Sahib Giray
In the first period, the tribes in the Crimea led to the outburst of several civil wars around the rival khans against the Ottoman dominion and the establishment of Moscow influence in Kazan and Astrahan. In the year of 1532, the Moscow Bey could exile Safa Giray from Kazan and then, he enthroned his supporter, Can Ali as the khan. Meanwhile, Mehmed I Giray's son, Ghazi Giray and then, his brother, Islam Giray ascended the throne in their capacity as the khans selected by the tribes in accordance with the "Jenghiz Khan's Rules". Islam Giray was involved in severe struggles against the khans sent by the ruler, and then, against Saadet Giray and Sahib Giray. When Islam Giray could not establish dominion against his rival, he would retreat towards the steppe lands out of Or-Kapı (Perekop) with its tribes and he would continue his attacks from these regions. He was able to ascend the throne of the khanate in the capacity as an independent khan in the year of 1532. However, he had to compromise with Istanbul finally. Afterwards, when he rebelled again, Sahib Giray was able to annihilate him through Haki Bey who was Nogay Bey in Kipchak steppe lands. After these struggles that lasted for two years, Sahib Giray reinforced his position in the throne of the Crimea (1534). The Ottoman sovereignty and influence became established over the Crimean Khanate in his period.
The second period showed itself with the severe attacks of Sahib Giray Khan against Moscow. By means of him, the Ottoman started to perceive the threat of the Moscow and support the khan with forces. Sahib Giray enthroned Safa Giray for the khanate in Kazan again and he was able to capture Astrahan through the support and help of the Ottoman artillery pieces in the year of 1549. When he reached to this level of power and strength, he wanted the port of Köleve from the Ottomans and he struggled with the Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha for superiority. All these events aroused suspicion. Devlet Giray Khan who was sent from Istanbul killed him (1551). In the following year, Russian captured Kazan and after 4 years, they captured Astrahan and they established dominion in the Eastern Europe. In the period of Sahib Giray, the influence of the khanate was reinforced over the Circassians in the Caucasus through some military expeditions for a while and the Kiçi Nogay tribes under the command of Yusuf Mirza in the steppe lands of Kipchak were submissive to the Crimean khan and the ruler. Sahib Giray Khan followed the policy of his ancestors and he brought and settled various tribes into the peninsula of Crimea.
The decline of the Nogay tribes that generally lost their power led the abandonment of the steppes to the Russian Kazakhs. In the same period, an important amount of the Circassian groups that were suppressed by the Crimean people had to join these Kazakhs. In the year of 1559, the Russian Kazakhs and the Circassians besieged the castle of Azov. We have observed that the Crimean people had tried to repulse the Moscow people from the basin of Volga since the period of Devlet Giray Khan (1551-1557) until the start of the continuous Russian raids in the coasts of the Black Sea in the beginning of the century XVII. In this period, the cooperation of Ottomans against the Russian danger for the Black Sea and the Caucasus was of great significance. Devlet Giray Khan organised an unfruitful military expedition towards Russia with his army reinforced by the Ottoman artilleryman in the winter of 1556.