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The Karaits (Church Syriac: ܟܹܪܝܼܬ ; "krit") or Karāʾi / Qarāʾi are a Turanian tribe of Medieval Kyrgyz-Christian origin. They are most famous for events in their history related to the legends of Prester John and the rise of the Genghisid dynasties such as the Giray dynasty.

Origins

They are first noted in Syriac Church records which mention them being absorbed into the Church of the East around 1000 CE by Metropolitan AbdEsho of Merv (modern day East Turkmenistan). Their territory corresponded to that of the earlier the Kara-Khanid Khanate who appear after the Kara-Khazars were evicted by the Aq-Khazars in the Khazar civil war in the 830s CE.

Khanate

The Karait appear to have been the most prominent Christian clan in the Kipchak Khanate of greater Cumania 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 Khitan they became the Kara-Khitai when their last Khan Tughrul Khan (12th century-1203) was by Church of the East ceremony of Adelphopoiesis 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.

Religious practice

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, Aboun Dishmaya, Lakhu Mara and Qadisha Alaha 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. 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.

Migrations

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 Karakalpak, Karachay-Balkar, Karaimean, Kara-Tatar, and other Kipchak heritages such as Bashkirs, Kazakhs and of course Kirghiz. Koreans of "Koran" (거란 i.e. Khitan) heritage and modern Mongolians designated as "Khereid (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)

Name variations

Karait is the most standard version of their name used by Robert Kerr (writer), Johann Reinhold Forster, Henry Howorth, E.J.Brill, David H. James and Douglas Morton Dunlop. The name Karait is derived from a Mongol-Turkic word for Cross (Kheres) in reference to their Christian religion. Nevertheless, over the centuries took on the connotation of the Turkic meaning "Black" (linguistically related to the Mongolian word for "Crows") which also has the secondary meaning of "Brave" indicating the Northern Turks otherwise known as Kipchaks. Thanks to their long history and vast distribution, the Karaits have been referred to by a variety of different names in different places at different times. This section is not exhaustive. 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). Across the internet it is normal to find them referred to variously as Girays, Keraits, Qaraeis, Khereits with or without the plural "-s" suffix.

Further reading

• "The Karaits of East Asia", in Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1944. Douglas Morton Dunlop
• "History of the Mongols from the 9th to the 19th Century: The Mongols Proper and the Kalmyks" Henry Hoyle Howorth
• "Turks in E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913-1936"
• "The Rise and Fall of the Japanese Empire" By David H James
• "Historical Claims over Crimean Territory" Vox Ukraine JUNE 3, 2015 I. Kazas, K. Dronova, O. Zholud
• "History of the voyages and discoveries made in the north translated from the German of Johann Reinhold Forster 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." Robert Kerr (writer).

References

1. The Karaits of East Asia" 1944. Douglas Morton Dunlop
2. http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/karai
3. G. Németh, A Hongfoglaló Magyarság Kialakulása 1930, pp264-68.

• History of Central Asia
• History of the Turkic peoples
• Nomadic groups in Eurasia
• Ethnic groups in Asia
• Turkic tribes