Kıpchak-Rus marriages and its effect on political relations between XI-XIII. centuries

From the very first intereaction of Russians and Turks, cross-marriages were used as one of the instruments in obtaining political gains. The cross-marriages were made by emphasizing the motivations of ending long-lasting wars, providing and enviroment of peace, gaining advantage through dowry and obtaining military support with kinship relationships between the centuries when the relations began and in the development phase. Even before the establishment of the Russian state in Kiev, the Slavic tribes, who met with the Turkish tribes have increased their political relations on the axis of Turkish tribes since they became a state in the 9th century. Thereupon, the Pechenegs, who came to the North of the Black Sea, had to fight with the Uz and Kipchaks. These long-lasting fights increased even more with the disintegration in Kievan Russia and the emergence of Russian dynasties. Moreover, political entities that had formed in major Russian cities such as Chernigov, Smolensk and Suzdal has also made the cross-marriages with the Kipchaks to provide support against Kiev. The Kiev Principality, on the other hand, stopped the increasing plundering activities during this period and established kinship relations , the daughters of the Kipchak khans had married the knezs of other Russian cities, including Kiev and influenced the foundations of the Russian family structure. The heirs that were born as a result of the cross-marriages became knezs as half Russian and half Kipchak origin. These heirs not only became the head of their own cities but also became the king of all Russia by sitting on the throne of Great Kiev. This situation also indicates that the knezs with Kipchak origin were able to reach the power to rulet he entire country. The cross-marriages that changed the balance of power in Turkish-Russian relations of power in Turkish-Russian relations during the Middle Ages reveals the most critical period in terms of political relations.