Ghabdellatif of Kazan

Ghabdellatif (/ɡæbˌdɛləˈtiːf/; Abdul Latyf, Abd al Latif; Tatar: Ğäbdellatíf [ɣæbˌdellʌˈtɯɪf]) (ca. 1475 - after 1502) was the khan of Kazan Khanate in 1496-1502.

Ghabdellatif was the youngest son of Ibrahim and Nur Soltan. When his father died in 1479, his mother married Meñli I Giray and moved to Crimean Khanate. Around 1490 Meñli I Giray sent Abdul to Muscovy for service, where he received town of Zvenigorod. His brother Moxammat Amin ruled Kashira. That was considered great honor because these towns were usually given to own sons of Grand Duke of Muscovy.

After a 1495 coup against pro-Muscovy Moxammat Amin, Mamuq quickly discredited himself. Ghabdellatif was chosen as a weaker alternative to his brother Moxammat Amin. Moscow approved the candidate.

In 1499 another attempt was made to restore Siberian dynasty to Kazan throne. Uraq attempted to establish Agalaq as Kazan khan. The attempt was repelled.

Ghabdellatif grew up in Crimean Khanate, which had closer ties with Ottoman Empire than with Muscovy. As he became older, he started to conduct more independent politics. That was unacceptable to the faction which selected him for the throne. In 1501 a group of Kazan nobles headed by Qol (Kel) Axmat visited Moscow. In January 1502, an embassy from Muscovy came to Kazan. Ghabdellatif was ousted, taken from Kazan under guard to Moscow and then exiled to Beloozero (now Belozersk, Russia). Moxammat Amin was installed as khan once again. The conflict resulted in a number of inquiries from Crimean Khanate, but it did not cause hostilities. It could be explained by the facts that the throne passed to another step son of Meñli I Giray, and that Crimean Khanate was busy with a war against Big Horde.

It's possible that Ghabdellatif lived in exile at least until 1511, when he was visited by his mother.

See also

• List of Kazan khans