Before it separated from the Golden Horde, the Kazan region was part of Volga Bulgaria (c. 630–1240) and then the Bulgar Ulus of the Golden Horde (c. 1240–1438).
They adopted Islam in 921, 67 years before Russia became Christian.
The boundary between Muscovy and Kazan was near Nizhny Novgorod, about half way between the two cities.
The land east of Nizhny Novgorod was fairly difficult.
When the Tatars attacked they would first hit Nizhny Novgorod and then move on Murom, Ryazan, and other places, only twice approaching Moscow.
When the Russians attacked they would usually send two armies, one down the Volga and one over land.
As Muscovy grew stronger, fighting shifted eastward.
Before 1552 the Russians made no attempt to conquer Kazan and contented themselves with maintaining a pro-Russian khan.
A pro-Russian khan meant peace and an anti-Russian khan meant independence and war.
Kazan never established a stable dynasty.
Pro-Russian khans often came from the Qasim Khanate while anti-Russian khans were brought in from Crimea and other khanates.
There were usually pro- and anti-Russian factions, but they seem to have been temporary and unstable.
Before it separated from the Golden Horde, the Kazan region was part of Volga Bulgaria (c. 630–1240) and then the Bulgar Ulus of the Golden Horde (c. 1240–1438). They adopted Islam in 921, 67 years before Russia became Christian. The boundary between Muscovy and Kazan was near Nizhny Novgorod, about half way between the two cities. The land east of Nizhny Novgorod was fairly difficult. When the Tatars attacked they would first hit Nizhny Novgorod and then move on Murom, Ryazan, and other places, only twice approaching Moscow. When the Russians attacked they would usually send two armies, one down the Volga and one over land. As Muscovy grew stronger, fighting shifted eastward. Before 1552 the Russians made no attempt to conquer Kazan and contented themselves with maintaining a pro-Russian khan. A pro-Russian khan meant peace and an anti-Russian khan meant independence and war. Kazan never established a stable dynasty. Pro-Russian khans often came from the Qasim Khanate while anti-Russian khans were brought in from Crimea and other khanates. There were usually pro- and anti-Russian factions, but they seem to have been temporary and unstable.
Russo-Kazan Wars