Kazan Chronicle

About “Kazan Chronicle”

The Kazan Chronicle, also known as the Story of the Tsardom of Kazan, is a 16th-century historical and literary work written between 1560 and 1565. The chronicler, who introduced himself as a Russian held captive in Kazan for about 20 years, was present when Ivan the Terrible captured the city in 1552. Some sources attribute his name to Ioann Glazaty. While in captivity, he converted to Islam, which allowed him to observe and record local customs. The chronicle covers events from the formation of the Kazan Khanate in the early 15th century up to its annexation in 1552. However, the accuracy of events before the chronicler's arrival is questionable, as the text contains many errors and fictional elements mixed with real historical information. The chronicle was first published in print in Saint Petersburg in 1790. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)