Temnikov Principality


The Temnikov Principality or Tümen Principality, also known as or the Bekhanid Principality of Tümen was a Mishar and Moksha principality in Eastern Mishar Yurt. The state was closely allied with the Grand Duchy of Moscow.

Etymology

and means tümen commander and refers to the city founder Prince Tenish Kugushev or his immediate ancestors.
Other scholars M. Safargaliev, P. Chermensky consider Temnikov second one in importance ulus centre after Mukhsha since the etymology of the placename itself points at Golden Horde tümen commander's headquarters.

History

The principality was established by Prince Bekhan in 1388.
The principality later expanded and comprised territories between Oka-Tsena-Sura interfluve in Northern, Western and Eastern Mokshaland. Temnikov, Kadom, Sacony and Andreev townlet had been destroyed during the period of Muscovy and Ryazan Principality raids in the first decades of the 15th century and later rebuilt in new sites. It was confirmed by archeological findings in the 1960s.

Genetics

Members at Family TreeDNA tracing royal descent to Prince Bekhan of the Temnikov Principality, are grouped as in the Russian Nobility DNA project. All members belong to Y-haplogroup J2b-L283 > Y12000.

Tümen Princes

  • Kugushevs – Mishar dynasty
  • Rasts – Moksha dynasty (sometimes mistakenly referred to as "Siberian" since Tümen and Tyumen were mixed Djagfar Tarikhy mentioned Rasts as Seber Princes, which means "of Moksha or Hungarian descent"
Mentioned in Russian sources as Mordvin Princes

Administration

The Principality was divided into belyaks.

Population

The land was inhabited mainly by Mokshas, Mishars and Erzyas. Some Burtases resettled to Northern Mokshaland, and would be mentioned in later Russian documents as Posop Tatars since they served as the prince's army bread suppliers and paid bread tax.