In one single year, the Tatars were said to have captured one hundred and sixty thousand people. This number was reported by those who had seen official certificates given for each captive. For every person taken, a document was prepared and recorded. These certificates listed the name, country, and age of the captive.
The reason for this system was simple. The Tatar warrior was often a free-booter, meaning he lived by raiding and taking whatever he could. However, he was not allowed to capture and sell people who were already subjects of the Ottoman Empire. To prevent cheating, the Tatars had to prove that their captives were taken from enemy lands. Without these documents, they could not legally sell their prisoners to Ottoman buyers.
This careful record-keeping shows that even in violent times, there were rules between the Ottoman Empire and the Tatars. The Sultan wanted to make sure that his own people were not enslaved by mistake or by greed Balkan Tours.
The Tatars as Hunters of the Steppe
The Tatars were often compared to a jackal that hunts for a lion. In this image, the Ottoman Sultan was the lion, and the Tatars were the hunters who found and gathered the prey. They made fast and sudden attacks into neighboring lands.
Sometimes they traveled for ten or twelve days without causing any damage on their outward journey. However, when they turned back toward their own country, they attacked with great speed and violence. They robbed villages, burned towns, and captured men, women, and children of every age. Their return was like a flood that destroyed everything in its path.
Each Tatar warrior usually led three or four horses. These extra horses were used to carry captives and stolen goods. Because they changed horses often, they could travel very quickly, day and night, with only short rests. Their speed made it almost impossible for a regular army to catch them. An army that was organized could not move fast enough, and one that moved quickly was often too disordered to fight them properly.
The Fate of the Captives
The journey was cruel for the prisoners. Those who were wounded or too weak to continue were killed. Only the strong survived the long march back to Tatar lands. Once there, many were sold to Ottoman traders who came to buy slaves. The slave trade was one of the most profitable activities in Tatary.
Young boys and girls were sold for the highest prices. Beautiful girls were especially valued and treated like rare jewels. Sadly, many of them suffered abuse even before they were sold.
The Ancient Identity of the Tatars
In ancient times, these people were known as the Sarmatians. They were famous for their skill on horseback. They were powerful riders and brave fighters in open lands. However, they were not skilled in fighting on foot. The Roman historian Tacitus described them in this way, saying they were strong in cavalry but weak in infantry.
For many centuries, the Tatars remained known for their speed, horsemanship, and fierce raids across the plains.