Xacitarxan or
Hajji Tarkhan (pronounced ),
Hashtar Khan /
Actarxan or
Astrakhan, was a medieval city at the right bank of
Volga, situated approximately 12 km north of the modern city of
Astrakhan. The first mention of the town was recorded in 1333. In the 13th and 14th centuries it was one of the main trade and political centres of the
Golden Horde. In 1395 the city was sacked by
Timur. Astrakhan was rebuilt afterwards and became the capital of the
Khanate of Astrakhan in 1459. In 1547 the city was seized by the
Crimean khan Sahib Giray. In 1556 Astrakhan was besieged and burned by
Ivan the Terrible.