1380 Mumet, the Crimean king, sent to help Mamai, the Tatar king, his son Narsim with the army and secretly promised his daughter Tamir in marriage. At this time, Selim, the prince of Baghdad, having cleared the Black Sea of pirates, besieged the city of Kafu, where Moumet is located. The Crimean king asked Selim for a truce in the hope of waiting for his son back from Mamayev’s campaign. The action takes place on the first day of the armistice, in Cafe (Theodosius), in the royal house.
Tamira appears with her mother Cleona. Tamira recalls the day before Selim admired her, prancing on a horse in front of the regiments, and sends Cleon to look at the army from the walls. While the mother walks, the princess utters a monologue about her love for the enemy. Cleon brings the news that the Baghdad army is moving away from the walls. Tamira confesses her love for Selim, hatred for Mamai, fear for her brother. Mummet enters and tells her daughter that a truce has been concluded with Selim. Mamai, as Mumet is sure, must triumph over Prince Dimitri and return soon with Narsim; therefore, the Crimean king reports about the engagement of Tamira with Mamai. The princess complains to Cleone; she first advises her to submit to her parental will, and then to reveal herself to all the virtuous Nadir, the brother of Mumet.
The second action opens with a dialogue between Selim and Nadir. They, it turns out, are friendly for a long time: once he and Narsim had to meet with Selim in India (Selim studied there with wise Brahmins). Selim admits that he made a truce because of love for Tamira: he could not raise his hands to the city where she lives. Nadir promises to put a word for Selim in front of the king and leaves. Tamira immediately appears, to whom Selim immediately declares his love. The princess sadly replies that she is caught up for another, but, leaving, she says: "I will not bow to the raging Mamay." The name of Mamai amazes Selim, who is ashamed to have such a villain in his rivals. Mummet and Selim officially conclude a truce, with Mummet learning about Selim's friendship with his son. Selim leaves the king in difficulty: everything is against the marriage of Tamira with Mamai, but the royal word cannot be violated. Vizier Zaisan advises the tsar to strengthen the alliance with Mamai, Nadir - to break it, because "force cannot stand for long." Herald brings the news of the victory of Mamaia on the banks of the Nepryadva. Mummet decides in favor of a powerful ally.
In fact, Mamai is defeated and secretly, alone, ran to Kafu. He intends to assure Mumet of his victory, marry Tamir, gather new troops and again march to Russia. He is not afraid that Narsim will expose him, because he is sure that he died in the battle, and Mumai informs Mamet about his plan, saying that Narsim allegedly delayed collecting tribute in the conquered lands and approved the marriage of Tamira with Mamai.
Tamira appears. Father instructs her in obedience to the elders and leaves. Mamai is surprised at Tamira’s coldness. Tamira asks not to force her: “What good is it that <...> I will <...> follow you, and sigh about something else!" Tamira leaves; Mom is angry and demands that Cleona name the opponent. Cleon calls Selim. Present at that, Zaisan inflames Mamaia, drawing Selim as a robber. True, then he advises Mamaia not to take revenge on the opponent immediately, but to wait for the troops to approach. But Mamai must hide that he had no troops left: portraying extreme impatience, he hurries to kill Selim. Tamir and Cleon are returning. Tamira sends Cleon supposedly to follow Mamai and, left alone, announces that she decided to run away with Selim.
Escape fails: Tamir is intercepted by Zaisan along the way, which he tells Nadir about. Nadir is horrified (“Oh, strictness, father, what have you led to?”) And then blasphemes the war - the cause of all evils. Together with Cleona, Nadir yearns for the fate of the princess; they have the suspicion that Mamai is not really a winner, but a vanquished one. Reveals Nadir and vanity, forcing Mumet to propose a daughter to Mamaia. It can become harmful: the insulted Selim will destroy a city that does not have defenders.
Appearing Selim really wants to betray Kafa to the sword at first, but soon remembers that Mummet is the father of his beloved, and the city is holy for him, as the place where she was born. Then he turns his anger at Mamaia: intends to kill him in martial arts or die himself. The exhortations of Nadir and Cleons to protect themselves do not touch the prince. Mamai himself enters; rivals clutch at sabers, but they are separated.
The last action begins with a scene between Mummet and Tamira (in the presence of Cleona and Nadir). Mummet rebukes her daughter for disobedience, Tamira asks to kill her. Mummet foils anger at Cleon: orders to imprison her. Tamir and Nadir remain. Nadir reassures her niece, advises her father not to be angry in vain, assures that Mamai will soon be overthrown. The Bulletin announces the battle of Selim with Mamai. Selim knocked the enemy off the horse and could trample him, but generously helped to get up and prepared to continue the battle. Suddenly, the murmurs of Mamai appeared and rushed at Selim with a cry: "Accept worthy of execution." Tamira in despair; Nadir hurries to avenge his friend.
Left alone, Tamira curses Mamai and father for friendship with Mamai, turns to Selim: “You died for me - I follow you” and wants to be stabbed. Ran along with Narsim Selim pulls a dagger from her. The princess can not immediately believe that she is alive, afraid of the wrath of Mamai. Selim announces that Mamai is dead. A joyful Moumet enters with the whole court; he immediately complains to his son that Tamira deprives the state of the fruits of the union with Mamai. Narsim replies: “Demetrius defeated, and our enemy was defeated”: Selim killed the traitor and “destroyer of the Crimea Mamai”. Then he tells in detail how, in the midst of the Kulikovo battle, Mamai sent him to recover Demetrius dead or alive, but when Narsim and his warriors retired from the main forces, he was suddenly surrounded by the Mamaev warriors to kill him. One arrow was already stuck in Narsim’s shield, but then an ambush Russian regiment hit the Tatars. Those fled, and the assassins of Narsim fled. Narsim, seeing a general defeat, rushed after Mamai - to take revenge.
Mummet, having heard the story of his son, repents of his previous decisions. Selim tells how Narsim unexpectedly came to his rescue against Mamaev’s associates, flew into Mamaia himself and immediately pierced him to death with a sword. The Baghdad prince again asks for the hands of Tamira. Mummet happily agrees, urges everyone to be afraid of Mamai’s example and forgives Cleon for the sake of the holiday.
