The Lost Empire of Tartaria: Did the Catholic Church Erase an Advanced Civilization from History?
The Tartarian conspiracy theory represents one of the more elaborate alternative history narratives gaining traction in online communities. This theory suggests that a vast empire called Tartaria once stretched across much of Asia and possibly into North America, before being deliberately erased from historical records within the last 200 years. Proponents claim evidence exists in old maps, architectural styles, and supposed archaeological anomalies that mainstream historians refuse to acknowledge.
Unlike established historical understandings of Tartary as a geographical region inhabited by various Turkic, Mongolic, and Tatar peoples following the Mongol conquests, conspiracy theorists have constructed an elaborate narrative. They suggest this advanced civilization possessed superior technology and architectural knowledge before being systematically removed from history books through coordinated efforts. The theory often incorporates elements of other conspiracies, including claims about hidden knowledge, secret societies, and suppressed historical truths.
Key Takeaways
The Tartarian conspiracy theory proposes an advanced civilization was deliberately erased from historical records despite allegedly building major structures across continents.
Historical records actually document Tartary as a geographical region inhabited by various peoples following the Mongol Empire, not as an advanced lost civilization.
These alternative history narratives typically rely on misinterpreted historical maps, outdated sources, and selective evidence rather than comprehensive historical analysis.
Tartarian Empire Theory: A Historical Examination
The Lost Civilization Narrative
The Tartarian Empire theory represents an alternative historical perspective that has gained traction among certain online communities. Proponents suggest that a vast, technologically advanced civilization once spanned from Russia to North America, only to mysteriously vanish within the last 200 years. This civilization supposedly built many of the grand architectural structures we see today in major cities across North America and Eurasia.
Unlike conventional historical accounts of civilizations that gradually declined or were conquered, believers in this theory claim that Tartaria was deliberately erased from history through a coordinated cover-up. They point to old maps, architectural styles, and historical documents as evidence of this supposed civilization.
Core Claims and Adherent Beliefs
Tartarian theory encompass several interconnected elements:
Architectural appropriation: Adherents believe that impressive structures like those at the Chicago World's Fair were originally Tartarian, not purpose-built for the exhibitions as historically documented.
Advanced technology: The theory suggests Tartarians possessed technology that modern society cannot replicate.
Historical cover-up: Followers maintain that establishment historians have deliberately hidden evidence of this civilization.
Physical evidence: Proponents point to what they term "buried buildings," star forts, and certain architectural features as proof.
The term "Tartaria" or "Tartary" does appear on historical maps, but mainstream historians identify this as referring to regions inhabited by Turkic, Mongolic, and Tatar peoples following the Mongol Empire's expansion. This area generally corresponds to parts of modern Siberia and Central Asia.
The scale of claims varies among believers, with some suggesting a modest regional power while others describe a near-global empire that somehow disappeared from collective memory within recent centuries.
Historical Context of Tartary
Geographic Boundaries of Traditional Tartary
Tartary historically referred to a vast region of Asia bounded by the Caspian Sea to the west, the Ural Mountains, the Pacific Ocean to the east, and the northern borders of China, India, and Prussia. This extensive territory largely corresponds to what we now recognize as Eurasia or Siberia. The region appeared on many historical maps as a distinct geographical entity, though its precise boundaries shifted over time based on political realities and the cartographic understanding of each era.
Maps from the medieval and early modern periods frequently labeled this immense area as "Tartaria" or "Tartary," reflecting European understanding of this remote and, to them, mysterious part of the world. These cartographic representations varied significantly in their details, with some maps dividing the region into "Greater Tartary" and "Lesser Tartary" depending on the contemporary political situation.
The Mongol Empire and Tartar Origins
The term "Tartar" first emerged in the 13th century, derived from Persian origins. It initially described horseback-riding messengers, particularly in reference to Mongol forces. The earliest European written record of this term appears in 1270 CE in correspondence from King Louis IX of France, where he warned about "the present danger of the Tartars" – likely referring to the Golden Horde.
The Golden Horde operated as a successor state to the Mongol Empire, primarily east of what now constitutes European Russia. The inhabitants of historic Tartary represented a diverse population including:
Turks
Mongols
Tatars (a distinct ethnic group)
The Tatars themselves were neither Mongol nor Turk in origin, though they lived among Mongolian populations within various khanates. Like their neighbors, they were skilled horsemen and gradually gave their name to the broader region. This explains why European cartographers labeled the area "Tartaria" – it was simply the territory inhabited by these "Tartar" peoples.
Over time, Western understanding of these distinctions blurred, with "Tartar" becoming a somewhat generic term applied to various nomadic peoples of Central Asia, regardless of their specific ethnic origins or political affiliations.
Challenging Traditional Historical Narratives
Alternative Chronology Theories and Timeline Skepticism
The Phantom Time Hypothesis, proposed by Heribert Illig, suggests that approximately 300 years were artificially added to our calendar during the Middle Ages. According to this theory, figures like Charlemagne were fictional, created to fill a fabricated time period. Similarly, Anatoly Fomenko's New Chronology theory argues that conventional chronology is fundamentally flawed, with many historical events being duplicates or fabrications.
These theories reject established historical timelines, claiming that medieval documentation was falsified to create phantom centuries. Proponents point to alleged inconsistencies in historical records and astronomical observations. Critics note these theories disregard substantial archaeological, documentary, and scientific evidence supporting conventional chronology.
Contested Historical Narratives
Some researchers claim significant portions of our recorded history have been deliberately concealed or manipulated. These theories often center on supposedly advanced civilizations that have been erased from historical records. One example is the "Tartaria theory," which proposes a vast empire spanning from Russia to North America that mysteriously disappeared from historical records within the last 200 years.
Adherents point to several types of evidence:
Old maps: Showing regions labeled as "Tartary" or "Tartaria"
Architecture: Buildings claimed to be too advanced for their supposed construction period
Buried structures: Partially submerged buildings attributed to catastrophic "mud floods"
Symbols and motifs: Recurring designs in architecture worldwide
The actual historical Tartary referenced on maps was simply the region inhabited by Turkic and Mongolic peoples known as Tatars or Tartars, particularly following the Mongol Empire's expansion. The term first appeared in European writing around 1270 CE in correspondence from King Louis IX of France.
Alternative history proponents sometimes cite outdated sources from the 18th and 19th centuries rather than contemporary scholarship. Mainstream historians emphasize that these theories frequently misinterpret historical terminology, architectural developments, and geographical designations.
Historical Insights: Uncovering Lost Narratives
Video Selection and Analysis
Our examination focuses on a video addressing the Tartarian theory, which has gained significant attention in alternative history circles. The video in question has amassed over 200,000 views and serves as an entry point for those unfamiliar with this concept. Rather than creating an arbitrary selection, recommendations from the Tartarian community itself guided this choice. The creator, similar in audience size to our own platform, presents what they describe as a comprehensive introduction to the subject.
The video runs approximately one hour in length, though only the first 30 minutes contain the core claims requiring thorough analysis. This segment establishes the foundational elements of the theory before expanding into more specific areas.
Evaluating Key Historical Claims
The video defines Tartaria as an alternative historical framework encompassing lost civilizations, architectural anomalies, and suppressed historical narratives. According to this perspective, a vast empire once stretched from Russia to North America before being deliberately erased from historical records within the last two centuries.
Several claims warrant closer inspection:
Geographic Extent: The theory suggests an empire spanning from modern Russia to the eastern United States
Historical Erasure: Proponents believe this civilization disappeared through deliberate concealment
Architectural Heritage: Major American cities and significant buildings allegedly originated as Tartarian constructions later claimed by European colonists
The video shares conceptual similarities with other historical revision theories like the Phantom Time Hypothesis and New Chronology. These frameworks assert that significant portions of recorded history have been fabricated or manipulated.
What distinguishes this particular theory is its emphasis on deliberate historical manipulation rather than natural disaster or gradual decline as the cause for this civilization's disappearance. The Chicago World's Fair, for instance, is reinterpreted as displaying ancient Tartarian architecture rather than purpose-built structures.
The actual historical term "Tartary" referred to a region in Asia bounded by the Caspian Sea, Ural Mountains, Pacific Ocean, and northern borders of China, India, and Prussia - essentially parts of modern Eurasia and Siberia. This term first appeared in European writing in 1270 CE in correspondence from King Louis IX of France regarding "the danger of the Tartars," likely referencing the Golden Horde.
The video attempts to establish alternative origins for civilization, suggesting Ireland rather than Mesopotamia as humanity's first advanced society. This claim relies heavily on 18th-century historians working with limited information rather than contemporary archaeological evidence.
Supporting Evidence and Historical Counterpoints
The Celtic Heritage and Tartarian Theory Claims
The supposed Irish connection to Tartaria represents one of the more unusual claims within alternative historical frameworks. Proponents suggest that civilization actually originated in Ireland rather than Mesopotamia, despite mainstream historical consensus. This theory connects ancient Irish civilization to early Christianity, claiming the Roman Catholic Church appropriated these beliefs.
These assertions rely heavily on outdated scholarship from the 18th century. Specifically, some linguists from that period claimed to find connections between Phoenician languages and Irish Gaelic based on interpretations of ancient texts like Plautus' play featuring Punic language.
The evidence for these claims remains problematic. Modern historical and archaeological research has thoroughly documented the development of early civilizations in the Fertile Crescent with substantial physical evidence, while the Irish connection theory lacks comparable archaeological support.
Examining Structural Elements and Historical Records
When reviewing the architectural and documentary evidence presented for Tartaria, several inconsistencies emerge. Proponents point to "buried buildings," the Chicago World's Fair structures, and various historical monuments as proof of an advanced civilization that predated modern nations.
The reality is more mundane:
Chicago World's Fair structures were purpose-built for the exposition and later dismantled as planned
"Buried buildings" typically represent normal subsidence, architectural modifications, or standard construction practices
"Star forts" and other fortifications have well-documented histories of construction
The maps showing "Tartaria" actually refer to a geographical region inhabited by Turkic, Mongolic, and Tatar peoples. The term first appeared in European writing around 1270 CE in correspondence from King Louis IX of France referring to the Golden Horde, a successor state to the Mongol Empire.
The historical definition of Tartary was simply "a vast part of Asia bounded by the Caspian Sea, Ural Mountains, Pacific Ocean, and northern borders of China, India, and Prussia" – essentially describing parts of what we now call Eurasia and Siberia.
Rather than evidence of a hidden civilization, these references document known historical peoples and regions that existed within established historical timelines.
Analysis of Tartarian Historical Claims
Secret Societies and Bloodline Narratives
The Tartarian conspiracy theory relies heavily on the supposed involvement of powerful hidden groups controlling historical narratives. Proponents claim that royal bloodlines and secret brotherhoods have deliberately concealed evidence of this vast civilization. These groups allegedly orchestrated a massive historical cover-up, removing Tartaria from common knowledge.
These theories typically lack credible evidence and instead depend on connecting unrelated historical elements. The narrative suggests that modern secret societies use symbols dating back to Tartarian times, maintaining hidden knowledge of this lost empire.
Some adherents point to organizations like the Odd Fellows as keepers of Tartarian secrets. They believe these groups have maintained underground tunnels and hidden infrastructure originally built by Tartarians.
Ancient Technology and Symbolic Evidence
Tartarian theory advocates claim that many architectural achievements once attributed to this civilization have been falsely credited to other cultures. They argue that certain structures, particularly in North America, show evidence of advanced Tartarian technology rather than 19th-century construction.
Notable examples cited include:
World's Fair buildings: Supposedly ancient Tartarian structures rather than purpose-built exhibition architecture
Star forts and fortified cities: Claimed to be defensive structures of Tartarian design
Buried buildings: Interpreted as evidence of deliberate burial rather than natural accumulation of sediment
The theory suggests that Tartarians possessed technological capabilities exceeding modern understanding. Proponents point to ornate architecture, claiming these structures would be impossible to build with the tools officially available during their construction periods.
Many believers identify certain recurring symbols across architecture worldwide as evidence of Tartarian influence. These symbols appear in buildings across continents, which they interpret as proof of a global Tartarian presence rather than as common architectural elements that spread through cultural exchange.
The narrative also incorporates concepts like "mud floods" to explain how Tartarian cities became buried, suggesting these events were either natural disasters or deliberate attempts to hide evidence of the civilization.
Countering Misinformation Strategies
Real-Time Analysis Sessions
Live debunking streams have become an effective method for addressing historical misconceptions. Content creators like Aiden Mattis utilize platforms such as Twitch to analyze claims in real-time with their audience. This approach allows viewers to witness the research process firsthand, creating a more transparent and engaging educational experience.
These streams typically involve creators selecting popular conspiracy content and methodically examining each claim point by point. The interactive nature of livestreaming enables immediate feedback and questions from viewers, fostering a collaborative environment for critical thinking.
Many streamers find they cannot cover extensive conspiracy videos in a single session due to the depth of research required. Breaking complex topics into multiple episodes allows for thorough investigation of each claim rather than rushing through superficial rebuttals.
Academic Responses to Alternative Historical Narratives
Historians and scholars continuously produce well-researched materials that address alternative historical claims through proper historical methodology. Their work emphasizes the importance of reliable primary sources, context, and evidence-based reasoning over cherry-picked anomalies.
Academic rebuttals typically highlight several common issues in alternative historical narratives:
Misinterpretation of historical maps and terms: Explaining how terms like "Tartaria" referred to geographic regions inhabited by specific peoples rather than indicating a vast forgotten empire
Contextualizing architectural features: Providing documented evidence of how and when significant buildings were constructed
Addressing anachronisms: Demonstrating how conspiracy theories often rely on applying modern expectations to historical contexts
Scholars point out that historical terminology evolves over time. For example, the term "Tartar" originated from Persian sources in the 13th century, initially referring to horseback messengers associated with Mongol populations, rather than denoting a secret advanced civilization.
