The process of Bashkiria’s joining the staff of Russia ran step-by-step. The Bashkir tribes, having been under jurisdiction of Kazan khanate before, automatically fell under Russian citizenship after Ivan the Terrible had captured Kazan. Wise Bashkir leaders understood that their possibilities for development of the nation widened under the patronage of the powerful neighboring state. Moreover, the Tsar’s charters guaranteed preservation of patrimonial estate for Bashkir land ownership. In the middle of 50s in the XVI century the southern and central Bashkirs, belonging to NOGAISKOE khanate, also have fallen under jurisdiction of the Moscow Tsar and no hostile moves have been undertaken by the Tsar for that. The chronicles say that the squads of Ivan the Terrible have stopped near the Bashkir frontiers. The Tsar was preparing a war with Sweden and Poland that time so Moscow authorities didn’t want any war in the East. It is necessary to mention that NOGAISKOE khanate didn’t like the loss of their vassals at all. For several decades they were sending Khan’s tribute collectors to Bashkirs, who were further deported by local power.

Describing historical development of any nation, the researchers usually turn attention to so-called bifurcation points  the key events, the further history of this or that nation depends on. That deliberate choice, Bashkir leaders had made in the XVI century, is that very turning point, which has changed the way of history and unleashed economic and cultural progress in the region.

This choice was profitable for both parties. Russia widened its frontiers with no efforts and received strong and obedient frontier guards. Up to the middle of 60s XIX century Bashkirs defended the eastern frontiers of Russia from the Caspian Sea to Omsk. In addition to army service they supplied Russia with firs and honey and Tsar’s Government guaranteed inviolability of their lands in return. By the way, Bashkirs were the only nation in European Russia, having had such privileges. When Kalmyks asked the Emperor to give them land ownership in the XIX century, the answer was that they were aliens here and that they lived on the Tsar’s territory and the lands of Bashkirs belonged to them from the ancient times. Till 1917 Bashkirs belonged to the group of people, who owned the biggest land areas in Russia and only Cossacks and Baltic princes could compare with them.

Favorable attitude of Bashkir nation to the choice of the patrons can be found in Bashkir folklore. Those heads of Bashkir tribes, who led the process of negotiations, are positively regarded in people’s memory. If we turn to NOGAISKOE oral folklore, the leader of NOGAY nation Ishmael was regarded as a traitor, having sold his motherland to Russians. It means that that nation didn’t realize the perspectives, which opened before them in case of joining Russia. The after-effects of such nearsightedness are quite evident today: once powerful state between Volga and Emba had left the political arena forever.