HISTORIOGRAPHY OF THE KHAZAR STATE: INTERDISCIPLINARY DIALOGUE ABOUT ONOMATOLOGICAL EXCURSUSES AND PASSAGES OF A HISTORIAN-MEDIEVIST

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to introduce some data of the fundamental work of A.P. Novosel’cev “The Khazar state and its role in the history of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus”, which is not used by historians, and to clarify the interpretations, proposed by the author. The relevance of the article is due to the fact that no assessment has been given in domestic journals to the numerous attempts to comprehend historical proper names: anthroponyms, ethnonyms, potamonyms, astyonyms and komonyms over the past three decades since the publication of the named work. Scientific novelty lies in the consistent observance of the requirements of comparative studies – a comparative-historical approach that demonstrates the insufficiency of simple comparisons. The main material of the research is onomatological excursuses and passages of the mentioned fundamental work of A.P. Novosel’cev. The result of their consideration is, firstly, the establishing the fallacy of deriving the astyonym and potamonym “Atil’” from the Finno-Ugric languages. Secondly, it is the reconstruction of the primordial archetype of the astyonym “Hamlyh”/”Hamlidzh” fixed by historical sources in the form of Hanlyh “Khan’s Residence”, “Capital”. Thirdly, it is the establishing the origin of one of the names of the Khazar capital Sarykshin. Fourthly, it is the proof of the periphrastic nature of the astyonym “Atil’”. Fifthly, it is the establishment of the primacy of A-anlaut (Atl) in the ancient name of the Volga River and the secondary nature of I-anlaut (Itil’).