Utameshgaray of Kazan


Ütämeşgäräy was a khan of Kazan Khanate in 1549-1551. He was a son of Safagäräy and Söyembikä. On his father's death he was crowned at the age of two with his mother as regent. Ivan the Terrible took advantage of this and sent an army which besieged Kazan in February 1550. An early thaw caused them to pull back and build the fort of Sviyazhsk from which they raided the surrounding country. The peace faction came to power, accepted the Russian candidate Shah Ali as khan and turned over Utamish and his mother to the Russians. Shortly after this, the patriotic faction regained power, expelled Shah Ali and brought in Yadegar Mokhammad of Kazan who was khan when the Russians conquered Kazan in 1552.
In January, 1553 Utamish was baptized as Alexander. He died at the age of 20 and is buried in Moscow. His mother was later married to Shah Ali.