Karachi-bek social estate in Northeastern Caucusus: origin and functions

The article discusses the emergence, rights and responsibilities of group of feudal lords of the North-Eastern Caucasus, known as the karachi-becks. The author analyzes the information about the origin of this social group and of its political significance, while it uses sources on the history of the Yuan Empire, the Golden Horde, the Crimean and Kazan Khanate. The role of the karachi-bekin the history of the Great Steppe is well known. One of them - mangytuEdige even managed to create a nomadic empire - Nogai Horde. Expanding the local - the North Caucasian specifics stories кarachi-beks, he uses Dagestan historical records and folklore materials. Analyzing the origin of the word "karachi-bek" author rejects its local version and said that it "has a transparent Mongolian etymology. "Local chronicles link the emergence of class - karachi-bekswith the era of Tamerlane and the Golden Horde. Karachi - beks up to the elevation of the inheritance belonged shamkhalsErpel, Ka-rabudahkent,Gelli, Kadar, Arkas, Ghamr and Gubden. Erpelikarachi - beks managed to keep his inheritance after submission Shamkhalsand they played a significant role in the conflict Kumyk Kabardian princes and the North- East Caucasus. The role of the other Karachi -Bolsheviks were much more modest. According to the author, the Karachi - beki foothill Dagestan are also a branch of the steppe aristocracy, whose power in the region was challenged and minimized Shamkhals and princes of the genus Tarkovsky. In particular, in the XVII century, they entered the Council of the Supreme Ruler -Shamkhals and influence on important decisions, but to the XIX century in their hands only left the judiciary in the field - in their own destinies.