Ethnopolitical position of the Karakalpaks in the Kazakh khanates in the 17th - early 18th centuries

Research Article

Abstract

The article examines the history of the settlement and ethnopolitical life of the Karakalpak people as part of the Kazakh khanates in the 17th-18th centuries. The article provides data on the ethnic history of the Karakalpaks on the territory of modern Kazakhstan, taking into account the late period of the Ulus of Jochi through the prism of the formation of the Karakalpaks as a single ethnic group based on different proto-Turkic, late Turkic, and Mongolian tribes. Since the entire medieval history takes place in close connection with the common ancestors related to Kazakhs, the Karakalpaks were known both under another ethnic name and under their name, as historians assume. Therefore, the author of the article tried to collect and analyze materials in which the Karakalpaks are mentioned both in alliance with the Kazakhs and in opposition to them, since the Karakalpaks were part of the Kazakh khanates for almost two hundred years. Also, in the article based on European, Russian, and Eastern sources are given theoretical conclusions of leading experts are given, confirming that the bulk of Karakalpaks as a semi-independent state were part of the state of Tauke Khan and Abulkhair Khan. At the same time, a small part of Karakalpaks lived in the so-called Uzbek khanates and Aral possession. The article illustrates the dawn and crisis of relations of Karakalpaks with Kazakh khanates on the one hand, and on the other, their disintegration over the three zhuzes. Also, the article provides information about the differences in economic life from Kazakhs, cities where Karakalpaks lived and actively participated in trade relations, and played their role in the development of these cities. The reasons for the deterioration of relations with the Kazakh khanates, as sources show, were not only the levies collected from the Karakalpaks, but also active diplomatic missions with Russia, which eventually led to the final resettlement of the Karakalpaks from the Syr Darya delta first to Zhanadarya at the end of the 18th century and their further movement to the Amu Darya delta and their subordination to the Khiva khans. The article also highlights the issue of the presence of their own statehood among the Karakalpaks. Although over a long period, the Kazakh khans appointed sultans to govern the Karakalpaks, who nevertheless relied on the authority of local leaders. At the same time, these sultans pursued an independent policy and relations with neighboring peoples, which is confirmed by documents. As the study of specialized literature shows, the main materials in the study of the ethnic history of the Karakalpaks were archival documents and scientific works, which were carefully studied by leading specialists. Fundamental works were written on the basis of these materials.