Principality of Purgaz

Attempts to conquer the Mordvins escalated in 1184, with a violent process of colonisation by the principality of Vladimir-Suzdal on the Mordvins. As a result of this colonisation, the city of Nizhny Novgorod was established. Per the Laurentian Codex, Mordvins were taken as slaves. Further campaigns by Vladimir-Suzdal resulted in further destruction of Mordvin lands, and their settlement by Slavs.^[3]

Erzya prince Purgaz entered the war against Vladimir-Suzdal in 1229, forging an alliance with Volga Bulgaria. The same year, the war between Purgaz and Vladimir-Suzdal had also expanded into a civil war among the Mordvins; Purgaz, supported by Volga Bulgaria, fought against Puresh, a Moksha ruler who had defected to the side of Vladimir-Suzdal. Puresh's son Atämaz initially won several victories, and Purgaz barely escaped amidst widespread massacres of the Erzya population.^[4] Despite these victories, however, Vladimir-Suzdal's campaign ended in 1232, with Purgaz's principality surviving.^[5]

By the mid-13th century, the Principality of Purgaz was absorbed into the Golden Horde.^[5] It became the Mukhsha Ulus.^[1]

Much information on the Principality of Purgaz remains unknown, including its capital and exact borders. Several possible sites for a capital have been proposed, including Arzamas,^[6] near Kadom,^[2] or Sarov [ru].^[1]

In terms of the principality's political organisation, archaeologist Gennady Belorybkin [ru] has argued that Purgaz was a subject of the Burtas tribe, and the principality itself became subordinated to Volga Bulgaria. Other scholars, such as R. G. Mukhamedova, have also supported the hypothesis that Purgaz was part of the Burtas.^[1]

Soviet historian Mikhail Pokrovsky characterised the Principality of Purgaz as an example of class conflict rather than simply a Mordvin-Russian conflict, noting the presence of Russian peasants on the side of Purgaz against the government of Vladimir-Suzdal and the popularity of Purgaz's cause among the peasantry.^[4]