The aggressive local colonial policy of the Russian Empire served as an impetus for the unleashing of one after another performance of the Kazakhs from the Younger and Middle Zhuzs, which flared up from the 18th century. One of the very first liberation movements was an uprising in the Younger Zhuz (a group of Kazakh tribes and clans united in three tribal unions: Alimuls, Bayuls and Zhetyrs) led by Syrym Datov. This performance broke out at the end of the 18th century and dragged on for almost 20 years (1783-1803). All these years were accompanied by active anti-colonial actions. Briefly about the uprising of Syrym Datov is described in the article.
Prerequisites for the development of conflict
The beginning of the 80s of the 18th century was marked by the development of a difficult situation in the Little Zhuz:
- Increased colonial pressure from the authorities of the Russian Empire.
- Hinterland constantly subjected tocaptures by the Ural Cossacks.
- Influence on officials of Kazakh origin who served at the throne provoked the development of the Kazakh-Bashkir and Kazakh-Kalmyk conflicts.
- Heading the Junior Zhuz Nuraly and the rulers subordinate to him could not independently control the internal political situation.
Long political disagreements led to the fact that a group of leaders stood out in the zhuz, which included biys and batyrs. They believed that they should adhere to the political values of their ancestors and stop serving tsarism. Raw Datov was at the head of this opposition.
Goals
The main goal of the uprising under the leadership of Syrym Datov was the desire to end the colonial occupation of the Kazakh territories and return all the previously occupied lands, since the Kazakhs were deprived of almost all fertile territories. As a result, crops have decreased among the common people, and pastures for livestock have also disappeared. In addition, it was decided to stop the arbitrariness on the part of the Khan's family and the Ural Cossacks, who for many years infringed on the rights and imposed taxes on local residents.
Reasons
The main reasons for the uprising of Syrym Datov include the following:
- Acute land issue;
- royal ban on crossing the Urals by Kazakh cattle breeders;
- significant infringement of the foremen of childbirth in their rights;
- open robberies and violence of the khan, sultans, Ural Cossacks and the royal government against the common people;
- gradual weakening of the Khan's power in the Little Juz.
These reasons became the impetus for the unification of the people in one liberation movement.
The reason for the uprising
Icing pastures and heavy snowfalls in the winter of 1782 caused a massive loss of livestock. Impoverished due to constant robberies, ordinary residents found themselves in an even more difficult situation. In addition, in the same winter, a new decree of the tsar was adopted, which allowed the Kazakhs to cross the Ural and Irtysh rivers, but for this they had to have special permits signed by the tsarist administration. This permission untied the hands of the local authorities even more, and simple shepherds had to bow to the officials and be subjected to additional requisitions in order to receive this document.
All the fertile lands of the Kazakhs were seized by the Cossacks, and in order to further infringe on the people, they were even forbidden to rent these lands from the invaders. Some of the land, which was not the best, could still be leased to them, however, disproportionate fees and deposits were charged for this.
The course of the uprising of Syrym Datov
To the extremely tense situation in the steppe, frequent mutual raids of detachments on Kazakh villages and batyrs on enemy fortresses were added. By the middle of 1783 clashes were taking place on an ongoing basis. In one of them, Syrym Datov was captured, whose freedom was later bought by Khan Nuraly. The reason was not only that he was the husband of the Khan's sister, but also that he had serious authority among the steppe inhabitants.
Returning from captivity, Raw withother influential personalities (Barak, Tilenshim, Orazbai and Zhantorem) led the revolt of the common people. From the very beginning, the Baibakt, Tabyn, Shekti, Ketei and Sherkes tribes, who belonged to the Younger Zhuz, joined the uprising led by Syrym Datov. Together, the batyrs had 6200 sarbaz at the beginning of the rebellion.
At this time, the speeches of the Kazakhs were massive, sihiy character. Basically, the rebellions were aimed at fighting tsarism near the Orsk fortress and the line below the Urals. The main focus of the uprising was the Sagyz River, where the main forces of the rebels were concentrated. The main driving force of the liberation movement was people who have authority among the people: elders, rulers of clans, biys and sharua. They saw the cause of all the troubles in the fact that Khan Nuraly held all power in his hands and did not take into account the needs of the people. Such actions of Syrym caused disagreements with the khan, which later led to a complete break.
By the spring of 1785, the uprising expanded significantly among the masses and covered almost the entire Younger Zhuz. Seeing the new leader, the people turned away from the khan, which led to a clear crisis in his power and the conviction of the royal authorities in his impotence. In the same year, the imperial authorities appointed a new governor of Simbirsk and Samara, O. A. Igelstrom. Having organized a congress of elders of the entire Little Zhuz, he raised two main questions: the elimination of the power of the Khan and the division of the Zhuz into three main hordes.
Despite all the actions of Igelstrom, the uprising did not end. The rebels continued their raids on villages. Andin the spring of 1786, Khan Nuraly had to flee, and in the summer of the same year, Empress Catherine II removed him from power by her decree.
For this reason, Igelstrom's "reforms" met with serious resistance from the sultans. At the head of this resistance was the brother of the dismissed Nuraly, Sultan Yeraly, who demanded the return of the khan to his former place and help in suppressing the uprising of Syrym Datov.
The policy of strengthening the khan's power in 1792 led to even more massive protests, as it involved more and more ordinary people in the liberation movement. However, as the khan rose to power again, some sultans began to abandon their original ideas and ceased to participate in the struggle. The uprising of Syrym Datov turned into a guerrilla war. Despite all these events, the anti-colonial movement continued, and in 1797 Khan Yesim, whom Igelstrom appointed Khan of the Younger Zhuz, was killed by participants in the rebellion.
Seeing that the tsarist regime could not cope with the Kazakhs without the khan's power, in the autumn of 1797 it was decided to appoint Aishuak as the new khan. This moment became a turning point in the uprising of Syrym Datov, as it became the beginning of the end for the rebels. Despite the fact that he retained a place in the khan's council, the sultans did not stop pursuing him. And so Syrym was forced to flee to Khiva, where he died in 1803
Reason for the failure of the uprising
There were many reasons for the defeat of the liberation movement. However, the main ones arethe following:
- sharp contradictions between tribal tribes;
- disagreements between the elders included in the Junior Zhuz;
- differences in requirements of nomads;
- insufficient quantity and quality of rebel weapons.
Consequences
One of the main positive consequences of the uprising of Syrym Datov was that the Kazakhs were allowed to freely cross the river. Yaik, where the Bukeev Khanate subsequently arose.
This uprising was the largest of the late 18th century and the first open anti-colonial movement. The rebels showed that the power of the khan is very weak and does not contribute to the implementation of the tsarist policy in the Kazakh territories, which leads to unwillingness to cooperate with it.
