It aimed to restore the Kazan Khanate, which the Russians had conquered in October 1552.

The rebel armies mostly consisted of Tatars, Chuvash, Cheremises, Mordvins, and Udmurts.

Russian troops under Andrey Kurbsky and Alexander Gorbatyi-Shuisky opposed the "rebels".

At the peak of the rebellion, Tatars controlled the greater part of the former khanate.

Ivan IV sent major reinforcements to the Kazan area and suppressed the uprising.