .

Issledovanie o proiskhozhdenii i sostoianii Litovskikh tatar.

St.

Petersburg: E. Veim ar, 185 7.

M urav 'ev , M. N . Zap i ska o nekotorykh voprosakh po ustroi stvu Severo-Zapadno go

kra ia. In Sergei Sherem etev, ed. lz bumag Grafa M. N. Murav 'eva. St. Petersburg:



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Lithuanian Tatars 7

Stasiulevich, 1898.37-49.

Ob s h c h i i s v o d p o lmp e r i i r e z u l ta to v r a z r o b o tk i d a n n y k h p e r v o i v s e o b s h c h e i p e r e p i s i

nase len iia , pro izved ennoi 28 lanvar ia 1897 goda . St. Petersburg: MVD, 1905.

Ry chliko wa , Irena. Ta tarzy li tewscy 1764-1831: C z~gci~l szlach eckie go stanu ?

K w a r ta ln ik h i s to r y c zn y

47.3-4 (1990): 77-122.

Shimelevich, M . Litov skie tatary. Etnograficheskii och erk.

V i len s k ii k a l e n d a r n a 1 9 0 6

g. 23 (1905): 63.

Sergei Sheremetev, ed., Iz bumag Gra fa M. N. Murav eva . St. Petersburg: Stasiulevich,

1898 .37-49 .

S locum, John. W ho, and When, W ere the

lnorod tsy?

T h e E v o l u ti o n o f t h e C a t e g o ry o f

'Aliens ' in Imperial Russia.

R u s s ia n R e v ie w 5 7

(April 1998): 173-90.

Smim ov, A . F .

Vosstanie 1863 goda v Litve i Belorussii .

Moscow: lzd. Akademii Nauk,

1963.

Stryn kiew icz-K orzo n, Tadeusz. Szk ic histo ryc zn y o tatarach l i tewskich w Mifisku

L i t ewskim i j ego okol i cach .

R o c z n ik ta ta r s k i

l ( 1932): 165-79.

Talko-Hryncewicz, Jul jan.

Mu s l imo w ie c z y l i t a k z w a n i T a ta r z y l i t e w s c y .

Cracow:

Orbis, 1924.

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Mu s t ima c h L i t e w s k ic h Z n o ta t i p r z e k ta d 6 w Ma c ie ja

Tuhana-Barnowsk iego .

Warsaw: Gebethner i Wolff , 1896.



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Lithuanian Tatars