Chronological data dating the death of Khan Berke

Abstract

The article considers the results of the source research of the texts of the Siro-Egyptian authors’ compiled writings. These texts were published in the fi rst volume of the Golden Horde’s compendium, translated in Russian by V.G. Tiesenhausen. Chronological evidence, contained in the writings’ messages were thoroughly researched using historical and chronological methods. Special attention is paid to applying the Cross-validation method to the chronological data, which allowed for the validation of the controversial evidence by comparing it with the information from external sources. The external sources in the research are the chronicles of Rashid-al-Din as well as Russian chronicles, which include the information about the death of Berke Khan. The results of the conducted research reconstruct the most exact time period of the death of Berke Khan. The revealed chronological controversies allowed to identify the more reliable and less accurate sources dating the events related to the period of Berke Khan reigning. Separate attention in the article is paid to the data on the kinship ties of the Horde khans. The author discusses the text compilations concerning the advantages and disadvantages connected with the details of the Siro-Egyptian authors’ compiled writings.