Moxammat Amin of Kazan
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Moxammat Amin (Muhammad Amin or Emin, Tatar: Möxämmät Ämin or Möxämmädämin) (ca. 1469-1518) was the khan of Kazan Khanate in 1484-1485, 1487-1495, and 1502-1518. Moxammat Amin was son of Ibrahim and Nur Soltan, older brother of Abd al Latif, younger half-brother of İlham (Ghali).
Death of Ibrahim left Kazan with two rival factions. The "eastern" faction wanted Ghali, Ibrahim's son from Nogay wife Fatima, to occupy the throne. The "western" faction wanted 10 year old Moxammat Amin to become khan. With help of Nogay Horde, Ghali took the throne, while Moxammat Amin fled to Moscow. Moxammat Amin's mother Nur-Sultan became wife of Meñli I Giray, khan of Crimean Khanate. Meñli I Giray was an ally of tsar Ivan III of Russia in fight against Akhmat Khan of Big Horde. Ivan III received Moxammat Amin warmly and gave him town of Kashira. Ivan III also offered him help in his fight against Ghali.
In 1480, Akhmat Khan suffered a fatal defeat during Great standing on the Ugra river. Ghali did not participate in Akhmat's raid, but some Nogays did. In 1482 Ivan III sent an army to Kazan. For the first time in the history of Muscovy the army had cannons. When the army reached Nizhny Novgorod, Ghali asked for peace. Two years later another army was dispatched to Kazan. This time Ghali was deposed and Moxammat Amin became khan. He appeared to be too young for an effective ruler. A year later he was replaced with Ghali again. The internal disaccord between nobility and the khan continued to grow. A group of Kazan nobles sent a letter to Ivan III: We released Magmet-Amin to you in case if Aleham does us foul, you would let Magmet-Amin back to us. When Aleham found out of this, he asked as to a feast where tried to slay us, but we ran to the steppe. Ivan III sent another army to Kazan. In April 1487 it besieged the city. On July 9 Kazan fell. Ghali was arrested and exiled to Vologda, where soon died. His wife and children were sent to Beloozero. A number of nobles were executed. Moxammat Amin became khan again. Although formally Kazan Khanate remained independent, Ivan III started to use the title Duke of Bulgaria among his other titles.
It was known that during this reign Moxammat Amin was closely monitored by Ivan III. Moxammat Amin corresponded with Crimean Khanate. All correspondence was sent through Moscow, translated into Russian for Ivan III to read. In 1491, when Big Horde attempted to invade Crimean Khanate, Kazan troops participated in a raid against it together with Muscovy, Qasim Khanate and Nogays.
In 1495, the "eastern" (Nogay) faction decided to replace Moxammat Amin with Mamuq, khan from Shayban dynasty of Siberian khans. In Spring Mamuq sent an army to Kazan. When Moxammat Amin found out, he asked for help from Moscow. Ivan III dispatched an army. A number of Kazan nobles fled to Mamuq. Mamuq made an appearance of turning back. When Muscovy troops left Kazan, Mamuq quickly returned. Moxammat Amin with family escaped to Moscow. Mamuq took Kazan without a fight and became khan. A year later, when he left Kazan to loot the nearby town of Arsk, Kazan people did not let him reenter the city. The throne was open for contest again. This time Qarachi and particularly Qol Axamt (Kel, Qol, Qel Akhmat) asked Ivan III not to give throne to Moxammat Amin citing "abuse and dishonor to women" from him. The throne was given to Abd al Latif. Moxammat Amin was seriously offended. To amend it, he received Serpukhov and Khotun in addition to Kashira.
| Preceded by İlham |
Khan of Kazan 1484–1485 |
Succeeded by İlham |
| Preceded by İlham |
Khan of Kazan 1487–1495 |
Succeeded by Mamuq |
| Preceded by Ghabdellatif |
Khan of Kazan 1502–1518 |
Succeeded by Shahgali |
[edit] Poet
Moxammadamin was also a prominent Old Tatar language poet. His son Möxämmädyar, born from Amin's wife Şäwliäbikä, also was one of the most prominent Tatar poets.
