Péter Arany Horda-i cárevics, az orosz egyház szentje és a Csirikovok genealógiája
Peter Ordynsky, Saint of the Russian Church and the Genealogy of the Chirikovs

Summary/Abstract: One of the most original works of Old Russian literature is the Povest’ o Petre, tsareviche Ordynskom. The story takes place between the 1250s and 1320s, i.e. during the first period of the Tatar Yoke (tatarskoe igo) of the Russian principalities. For the history of early Tatar–Russian relations, it is a fairly reliable source. The main hero of the story is a prince from the Golden Horde who converted to Christianity in Rostov, then he founded a monastery and since the 14th century is venerated as a saint of the Russian Church. He and his descendants became integrated into the Russian elite. The work is a peculiar mixture of historical narrative (povest’) and the lives of saints (zhitie), which provides a remarkable insight into the history of contemporary life and Tatar– Russian relations. The legend itself may have been created at a time close to the narrated events, but as a literary work the Povest’ acquired its final form in the second half of the 15th century. The article first presents the narrative, then tries to find answers to a couple of philological and historical questions raised by the text and shed light on the historicity of the Tatar background. Finally, the article traces the genealogy of the Chirikov family until the end of the 15th century, who, according to the Russian genealogical tradition, descended from Tsarevich Peter.

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