The Naimans are a strong militant tribe of Turkic or Mongolian origin, who roamed the territory of Central Asia in the Middle Ages. They became participants in the ethnic history of many peoples, in particular the Mongols, Kirghiz, Karakalpaks, Nanais, Tatars, Khazars and Buryats. As part of the Kazakhs, the Naimans number about one and a half million, which is a tenth of the entire population. This tribe in different periods was mentioned in a number of sources in medieval chronicles. However, the history of the Naimans, as well as their language and ethnicity, still remains a subject of controversy and is largely a mystery to scientists.
About the name of the nation
Some believe that the name of the people comes from the original habitat of this tribe - the banks of the Maima River, which is a tributary of the Katun, originating in the Altai mountains. Also, the word "naiman" in translation from the Turkic language means "eight". This was the reason for the emergence of another version, the roots of which go deep into the history of the Naimans. The genus of eight ancestors - that's how it should beinterpret this name. And the main of the ancestors, according to legend, is Okresh. But most often the name of this ethnic group is translated as "eight-tribal people." In total, there are about two dozen versions on this matter.
History of the people in the X-XV centuries
According to some versions, before the 10th century, the Naimans were part of the Turkic Khaganate for some time. And after its collapse, they participated in the creation of the state of the Karakhanids, together with the Kereys, Karluks and other ancient tribes of Central Asia. In the runic monuments of that era, they were called the Segiz-Oguz people. But this, again, is just one of the versions.
The political history of the Naimans is full of events. They built great empires and fought off conquerors. They had big ups and downs in their lives. By the time of the invasion of Genghis Khan, that is, by the end of the 12th century, they were considered the strongest among the Turkic tribes. And therefore, the great warrior did not immediately manage to conquer them, but only after the conquest of other nationalities neighboring them, political intrigues and the use of tactics of fragmentation of enemy forces. Under the onslaught of Genghis Khan, part of the Naiman was forced to move to the western lands, while others mixed with the Mongols, gradually adopting their culture and customs.
Later, having become part of the medieval Turkic state of the Chagatai ulus, the Naimans tried to maintain their tribal structure. In the time of Tamerlane, this nation occupied the territory betweenNura and Ishim rivers. And in the 15th century it became part of the Kazakh and Kyrgyz tribes, sharing the fate of these peoples, taking among them far from the last, but even an honorable place. Such was the history of the Naimans.
Origin and language
Scientists do not know much about the ancient customs of this tribe today. In the modern speech of the peoples of Central Asia, only a few words remain from the Naiman language, and some of them are borrowed. Therefore, it is impossible to judge the historical roots of this tribe by the language. If we consider them the Segiz-Oguz people mentioned in the chronicles of the 8th-9th centuries, then the Altai, Kazakh and some close regions should be considered the places of their ancient residence. Therefore, their language was formed under the influence of the environment, it is of Turkic origin.
But according to some reports, the Naimans are a Mongolian-speaking people. And there is scientific evidence for that too. There is information, gleaned from written sources from the time of the invasion of the invaders, that during military clashes with the Mongols and Keraites, they could perfectly communicate with them and perfectly understood their speech. In this case, it turns out that the history of the Naimans and their roots should be sought among the Khitan people, wandering in the neighborhood of Chinese lands. But the debate among scientists is still ongoing.
Kazakh clan Naimans
The descendants of this ancient tribe can be found in the modern world. In particular, over the past century, the Naimans have played an important role in the history of Kazakhstan, as well as in its ethnogenetic processes. In the 18th century and later, they lived oncoast of the Amu Darya, inhabited the Karakum, Afghan territories, parts of Western Kazakhstan. They live in these parts even now.
In the far abroad with Naimans can be found in the UK, France, even in the USA. And, of course, they live in countries that played an important role in the history of the Naimans, that is, in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mongolia, China, Russia.
Modern representatives of this tribe from the Kazakhs of the Middle Zhuz, as a rule, do not differ much in appearance from Europeans, often have light eyes and skin. By nature, they are energetic, strong-willed, selfless and courageous people. They are hardworking, and their women are devoted and economic. These people are inquisitive and sociable, but at the same time cunning and observant. And therefore, you should not especially relax with them when you meet.
