The Tuklia Clan Udmurts in the 17th – Early 20th Centuries According to Tales and Written Sources

Abstract

Among the larger genealogical lineages of Udmurts is the clan of Tuklia which has drawn the attention of scholars ever since the late 19th century. Still, a work written by S.E. Lastochkin as early as in 1926 remains the most substantial account of this topic to date. In this article, we attempt to compare data available through archival sources and scholarly literature with historical legends and tales, examine the development of Tuklia clan’s network, and explore the character of its relations with Udmurts’ neighbor clans and other ethnic groups. We pay special attention to the religious cults that were found among the Tuklintsy in the past. We believe that the comparative approach to the study of historical and ethnographic evidence has helped us to present the most detailed picture of the origin and growth of three major centers of the Tuklia clan.