Incorporation of Kazakh Khanate into Russia was launched

On October 10 (21) 1731 as a result of the weakened state of the Kazakh Khanate caused by an exhausting war with Zunghars (Dzungar people) Khan Abul Khair and most of elders of the Little horde (Jüz) swore allegiance to the Russian Empire, thus the incorporation of Kazakhstan into Russia begun.

At the end of 16th c. the Kazakh Khanate divided into three hordes (Jüz): the Little (the Lesser) (Western Kazakhstan), the Middle (Central) and the Great (Semirechye). In the territory of each horde were established independent khanates, which were often feuding. At the turn of 17th—18th cc. as a result of continuous feudal internecine struggles, attacks of Zunghars — Mongolian tribes, which settled the territory between the Tian Shan and Altai — towns located in the south of Kazakhstan were on the decline, thus deteriorating the Kazakh economy as a whole.

In 1726 Khan Abul Khair on behalf of elders of the Little horde applied to the imperial government for Russian citizenship. This horde was situated on the border with the Russian Empire, its commercial and political relations with Russia were the most stable. However the embassy turned out to be unsuccessful; remaining true to his intentions, in September 1730 Khan Abul Khair again sent an embassy via Ufa to Petersburg with a letter to the Russian Empress Anna Ioannovna (Anna of Russia) and an oral request for citizenship and protectorate. On September 8 (19) 1730 the Empress received messengers of the Little horde. Their request for inclusion of the Little Horde into the Russian Empire was satisfied by the decree of February 19 (March 2) 1731. For taking the according oath ambassadors headed by A.I. Tevkelev, interpreter of the Foreign Affairs Commission, were sent to Kazakhstan with a letter to Khan Abul Khair.

On October 10 (21) 1731 the majority at the meeting of Kazakh elders agreed to adopt the act on voluntary inclusion of the Little horde to Russia.

Kazakhs pledged to remain loyal to the Empress and her heirs, agreed on limitation of external sovereignty of the Khanate, promised to serve, not to attack the trade caravans and Russian subjects, return the prisoners, and pay tribute.

Russia promised to protect its new citizens from outside invasion and oppression. At this first stage of Kazakh Khanate incorporation the problems of domestic political life of Kazakhs were not addressed.

Orenburg expedition headed by the Chief Secretary of Senate I.K. Kirillov was organized in May 1734 for consolidation of positions in the newly joined Kazakh lands. The objective of the commission was a comprehensive study of new lands which were joined to Russia, exploration of natural resources, erection of the Orsk fortress, new demarcation between Russian and Kazakh possessions. In 1735 was set up Orenburg, which had an important role for improvement of Russian-Kazakh political and trading relations.

Voluntary Russian citizenship acquiring by Kazakhs of the Little horde and later the Middle horde (in 1740) had a progressive significance for the history of Kazakh peoples. Since 2nd half 18th c. public relations in Kazakhstan had been developing under the influence of Russian economy. After the death of Khan of the Middle horde imperial government abolished the Khan’s authority and in 1822 introduced a new executive system; in the Little horde the same actions were undertaken two years later, in 1824. In ’40s-’60s 19th c. the Great horde became the part of the Russian Empire thus completing the incorporation of Kazakh territories into Russia.

Lit: История Казахстана. Т. 1. Алматы, 1996; История Казахстана. Т. 2. Алматы, 1997; Шоинбаев Т. Прогрессивное значение присоединения Казахстана к России. Алма-Ата, 1973.

Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:

Полное собрание законов Российской империи, с 1649 года. 1830. Т. 8 (1728-1732). № 5704. С. 386.