Kenesary Qasymov’s uprising (1837-1847)

The greatest challenge to Russian authority was the revolt of Kenesary Qasymov in the Middle Horde. Kenesary was born in 1802 in Kokchetav region (grandson of Ablay). He believed that only he could unite the Kazakh people to withstand the twofold threat they faced:

1. The struggle against absorption by the Russians.

2. Defeat at the hand of the Kokand and Khiva.

The main aim: to restore the khanate of the Middle Horde.

The uprising was spreaded all over the Kazakhstan. More than 80 sultans, biis and elders supported Kenesary. On November 1837 Kenesary attackted Aktau and Akmolinsk fortresses. In summer and autumn of 1838 all Middle Horde and part of Junior Horde was occupied by Kenesary. He had over 20,000 fighters under his command.

In august 1841 Kenesary launched campaign to Tashkent. Rebells besieged Sozak, Zhanakorgan, Zhulek and Akmeshet – the Kokand fortresses.

In 1838 Kenesary sent five lieutenants with a letter of protest to Prince Gorchakov, Governor-General of West Siberia:

1. Rule of Kazakhs shoud be return to the Kazakhs themselves.

2. The institutino of the khan should be restored.

He maintained that the new political administration was corrupt. The Russians turned down Kenesary’s request and redoubled their efforts to defeat him. Since he destroyed Russian trade not only in Middle Horde but all territory of Kazakhstan. It has been estimated that Kenesary’s revolt cost Russians 8 mln. Rubles in lost trade for 1838 alone.

Furthermore, as the grandson of Ablai, Kenesary had stature throughout the steppe, not just within the Middle Horde. The situation within the Small Horde remained tenuous. Orenburg feared that the continued succes of Kenesary’s movement could impril the stability of Russian rule there. These fears were strengthened when Kenesary sought and received sanctuary from Small the Small Horde in 1838. He remained in the territory of the Orenburg for nearly two years and was granted amnesty by the Russians on the condition that he leave the territoty of the Small Horde.

Soon after returning to the Middle Horde the next four years (1840-1844) were directed against Russian settlements in Irgiz and Turgai regions on lands that were traditionally used to graze the Kazakh livestock. But the goal of his movement remained the same: to restore the Khanate of the Middle Horde.

The administrative system of Kenesary;s Khanate.

1. Kenesary was the effective ruler of the most of the Middle Horde with the aid of consil of tribal elders and leading batyrs. His chief aide was his brother Sultan Nairibai.

2. Kenesary supported his rebellion throught direct taxation and by exacting payment from all caravans passing through his territory.

3. Kenesari’s rule was based on law. He attemted to devise a code, which was based on Tauke’s Zhety-Zhargy with modifications from Shariat Law.

The Russians viewed the existance of a rival authority as intolerable. Finally, in 1844, the dispatched troops to the Middle Horde territory to defeat Kenesary. Kenesary left the Russiuan-controlled territory of the Middle Horde. He joined Jan-Khozha Nur Mukhammed uly in letter’s struggle to liberate the Kirgiz from the rule of Kokand. Kenesary died in battle in Kirgizian in 1847. Following the defeat of Kenesary, the Russians strengthened their military presence in the territory of the Middle Horde and increased the number of Russin settlements throughout the steppe.

The historical significance. It was the greatest uprising against colonial policy of Russia and was spread all over three juzes.