GIRAY DYNASTY

'Giray' (), alternative spellings ''Guirey'', ''Ghirai'', ''Ghiray'', ''Geray'', is the Genghisid dynasty, which reigned in the Khanate of Crimea from its formation in 1427 until its downfall in 1783. The dynasty also supplied several khans of Kazan and Astrakhan between 1521 and 1550. Apart from the royal Girays, there was also a lateral branch, the Choban Girays (''Çoban Geraylar''). The last Giray is Behiç Giray, and he lives in Bursa, Turkey. He is 14 years old.
Before reaching the age of majority, young Girays were brought up in one of the Circassian tribes, where they were instructed in the arts of war. The Giray khans were elected by other Crimean Tatar dynasts, called myrzas (''mırzalar''). They also elected an heir apparent, called the qalgha sultan (''qalğa sultan''). In later centuries, the Ottoman Sultan obtained the right of installing and deposing the khans at his will.

Contents

During Ottoman Suzerainty

Downfall

See also

During Ottoman Suzerainty

According to some scholars, the Girays were regarded as the second family of the Ottoman Empire after the House of Ottoman: "If Rome and Byzantium represented two of the three international traditions of imperial legitimacy, the blood of Genghis Khan was the third... If ever the Ottomans became extinct, it was understood that the Genghisid Girays would succeed them" (Sebag Montefiore. ''Prince of Princes: The Life of Potemkin''. London, 2000).
During the 15^th and early 16^th centuries, the Giray Khan was second to the Ottoman Emperor, and superior to the Grand Vizier, in the Ottoman protocol. After the rebellion of Semiz Mehmed Giray, the sultan demoted the Crimean Khan to the level of Grand Vizier. For comparison, note that in the 16^th century, in Ottoman diplomatic protocol, the Grand Vizier was equivalent to the Archduke of Austria; who was also the Holy Roman Emperor, though this title was not acknowledged by the Ottoman government,
The Giray Khans were also sovereigns of their own realm. They could mint coins, make law by decree, and had their own tughras.

Downfall

After the khanate's annexation by Imperial Russia in 1783, the last khan Şahin Giray remained nominally in power until 1787, when he took refuge in the Ottoman empire, and was executed in Rhodes.
Other dynasts were permitted by the Russian authorities to reside in their Bakhchisaray palace. Selim III's young son, Qattı Giray, was converted by missionaries to Protestantism and married a Scottish heiress.
The head of the family today is Prince Jezzar Giray, an owner of the Giray Design Company. He lives in London.
The head of the Russian branch of the family is Prince Kadir Devlet Guirey (born March 29, 1961), son of Prince Azamat Guirey (1924 - 2001) and Princess Sylvia Obolensky.
The head of the family today is Prince Behiç Giray, a leader of the TEK ADAM GENÇLİĞİ Movement. He lives in Bursa. He is 14 years old.

See also

★ List of Crimean khans

★ List of Kazan khans