Seid Mohammed-Gali ibn Mirhudja
(Kul Gali)
1172 - 1240

Note. Most of the dates are found in the sources, but some are interpolated as plausible approximations - Translator's Note

Mohammed-Gali ibn Mirhudja is better known under his literary pseudonym Kul Gali

Сыном Ахмеда ибн Фадлана был Насыр, его сыном — Мохаммед, его сыном — Хамид, его сыном — Нугман, его сыновьями — шейх Дауд и казый Якуб. Шейх Дауд осмелился выразить недовольство по случаю изгнания каном Адамом эмира Ахада Мосхи и за это был выслан из Эчке Булгара в провинцию Саксин, где у него в городе Саксин-Болгар родился сын Сулейман. При эмире Колыне Сулейман был возвращен в Буляр и стал сеидом. Самый высокий минарет мечети Барадж был назван его именем. А сыном Сулеймана был Сада, назначенный сеидом после подавления восстания Мамли-Ома-ра, его сыном — Кылыч, написавший известный дастан о Тахире и Зухре и также бывший сеидом...

А сыном казыя Якуба был святой Исбель, освятивший своей молитвой основание города Казани в 1103 году, его сыном — шейх Кул-Дауд, его сыном Мирхуджа Наккар, его сыном Мохаммед-Гали, его сыном — Мир-Гали, его сыном — Ядкар, его сыном — Ра-джап, его сыном — Исбель Худжа, почивший в 1359 году, его сыновьями - Хаммад и Хусаин. Хаммад в возрасте 93 лет принужден был бежать из Болгара в Чирмышан, когда туда ворвался Иде-гей. Сыновья этого благочестивого шейха все мученически погибли в Улуг-Болгаре, защищая его святыни от монгытского поругания. Его брат Хусаин после смерти своей любимой жены в горести удалился в Башкорт и почил там у горы Мамлитюба в 1393 году в возрасте 83 лет, не оставив после себя детей. Так как и Хаммад остался совершенно одиноким, то он благословил Ашрафа, сына эмира Чаллы-Мохаммеда на принятие им титула сеида для возвращения Булгару подобающего ему могущества...

1171 The son of Seid Kul-Daud, Mullah Mirhudja tried forbidding the traditional Bulgarian fight matches between men and women during the popular selebrations, and one of fighters, the daughter of the Tabyn Biy Ümart-Tabyn, became Mirhudja's wife

1172 Tabyns’ Biy Ümart-Tabyn daughter gave birth to Mirhudja's son Mohammed-Gali. Mullah Mirhudja is appointed to Bulyar. During a move of the family to the Bulyar she caught a cold and soon died...

1172  Bulyarians nicknamed the new seid Nakkar, for his sonorous and beautiful calls to pray.

1178 When Mohammed-Gali is 6 years old, Kan Otyak (1164-1178) dies, Gabdulla Chelbir (1178-1225) is raised to the Kan throne.

1179 Kan Chelbir appointed the father of Mohammed-Gali, Mirhudja, as the Seid of the capital Bulyar, to replace Seid Mamil, the senior son of Hyzyr-Hudja, who was appointed the Seid of the capital after the death of Mirhudja's father Seid Kul-Daud. Seid Mamil left to the Tatyak and headed there the brotherhood “El-Khum”.

1182  Kan Chelbir was ousted from the capital by a rebellion of Seid Mamli-Omar or Seid Mamil. The rebels raised Chalmati for the reign, Seid Mamil became the Visier, and Mirhudja remained the Seid of the capital Bulyar. The Mamil mutiny intoxicated  the ten years old Mohammed-Gali and for a time made him an adherent of violent actions in establishing the Kaganate of Goodness and Fairness dear to his heart.

1182  The lead in the brotherhood “El-Khum” was seized by a most aggressive group named “Amin”, the Alp Simbir-Karga becames their banner symbol. It opposed excessive taxes and duties, and stood for elimination of the allodial lands.

1187 House of sciences “Mohammed-Bakir” became a propagator for the Aminian ideas, began to be called “Rooks”. Two shakird friends of the same 15-year old age, Mohammed-Gali and Mir-Gazi, fall under their influence.

1192 After graduation from the medresé, 20-year old Mohammed-Gali became an imam-khatib in the Hasan mosque in the Bolgar, and became a very popular preacher.

1192 People's discontent pushed Amines to a new plot, lead by the mullah Gali. He spread the web of the plot, called the “Rook’s” after the image on the Amines’ banner, through all the country. The purpose of the “rooks” brothers was installation of Mir-Gazi as the Kan sharing their views, gentle and sensitive to injustice, in contrast with the Kan Chelbir.

1193 A new plot against Chelbir, headed by 21-year old future great Bulgarian poet Mohammed-Gali (Kul Gali)

1193 A signal to rebellion were the calls for the morning prayer. In the Bolgar the people were to be raised by Gali himself, and in the capital by the voice of his assistant mullah Kylych. Kylych betrayed and reported to the Kan Chelbir about the upcoming revolt.  Mergen, who was promoted to the post of the Tubdjak Tarkhan, seized 500 main participants of the plot including Gali. All 500 were sentenced to execution.

1193 Bulyar Tarkhan Mer-Chura learned about the events and decided to protect Gali in memory of his kind father. He bought the lives of 500 sentenced in exchange for 500 captured Galidjians. After that the “Rooks” were paraded for sale into slavery, and Gali, who turned grey at once, was banished to the Alabuga tower, and was chained there to the wall. Mir-Gazi was exiled from the Bolgar to the Kashan.

1203 Ar’s revolt.  Chelbir forgave the 31-year old mullah Mohammed-Gali, expressed hope that he would cease revolting against the rulers, and endorsed him, as a Mir-Gazi's friend, for the post of the Kashan Seid. After receiving this message, Gali told Mir-Gazi with a weak chuckle: “The “kind” Khan first chained me in bondage, but the ”malicious heathens” tore it off. Now the Kan desires that I would start hating those who ripped his chains off me. But how can I be angry for it?” Seid Mohammed-Gali after incarceration in the Alabuga began to call himself Kul-Gali, as a sign of his sympathy for the oppressed and his humble status...

1203 Bulgarian poet Mohammed-Gali ibn Mirhudja (pseudonym - "Kul Gali") completes his immensely long ingenious poem "Kyssa-i Üsuf", "Legend about Üsuf", using the achievements of the Persian and Arabian literatures, and giving us a literary monument written in the indigenous Bulgarian language of the 12th century (first legally printed in Russia in 1989, in quasi-Cyrillic "Tatar" alphabet. Second edition was prepared by Nurmukhammet Khisamov and printed in New Turkic Latin).

Сей труд я завершил в шестьсот тридцатый год56,
Сейчас - святой Раджаб 57,- тридцатый день идет.
Закончил я писать сей стихотворный свод,-
Я милостью творца поддержан был теперь.

55 Раб скромный Кул Гали сложил здесь много строк, и каждую вершил двадцать четвертый слог...- Каждая строка поэмы Кул Гали состоит из двенадцати слогов. Поскольку произведение в письме оформлено в виде бейтов, т. е. двустиший, в каждую строку которых вошло две строки четверостишия в виде двух столбцов, то в одной строке бейта оказалось 24 слога.

56 Шестьсот тридцатый год (хиджры) - соответствует 1233 году европейского летоисчисления.

57 Раджаб - седьмой месяц лунного календаря. Тридцатое раджаба 630 г. соответствует 12 мая 1233 г. В многочисленных списках поэмы встречаются в основном три даты: 600, 609 и 630 годы хиджры. Более вероятными признаны две даты: 609 и 630. В тюркском оригинале «девять» (тукуз) и «тридцать» (утуз) в системе рифм строфы (йитузендэн - утузындан-тукузындан) легко заменяемы, и ошибочный вариант, по всей вероятности, возник на этой основе. Переписчики могли допустить его и из профессиональных соображений, т. е. с целью избежать тавтологии в рифмах. А между тем повторение одних и тех же слов в рифмах Кул Гали - не редкость. На основе учета всех этих соображений, а также социально-исторической обостренности идей и мотивов поэмы, дальнейшей судьбы ее, как и судьбы автора, признан более верной датой 630 год хиджры.

1207 Before his exile, Seid Gali married the daughter of Dayr and grand-daughter of the slave-trader Appak.

1207 In exile, Seid Gali widowed, and his son Mir-Gali from the daughter of Dayr grew up in the house of the suvarbashi.

1212. Seid Gali taught about the laws, causing the Kashanian revolt, supported by the Ars' revolt. Gali writes a letter to Kan Chelbir spelling out the rebel's request, and protecting those igenchis whom he converted to Islam. Seid Gali presented Kan Chelbir the restored book about Üsuf. The Kan saw a verse about the transition of the power from the senior to the younger brother, and became furious.  Kan Chelbir ordered to seize the Seid again, as the instigator of the mutiny. In response, Gali declared that those trying to cross Agidel to seize him would sink. Out of the superstitious fear, many were afraid to deal with the saint and refused to execute the order of the Kan, and only sardar Guza went to the Kashan. ”Be careful”, told him Elaur, “You may drown”. The fearless sardar in response only laughed. But the Gali's prediction came true...

1213 A wave of sanctification swipes around Mohammed-Gali's image. Gali consecrates fortress, declares a complete abdication from the power, and the places he ever visited are converted into the mosques.

1214 Emir Mir-Gazi promised Seid Gali to ensure the fate of the rebels. He persuaded Seid Gali to leave from the country.  First the Seid fled to the Bolgar and from there left with a caravan to Khoresm, with Yaldau's help, because of his hate of his father Kan Chelbir. In Khoresm, Emir Djelaletdin hospitably received Seid Gali and appointed him a secretary of his archive...

1224 Khorezmian Emir Djelaletdin sent an embassy to the Bulgarian Kan Chelbir to ask for help against Juchi's advance. Seid Gali was in the ambassadorial caravan. The embassy was intercepted by the Kypchakian Ak-Oimek Khan Karabash, who was trying to please Juchi. Seid Gali was taken prisoner but was not harmed, because Kypchaks treasured chichens (storytellers) who, as they believed,  were saints and could talk with the sky, and for some years wandered in the steppes with the Kypchaks. Gali composed for Oimeks a few songs.

1225 Juchi pursued Khan Karabash Oimeks and forced them to cross Djaik.  To please Juchi, Kan Chelbir refused to let Oimeks hide inside the Bulgarian State, and cornred them against Djaik river. Kan Chelbir suddenly died, and immediately in the field the Beks raised Mir-Gazi to the reign (1225 - 1229 AD). Seid Gali, cornered with Oimeks, came to the new Kan and asked to spare the poor Kypchaks. Kan Mir-Gazi could not refuse his friend and, ordered to settle Oimeks in the Bashkort. Kan Mir-Gazi took Seid Gali to the Bulyar, expelled dishonorably Kalych from the capital, and installed Gali instead. Soon Seid Gali persuaded Mir-Gazi to cancel the tax increase on all subashes, al-chirmyshes, merchants and and small craftsmen.

1227 Kul Gali devises a plan for his friend Kan Mir-Gazi to improve the position of the Muslim Igencheys, small and middle craftsmen, and alpars, the enlisted knights.

Altynbek 

1229 Kan Mir-Gazi died, and Altynbek, absolutely apathetic to the reforms of Gali, was raised to the Bulgarian Kan throne (1229, 1230-1236 ).

1229 Emir Iljas Yaldau rebelled in Bulyar, dethroning Altynbek and installing Gazi Baradj (1229-1230) instead, and causing a popular revolt. Said Gali advocates a reform to the newly enthroned Kan telling him: “Instability of our Kans, all disasters of our State are from non-observance of our faith, which prohibits the slavery. Relax taxes on small freeholders, subashes and al-chirmyshes to the size of the time of Talib, confirm the law of conversion of igenchis to subashis and al-chirmyshes when they accept Islam, enlist the remaining heathen kurmyshes into the category of kara-chirmyshes, and make ulans into the bakhadirs , and you will act in accordance with the Koran”. The Kan Gazi Baradj immediately carried out his will, and the Mohammed-Gali law was announced on all maidans of the State. The kurmyshes, especially Ars and Serbiyans of the Mountain Side and heathen Bulgars of the Ar’s district, began to accept Islam in masses, and declare themselves subashis or ak-chirmyshes. The Kan Gazi Baradj with the support of the Seid Mohammed-Gali with an iron fist quashed any resistance to Kan by the Seid Kylych followers.

1230 Altynbek re-instated to the throne, Gazi Baradj fled to Rus. The fate of Mohammed-Gali reform law is unknown, all real control is with the local authorities.

1231 Seid Gali married Mir-Gazi’s widow Sauliya who was given in marriage at five years old, and whom he loved all his life.

Seid Gali is criss-crossing the country working to unite the State.

1236 Gazi-Baradj returns as Mongol Batu's ally and becomes Bulgar's Emir again, in vassalage to Batu (1236-1242 AD). Storm of Bulyar  by Mongols and execution of its defenders. During the battle Seid Gali's grandson was lost, and trying to find him Sauliya fell behind. The grandson was found alive, but the unfortunate woman who brought him up as a son was killed. Gali was among the captured, holding his grandson in his arms. Seid was pointed to to Batu,  Mankay Subyatai, and Guük: “He cannot be executed, he is the Supreme Kakhin of the Bulgars. His death will bring misfortune to Mongols”. Seid, who tried to cheer townspeople with a pray, only illegible words coming off his lips, was pulled out from the crowd and saved.

1236 Gali refused to become the Bulgar Seid and departed for a voluntary confinement in the Alabuga in protest of destruction of Bulyar. Seid Kylych, the predecessor and opponent of  Mohammed-Gali and Mohammed-Gali reform, was installed the Bulgarian Seid, and the head of “El-Khum”.

1240  Emir Iljas Yaldau raised a mutiny against Kan Gazi Baradj, called a djien to declare Mohammed-Gali the head of the country with a title of Seid. Mohammed-Gali agreed to become the head of the State, but did not leave Alabuga in view of his feebleness. He immediately sent to the Nur-Suvar his firman which said: “By the will of Allah, I, Seid Mohammed-Gali, accept the control of the Bulgarian State and declare jihad to the damned Tatar troops."


Preserved fragment of the firman

1240 Subyatai suppressed the Mohammed-Gali revolt in a "Gali War", restoring Kan Gazi Baradj control of Bulgar State. Suppression of the ”Gali War” happened before the end of October, 1240. Seid Gali, learning in his solitude about the disastrous events, collapsed and did not rise any more. Kul-Burat transported dying Seid to the Nur-Suvar, arriving with already lifeless body of Gali with the book ”Hon Kitaby” on his chest. Seid Mohammed-Gali was buried near the Kan's palace.

1242 Kan Gazi Baradj raised his son Hisam to the throne of the State and left to Batu to become his Visier.

1242 Bulgarian poet Mohammed-Gali ibn Mirhudja (pseudonym - "Kul Gali") creates his annalistic compilation "Hon Kitaby" ("Book Of Huns").

1246 After another revolt that deposed Hisam,  Nur-Suvar is completely destroyed. Burilday tramped with his horse’s hoofs the Gali’s tomb near the Emir’s palace, and an elder brother of the “El-Khum” told him: “What are you doing? This is the tomb of a saint! You yourself are calling the death on your head!” But Burilday continued his sacrilege. The grave of the Seid Mohammed-Gali ibn Mirhudja, known under his pseudonym Kul Gali, remains buried, covered by 750 years of sediments, in the barely visible remnants of the Nur-Suvar.

1612 A first book in Tatar was published in Leipzig (Germany) in 1612

1722 First Tatar native publishing-house in Russia, 110 years following the German publication

1983 UNESCO  celebrated Kul Gali's 800-th anniversary.