Söyembikä of Kazan facts for kids

Söyembikä with her son, Ütämeşgäräy.

Captured Princess Söyembikä leaves Kazan, by Vasily Khudyakov.

Söyembikä (born in 1516, died after 1554) was an important Tatar ruler. She was known as a xanbikä, which means a female ruler or queen. Söyembikä was in charge of the Kazan Khanate from 1549 to 1551. She ruled as a regent, meaning she governed for her young son, who was too young to rule by himself.

Söyembikä's Life Story

Söyembikä was the daughter of a powerful Nogay leader named Yosıf bäk. She was married to three different Kazan khans (rulers). Her first husband was Canğäli (from 1533 to 1535). Later, she married Safagäräy (from 1536 to 1549).

Becoming a Ruler

After Safagäräy passed away in 1549, Söyembikä became the regent for her son, Ütämeşgäräy. He was still a child, so Söyembikä took on the important role of leading the Kazan Khanate. This made her a powerful woman in her time.

Life After Kazan

In 1551, the Kazan Khanate faced a big change. Ivan the Terrible, the ruler of Russia, began to take control of parts of Kazan. Söyembikä and her son were taken to Moscow. Later, she married Şahğäli, who was a khan from Qasim and Kazan, chosen by the Russians.