Crimean Khanate - Regions and Administration

Regions and Administration

Main regions outside of Qirim yurt (the peninsula)

• Kaztsiv ulus (located in Kuban)
• Yedychkul Horde
• Djambayluk Horde
• Yedisan Horde
• Budjak Horde (?)
• Prohnoinsk Palanka (possibly leased to the Zaporizhian Host) (located on the Kinburn peninsula)
• Silistra Province, Ottoman Empire for sometime governed by Bakhchisaray

The peninsula itself was divided by the khan's family and several beys. The estates controlled by beys were called beylik. Beys in the khanate were as important as the Polish Magnats. Directly to the khan belonged Cufut-Qale, Bakhchisaray, and Staryi Krym (Eski Qirim). The khan also possessed all the salt lakes and the villages around them, as well as the woods around the rivers Alma, Kacha, and Salgir. Part of his own estate included the wastelands with their newly created settlements.

Part of the main khan's estates were the lands of the Kalga-sultan who was next in the line of succession of the khan's family. He usually administered the eastern portion of the peninsula. Kalga also was Chief Commander of the Crimean Army in the absence of the Khan. The next hereditary administrative position, called Nureddin, was also assigned to the khan's family. He administrated the western region of the peninsula. There also was a specifically assigned position for the khan's mother or sister — Ana-beim — which was similar to the Ottomans' Valide Sultan. The senior wife of the Khan carried a rank of Ulu-beim and was next in importance to the Nureddin.

By the end of the khanate regional offices of the kaimakans, who administered smaller regions of the Crimean Khanate, were created.

• Or Qapı (Perekop) had special status. The fortress was controlled either directly by the khan's family or by the family of Shirin.