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| {{redirect-distinguish|Kerait|Khereid|Karaim|Qaraei|Crimean Karaites}} | |||
| {{R from ambiguous page}} | |||
| {{About|the medieval Christian clan|the Krait snake|Bungarus|other meanings|Karaite (disambiguation){{!}}Karaite}} | |||
| {{refimprove}} | |||
| {{merge|Khereid}} | |||
| The '''Karaits'''were a Christian clan within the ]. | |||
| They are not to be confused with, although their name may be related to the names of, the Mongol | |||
| ]{{dubious}} or the modern ]. | |||
| ==Name== | |||
| ''Karait'' is the spelling their name used by ], ], Henry Howorth, E.J.Brill, David H. James and ]. The name is derived from a Mongol-Turkic word for "cross" (kheres) in reference to their Christian religion. | |||
| Historically, however, the name has been conflated with the Turkic word for "black", ''qarā'', cognate with the Mongolian word for "crow", which was the tribal name of the ]. | |||
| The Karaits have been referred to by a variety of different names in different places at different times.<ref>], 1930, pp264-68.</ref> | |||
| In Kazakh they are called Керейт (Kereit). In Old Polish sources they are called Karaici (Karaitsi). In Old Russian sources they were called Караиты (Karaiti). In various pre-Bolshevik Turkic sources they are called كرايلر (Karailar). {{cn}} | |||
| ==Origins== | |||
| They are first noted in Syriac Church records which mention them being absorbed into the ] around 1000 CE by Metropolitan AbdEsho of ] (modern day East Turkmenistan). Their territory corresponded to that of the earlier the ] who appear after the Kara-Khazars were evicted by the Aq-Khazars in the Khazar civil war in the 830s CE. | |||
| ==Religious practice== | |||
| The Karaits were converted to ] ], early in the 11th century.<ref name=tang/><ref>Erica C. D. Hunter, “The Conversion of the Kerait to Christianity in A.D. 1007”, ''Zentralasiatische Studien,'' 22 (1989–1991), pp.143-163.</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=]|title=The Realm of Prester John | publisher=Doubleday | year=1972|page=12}}</ref><ref name="BoltonHutton2000">{{cite book|author1=Kingsley Bolton|author2=Christopher Hutton|title=Triad Societies: Western Accounts of the History, Sociology and Linguistics of Chinese Secret Societies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6irEoGgDrm4C&pg=PR49&dq=khitan+mongol+tongue+known+turks+influence+empire&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiLy5b_7oTKAhVCwiYKHcDmCB4Q6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=khitan%20mongol%20tongue%20known%20turks%20influence%20empire&f=false|year=2000|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-24397-1|pages=xlix–}}</ref> Other tribes evangelized entirely or to a great extent during the 10th and 11th centuries were the ] and the ]. | |||
| An account of the conversion of the Karaits is given by the 13th-century ] historian Gregory ] and also in Mari ibn Suleiman's "Book of the Tower" (''Kitab al-Majdal'') written in 1145–1150. According to Bar Hebraeus and Mari ibn Suleiman, in 1007 or 1012, a Karait king lost his way during a snowstorm while hunting in the high mountains of his land. When he had abandoned all hope, a saint (Mar Sergius or Saint Sergius) appeared in a vision and said, "If you will believe in Christ, I will lead you lest you perish." The king promised to "become a lamb in the Christian sheepfold" (join the Church). The saint told him to close his eyes and he found himself back home (Bar Hebraeus' version says the saint led him to the open valley where his home was). When he met Christian merchants, he remembered the vision and asked them about the Christian religion, prayer and the book of canon laws. They taught him some prayers and at their suggestion, he sent a message to Abdisho, the Metropolitan of ], for priests and ]s to ] him and his tribe. Abdisho (whose name means Servant or ''Abd ''of Jesus) sent a letter to ], the Catholicos or Patriarch of the Church of the East in Baghdad. Abdisho informed Yohannan VI that the Karait Khan asked him about fasting, whether they could be exempted from the usual Christian way of fasting, since their diet was mainly meat and milk. Yohannan (John) replied to Abdisho telling him one presbyter (priest) and one deacon was to be sent with altar paraments to baptize the king and his people. Yohannan also approved the exemption of the Karaits from strict church law, stating that while they had to abstain from meat during the annual ] like other Christians, they could still drink milk during that period, although they should switch from "sour milk" (]) to "sweet milk" (normal milk) to remember the suffering of Christ during the Lenten fast. The Catholicos also told Abdisho to endeavor to find wheat and wine for them, so they can celebrate the ]. As a result of the mission that followed, the king and 200,000 of his people were baptized (both Bar Hebraeus and Mari ibn Suleiman give the same number). | |||
| The primitive Karait "eucharist" was normally carried out at a Pavilion located in an Oak grove where milking takes place. The Pavilion is traditionally dedicated to Mar Sergius (Jierjis) of Cappadocia, the patron saint of the Karaits. Three prayers, ], ] and ] are recited over a cup of fresh (originally Mare's) milk laid upon a Gospel and Cross. A Sign of the Cross is then made over the cup before the Khan takes a sip followed by his people.<ref>From the account of ], Abdisho also related that the Karait Khan had already "set up a pavilion to take the place of an altar, in which was a cross and a Gospel, and named it after Mar Sergius, and he tethered a mare there and he takes her milk and lays it on the Gospel and the cross, and recites over it the prayers which he has learned, and makes the sign of the cross over it, and he and his people after him take a draft from it." </ref> During Lent Karaits abstain from meat, fat and fresh milk products (symbolic of First Fruits) except milk itself. In the last days of Paschal Holy Week yeast is also prohibited. At the start of the following week, the Karaits bring dried or smoked meats, Kvas, and Kulich, with fresh butter and fresh sweet Pasha cheese to be blessed before everyone sits down around to enjoy these Firstfruits.<ref name="grousset"> | |||
| R. Grousset, ''The Empire of the Steppes'', New Brunswick, New Jersey, Rutgers University Press, 1970, p191.</ref><ref> | |||
| Moffett, ''A History of Christianity in Asia'' pp. 400-401. | |||
| </ref> | |||
| ], who encountered many Church of the East Christians during his stay at the court of ] the prince of the Karaits as well as at ] in 1254–1255, notes that Church of the East Christianity in Mongolia was tainted by ] and ] and very confused in terms of liturgy, not following the usual norms of Christian churches elsewhere in the world. He attributes this to the lack of teachers of the faith, power struggles among the clergy and a willingness to make doctrinal concessions in order to win the favour of the Khans. | |||
| Contact with the Catholicos was lost after the Turco-Mongol ruler ] (reigned 1370–1405) effectively destroyed the Church of the East (leaving only a small remnant) in a violent Islamic jihad. The Church of the East in Karakorum was destroyed by the invading Ming dynasty army in 1380. | |||
| The legend of ], otherwise set in India or Ethiopia, was also brought in connection with the Church of the East rulers of the Karaits. In some versions of the legend, Prester John was explicitly identified with ].<ref name=tang/> But Mongolian sources say nothing about his religion.<ref>{{cite book|author=Atwood, Christopher P.|title=Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire|isbn=0816046719}}</ref> | |||
| ==Khanate== | |||
| The Karait appear to have been the most prominent Christian clan in the Kipchak Khanate of greater ] although their ruling dynasty was short lived. The first of their Khans known to us by name is the 11th century Markus Buyruk Khan who was succeeded by Saryk Khan (12th century) then Kurchakus Buyruk Khan (12th century). In union with the ] they became vassals in the the ] state. | |||
| When their last Khan Tughrul Khan (12th century-1203) was by Church of the East ceremony of ] legally made a brother to Yesugei the father of Timujin who having disposed of all Tughrul's sons was the only one in line to inherit the title Khan when he had Tughrul beheaded. Thus the Genghisids were grafted into the Karait dynasty and Cumania became the founding basis of the Mongol Empire. | |||
| The Karaits first enter into history as the ruling faction of the ] confederacy, a large alliance of tribes that dominated Mongolia during the 11th and 12th centuries and often fought with the ] of northern China, which controlled much of Mongolia at the time. After the Zubu confederacy broke up, the Karaits retained their dominance on the steppe right up until they were absorbed into Genghis Khan's ]. | |||
| ], was a Karait leader who also led the Zubu confederacy. In 1100, he was killed by the ]. ] was a son and successor of Bayruk Markus, among whose wives was Toreqaimish Khatun, daughter of Korchi Buiruk Khan of the ]. Kurchakus's younger brother was Gur Khan. Kurchakus Buyruk Khan had many sons. Notable sons was Toghrul, Yula-Mangus, Tai-Timur, Bukha-Timur. | |||
| After Kurchakus Buyruk Khan died, Ilma's servant — Eljidai from Tatar — became the de facto regent. This upset Toghrul who had his younger brothers killed and then claimed the throne. After this, Gur Khan raided Toghrul. Yesugei Baghatur helped Toghrul. | |||
| Karaits who joined western khanates became Tatars, Kazakhs and Khirgizs while there currently exists ] clan of Mongols in present-day ]. | |||
| ==Role in the rise of the Genghisids== | |||
| ]" in ''Le Livre des Merveilles'', 15th century.]] | |||
| Tooril, who was the son of Kurchakus by Ilma Khatun, reigned from 1160s to 1204. His palace was located at present-day Ulan Bator and he became brother by ] to Yesugei. Genghis Khan called him '''khan etseg''' ('khan father'). | |||
| The Tatars rebelled against the ] in 1195. The Jin commander sent an emissary to Temujin. A fight with the Tatars broke out and the Karait-Mongol alliance defeated them. In 1196, the Jin Dynasty awarded Tooril the title of "Wang" (king). After this, Tooril was recorded under the title "Wang Khan". | |||
| In 1203, Temüjin defeated the Karaits, who were distracted by the collapse of their own coalition. Tooril tried to escape to the Naimans, but was killed by a Naiman warrior who did not recognize him. The remaining Karaits submitted to Temüjin's rule, but out of distrust, Temüjin dispersed them among the other Mongol tribes. | |||
| Tooril's younger brother was Jakha Khambu, a lifelong ally of Genghis Khan, and the father of Sorghaghtani Beki. Toghrul's son was Nilkha Sengum. Sorghaghtani Beki, daughter of Jakha Khambu, became ]'s ]. She was mother of the khagans Kublai, Möngke and the Ilkhanate-founder ].<ref name=tang>{{cite book|title=Jingjiao: the Church of the East in China and Central Asia|editors=Malek, Roman; Hofrichter, Peter|year=2006|isbn=978-3-8050-0534-0|work=]|publisher=Steyler Verlagsbuchhandlung GmbH| chapter=Sorkaktani Beki: A prominent Nestorian woman at the Mongol Court|author=Li, Tang}}</ref> Rinchin protected Christians when ] began to persecute them but he was executed by ] when fighting against his custodian, ] of the ] in 1319. | |||
| ] inherited the Karait Khanate from ], who had gained fame as far away as Europe for his battles with Muslims, and several women from the Karait nobility became influential women in the Mongol court. ], the younger daughter of Tooril's brother Jakha Khambu, married ] a son of Genghis Khan, and their four sons, including ] who later ruled China and ] who ruled the Karaits and conquered Eastern Europe with ]. | |||
| Their importance in Molgol affairs around the turn of the 1300s is evidenced by ] (1247–1318), the official historian of the Genghisid court in Persia, says in Section Three of the ] under کریت ("Karait") that the Karaits were still Christians at that time: | |||
| {{quote|At that time they had more power and strength than other tribes. The call of Jesus - peace be upon him - reached them and they entered his faith. They belong to the Mongol ethnicity. They reside along the ] and ] rivers, the land of the Mongols. That land is close to the country of the ].<ref>'''', Paris, 1866, p.362</ref>}} | |||
| ==Migrations== | |||
| Karaits arrived in Europe with the Tatar armies led by Batu Khan and ]. A portion were settled in Carpathian Galicia as a result of a hostage exchange treaty between ] and the Catholic Rus' Prince ] of ] in 1246AD.<ref>"Galicia: A Historical Survey and Bibliographic Guide", Paul R. Magocsi, University of Toronto Press, 1983. p.252</ref><ref>"Making a Great Ruler: Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania" Giedrė Mickūnaitė, Central European University Press, 2006. p.192</ref><ref>"Historical Claims over Crimean Territory" Vox Ukraine JUNE 3, 2015 I. Kazas, K. Dronova, O. Zholud</ref> | |||
| From the 1380s onward, many more sought refuge in Christendom under the leadership of ]<ref>"Making a Great Ruler: Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania" Giedrė Mickūnaitė, Central European University Press, 2006. pp. 34 & 200</ref> as a result of the ] conquest of Karakorum and of the ] "Jihad" in Central Eurasia which isolated them from their Mother Church of the East which which they appear to have lost contact with after the schism of 1552. Many were absorbed into other churches, some adopted Islam, while still others became ]. | |||
| Presently, various tribes either claiming descent from or which have been proposed as related to the original Karaits of greater Kirghizia, are distributed across North Eurasia from Eastern Europe to as far as North Korea. Thus Karaits exist today among the ], ], ], ], and other ] heritages such as ], ] and of course ]. Koreans of "Koran" (거란 i.e. Khitan) heritage and modern Mongolians designated as "] (Хэрэйд) also claim descent. Y-DNA Haplogroup R, especially R1a, is most prevalent among modern people of Karait origin confirming Kyrgyz origin. In the modern Kyrgyz language they are called Kireis. (Dunlop 1944) | |||
| Some descendants of Karaits formed part of the ] of the ]. | |||
| ==Dejudaized Kara'im== | |||
| Some Kara'im (a religious group which practices Karaite Judaism) in Lithuania have also recently laid claim to this same "Turkic Karaite" identity (whom they relate to the Kara-Khazars) by going through a process of "Dejuzaization" in the 20th century led by ] in order to survive the anti-Semitic climate.<ref>": The Case of Polish Karaites in the First Half of the 20th Century" Dovile Troskovaite</ref> | |||
| ==In Pop-Culture== | |||
| The critically acclaimed Chinese series "Genghis Khan" depicts Wang Khan Toghrul as a devout Christian, with a cross mounted on top of his royal ] which has a Christian altar inside and shows him regularly making the sign of the cross.<ref>A scene from "Genghis Khan" showing Genghis Khan presenting a gift to Wang Khan (his father's sworn brother) and asking for military assistance (starting from 09:08) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C56vUXPz5XY</ref> The Japanese-Mongolian film "]" also depicts Tooril of the Karaits as Christian, with a church bell behind his royal yurt and Christian cross signs on his flag, his throne as well as covering his yurt. | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| *"The Karaits of East Asia", in Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1944. ] | |||
| *"Flexibility and Limitation in Steppe Formations: the Kerait Khanate and Chinggis Khan" by Togan, İsenbike, in The Ottoman Empire and its Heritage, Vol. 15. 1998. Leiden: Brill. | |||
| *"The Conversion of the Kerait to Christianity in A.D. 1007," by Hunter, Erica C. D., 1989/1991. in Zentralasiatische Studien, Vol. 22, 142-163. | |||
| *"Kereit, Kérey, Giray," by Németh, Julius, 1965. in Ural-Altaische Jahrbücher, Vol. 36, 360-365. | |||
| *"The Summer and Winter Camping Grounds of the Kereit," by Boyle, John Andrew, 1973. in Central Asiatic Journal, Vol. 17, 108-110. | |||
| *"History of the Mongols from the 9th to the 19th Century: The Mongols Proper and the Kalmyks" ] | |||
| *"Turks in E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913-1936" | |||
| *"The Rise and Fall of the Japanese Empire" By David H James | |||
| * | |||
| *"History of the voyages and discoveries made in the north translated from the German of ] and elucidated by several new and original maps" | |||
| *"A General History And Collection of Voyages And Travels, Arranged In Systematic Order: Forming A Complete History of The Origin And Progress of Navigation, Discovery, And Commerce By Sea And Land, From The Earliest ages to the present time." ]. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| *. ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
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