Kenesary Kasymov

Kenesary Qasymuly, or Kenesary Khan (Kazakh: کناشیرین خان, Кенесары хан, romanized: Kenesary xan; 1802–1847) was the last khan of the Kazakh Khanate, grandson of Ablai Khan, from the clan of Genghisid-Töre. He fought to protect the independence of Kazakh lands and attempted to restore the traditional khanate rule.

Kenesary Qasymuly Кенесары Қасымұлы
Khan of the Three Kazakh Jüzes Sultan
Kenesary on the Stamp of Kazakhstan, portrait by Abilkhan Kasteev
Khan of the Kazakh Khanate
Reign	1841—1847
Coronation	1841
Predecessor	Ablai Khan
Successor	Khanate abolished
Born	1802 Modern Kokshetau, Kazakhstan
Died	1847 (aged 45) locality Maitobe, modern Kyrgyzstan
Spouse	Kunymzhan Khanym Janyl Khanym
Issue	Syzdyk Sultan
Names Kenesary Qasymov
House	House of Borjigin
Dynasty	Töre
Father	Kasym Sultan
Mother	Aikumis
Religion	Sunni Islam
Seal

In modern Kazakhstan, he is revered at the state level as the leader of a rebellion against the Russian Empire. In Soviet historiography, Kenesary was characterized as the leader of the reactionary feudal-monarchist movement aimed at separating Kazakhstan from Russia.

Biography

Kenesary was born into a noble and wealthy Genghisid Töre clan. His grandfather - Ablai Khan was one of the most significant rulers of Kazakh Khanate. His grandmother was a daughter of Dzungar Khuntaiji Galdan Tseren.

From his elder wife Aikumis, Kenesary fathered 6 children - Sarzhan, Yesengeldi, Koshek, Agatay, Bopay and Kenesary. Bopay, the younger sister of Kenesary, was an active participant in his uprising. Batyr Nauryzbay, the younger brother of Kenesary, born from the 2nd wife of Kasym, also took an active part in the uprising.

Kenesary's Rebellion

During the 18th century, the influence of the Russian Empire in the Kazakh Juzes increased. In 1731, the Khan of the Junior Juz Abul Khair Khan recognized the protectorate of the Russian Empire. In 1740, the Khan of the Middle Juz, Ablai, also became a Russian citizen. All subsequent Khans were appointed by the Russian government. During the 18th – the first half of the 19th century, the lines of Russian fortifications gradually moved deeper into the steppe. To control the region were built: Orenburg, Petropavlovsk, Akmolinsk, Semipalatinsk and other fortifications.

The rebellion led by Kenesary Sultan took place from 1837 to 1847, with it being characterized as national liberation character. The insurrection was mainly aimed at preserving the independence of the provinces, which were not independent. It was aimed at preserving the independence of the lands that were not part of Russia. The rebellion led by Kenesary Kasymuly aimed not only to stop the colonization of the Kazakh lands by imperialist Russia but also to free the Kazakhs of the southern regions from under the rule of the Kokand.

Kenesary demanded that Russia restore the independence of the Kazakh statehood under Ablai Khan, eliminate taxes and withdraw from the military occupied forts. Kenesary's representatives, who were sent to deliver a letter to the West Siberian Governor-General and Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, were captured and punished.

The Kazakhs of three juzes actively participated in the rebellion of 1837–1847 under the leadership of Kenesary. Batyr Nauryzbai Kasymov, Kenesary's younger brother and his staunch associate was the leader of the detachments during the uprising. In May 1838 Sultan Kenesary's detachments captured the Akmolinsk Prikaz.

Death

In 1841, Kenesary was proclaimed khan and briefly established his own independent state. However, in 1847, he was killed in battle against Kyrgyz manap chieftains. Historical sources suggest that his severed head was sent to the Russians. He died in battle in modern Kyrgyzstan in 1847.

Kenesary Qasymuly in art

• Kenesary appears in Jules Verne's novel Michael Strogoff as the Tatar khan Feofar. At the insistence of Ivan Turgenev, the French writer's novel was translated into Russian and published in St. Petersburg in 1900.
• In 1969, the famous Kazakh writer Ilyas Esenberlin wrote a novel about him called Khan Kene (the third part of the famous trilogy Nomads).
• In 2008, Kazpost issued a 25 tenge postage stamp entitled “Portrait of Kenesary” by artist Abilhan Kasteev.
• In 2015, director Satybaldy Narymbett filmed the movie Amanat (2015) about Kenesary Kasymov. "Amanat" about Kenesary Kasymov.
• In 2017, a documentary film by director Mukhtar Umarov, “Kenesary - The Last Battle,” about Kenesary Kasymov, was expected to be released.

See also

• List of wars involving Kazakhstan
• List of Kazakh khans
• Kazakh rebellions

References

1. Kazakhstan. National encyclopedia
2. Kazakhstan. National encyclopedia
3. Кенесары Касымов // Большая советская энциклопедия : [в 30 т.] / гл. ред. А. М. Прохоров. — 3-е изд. — М. : Советская энциклопедия, 1969—1978.
4. Казахстан. Национальная энциклопедия, 2004
5. Работа Е. Бекманханова «Восстание хана Кенесары», с. 17
6. Восстание 1837—1847 гг. под руководством хана Кенесары
7. Olcott, Martha (1995). "The Russian Conquest". The Kazakhs. Hoover Institution Press. p. 65.