ON THE ISSUE OF ANNALISTIC BELOBEREZHYE OF THE 14th CENTURY

Abstract

In the paper the attempt to identify the geographical toponyms and hydronyms of the 14th century is made. It contains an analysis of the hypotheses about the Beloberezhye site of the 14th century in the written sources. Based on the examination of the written, cartographic, archeological and numismatics sources the conception about connection of Beloberezhye with the bank of Southern Bug River is considered. Also, the information about origin of the river name since antiquity till nowadays — Bug (Boh, Bug, Boug, Bohus, Bohem and other), Hypanis, Kouβoũ (Kuvu), Vagosola, Bagossla, Aksu (White Waters) — is discussed. The conception, according to which the Turkik geographical names of the river (Ak Su — White Water) and its banks (Belobereshye — White Banks) were the territory of the traditional summer and winter nomads roamings has been substantiated. Also, the certain aspects of activity of the Tartars emirs Kutlu-Buha, Khadjibej, and Dmytro, and the landscapes of these regions are examined. Important stimulus for development of the trade routes in these regions were the saline in the lower reaches of the Southern Bug and in Black Sea region. Based on the analysis of numismatics sources the author concludes that in the first part — mid-14th century the trade route in Southern Bug basin was one of the main transit trade routes in the West territory of Golden Horde. The finds of the silver and copper coins of the mid-14th century marked the most important centers in the Bug River region. After the victories of Lithuanian Prince Olgerdas over the Hordes in 1362 at the Syny Vody (Gek-su) and Bili Vody (Ak-su) Rivers the economic resources of the Western Hordes were considerably reduced. According to archaeological and numismatic data, Torhovytsia on the Siniukha River was an important center in the mid-14th century but was destroyed in the beginning of the 1360s. The issues of historical geography, many of which can be solved by assistance of systematic archaeology research of the Golden Horde centers in the Southern Bug River basins are discussed in the paper.