On 28 May 2024, a researcher Muhametshin I.D. delivered a lecture ‘The ancient city of Itil’ for the visitors of the Bolgar Museum-Reserve. The listeners became acquainted with the ancient city, the capital of the Khazar Kaganate. The city was founded on the site of a wintering ground as a khan’s headquarters and was the first urban settlement in the lower reaches of the Volga. Since the middle of VIII century, the rise of international trade began, and Itil turned into the largest transit market.
During its heyday, the city consisted of three parts divided by the river. Communication between them was carried out by boats. The right (western) part was the administrative part. Between the two parts, there was an island where the palaces of two rulers of Khazaria – kagan and bek – were located. The island was connected to one of the parts by a bridge of boats. The left (eastern) part appeared later and was a trade one. Here markets, trade warehouses and baths were located. The dwellings were felt yurts, wooden tents and dugouts.
Different religious communities coexisted in the city: Jews, Muslims, Christians and pagans. The representatives of these communities came from different countries. There were about 30 neighborhood mosques with schools and 1 cathedral mosque with a minaret. To solve disputes there were seven judges: two for Jews, Muslims and Christians and one for all pagans. An official appointed by the tsar controlled the activity of judges.
In 965, Itil has been taken by Svyatoslav and destroyed. The surviving population took refuge on islands in the Volga delta. There is no data on the further fate of the Khazar capital. In XII – the beginning of XIII century, in the Lower Volga region there was a large city Saksin, and in Mongol time – Sarai-Batu. Whether they were located on the place of Itil is unknown.
27 people attended the lecture.

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