At this time Sudak had a population of over 10,000, consisting of Turks, Russians, Greeks, Armenians, Tatars, Italians and others. The town was under control of the Tatar Khans, who extracted often severe taxes from the town when they were not occupied fighting eachother. The Genoese and Venetians had for some time been supplanting the Greeks in Theodosia (named Kaffa by the Genoese - now Feodosia) further down the coast, where their presence was at best tolerated and often resented by the Tatars to the point where the town was sacked several times. After developing trading links with Sudak, the Genoese decided to take it over. From here they expanded westwards, taking Chembalo (now Balaklava) some years later. By 1380 the Genoese effectively controlled the whole Crimean Black Sea coast, from Kaffa in the east to Chembalo in the west , and consolidated their position through a series of treaties with various Tatar Khans. Such was the importance of Sudak that the Black Sea was referred to as the `Sudak Sea' on contemporary maps of the area.
The town was governed by a Genoese Consul appointed by the government in Genoa but subordinate to the Consul in Kaffa, for a term of one year at a time. He in turn was assisted by a local committee that was responsible for the weapons and supplies at the fortress. The size, position and strength of the fortress is an indication of the degree of insecurity felt by the Genoese. From the south and east the only approach is by sea and the approach from the west is difficult. Built on a hill 150m above sea level it was easy to keep a check on the surrounding area.
