Zholdasbek A., Baltabayeva A.
1-st
course graduates
Al-Farabi Kazakh National
University
The election of Kenesary Kasymuly as a Khan
In a traditional
Kazakh society Khan power has
not been researched fully and evaluated properly as a whole, general institution . Of course,
much was written about every aspect of Khan authority in the Kazakh society. Among them are works,
opinions of well known scientists
S.Z. Zimanov, S.Zh. Kenzhaliev,
S. Ozbekuly, N. Oserov and others. Kenesary came to power as a Khan, when Russia’s colonial policy was at the edge of
disappearance , sultans started to
rule the society. Therefore,
before paying attention to Kenesary’s
election as a Khan and his authority
, we believe that it would be appropriate to mention some
peculiarities of the traditional
authority of Khan in the Kazakh society as a whole. Russian official and
traditional law researcher L. F. Ballyuzek
said the following about
the Khan authority: “with each of
Zhuses ( tribal communities from different regions of Kazakhstan) at
the head stood khans with
patriarchal –elective power sultans ,
therefore, considered to be hereditary in this way, but only ever descending
straight lines, and side lines of the brothers in order of seniority of birth.
Horde meetings on cases at times were attended by the representatives from all clans – Biys (wise rulers). The power of these last was hereditary in
their offspring until such-time as either
their dynasty were replaced by new faces, with
natural ability, and other intrinsic advantages over the first,
continually drawing to himself the people's sympathy, they gradually and
imperceptibly, gained general love, and
with it their power, but without any rivalry with the former and by their
pernicious intrigue with first. Witnessing the history of the
Kirghiz-kaysak intrigue eyeliner examples because of the Khan's power between
different sultans cannot be treated
as general rules and customs
adopted by the people, and the essence of the
phenomenon arising from the components and therefore, although
private but exceptions from general rules and the basic ideas of people, rather unheard or
have been in the title of biys.
So, the image of
the board was selectively-representative and hereditary to Kyrgyz people. None
of them may be attributed to him for exceptional needs.
Quite a long period of time it
was when each clan was governed by a special Khan of their own ancestral
sultans, which was generally not
abundant genus, established by Kyrgyz concept to control people, like the
mountains of the earth to root to the spot
by nature, though from side to side structure in the former strong
pitching to them - were scattered throughout the general clans Great, Middle and Small hordes [1, p. 295]. This, of course, the
characteristics of time when the Khan was in power , when the
country was transferring to
Russian era. But before it one Khan ruled the Kazakh people. Kazakh
khan had great power in hands .
It can be seen from his
authority. “Khan acted as the organization of armed
protection of the state from enemy invasion
in Kazakh khanate , also was the
supreme judge in disputes,
determined the foreign policy, besides
kept order. The endowment
of Khan by characteristic functions proves the establishment and
strengthening of the state in the Kazakh khanate , which, based on the laws of nomadic society development, had to create a
new tradition of statehood” [2, p. 135].
Khan in the Kazakh steppe, performed such functions. Khan’ power has been implemented in
accordance with public interests.
Traditional system of Khan power
control and its limiting have been
established. Its mechanisms were election of Khan, Khan Sarkyty and Khan
talapai. Later we’ll interpret
these terms.
Khan election was
held in General Kazakhs
Kurultai (general meeting of all Kazakh clans) in front of public , he
was placed on a white felt, rode a white horse across the streets,
this way public recognized his
authority. Obeying in front of public,
different clans expressed
their recognition and were ready to meet his
requirements. “In this regard, yet another
procedure is one of the nomadic,
we should mention, when Khan is horseback riding across Horde, all his cattle in the field: cows, lambs, foals are distributed among
representatives of various clans
and tribes. This ceremony is called “Khan Sarkyty” . Khan doesn’t need any cattle. He shares everything with people and he is
a public figure. He must protect
people. In addition it is a good
sign, token. Those who didn’t come to vote, would taste from feast table, the rest
of Khan ‘s cattle breed leads to wealth of the country. Belief, not only belief, but pride. At the beginning
of a national state, national Khan gets the highest badge of honor (and
in the near future weeks, it is ten times more cattle, turned back: but
doesn’t belong to Khan,
it’s the Treasury cattle)” [3,
p. 195.]. As mentioned above,
inconvenient, not talented Khans
experienced dethronement by people's representatives. This Institute was called “Khan
talapai” or “Khan robbery”. “Khan
" robbery” was spread not only on
disliked Khans, but on
dishonest akims and mayors as well. “Khan " robbery” wasn’t implemented all of a sudden, first remarks were made
to lower authority for foolish
actions, after that all noble representatives carried out strict
sentence. For example, at the end of the
XVIII century, Zhobalai, the last
ruler of Kerey experienced such punishment. When respected, noble
people were stung to the quick , they punished him using “Khan "
robbery” method. [3, p. 195-196.]. So, the people controlled Khan’s actions this way.
Khan election had its nature and specific features. In addition, his responsibilities would be different. Above
mentioned L.F. Ballyuzek continues his opinion, reveals these peculiarities: “Election was made in the following way: the people gathered to
the one whom they wanted to vote
or who had the right of inheritance with a ceremonial enactment of this title,
the triumph of which was that , the Khan sat on a white rug or felt , looking up at the best representatives of the people and was carried in arms
throughout the meeting. Then the rug
was cut to small pieces and were
given to everyone as a sign of their participation in the election, and the
congregation went home, taking with him
all the cattle belonging to the Khan,
immediately replaced him
hundredfold thereof, from clan, and subdivision. This kind of Khan grabbing was called Khan robbery, expressed honor to be in every clan of any estates between blessed person meant that elected would be at people’s expense.
Duties of the
elected Khan with administrative authority exclusively , but
with the right on judicial power,
always voluntarily delegate his power to experts on this part – to
biys, were concerns about
the general welfare of the people, in
reconciling the interests of different parts or tribes, in the holding thereof
on an equal footing, or not allowing
the violence and actions,
tending to destroy and use one of them exclusive of all others. For holding the
people in due obedience to the Khan for the meetings and for emergencies, two
or three most influential persons called khannyn-nagi were appointed from the
kind of the partner for the number, or simply
Khan's assistant, replaced him with a regular army , on one wave of his hands and at the call of Khan, they
would converge and substitute services and
they kept people in fear.” [1, p. 295-296]. This way Khan power was implemented in traditional Kazakh
society.
During Russia's
colony , Khan power in traditional
Kazakh society has changed, it
became a victim of a tsar policy. The reform held in the Kazakh steppe in 1822,
played a major role in the elimination
of the Khan power. S. Zimanov said the following about the Khan power: “At the end of the first quarter of the nineteenth century favorable
condition were created to
eliminate Khan's regime in Middle and
Junior Zhuses.
Bukei Khan, who
spread authority on possession of
a large Naiman association , died in 1817, the second Khan of the Middle
Horde, Wali died two years later. By
this time, the tsarist government,
taking the power in his hands and
gaining the right of steppe khans
approval , decided to implement its
intended , long-planned goal : to eliminate the Khan's authority at all.
It rejected a number of proposals about the establishment of new rulers in
place of the local nobility and passed away khans” [4, p. 143].
Kenesary came to
power as a khan during the
colonization of Kazakh steppes by the
Russian government . Kenesary was elected
as khan in 1841, and his power lasted until 1847.
The main goal of Kenesary
Khan was to recover traditional Khan's
authority system which was created earlier. In order to
realize intended goal Kenesary
rebelled against Russian tsar
and Central Asian Khanate. Kenesary
government mainly followed the
policy of restoration the
trial by jury biys and he decided
to conduct power
in accordance with the Sharia
rules ( religious canons).
Political , legal reform
created by Khan Kenesary Kasymuly can be divided into the following areas:
First, management reform;
Second, judicial reform;
Third, military reform;
Fourth, tax reform;
Fifth, a legal reform.
The basic measure
which Khan Kenesary took,
was implementation of the national liberation uprising against Russia tsarist authorities.
It reflected his dream and striving, great desire
to restore national unity of
the Kazakh state. Till the end of his life, he fought for the independence and unification of
Kazakh people, to ensure its stability. Although national
liberation uprising, organized by
Kenesary khan in 1844-1845 intensified significantly, his
subordinates divided into two parts . One supported Kenesary, the other tsar
authority.
Kenesary Khan was a politician, military leader, diplomat, but these wonderful
features , properties were gloomed
because of totalitarian system
dominance but they were firmly preserved in folk memory. Khan
Kenesary Kasymov will take its rightful, deserved place
among distinguished figures of his era. We know, that military leaders like Dmitry
Donskoy , Mikhail Kutuzov
defended the independence of the Russian people from
Mongolian invasion and other
aliens. Kenesary exploited all his
military skills and
sacrificed his own life in the struggle to keep Kazakh country as a sovereign , independent
state.
His
uncompromising fight , leadership
qualities and his boundless devotion to the interests of
the population, commanding art, natural properties magical
steppe wiser properties before
the establishment of capitalist system were highly appreciated by
Kazakh people during his lifetime. Even
tsarist Empire apologists
and competitors greatly admired his personality.
Well-known improvisers of wide
Kazakh steppe described Kenesary
khan’s braveness in their
poems, sang of the deeds
of a national hero. Thanks to pluralism and freedom of speech under conditions of
independent Kazakhstan forgotten names
were returned to the population
now, including the latest Khan of Kazakh zhuses ,
grandson of Khan Ablai — Kenesary Kasymov.
In the 30s of our century Kenesary Kasymuly’s national movement was
firmly kept in Kazakh people’s memory
like his grandfather Abylai Khan’s deeds , although it
did not lead to success
during the struggle
against tsar troops.
References:
1. E. Bekmakhanov. Kazakhstan in the
20-40s of the nineteenth century. Almaty, pages 1994 – 323.
2. J. Kasymbaev. Kenesary Khan.
Almaty, 1993. – p.79 .
3. Ahmet Sultan Kenesaryuly. Kenesary and Syzdyk sultans. Almaty, "Zhalyn", p .1992. – 289.
4. S. Turgunbekuly. Whom did
soviet policy serve?
"Akikat", 1994, ¹3, p.
94.