The institution of yasyr among the Nogais: the transformation of nomadic society in the imperial period
https://doi.org/10.53315/2782-3377-2025-5-4-20-33
Abstract
The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of the yasyr institution (captives taken during military conflicts is a part of the raid-based economy) among the Nogai people during the 17th–19th centuries, within the context of their integration into the Russian Empire. The author demonstrates that yasyr was not merely a «vestige» but a fundamental element of nomadic society, performing key economic, social, and status functions. It served as an important source of income for the nobility, a foundation of the economy, and a marker of social stratification. The methodological basis of the research is A.A. Auzan’s theory of cultural codes of economics, which allows interpreting yasyr as a rational institution within the nomadic system. The study traces the policy of the Russian Empire aimed at eradicating the slave trade, which was considered a measure to strengthen security and international authority. It is shown that the elimination of yasyr represented a painful «institutional breakdown» that affected the foundations of the traditional way of life. The scientific novelty of the research lies in analyzing the prohibition of yasyr as a cause of a civilizational rift that directly influenced the differentiation of development paths among Nogai societies. For some groups closely connected with this practice, the loss of the institution became a catalyst for mass exodus (Muhajirism) to the Ottoman Empire, while other groups managed to adapt to the new realities.
About the Author
A. T. Dzhumagulova
Pyatigorsk State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Aigul T. Dzhumagulova, Candidate of Historical Sciences
Pyatigorsk
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Review
For citations:
Dzhumagulova A.T. The institution of yasyr among the Nogais: the transformation of nomadic society in the imperial period. Nomadic civilization: historical research. 2025;5(4):20-33. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.53315/2782-3377-2025-5-4-20-33
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