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Kazan, founded in the early 11th century, is one of the oldest Tartar cities in Russia. The Tartars were and are a Turkic people who speak a dialect of Turkish. The city was a particularly troublesome one for Moscow. In its original independent days, it posed both a military and economic rival in the valuable Volga region. As a Muslim city, it was also a cultural rival. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it became a regional capital of the Golden Horde Empire and thus hated even more by Moscow. When, in 1552, Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible finally subdued and subjugated the town, the event was celebrated throughout Russia by a wave of cathedral building, which includes Moscow’s St. Basil’s and many others, often known as "Kazan Cathedral." In an effort to consolidate his new political power, Ivan took several actions. First, he asked to marry the Tartar princess Suyumbika, a beauty whose troubled life had already seen her married to three Mongol Khans. Legend states that she agreed only after Ivan burned the city’s main mosque (the Kul Sharif, now being rebuilt) but only on the condition that he build a tower taller than the enormous mosque and complete it in a week. Unfortunately for the Princess, her “impossible” task was completed. Rather than leave her city in the custody of Ivan, she threw herself off the tower. Unfortunately for the tower, its foundation was not secure and it now leans slightly (194cm). Ivan also secured the Muslim Kahn’s conversion to orthodoxy and built the Russian-designed Annunciation Cathedral (1562) on the territory of the Kremlin in an impressive 10 years. These days, Kazan is better known for some of the more recent events in history: First, it is a major oil-producing region, the industry that is still helping to "refuel" Russia's economy. Second, both Lev Tolstoy and V.I. Lenin went to school here (although not at the same time!). Kazan now hosts Lenin State University, which offers an impressive array of degrees as well as a particularly beautiful library. Finally, Tartarstan was one of the first republics of the former Soviet Union to declare independence. Although Tartarstan is now part of the Russian Federation, there is always tension on the political front. For those hoping to experience many cultures at once, Kazan offers a fantastic experiance as it still stands at the confluence of Russian cultures and those further east and south. This "Gateway to the East" along the Trans-Siberian contains a unique mix of Russian Orthodox churches standing near mosques, markets that sell Russian staple foods as well as more exotic examples of other culture’s delicacies and, of course, an incredible mix of people. Highly recommended as both a travel and as a study destination. Find Out More!
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