Tartarische

Tartarische is a German adjective derived from the word Tartar, which historically referred to the Turkic-speaking peoples of Central Asia who were prominent during the Mongol Empire and its successor khanates. The term is used to describe cultural, ethnic, or historical attributes associated with these groups, particularly the Tatars of modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.

The Tatar peoples trace their ancestry to the Xiongnu, Turkic tribes, and later the Mongol conquerors led by Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Following the fragmentation of the Mongol Empire, several Tatar states emerged, such as the Golden Horde, the Kazan Khanate, and the Crimean Khanate. These states often served as intermediary political entities between the Mongol successor states and the expanding Russian Principality.

Culturally, Tatar populations exhibit a blend of Islamic traditions with Turkic cultural practices. The Tatar language belongs to the Kipchak branch of the Turkic language family and is written in Cyrillic script in Russia, while the Crimean Tatars historically used the Arabic script. Tatar cuisine, music, and folklore reflect influences from Persian, Russian, and indigenous traditions.

Today, the largest Tatar population resides within the Russian Federation, notably in the Republic of Tatarstan, where the Tatar community forms the principal ethnic group. Significant Tatar diasporas also exist in Turkey, Bulgaria, and Uzbekistan. The term tartarische remains in use within German scholarship and literature to refer to historical, cultural, or linguistic aspects of the Tatar peoples and their heritage.