Mukhsha

Mukhshi (Tatar: Muxşa, Mukhsha) was the administrative center of Mukhsha Ulus and one of the Golden Horde centres of coinage. In the 15th century the city lost its importance and declined. The ruins (buildings of bricks, stone baths, Muslim graves) are situated in Penza Oblast near the modern town of Narovchat in the upper stream of Moksha River.

Muxşi, Muxşa

Сolumn chapiter of Özbeg Khan reign period
Location of the site within Russia Show map of Penza Oblast Mukhsha (European Russia) Show map of European Russia
Location	Penza Oblast, Russia
Region	Mukhsha Ulus
Coordinates	53.8493°N 43.7374°E / 53.8493; 43.7374[1][2]
Type	city
Length	2000
Width	900
History
Abandoned	1600s
Periods	Medieval
Cultures	Saltovo-Mayaki
Satellite of	Golden Horde
Associated with	Mongols
Events	Mongol Takeover in 1237, Destruction by Timur in 1395
Site notes
Excavation dates	1923-1927
Archaeologists	Aleksandr Krotkov
Condition	In ruins

City of Mukhsha in the middle of the Golden Horde

History

Foundation and name

The city foundation date is unknown. The archeological findings confirmed the first city population was Moksha.^[3] The city is often referred to as Mukhsha or Mukhshi which in fact was the name of the ulus Mukhsha, the official city name used in the Mongol period was Nurinjat ^[a].^[4][5]

Mukhsha Ulus

Mukhsha became the administrative center of Mukhsha Ulus and residence of Öz Beg Khan in 1313–1342. In 1313-1367 the city minted dangs, dirhams and pūls. Destroyed by Timur in 1395. In 16th century in Nurindzhat attested private and public baths, running water, sewerage, underfloor heating. The streets were paved with stones, there were fountains with drinking water, cathedral mosque, tavern (teahouse), inns, caravanserai, palace, houses and mausoleums of stone, Muslim cemetery. There were 3 potteries with ancient forges and a brick factory. Every brick made in Mukhshi had a special tamga. There was an artisan quarter with numerous workshops. Residential quarters partly lay nowadays under the rural locality Narovchat. Northwest of Narovchat lays another gravefield (old cemetery), divided into Muslim (^[b] named so by later Russian population due to round foundations of mausoluems ruins) and presumably "Pagan" areas. 4 mausoleums and probably a mosque and a minaret ruins were found in the "Mosque field"^[6][7] The Medieval city ruins were discovered by Russian archeologist Aleksandr Krotkov in 1915.

Volga Trade Route

In 14th century, Mukhshi played an important role on trade route from Don to Black sea (Principality of Theodoro and Genoese Gazaria colonies in Crimea)^[8]