Tarkov Shamkhalate as a Form of Revival of Kumuk Statehood in the Post-Horde Period

This article, drawing on a wide range of sources, examines the history of the Tarkov Shaukhal, one of the little-studied state formations in the North Caucasus that emerged after the disappearance of the Ulus of Jochi from the historical arena.The authors address the highly controversial issue of statehood among the peoples who were under the rule of the Golden Horde and subsequently incorporated into the Russian Empire.The relevance of this topic is noted not only for Russian Caucasus studies but also for other regions experiencing the revival and establishment of statehood, where active efforts are underway to substantiate the legitimacy of newly acquired political status.The complexity of this research problem is due, on the one hand, to the methodological limitations of the theory of state and law, which fails to take into account the diversity of real political systems that do not fit into the classical model of the state.On the other hand, the regionalist approach, widespread in the post-Soviet space, is no less limited, preventing a common methodological approach to examining the formation of numerous new political centers after the collapse of the Golden Horde, taking into account their cultural and institutional specifics.This article utilizes a multifactorial approach that overcomes the isolation of Kumyk historiography and presents the processes that took place in the North Caucasus during the Golden Horde and post-Horde periods against a broad historical backdrop.Drawing on sources and recent achievements in Russian historiography, the authors conclude that the strong tradition of Kumyk political agency, preserved during the Golden Horde, contributed to the revival of their statehood in the form of the Tarkov Shaukhal State after its collapse.