Who is the Baskak: is it a tax collector or guardian of order in conquered lands?

History is a science that is based on reliable facts. But sometimes these facts are not enough, then the gaps are filled with hypotheses, opinions, and speculation. Different scientists put forward their own versions, however, as is known, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Many mysteries are covered with dust of centuries, which hides from us the essence of the phenomenon, question or event. Today, one of the dark sides, which has no unambiguous assessment, can be considered the period of Mongol rule in Russia. The difficult time for the Russian people for a long time stopped the development of the country and even threw it back. Scientists still can not agree on what functions were performed and in general, who are the Baskaks. The picture seems to be clear: these are the governors of the khan on the conquered territories. But everything is not so simple.

Chronicle was well developed and widely distributed in Kievan Rus. However, the first chronicles told of the Rurikovichs: their arrival on the banks of the Dnieper, their resettlement and the founding of new cities, the struggle against troubled neighbors, nomads and sedentary tribes. Since the second half of the thirteenth century, they have changed dramatically: the authors are sad, because the Russian lands became dependent on the Mongol Empire, so the people have to be very difficult. And they begin to meet new terms, for example, "Baskak". This word denotes a Golden Horde official who was necessarily present in every conquered capital city. Over time, the rulers of the ulus Juchi, who turned into a separate state - the Golden Horde, withdrew them. The reason was frequent excitement of local residents and their discontent with the presence of strangers.

What functions did the Baskakov perform in Russia? Some historians believe that the main (and only) duty was the command of large units, ensuring the timely collection of tribute and obedience. Other scientists argue that the baskak is an official authorized by the khan who controlled the policy of the Russian princes. Still others hold the opinion that the Baskaks did not have their own troops, but they had the right to call a punitive detachment from the Horde, if necessary. Military reinforcements were called in cases of disobedience, refusal to pay taxes, and so on.

In one, practically all the scientists agree, although they do not find that confirmation: the baskak is a person who had to do with the collection of tribute. Most likely, he performed several functions and represented the interests of the supreme khan. But it is reliably known that the tribute was collected by individual people, tax farmers, who were appointed in the Karakorum, the capital of the empire. At the same time, the history of the uprisings against the Baskakov is unknown, but the people were going to fight repeatedly against the tax-farmers.

It can be concluded that Baskak is a significant figure in the history of Russian lands, which, however, insulted the local residents, as it reminded them of the game. And the very fact of the removal of these officials from the cities was rated as positive. He testified that the influence of the Golden Horde on Rus' weakened, and then completely disappeared. But to put an end to the long-standing dispute of many scientists will only be time and new research.