Foreign policy and diplomacy of Abylai Khan
In
1738-1741 Abylai khans soldiers had been fighrsting with jongars several times.
In 1742 Abylai khanhad been trapped into jongars army. At that period Abylai
khans captivity to jongars army called big social scareness. Releasing of
Abylai khan was a big political problem. In the historical poems were written
that from the name of Kazakh Tole bi and Abilkayr khan asked from the Orynbors
government to liberate Abylai from jongars army. We can be sure that this events
are true, because there was a letter between Orynbors governor I. Sh. Nepluev
and Abilkayr. As a representative Tole bi was responsible for negotiations with
jongars and after in 1743 5th
of September they liberated Abylai from jongars army. Also after this
negotiation Nepluev was afraid of that Kazakh nation and kalmak nation wil be
united.At the end of his life 15 years was fighting against of Middle Asia
khans. In 1765-1767 Abylays war between Erdenbek ended with getting back
Turkestan, Sairam and Shymkent to Kazakhs. At that time Toshkent was paying
taxes to Kazakh khans. The war which prolonged between Kazakh and jongar
nations about 200 years. And it was remembered as «Shandy Joryk».
Abylai
was veritable politic, even after the wars between kalmaks he did not lose his
skills to improve and develop Kazakh nations life, he used diplomatical ways of
running very dextereously. In August, 1740 with meddle juz khan Abilmambet and
oher 120ambassadors Abylai visited Orynbor and showed that he does not mind to
be under protection of Russian government. At the same time to save Kazakh
nations union he did not lose relations with
«Shyn empire». Also he sent ambassadors to st.Petersburg and Beijin.
There were some problems between China and Russia. And Abylai khan made a
benefit from their unagreements .
In
1752 he won the war between jongars, in 1753 Abylai khan with 5000 soldiers
fought with jongars an let free Kazakh lands. In 1754 in April Ablai khan and
his 1700 soldiers had to fight with kalmaks 10000 soldiers. And Karatal with
his 4000 soldiers took under the prison 3000 kalmaks. In 1756 Abylai kan with
his army fought twice with chineese and kalmaks army. At the first war he was
beaten, but at the second he won. In 1757 Abylai`s 6000 soldiers have beaten China`s 40000 soldiers. After China
asked to join with Abylai. In 1753-1754 together with Abylai khan were Kazakh
heros like Kabanbai, Bogenbai, Kerei, Janibek and Otegen. The skills of making
negotiations, the ways of running, fightening and diplomatic skills of Abylai,
made him the greatest Khan of his centuries.
When
he was sure that everything is good, he started to fight with others who were
claiming to Kazakh lands. In 1754-1755 Kyrgyz army invaded the region of
Jetysu. Because of this Abylai attacked against of Kyrgyz army. And got back
left side of the river Ile and Shu. And they set the border which lasts from
Narynkol to Kordai.This is the border of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
In
1771 Edil`s kalmaks were moving to jongars through the Kazakh lands. Little
juz`s khan Nuraly gathered his army and beat kalmaks along the river Jem. Then
coming to Balkash they had been arreated by Abylai khan. Seren and Ubashy to
save the life of their nation decided to join and to give up. And sent
ambassadors to Abylai. To talk over kalmaks life. Abylai invited Seren and
Ubashy and that his policy is the best. Abylai let them free because he was
thinking about the future of Kazakhs life. And future relations between them.
Abylai removed Kazakh people to the places where jongars lived, also he showed
himself from the political side. Everything what he wanted was to save Kazakh
lands and improve the standard of livingof Kazakh nation. Even after the death
of Abilkayr Abylai khan joined with
Tole bi and wanted to judge Barak sultan. This year Abilmambet khan died. Following to he rules of voting to be the
khan of the Midle juz had to be one of the khan brothers of Abilmambet or his
elder son Abilpeiz. But inspite of this, all the government even Abilpeiz
wanted to make Abylai as a khan of
Middle juz. As a result Abylai khan
was not only the khan of Middle juz, also he was known as a khan of all
the Kazakh nation.
We
can see that Abylai did not depend on Russian empire from the letters which he
sent to general Ivan Dekolonk and governor Rennedorf: If anyone would claim to Kazakh lands we are always ready to
answer them with lances.
Abylai
khan was running with the empire which situated between Russia and China. Also
he was carrying geopolitical methods of running. When Chineese army beat
jongars and when they started to join to Middle Asia and Kazakhstan. Abylai
khan wanted to unite muslim countries. And he was having agreements with
Afghanistan`s shah Ahmad Durani. Also he wanted to send ambassador to Tuekey.
When
his relations become more stronger with China he refused from Russian
protection. When Russian governmet invited him to award with Khan`s medals, in
1779 he refused to go to Petropavl.
During the Pugachevs war with 3000 soldiers
along the «Kasiret Beldeu» he destroyed Russian stations.
Shokan
Valihanov: in 1771 when he was elected as a khan he did not want to go to
Russia. Thus he considered that his nation accepted him as a khan before. He
recognized himself as a son of heavens.
In
1779 in the 4th of October in the letter from Russian empire which
was directed to Orynbor was written
that: To destroy Abylai`s power, we had to find another candidate to compete
with him.
Bukhar
Jyrau who spent all his life giving advise`s to Abylai khan said: «olden
Kingdom, You have united the head of three Juzes» We can see that this words
has historical evidences.
Shokan
Valihanov: There was no any khan apart from Abylai who created much powerful
and strong republic. He was very strict and stubborn Khan but inspite of this
he always did everything with agreements of Sultans and with the heads of
Kazakh.
Abylai
knew that he could not beat Russia or China. That is why he used diplomatical
an political ways of running. And when he was fightening with Russia he was in
a friendship with China and inside out. When China wanted to fight with Kazakh
nation, Abylai bought weapons from Russia. His policy firstly was to be in a
friendship having trade with China and Russia. For example: When he was having
trade with China he let them to trade only on the right side of the river
Ertis. If they had join to Kazakh khans, they would have been to destroy the
quietness of the Orda. Even at that times the system of corruption existed. Being afraid of this Abylai khan did not
let them to the left side of the river Ertis. The century of Abylai khan
considers as Kazakh`s heroism, diplomacy, and braveness.
Student
of the 1st course: Ussimbekov Serikbolsyn
Adviser:
Raev Dauletbek Saduakasovich
Resources:
1. Kazakh National Encyclopedia (1part 45-48pp.)
2. Article of Bolatbek Nasenov (doctor o historical sciences and professor)
3. Kazakh folk literature (1part)1995
4. Abylai khan Almaty 1993
5. Political definition dictionary Almaty 2007