ABULKHAIR MUHAMMED GAZI BAHADUR-KHAN – Institute of History and Ethnology named after Sh. Sh. Ualikhanov

Abulkhair Muhammed Gazi Bahadur-khan (about 1680– 17 аugust 1748) is an Outstanding Military Leader, Politician and Statesman, the khan of the Small Horde (1710 – August 17, 1748), the Senior khan of the Kazakhs of the Great, Middle and Small Hordes (about 1719 – August 17, 1748), the founder of the new Kazakh dynasty of Chingizids.

Biography

History does not provide us with the data on either the exact date of birth, or the name of that steppe tract, or perhaps the river, on the banks of which the descendant of Chingizid was born. The family migratory camps of Abulkhair’s father, Sultan Kaji (Hadji), and the children of his brothers were located in the upper reaches of the Turgai and Irgiz rivers and in the vicinity of Zhem (Emba) in summer, and in the lower Syr Darya, Karakum sands and in the Northern Aral region in winter. The literature indicates that Abulkhair was born in the south-west of modern Kazakhstan, approximately in 1680, or in the second half of the 80’s the 80’s XVII century, or in 1693. The last estimated date of birth is 1693, according to I.V. Erofeeva, famous Chingizid genealogy researcher “seems unlikely, on the basis of some discrepancy between chronological information with the later one, reliably established historical milestones of the Khan’s personal and family biography” [2, p. 123–124].

The Abulkhair dynasty came from the Kazakh Sultan Osek (Usyak, Usnak) – the eighth son of Sultan Zhanibek, who, in the middle of the XV century, together with Sultan Kerey founded the new state in East Desht-i Kipchak – the Kazakh Khanate in the northwestern Semirechye. A Russian diplomat, Colonel Kutlumbet (Mamet Murza, in Russian – Alexei Ivanovich) Tevkelev in 1748, according to Abulkhair Khan himself in Orsk fortress, wrote, that the family branch of the Genghizid ascended to Osek through 4 dynastic generations of Sultans: Kaji (Hadji) (father ) – Irys (grandfather) – Aishuak (great-grandfather), Bolekey-Koyan (great-great-grandfather) – Osek. The full version of the official rank of the ruler is “Abulkhair Muhammed Gazi Bahadur-Khan, Kaji Sultanov’s son”, or its shorter version “Abulkhair Khan, son of Kaji Sultan”, which was minted on the Khan’s seal [2, p. 121, 123].

Abulkhair was the middle son of Kaji (Hadji) Sultan, who allegedly died after 1695. According to historical data, Abulkhair was left without parents and close paternal relatives. The fact of the clan’s small number and descent from the younger line of Chingizids throughout all his life served a pretext for other influential descendants of Genghis Khan to emphasize their dynastic superiority and to be not only the Senior Khan for the Kazakhs of the three Hordes, but also the Khan of all three Hords – the Great, Middle or Small . It is not accidental that the families of the Chingis rulers of the Middle Horde “put their birth much higher than the generation from which Abulkhair-Khan came”, – the first historian of the South Urals P.I. Rychkov (1712–1777) pointed out in 1762 [2, p. 71].

The harsh reality of nomadic society has toughened the character of Chingizid from his youth, stimulated his physical, intellectual and moral maturity, taught him to staunchly overcome difficulties and loneliness on the way to the top of the pyramid of power, unbending willpower, an acute sense of dignity, self-confidence and self-reliance. These character traits later helped him to conduct an effective political activity, when, contrary to the traditions of the nomadic society and the opinion of opponents, often remaining in the minority, he achieved his own goals and execution of his will as a ruler.

According to a popular legend, once a notable batyr Zhanibek (died in 1751) came across a sleeping young man in the steppe under the shadow of a lonely tree. Batyr sharply besieged the horse and slightly touched his hand with the tip of his spear. This touch awoke the young man, he instantly jumped to his feet and, grabbing the bow lying next to him, directed towards the stranger’s chest. “You fool, stop!”, – the batyr shouted to him, “Put your bow down” I am Zhanibek, whose name, probably, you heard. I wish you good, I am not your enemy, I am a friend!” In response to these words, the young man said: “Even you are a glorious Zhanibek, how do you dare to disturb a person who does not depend on anyone and who doesn’t ask you anything! I will never allow anyone to push me with a spear without getting off his horse. I am poor, but I am proud. You, Zhanibek, go to the left! I, Sultan Abulkhair, will go to the right! …Hey, Zhanibek, how long have the “black bones” become so impudent and disrespectful to “white bones”?” The legend says that Zhanibek was very much struck by the audacity and pride of the young man. It further goes that to the big surprise of the suite surrounding him, got off his horse and first extended his hand to the Sultan as a peace offering. Then the young man silently lowered his bow and, in turn, shook the hand of the venerable batyr. After this expression of mutual disposition to each other, batyr Zhanibek, according to the legend, had a long conversation with Sultan Abulkhair. From the conversation, the batyr learned that the Chingizid “is poor, lonely, has nothing but a gray nag”, and offered him his support, which Abulkhair, after hesitating a bit, accepted [2 p. 126–127]. Since then, the roads of the batyr and the future Khan have not diverged.

In society the support of the well-known and authoritative batyrs, as well as the Sultans, noble foremen and biys-national judges, largely determined the strength, influence, security of the social status of one or another khan. In peaceful times the nomadic population dispersed over long distances “can live longer without a khan ”[4, p. 471], “has no fear of the khans”, “although they do …some personal respect for their khans and sultans, but they didn’t show complete unlimited obedience. Often, if the rule of the sultans does not meet their aspirations or general opinions of the Kyrgyz-Kaisaks, then they force them to leave, choosing another authority” [2, p. 63].

Fate have prepared severe trials for Abulkhair. The Kazakhs of the Small Horde constantly underwent military raids by subjects of Russia, and primarily from the Volga Kalmyk-Buddhists. Dzungaria was the historical homeland of these nomads. Ayuka (1642–19.02.1724) – the first Khan of the Kalmyk Horde (1690–1724) – was a strong-willed, decisive, energetic, intelligent, far-sighted ruler of the nomadic people. He not only participated in wars on the side of Russia and defended its borders using the most modern weapons and other support from the tsarist government, but even with the connivance of the latter, he cruelly and mercilessly attacked and punished neighboring peoples, driving them from their homes, forcing them to be tributaries and prisoners.

During his forced short-term stay in Kalmyk uluses young Abulkhair was greatly impressed by the personality of Ayuka Khan, namely, by a rigid system of military-political organization, mobile strong cavalry. Ayuka had the status of an independent Khan, strong and powerful, who the Russian government reckoned with. The Kazakh Sultan saw the privileged position of the Kalmyk Khan, who at that time still managed to maintain relative autonomy both in matters of internal self-government and in foreign policy. Under unknown circumstances for us, Sultan Abulkhair managed to return from the Kalmyks to his native steppes [2, p. 130]. The main advantage of Sultan Abulkhair was that he was open to the perception of something new, useful, and as subsequent events of his vigorous military activity show, he turned out to be a capable “trainee” of the Kalmyk ruler. This is evidenced by the retaliatory military campaigns of the Khan in Kalmyk uluses in 1719, 1723–1726.

History gave Abulkhair a chance to participate in the struggle of the Bashkirs against the colonial policy of the Russian autocracy. It is known, that as Bashkiria joined the Russian state, the military service of the Bashkirs became permanent, as well as oppression of the people themselves. One of the leaders of the Bashkir uprisings of 1704–1711 was the foreman, Tarkhan Aldar Isyangeldin (in Russian –Aldarbay Issekeyev, 1670–16.05.1740), awarded by Peter I for heroic feat in the Crimean and second Azov campaigns (1694). P.I. Rychkov, an active conductor of the Eastern policy of Peter I justifying the goals of military colonization of the Trans-Ural outskirts, wrote: “…and so, after the victorious and solemn end of the Swedish War, by the way, Peter the Great deigned to have a special care …to establish the above mentioned security … and, through that, with heroic intention to open the way to all of midday Asia, and to curb the willful Bashkir people forever…” [5, p. 6].

Tarkhan Aldar Isyangeldin took steps to attract Sultan Abulkhair, as well as other Chingizids from the Crimean Khanate, to the Khan’s throne to control the Bashkirs. In the written materials of the 30s of the XVIII century there is information that “in the last Bashkir revolt, Aldar and his comrades called Abulkhair Sultan, then they called him Khan…”. In the steppes of rebellious Bashkiria, the Kazakh Sultan distinguished himself by courage and brevity in military affairs, his name was mentioned in Russian diplomatic reports. So fame came to Abulkhair outside the Kazakh steppe, which also contributed to the fact that in 1710, “he established himself as a special Khan of the Small Horde”.

The quick departure of Abulkhair from the Bashkir insurgents was caused by the fact that in the winter of 1710, on the initiative of the Batyrs and, first of all, Bokenbay Karabatyruly (1667–1742), the historical Kurultay of the Kazakh nobility took place in Karakum. The Aral Karakum, geopolitically considered as a favorable winter pastures (Qystau) of nomads of the Small and Middle Hordes was the southwestern bordering region of the Kazakh Khanate, where the migratory territories of the Small Horde were closely interlocked with the land possessions of the Oirat tribes. In the first half of the XVIIIth century in the southern part of the Karakum in the Kalmakkum tract, near the Karauyltobe wells in the Karauylkhana district and in some other places there were places where stationary Dzungar guards were located [2, p. 84].

By the enemy’s side, in the winter of 1710, in the sands of Karakum, there was held the Kurultay of Alshins of the Small Horde “to use all efforts to unanimously defend each other to the last drop of blood. Weak souls even in the midst of this congregation discovering their fear offered to seek safety from the contays mercy; others wanted to leave their homes and flee across the Volga River, and some, like timid hares, wanted to run away in different directions and shook the constancy of many. But the foreman Bokenbay, known at that time for courage, destroyed this enterprise of them. Kyrgyz say that in the midst of a heated debate, tearing his clothes on himself and plunging his sword into the circle of council, he said in a frenzy: “We will avenge our enemies! Die with a gun! We will not be weak spectators of our looted territories and our captive children! When have the warriors of the Kipchak plains been timid?! This beard was not yet decorated with gray hair, as I crumpled my hands in the blood of enemies. Now can I indifferently bear the tyranny of the barbarians? We still have no shortage of good horses! The quiver with sharp arrows has not yet emptied!” After this, everyone solemnly swore to follow Bokenbay’s advice. The enthusiasm even reached the point when some of the elders, in order to enforce the oath, opened wounds and dropped their blood on a fire burning in the middle. After the oath, general prayer was performed, and the sacrificial brush made of the white horse was divided. By this they wanted to commemorate the steadfastness of the union. The Hordes at this time elected Sultan Abulkhair as the eldest son from the Khan’s family, and the grateful people proclaimed Bokenbay their leader” [6].

As it is known, after the death of Khaknazar Khan in 1580, the dynasty of the ninth son Zhanibek Zhadik Sultan came to power in the Kazakh Khanate, whose descendants virtually reigned in different parts of the state until the beginning of the XVIII century. After 130 years, in 1710, for the first time, the representative of the dynasty of another, the eighth son of Zhanibek Osek Sultan Abulkhair Sultan was elected the Khan of the North-Eastern Aral region. Then Abulkhair Khan purposefully strengthens his authority among the Tore and Kazakhs thanks to his successful military operations against the Dzungars, Volga Kalmyks, Yaitsky Cossacks, Bashkirs. As a result he won the reputation of a talented commander, Bahadur, who enjoyed great support from the most authoritative batyrs of his time.

By the way, I.V. Erofeeva in a new study [6] has corrected a mistake that has been “registered“ in historical science. In particular, in her opinion, in Kurultay of 1710, it was not the young batyr Bogembay Akshaluly (1690–1775, or 1776, or 1778) from the tribe Kanzhigaly of the Middle Horde clan Argyn who made a vivid and figurative speech, as it was stated from the middle of the last centuries until recently, but it was another batyr – Bokenbay Karabatyruly from the Tabyn of Zhetyru clan of the Small Horde. After careful reading and making structural analysis of the well-known source “Review of the Kyrgyz-Kaisak steppe” Ya.P. Gaverdovsky has suggested a quite logical conclusion that the participants of Kurultay 1710 were the representatives of the Small Horde only. Abulkhair, who was elected a Khan in this Kurultay, has acquired a very influential support for his vigorous military-political activity on the part Batyr Bokenbay Karabatyruly.

The tribes of the Small Horde included 25 clan groups, which were divided into various branches. According to A.I. Tevkelev, who visited the headquarters of Khan Abulkhair in 1731–1732, “a strong clan of Alshyn is divided in two, that are Karakisyak and Bayuly. Karakisyak is stronger than the second one, six genera are sought, and in particular: Chekli, Karakisyak, Chyumekey, Dyurkara, Karakete, Karasakal. The owner of these six tribes was Abulkhair Khan” [8, p. 183]. The second branch of Bayuly was considered less powerful, although it included twice as many tribes: Adai, Zhappas, Alasha, Baybakty, Maskar, Bersh, Tazlar, Esentemir, Serkesh, Tana, Kyzylkurt, Shikhlar, Altyn and Issyk. Seven other tribes, concentrated according to legend by Khan Tauke were Zhetyru which included: Tabyn, Tama, Kerderi, Kereit, Toleu, Ramadan and Jagalbaily.

It should be borne in mind that in the traditional system of genealogical designations, the Kazakhs of the Small Horde are called the ethnonym “Alshyn”. It was this ethnonym that Abulkhair Khan used in his correspondence with the Russian authorities. According to the legend, the Kazakhs of the Small Horde descend from the third, youngest son of the mythological ancestor of the Kazakhs: Alash or Kotan – Alshyn / Karashory, etc., who in turn had three sons – Alim, Kadyrkozha and Kart-Kazakh. From them respectively descended the three main groups of the Small Horde: Alimuly, Bayuly and Zhetyru. The privileged position by genealogical birthright of the legendary ancestor Alim belonged to the largest generation of Alimuly by genealogical birthright of his legendary ancestor Alim. Below the generation of Alimuly were the generation of Bayuly and Zhetyru respactively, but not the other way around.

According to N.E. Massanov, in the first half of the XVIIIth century, apparently, Alimuly gained a strong influence, so that he could support Abulkhair Khan in the process of his imperial rise and the activity of this Chingizid to unite the tribal groups and mobilize them to organize resistance to external tribes, and above all, Dzungarian-Kalmyk expansion [8, p. 195].

Sources are unanimous in their silence about the number of Kazakhs of the Small Horde at the beginning of the XVIIIth century. According to Ya.P. Gaverdovsky (1803) the number of Kazakhs of the Small Horde was 167,700 families, and G.I. Spassky in 1820 estimated at 158,200 families [8, p. 180]. If we take into account that in the Muslim environment in the late Middle Ages in average there were 6 people per family, then the number of Kazakhs of the Small Horde approximately was 1 million people. According to the calculations of the authoritative Moscow researcher N.E. Bekmakhanova in 1850 the population of three Hordes made 4,931,286 Kazakhs, including 1,048,537 people in the Small Horde, which, according to our estimates, amounted to 21.3% of the total population. Moreover, we should take into account the inaccuracy in the quantitative data.

The Small Horde, surrounded on three sides by alien nomadic, semi-nomadic and sedentary peoples (Volga Kalmyks, Yaik Cossacks, Bashkirs, Turkmens, Karakalpaks), was often forced to enter into military confrontations, capturing or losing cattle, pastures, water sources, prisoners, often sent to the slave markets of Khiva and Bukhara. At the beginning of 1715, in the winter of 1717 and in 1720, Abulkhair, with a large detachment of Kazakhs (10,000 and 20,000 people), through the Bashkir nomads raided the Kazan province, where he destroyed the Cossack village of Novosheshminsk. In 1717, he also made a many-kilometer horse throw to the other end of the steppe: at Ayaguz Abulkhair Khan and Senior Khan Kayip with the 30,000th militia fought against the Dzungars. This military campaign was unsuccessful for the Kazakh rulers, but the revenge was taken by Abulkhair three years later. Proposed in the years 1717–1718, the Khans Kayip and Abulkhair, the idea of a joint military campaign with Russia against the Dzungars hasn’t receive the approval of the Russian government. It did not want to weaken Dzungaria in the struggle against the Tsing Empire, otherwise Russia in the east and China in the west would come to a common border.

After the death of Tauke Khan in 1715, the authority of the Senior Khan of the united Kazakh Khanate passed to Kayip, but in 1718 he was killed by his opponents from the Middle Horde. The throne of the Senior Khan again became vacant. Abulkhair, the oldest in age among the Khans at that time, who had gained strength and authority in numerous military campaigns, “theoretically” could not claim the throne. Since he represented the youngest branch of the Chingizid line of the Kazakh rulers Osek, he could not compete with the descendants of the Khans Tauke and Kayip. But Abulkhair was the first to violate this Chingizid tradition of electing the Senior Khan from among the descendants of Zhadik – representatives of the senior branch of the Chingiz line. It is believed that his relatively rapid rise was firstly due to the social significance of the khans as military leaders. Since the 80’s XVI century until the early 80’s XVIII century the united state of Kazakhs was ruled by 11 Senior Khans, including Abulkhair Khan from the year 1719 [7, p. 23].

The death of the Chinese Emperor Kangxi on December 20, 1722 and his disappearance from the political scene, the peace proposal of the new Emperor Yongzheng (1722–1735) to the Dzungars and withdrawal of the Chinese army from the northern border of China, allowed the Dzungars to make raids on the southern Kazakh nomad camps, which started in February-March 1723. The enemy not only destroyed the nomad camps, but also captured strategically important cities including Tashkent and Turkestan and forced the Kazakhs to flight from their historical homeland up to the Pamir.

In the first grievous months of the “Great Calamity” (“Aqtaban shubyryndy”), Abulkhair showed his military talent. He turned out to be “in fact, the only of the Kazakh rulers, Chingizids, who managed not only to lead the people quickly out of the state of bewilderment and despair caused by the sudden invasion of numerous armed troops of the enemy in the southern nomad camps, but also to mobilize dependent tribes for a decisive repulse of the Dzungarian aggression”, – wrote a prominent Russian historian T.I. Sultanov in the book «The Birth of Kazakh Statehood» [9, p. 96].

Timely assessment of a tense international situation on the northern and southern borders of the Kazakh steppe in August 1723 enabled Abulkhair to make a fast march from the Aral region to the north-west of the Kazakh nomad camps at the head of the combined twenty-thousand strong detachment of Kazakhs and Karakalpaks in order to make a preventive strike to the Volga Kalmyks of Ayuka Khan, which did not allow the latter to organize a military alliance with the kindred Dzungaria. The news that Abulkhair came up to the Yaik forced Kalmyk taishas to quickly migrate from the left bank of the river to Krasniy Yar, and Ayuka Khan initiated peace negotiations, which were rejected by Abulkhair. The death of Ayuka Khan in February 1724, the late military assistance to Kalmyks from local governors, continuing offensive operations of Kazakh, Karakalpak and Bashkir detachments and Abulkhair batyrs ultimately undermined the military potential of the Volga Kalmyks, although there were heavy losses in the troops of Turkic peoples. A potential threat of a rear attack on the Small Horde was removed and Abulkhair sent his troops to the south, liberating Turkestan in the autumn of 1724, then Tashkent and its neighborhood. Only a numerical superiority of the enemy made Abulkhair temporarily migrate to Bukhara in the spring of 1725. In the fall of 1726, Kazakh troops led by Abulkhair, the Khan of the Middle Horde Semeke and Sultans Barak and Yessim again fought in Kalmyk uluses. The reconciliation came only in the autumn of 1728.

Taking into account the military merits of indefatigable Abulkhair, the Kurultay of the Kazakhs of three Hordes, presumably in late 1726 – early 1727, duly elected Abulkhair Khan the Supreme commander of the united militia troops. Abulkhair put a lot of effort into militia troops, encouraged their patriotism and high morale. The results of the measures taken by the commander had an effect already in 1727, when the myth of the invincibility of the Dzungarian army was dispelled. In the Ulytau mountains, in the Karasiyr area, in the interfluve of the Bulanty-Belyauty rivers, west of the Sarysu river (the modern Ulutau district of Karaganda oblast), the Kazakhs felt their powerful strength in their unity. And the place of the battle went down in history under the name «The place of death of the Kalmyks» (Kaz. Kalmak қyrylgan). Presumably in the spring of 1730, 125 km south of Lake Balkhash, in the Anyrakai area («The place of moans and sobs of the Kalmyks»), there was a large battle of the Kazakh militia troops with the Dzungars. In the centennial War against the Dzungars, a radical turning point finally came: the people became more organized, showing fantastic firmness, enthusiasm and patriotism in protecting their native land.

Guided by the strategic interests of preserving Kazakh statehood in a precarious and unpredictable international environment, trying to put an end to the internal strife of the steppe-dwellers and their rulers, Abulkhair Khan, supporting the decision of the Kazakh nobility to conclude a peace treaty and military alliance with Russia, went further in his plans and took on an initiative to apply for Russian allegiance. In that case, the personality factor played a decisive role. In 1730, the Khan sent an embassy headed by batyr Seitkul Koydagululy and bei Kutlumbet Koshtaev to the capital of Russia through Ufa governorate.

At that time, the Romanov dynasty was the only power that could be chosen as a protector of the Khan from the neighbors. Then, the first steps in her political career were made by Empress Anna Ioannovna (1693–1740), who was invited to ascend the throne after 18 years of her stay abroad and was crowned on April 28 (May 9), 1730, under the conditions of complete autocracy under the support of the nobility. The foreign policy of the Empress in general was a continuation of the policy of her uncle Peter the Great, who considered the Kazakh lands, little-known to him, as a “key and gate” to Inner Asia.

The ambassadors of Abulkhair Khan were received with honor in Petersburg, the Empress joyfully honored the request of the Khan, and on February 19, 1731 signed a letter of acceptance of the Kazakhs of the Small Horde into the Russian allegiance. The ambassadors returned to the steppe with rich gifts, accompanied by a special mission headed by translator A.I. Tevkelev, a military guard and two officers-surveyors. The diplomatic mission included an influential Bashkir foreman and batyr Taymas Shaimov, who was highly respected among the steppe-dwellers. The Russian representatives had a written program of action from the State Collegium of Foreign Affairs, the «Instruction» of 12 points, which went down to how to persuade the steppe residents to accept Russian allegiance. For that purpose, it was allowed to spend up to one million rubles. One of the functions of the diplomatic mission was collection of intelligence information: a description of the area, information about the language, customs and rituals of local residents, about the moods of various segments of the population when taking allegiance.

From October 5, 1731 to November 24, 1732 A.I. Tevkelev was at Abulkhair Khan’s palace. There it turned out that the adoption of Russian allegiance was a personal initiative of Khan Abulkhair. A significant part of the nobility of the Small Horde categorically refused to take Russian allegiance. On the part of the opposition-minded steppe rulers, there were many who tried to disrupt negotiations openly and even to kill Russian ambassadors. Therefore, the protection of the diplomatic mission was entrusted to the Sultan of Nuraly, the eldest son of Abulkhair Khan. The steppe rulers were mainly guided by the search for a reliable military ally, who in no way swore on their Freedom and the loss of Independence was not under question. Each side in its own way understood the essence of “allegiance”. The Russian Empire needed a formal occasion and legal basis for subsequent liquidation of the statehood of its neighbors. Generous gifts, persuasion, bribery of the nobility, intimidation, attraction of Batyrs and a Torе, bold performance of the Murza – all available methods were used by Tevkelev, who knew the mentality of the steppe-dwellers well.

On October 10, 1731, in the tract of Maytobe, between the rivers Irgiz and Tobol, Abulkhair Khan and 29 senior officers, including Bokenbay Batyr, who prompted other elders to follow his example, as well as his brother-in-law Eset Batyr and cousin Batyr Khudaymendy Murza, were the first to sware on the Koran allegiance to Russia [4, p. 18]. As a sign of allegiance to the Russian throne, Abulkhair pledged to send his sons to Russia as amanates. At that meeting, Abulkhair did not make excuses to the Elite, but bluntly and firmly declared that he should have real political power, and not just the honorary title of a khan, when “he, a Khan, only has a Khan’s name, and he has no power over his subjects…”.

Comparing his life among the Kazakhs with the position of a wild and abandoned horse, “which people beat and animals catch”, Abulkhair confidently said that “like that horse, he, the Khan, did not have a defender and at last found him, as it is better to have the allegiance of the great Monarch and to see the light; and it is better to be killed by them than to endure a stern belly” [6, p. 136]. On November 21, another 30 elders persuaded Khudaymendy Murza to adopt allegiance and they were awarded with gifts worth 100 rubles. With the mediation of Bokenbay Batyr, on December 3, the oath was taken by Sultan Batyr, the son of the former Senior Khan of the Kazakhs Kayip (1715–1718). On December 19, 1731, Semeke Khan of the Middle Horde decided to adopt allegiance, telling Tevkelev’s envoys that “he wants to be a citizen …not on the advice of Abulkhair Khan, but by his own will” and then sent a confirmation message to the Empress [7, p. 136].

From the Tevkelev’s report of January 5, 1732, we learn about the reasons that pushed Abulkhair into Russian allegiance: “My ancestors and me, Abulkhair Khan, owned the cities of Tashkent, Turkestan and Sairam with their villages and Kyrgyz-Kaisaks, which Zengorsky (Dzungarian) owners fought off from the Kyrgyz-Kasakhs, captured the lands and drove Kyrgyzs to the steppe, whereas Volsk Kalmyks and Bashkirs, as local citizens when they can’t cope with the enemies, are guarded by local authorities, and he, Abulkhair Khan, hopes that when the Kyrgyz-Kasakhs become subjects of the Empress, the Kalmyks and Bashkirs will not make raids on them, he wants also be able to get revenge on the Zengors” [9].

Empress Anna Ioannovna took the official oath of Abulkhair Khan’s son Sultan Yeraly (1720–1794) on February 10, 1734. The second oath by Abulkhair Khan was pledged in Orsk on August 3, 1738. Under the influence of Abulkhair the Middle Horde Khan Abulmambet and the influential Sultan (since 1771 – Khan) Abylay, as well as most of the Karakalpaks adopted the Russian allegiance in the early 1740s. It should be noted that allegiance was mainly accepted by those groups of Kazakhs who lived near the border line. The true attitude of the Kazakh Khans to the documents of allegiance fully characterizes the fact that Abulkhair Khan three times confirmed his allegiance. When signing the document, a number of conditions were specified: 1. Protect the Russian borders adjacent to the lands of his Horde. 2. Protect our merchant caravans and escort them through the Kyrgyz steppes. 3. To give reinforcements to the Russian army from the local subjects, like the Bashkirs and Kalmyks do, in case of need. 4. Pay tribute or yasak with animal skins [11, р. 185]. Later events showed that almost none of these obligations on both sides was fulfilled. Each side wanted to get their own benefits. In general, allegiance was of a nominal nature, but from a formal point of view it became the starting point for the gradual annexation of the Kazakh Khanate by the Russian Empire. For excellent execution of the assignment of the Empress in the Kazakh steppe A.I. Tevkelev received the rank of Colonel (later – General), and the Bashkir foreman Taymas Shaimov received the title of Tarkhan.

To strengthen the positions of tsarism in the border lands of the Small Horde, in 1734, a Kyrgyz-Kaisak expedition was organized. It was headed by I.K. Kirillov (1689–14.04.1737) who kept “notes on all types and assumptions of Peter the Great regarding Asian territories adjacent to Russia” [11, p. 186]. A.I. Tevkelev became his assistant in affairs and translations. Later, the Kyrgyz-Kaisak expedition was renamed into the Orenburg expedition and it consisted of 2,700 people. It received a government assignment to carry out an in-depth study of the Small Horde. Instructions were given to the state adviser Kirillov for guidance in the organization of the governance of the adjoining area. Its main points were as follows:

Build a town with a fortress at the mouth of the Or River and try to attract residents to it.
Send the credentials delivered to him to: a) Abulkhair, b) Shemyaka, Khan of the Middle Kazakh Horde, c) the founders of the Great Horde and d) the Karakalpak Khan.
To invite Khans and elders or patriarchs of all these Hordes to the governer.
To demand an oath from the Great and Middle Hordes.
To send Sultan Yeraly to his father under trusted convoy.
To keep the Kyrgyz-Kazakhs in obedience, depending on circumstances, by graces and gifts, or severity and fear.
If Abulkhair or other Khans and ordinary Kyrgyzs want to move near the new town, assign places to them, but if the Khans wish to have a house for arrival or living, then build them the town according to their custom. Also, do not ban them to build mosques, but have there a guard both for honor and supervision.
Designate the Ural River as a border and watch that none of the Kyrgyz willfully cross it to the right bank.
For legal proceedings, establish a court consisting of Russian officials and significant Kyrgyz, such as, for example, Khan’s children or other Sultans and elders. In court, everyone is judged according to the customs of his land.
After foundation of the city and a meeting with Abulkhair, at the first opportunity send a caravan of goods to Bukharia and, if possible, further. In the same way, try to attract merchants from different places in Asia to trade in Russia.
In each caravan, starting with the first, send surveyors for inspection and taking photographs of places.
Find, if possible, ores and inspect the place containing, according to Abulkhair’s words, gold.
Try to build a dock and armed vessels on the Aral Sea, for which purpose to build first, several boats on the Yaik (Urals) and, after disassembling them, keep them with all cordage in permanent readiness. When the city is built and ties with the Kyrgyz-Kazakhs and Karakalpaks are established, with the consent of Abulkhair and noble elders carry the disassembled ships to the Aral Sea in winter time and again collect them and arm with guns.
At first opportunity, buy horses for cavalry from the Kyrgyz.
In the discovery, mining and sale of minerals, other than gold and silver, which in the Kyrgyz steppes can be found, act on a merchant’s base, without wasting time in compliance with the special documents [11, р. 187–188].

Additional diplomatic instructions given to Kirillov contained the following items:

1) Supervise the Bashkirs, between which frequent incidents were registered.

2) Supervise in the same way the Kyrgyz-Kazakhs.

3) If one or the other riot, use people of one nation against the other, saving the Russian army.

4) Try to have reliable and quick news about all the peoples bordering with Russia.
5) Especially observe the actions of the Dzungars, searching for the means to stop their raids on the

Siberian settlements and turn them away from collecting tribute from people who pay double tribute.
6) Abulkhair should be provided with only gunpowder and armament allowance but not by auxiliary troops, in his War against the Khivans [11, p. 188].

As a reward for receiving Russian allegiance, Abulkhair Khan requested to secure the eternal right to hold the Khan’s title for him and his descendants and build a city with a fortress on the Or River where he could find a refuge in the case of danger. This Khan’s desire coincided with the strategic system of the colonialist actions of Russian tzarism, which was interested in building fortresses as strongholds of its power. Initially, in 1735, Orenburg was built at the estuary of the Or River which joined the Ural River. In 1739, Orenburg was moved lower to the new place – on the Red Mountain, which preserved its former name. The old town was called the Orsk fortress. In 1743, Orenburg was founded for the third time on the site of the former Berdyansk fortress, 70 miles from the Krasnogorsk tract. The town, built on the Red Mountain, was called the Krasnogorsk fortress. The Orenburg fortress served as a big center of trade between the European part of Russia, Kazakh steppe and Central Asia. Later it turned out that Orenburg was considered by tzarism not as the residence of the Kazakh Khan, but as a military bridgehead of the empire for the further advancement to the East.

After entering into Russian allegiance, the construction of fortresses scaled up, which led to sharp aggravation of the land issue in the border region. Firstly, in the 30–40s of the XVIII century there started the construction of the 770 versts long Uyskaya line of military fortifications from Verkhneyaitskaya fortress to Zverinogolovskaya fortress. Secondly, since 1734, the Kazakhs had been strictly forbidden to migrate to the right bank of the Yaik (Zhaiyk). Thirdly, in 1742, the royal decree was issued which prohibited the steppe-dwellers to travel even nearer along Zhaiyk, Yaitsky town, and other fortresses under construction. Similar decrees were issued in the subsequent years. These measures led to the deterioration in the socio-economic situation of the nomads and increased their raids on the border line.

It should be taken into account that in the XVIII century the relations and affairs of the rulers of Kazakh Hordes were considered by the College of Foreign Affairs, which meant the recognition of the Horde status as a foreign territory with its own ruler. But over time, a new circumstance for the Small Horde arose and started ingraining every day. This circumstance was the intervention of the Orenburg Governor-General and the Border Commission in the Khan’s activities. The main aim of intervention was to remove Chingizids from solving acute problems of the Horde’s life. The relations between Abulkhair Khan and the first Governor I.I. Neplyuev were mistrustful and hostile, the Petersburg court was forced to take diplomatic measures to reconcile the opponents. As a professional military man, Admiral Neplyuyev feared the strengthening of Abulkhair Khan, realizing that his policy as a strong ruler and prominent commander of his time was crucial in preserving the Kazakh state.

The tough confrontation between the Khan and the Governor was explained by Abulkhair Khan’s desire to protect the foundations of the Khan’s power, and the new administration order that was imposed on Chingizids did not suit him at all. As history shows, the khan’s power was flexibly adapted to the nomadic way of life and the scattering nature of the settling of nomads over a large territory. The power of the steppe khan, as Academician V.V. Bartold said, “did not fit into the Russian idea of a ruler”. “Only in rare cases this power achieves the absoluteness which can not be shared with any other political forces within the state. …The nature of the khan’s power in society was determined not only by the nature of government. In the political life of the leader of the nomads who haven’t abandoned their warlike way of life yet, the personal positive qualities of the leader recognized by traditions like his royal appearance occupied not the last place”, – T.I. Sultanov emphasizes [12, p. 90].

As an experienced and knowledgeable ruler, Abulkhair Khan did not want the Kazakh steppe to become an internal province of Russia. He figured out the true intention of the Governor I.I. Neplyuev’s treacherous and cunning tactical actions which were aimed at undermining the foundations of the legitimate khan’s power, superseding the traditional role of the khan’s power by Russian administrative institutions, discrediting the Khan and his power before his subjects and other Chingizids, accelerating the development of centrifugal tendencies in the relations between the rulers of the Kazakh steppe. All these Neplyuev’s actions were counted on igniting the feelings of rivalry and hostility among different Kazakh tribes, as well as unleashing the ethnic hatred of neighboring peoples (Karakalpaks, Bashkirs, Volga Kalmyks). As an experienced diplomat, I.I. Neplyuev took every effort to ensure that the relations between Russia and the Kazakhs would move from the field of foreign policy to domestic policy. “What Abulkhair expected from the allegiance did not come true”, – Z.E. Kabuldinov emphasizes [13, p. 7]. On August 17 (Wednesday), 1748, Abulkhair Khan wrote the last letter to A.I. Tevkelev [13, p. 272].

Only the tragic death of the strong steppe ruler of nomads sophisticated in government affairs in August (different dates in the literature: August 1 [4, p. 851; p. 421, note 174], August 15 or 17 [2, p. 395, 398]) 1748, put a decisive end to the confrontation with the governor. So the whole Era has passed – the Era of Abulkhair. In the biography of Abulkhair Khan, the heroism and the tragedy of both the individual personality of the ruler and the people themselves in the XVIII century were closely intertwined.

Merits

The impressive outstanding merits of Abulkhair Khan’s political activity become clear judging by the specific character of the socio-economic nature and the political organization of the nomadic society of the XVIII century and taking into account the extremely difficult international situation of the fragmented Kazakh Khanate.

Abulkhair Khan, the national Hero of the Bulanty and Anyrakai battles, played an

extremely priority role in organizing the nationwide struggle of the three Kazakh Hordes against the Dzungarian conquerors for Freedom and Independence of the Fatherland. He persistently tried to conduct a multi-vector foreign policy in the northern and southern, western and eastern directions. He strived for the development of transit trade, the expansion of the nomad territories of the Kazakhs in the north and north-west and the creation of a public legal base for the integral land ownership by the Kazakhs of the Small and Middle Hordes to the newly occupied territories. It was he, the first of the Chingizids, endowed by the khan’s power, after the death of Tauke Senior Khan and Kayip Senior Khan (died in 1719) who revived their idea of rapprochement with Russia.

Abulkhair Khan’s greatest historical service to future generations is that he took pragmatic political steps (October 10, 1731; August 3, 1738; August 20, 1742) to choose a powerful patron, to eliminate disputes with Trans-Ural Bashkirs,Volga Kalmyks and other subjects of Russia about water sources, pasture lands and trade through the adoption of a protectorate by the Kazakhs: “Before my allegiance, no one knew this Kyrgyz-Kaisaks Horde and no one had paved the way here, but I was the first who has done this”. The process of the Small Horde accession to Russia had continued up to the middle of the XIX century, so that in 260 years after Abulkhair Khan’s first oath, Kazakhstan has become a truly independent state.

Abulkhair Khan saw the historical mission of the Senior Khan to overcome the institutional and military-technical lag of the Kazakhs not only from the settled, but also the neighboring nomadic peoples of Russia and Central Asia, to preserve ethno-territorial integrity and to have real political power in a centralized state, capable of playing independent role in the international arena.

The Kazakh leader of the XVIII century and today, in the XXI century, unites the Kazakhs with the idea preserving Independent Kazakhstan. An impartial analysis of the available material and a critical attitude towards it, the number of the available studies conducted by many generations of foreign and domestic historians and an objective analysis of the historiographic base varied by time of appearance indicate that the merits of Abulkhair Khan in consolidating the efforts of the three Hordes in the struggle against foreign invaders, especially in “Years of the Great Disaster”, a diplomatic solution to the issues of relations with neighboring countries (Khiva, Bukhara, Russia, Dzungaria) and neighboring peoples are undeniable. Abulkhair Khan is an outstanding personality of a national scale of the XVIII century and the historical figure the Kazakhs can be proud of. The secular aristocrat of the Kazakh ruling Elite, Abulkhair Khan occupies the same place in Kazakh history as Peter I in Russia, Napoleon in French, Bismarck in the German and Kemal Atatürk in Turkey.

Abulkhair Khan left an extensive epistolary heritage.

The descendants of Abulkhair Khan occupied the leading positions in the state, the military and the public life. Abulkhair Khan was the father of 7 sons and the grandfather of 69 grandchildren on the male line. A total of half a century the Khan’s title was possessed by his sons: Nuraly (38 years), Yeraly (4 years ) and Aishuak (8 years). Abulkhair’s nine grandsons (Yessim, Piraly, Zhantore, Sergazy, Bukey, Karatay, Shigay, Bolekey, Temir) and five great-grandsons (Kassym, Maty, Zhangir, Kaipgali, Saukym) ascended the khan’s throne. In addition, Abulkhair’s two grandsons, the Sultans Bolekey and Agyn, Yeraly and Adil’s sons, became Khiva Khans in late 1740 – early 1741 and in 1770–1771 [2, p. 393].

The family clan of Abulkhair Khan became popular and famous not only in the Kazakh steppe. Nuraly Khan and Aishuak Khan had 46 grandchildren and great-grandchildren on the male line, Eraly Khan had 12 grandchildren, and Adil Sultan became the grandfather of 4 grandchildren. The famous Abulkhair’s great-grandson, the Khan of the Bukey Horde, Zhangir, became the first polymathic ruler of the European type in the steppe. He was the first Major General of the Kazakh rulers. Sultan Zhaansha (1877–1923) was one of the executive directors of the first Kazakh magazine “Aiqap”. Sultan Bakytzhan (1860–1937) was elected a deputy of the State Duma of Russia of the 2nd convocation from Ural Region. Sultans Makhambet (1890–1937) and Kambar (1901–1942) are kyushi and one of the organizers of Kurmangazy orchestra. Sultan Gabdul-Hakim (1896–1938) was the member of the Revolutionary Committee of Kyrgyz Region, and the Executive Secretary of the Kazakh Central Executive Committee. The descendant of Aichuak Khan, Sanjar Sultan (1889–25.02.1938) became the first director (rector) of the Kazakh Medical Institute, the People’s Commissar (Minister) of Health of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. This honorable number of the famous descendants of Abulkhair Khan, the iconic figure in the history of our people can be continued. Thus Abulkhair Khan’s dream about the great future and historical greatness came true in many ways and the main merit here belongs to Abulkhair – the founder of the new Kazakh dynasty of Chingizids.

Memory

“The Kyrgyz recognize this dead Khan as a saint”, – said Captain Nikolai Rychkov, who gave the first description of Abulkhair Khan’s monument in 23 years after his death [15, p. 12]. The Khan’s grave of not burned brick, coated with white clay has collapsed over time, leaving a landmark in the form of a lone tree in the eastern part at the feet of the deceased, which was the object of worship of many generations of Kazakhs. A number of public figures, writers, in the first place A. Kekilbayev, as well as U. Zhanibekov, A. Satayev, were engaged in the search for the lost grave of Abulkhair khan in the 70s of the XX century. In the 2000s, the problem was raised by the Akimat of the Aktobe oblast, targeted field research was organized.

The main contribution to the resolution of this complicated issue was made by the West Kazakhstan Complex Ethno-Archaeological Expedition under the leadership of Professor S.E. Azhigali who in 2010 revealed the most likely burial place of the khan, substantiated by a whole series of serious evidence (including the coincidence of DNA of bone remains and descendants = 99.783%). The necropolis, which is popularly called the «Khan Molasy» («Khan burial ground»), is located in the Aitekebi region of the Aktobe oblast, on the border with the Kostanai oblast, 4.5 km west of the confluence of the Olkeiyek and Kabyrga rivers. Since the burial of the khan in the middle of the XVIIIth century, the necropolis has grown significantly and is now a huge necropolis, numbering at least one thousand gravestones – mainly graves and barrows that have lost shape over the passage of time.

The scientific research of the West Kazakhstan Complex Ethno-Archaeological Expedition to the «Khan Molasy» necropolis (2007–2011) had an interdisciplinary character including archival, bibliographic, survey-ethnographic, ethno-archaeological, planographic (with the use of hang gliding photography), epigraphic, geophysical and paleo-logical-archaeological research. During the concluding stage of research specialists in genetics (the Institute of General genetics and Cytology of the Committее of Sciences of the Ministry of Education and Science of R.K., General director L.B. Djansugurova) and anthropologists were engaged (Hungarian Natural Museum). Based on comprehensive research, the appearance of the greatest political figure of Kazakhstan of the XVIIIth century, the steppe khan Abulkhair, was restored.

In 2015, as part of the celebration of the 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate near the village of Tolybai, Aitekebi region, at the burial place of Abulkhair khan, the «Khan Molasy» large memorial and tourist complex was erected, which is included in the list of 100 National sacred objects of Kazakhstan. It consists of a Mausoleum over the grave of the Khan and a memorial sign. The sign is a high stylobate raised above the plane of the steppe from the center of which soar three stele-banners, covered with tamgas of all Kazakh clans. Such a concept, according to the author, architect B. Ibraev, reflects the titanic activity of Abulkhair Khan to unite the Kazakhs of the three Hordes to defend the Fatherland from external enemies.

The solution of the issue of the whereabouts of the grave of Abulkhair Khan as an Outstanding Historical Figure and the construction of the “Khan Molasy” Memorial complex has the most important state, cultural, social, scientific and tourist significance. In the village of Tolybai there is also a Museum dedicated to Abulkhair Khan.

In 2000, a Monument to the legendary commander was erected in bronze in Aktobe. Its height is about 6.5 m, length – 5.8 m and width – 2.1 m. The authors of the project are sculptor E. Sergebayev and architects N. Kozhagulov and B. Egimbayev. With a raised hand Abulkhair Khan calls on the people to unity and hold a victory over enemies.

In 2001, a registered postage stamp was issued.

On July 29, 2016, the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan issued commemorative coins “Abulkhair Khan” from the series “Portrait on Banknotes”. Coins made of gold and silver “proof” of quality with a face value of 500 tenge and from new silver alloy with a face value of 100 tenge.

Avenues and streets in the regional centers and cities: Aktobe, Uralsk, Kyzyl-orda, Temir, Emba, as well as in the city of republican significance – Almaty are also named after Abulkhair Khan.

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Author: Baltabayeva K.N., Candidate of Historical Sciences