Welcome to the 46th part of our open series of "What do you know about... X?"! You can find an overview of the series here

Today's topic:

Crimean Tatars

The Crimean Tatars are a Turkic ethnic group that emerged a distinct people in the Crimean Peninsula some time after the 13th century. The Tatars emerged from the confluence of different groups who migrated to the Crimea, especially the Cumans. Nevertheless, from this mixed demographic streams, a common Tatar nation emerged, especially during the period of the Crimean Khanate. This state was a significant ally/vassal of the Ottoman Empire that dominated a large swatch of the northern Black Sea coast for centuries. In the late 18th century, however, the Khanate was incorporated into the ascendant Russian Empire. Russian rule caused significant emigration of ethnic Tatars from the region, though they still constituted the majority of the population. However the situation was greatly exacerbated in Soviet times, especially in the aftermath of WWII, when a huge fraction of the Tatar population was expelled. In the decades to come some of the expellees came home, but it wasn't until the perestroika reforms of the 80s that large numbers returned permanently. Today Tatars account for just over 10% of Crimea's population, however their long history left an indelible mark on the peninsula.

So... what do you know about the Crimean Tatars?