The Tartars
A non-existent faction that does not appear in the His Dark Materials canon.
In the sprawling multiverse of His Dark Materials, 'The Tartars' are a ghost in the machine—a name that echoes from real-world history but has no footprint in Philip Pullman's canon. While the trilogy populates its parallel worlds with vivid, distinct cultures like the river-roaming Gyptians, the ice-bound witches of Svalbard, and the elephantine Mulefa, no faction bears this specific designation. The term 'Tartar,' historically used in European historiography to describe various Turkic and Mongol peoples, remains absent from Lyra's world, leaving readers searching for a group that simply never lived in these pages.
Lore & Background
Because the Tartars exist only outside Pullman's narrative architecture, there are no ancient scrolls, maps, or oral traditions within the series to trace their origins. Their absence is as notable as the presence of other groups; while the author meticulously crafted unique societies drawing from Northern European folklore and fantastical biology, he deliberately bypassed the historical label of 'Tartary.' Readers encountering this name often find themselves conflating real-world history with fiction, or perhaps misremembering the distinct identities of nations like Trollesund or the various city-states under the Magisterium's shadow. Without textual evidence, any attempt to reconstruct their beliefs or customs ventures firmly into the realm of fan invention rather than established lore.
In Their Own Story
Imagine a traveler standing on the frozen tundra of a world that does not exist in Pullman's multiverse, scanning the horizon for the banner of the Tartars. They might expect to see armored warriors or hear the thrum of airships, but they find only an empty, silent snowscape. The name is a phantom, a whisper from a history book that was never shelved in the library of Lyra Belacqua's universe. In this specific corner of the multiverse, the wind carries no stories of Tartar conquests or migrations; it only speaks of the real conflicts that define these worlds: the struggle for free will against the Magisterium and the journey across the boundaries of existence.
Reader's Guide
Since 'The Tartars' are not a faction within the His Dark Materials universe, there is no hierarchy to decipher or strategic goal to analyze. The narrative's true engines of conflict are found elsewhere: in the theocratic rigidity of the Magisterium, the nomadic resilience of the Gyptians, Lord Asriel's revolutionary crusade, and the diplomatic dance between human explorers and the witch clans of Svalbard. To force a definition onto this non-existent group is to ignore the rich, intentional tapestry Pullman wove. Fans seeking cultural depth should instead immerse themselves in the intricate social structures of the Gyptian boats, the terrifying scientific experiments at Bolvangar, or the profound philosophical dialogues with the Mulefa—these are the authentic pillars that drive the story forward.
Did You Know?
- While 'Tartars' is a historical term for various Eurasian peoples, Philip Pullman never incorporated this group into his multiverse, choosing instead to invent entirely new cultures like the Mulefa and Gyptians.
- No character in The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, or The Amber Spyglass bears the title 'Tartar' or belongs to a faction by that name.
- Confusion often stems from mixing up His Dark Materials with other fantasy universes where similar-sounding historical groups play central roles.
- The absence of 'The Tartars' highlights Pullman's focus on creating unique, non-Earth-centric societies rather than adapting real-world medieval tribal names.