Abdul-Karim Khan Astrakhan Khan. Date of Birth: .

1. Early Life and Reign
2. Conflict with Crimea and the Ottomans
3. Conflict with the Nogays
4. Attack on Crimea and Conflict with Astrakhan

Early Life and Reign

Abd al-Karim was a cousin of the last khan of the Golden Horde, Akhmat. After Akhmat's death, his sons Muртаza, Sayyid-Ahmed, and Sheykh-Ahmed continued the struggle for their father's legacy. While they lacked the power of their father, they still commanded a significant following that kept them politically relevant for nearly 50 years. The brothers sought to restore the diminished prestige of the Horde, with their primary adversary being the Crimean Khanate.

Conflict with Crimea and the Ottomans

The Crimean Khanate's secession from the Horde not only weakened the Horde but also saw the Crimean khans claiming the role of the Horde's inheritors. Abd al-Karim supported the sons of Akhmat in their anti-Crimean policy. In 1490, Sheykh-Ahmed and Sayyid-Ahmed attempted to invade Crimea, with Abd al-Karim's participation. They feigned negotiations to lull the Crimean Khan Mengli-Giray into a false sense of security before launching a sudden attack. They ravaged northern Crimea but retreated to the lower Dnieper River. Mengli-Giray swiftly mobilized his forces, receiving 2,000 janissaries from the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II. Ivan III also dispatched troops under the command of Kazan's Khan Muhammad-Amin and Satylgan, the new Khan of Kasimov. The brothers hastily retreated into their own territories.

Conflict with the Nogays

Abd al-Karim raided Nogay nomadic tribes, which strained relations with Sheykh-Ahmed. The Nogay leader Musa's anger extended to Abd al-Karim's allies. A coalition of Nogay princes, including Musa and Yamgurchi, and the Siberian Khan Ibaka, who had killed Akhmat, aimed to overthrow his sons and install Ibaka in power. Ibaka and his son Mamuk briefly seized power in the Volga region. Ibaka even attempted to ally with Ivan III, offering an alliance and requesting the release of Ilkham, the former Khan of Kazan. However, Ivan only received the message in November 1493, long after the Nogays and Ibaka had left the Volga region. Despite Mengli-Giray's promise of aid, he did not send any troops, allowing Akhmat's sons and their Astrakhan allies to expel the Nogays.

Attack on Crimea and Conflict with Astrakhan

In 1500-01, Sheykh-Ahmed planned an attack on Crimea, enlisting the support of his brothers Sayyid-Khan and Muртаza, as well as his long-time ally Abd al-Karim. However, only Sayyid-Khan joined him. In May 1502, Mengli-Giray invaded and routed Sheykh-Ahmed's forces, devastating his lands and symbolically burning down Sarai. From then on, the Crimean khans declared themselves masters of the Great Ulus.

Sheykh-Ahmed initially sought refuge with Abd al-Karim in Astrakhan. However, a rift developed between them, leading Sheykh-Ahmed to leave and encamp nearby. He then conceived a plan to seize Astrakhan. In 1503, he appealed to Ivan III for aid, offering to abandon his alliance with Lithuania in exchange. Ivan did not respond to his embassy. Sheykh-Ahmed renewed his alliance with the Nogays, who were now led by Musa's brother Yamgurchi. Sheykh-Ahmed personally visited the Nogay leader and secured troops under the command of his brother-in-law, Sultan-Ahmed, the son of Musa. Together, they besieged Astrakhan.

Abd al-Karim and Sheykh-Ahmed's brother Bakhadur-Sultan defended the city. However, under pressure from Ivan III, the Nogays abandoned Sheykh-Ahmed, leaving him in a hopeless position. He subsequently fled westward.