# Ablai Khan

Wāli-ūllah Abū'l-Mansūr Khan (Kazakh: ولی الله ابو المنصور خان, Уәлиұллаh Әбілмансұр хан, romanized: Uäliūllah Äbılmansūr Han), better known as Abylai Khan or Ablai Khan (May 23, 1711 — May 23, 1781) was Khan of the Middle Jüz (central region) and was the last independent Kazakh Khan of the Kazakh Khanate before the Khanate was absorbed into the Russian Empire.

## Life

Born as Abu'l-Mansur, Abylai Khan belonged to the senior branch of descendants of the 15th century founder of the Kazakh state, Janybek Khan. The son of Korkem Wali Sultan, he was given the shortened name Abulmansur at birth. Abulmansur spent his childhood and part of his youth in exile, spending many years near present-day Burabay on the northern borders of the Kazakh Khanate. After losing his father to political rivals at the age of thirteen, Abulmansur moved back south towards present-day Kyzylorda. First, he worked as a shepherd in a noble Tole Bi and then Dauletgeldi Bai a herdsman. The ill-dressed and emaciated boy was called by the contemptuous name of "Sabalak" - the beggar. But Abulmansur, according to contemporaries, always carried himself with dignity and loved solitude. He kept this pen name "Sabalak" in order not to be noticed by his father's rivals as he was one of the descendant of Janybek Khan. In his teenage years, Abulmansur developed the nickname “Ablai”, which he was more commonly known by for most of his adult life. In the first half of the 18th century, Ablai Khan proved to be a talented organizer and commander as he headed detachments of the Kazakh militia during the Kazakh-Dzungar Wars. He participated in the most significant battles against the Dzungars from the 1720s to the 1750s, for which he was declared a "batyr" ("hero") by the people. Due to his strength, he was also bestowed with the honorific Kazakh title Shah-i-Turan (Persian for "King of Turan"). He was the last ruler of the Kazakh Khanate to hold this honorific title since the khanate collapsed shortly after his death.
Although Ablai swore loyalty to the Russian tsarina in 1740 at Orenburg, Ablai's later activity aimed to create a strong and independent Kazakh state. He headed the unified forces of the Kazakhs and furthered the centralization of state power in Kazakhstan. Until his election as the khan of the three jüzes, Ablai had to compete with Abul-Mambet Khan and his descendants of Middle jüz for leadership. Initially, Russia recognized Abul-Mambet Khan as the Khan of Middle jüz, while Ablai was supported by China. Ablai's talent in playing China against Russia gradually made him the unrivaled Khan of the steppe. His support for the Chinese earned him an offer of Chinese citizenship in 1757, but seems not to have accepted it. In 1771, after the death of Abulmambet Khan, power was to be inherited by one of his younger brothers or son Abilpeiz, however, the sultans and heads of clans at the kurultai (congress) in Burabay, with the participation of the influential biys of the Middle jüz Kazybek biy and Kanai biy, Abylai was elected as the Kazakh khan. He extended his power to significant areas of the Senior and Junior jüzes, considering himself the khan of all three jüzes.
The Russian Empress requested that the title of khan should be recognized and officially approved by Russia. To that end, she sent an official letter to Qyzyljar, where Abylai was expected to receive the title in 1779. He never showed up at the fort, so a Russian officer was sent to confer the title in his camp. In contrast to Ablai, other khans and sultans had been competing for the lavish gifts and stipends of the Emperors of Russia in return for their submission. Ablai Khan refused to bow down to the expanding Russian Empire and instead chose to strengthen the Kazakhs by promoting Islam and the concept of jihad throughout the state as an effort to resist foreign powers. Ablai may also have been deterred from swearing his oath out of fear of insulting the Chinese.
During the Qing campaigns against the Dzungars, Ablai Khan chose not to take sides. He sheltered the Dzungar Oirat taishis Amursana and Dawachi from attacks by the Dzungar Khong Tayiji Lama Dorji, as the Dzungar Khanate fractured following the death of Galdan Tseren in 1745. However, once Amursana and Dawachi were no longer allies, Ablai Khan took the opportunity to capture herds and territory from the Dzungars.
During Amursana's rebellion against the Qing in 1755-56, Ablai Khan offered him sanctuary at one point and refused to hand him over despite the threat of a raid on his territory. However, by 1757, Ablai Khan had acknowledged Chinese suzerainty. Ablai was then confirmed as Kazakh Khan by both the Chinese and the Russians. He led numerous campaigns against Khanate of Kokand and the Kyrgyz. In the last campaign his troops captured many cities in today's Southern Kazakhstan and even Tashkent. Then he proceeded to present-day Kyrgyzstan and won a furious battle with troops of local warlords. Upon his death in 1781 he was interred in the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasavi in Hazrat-e Turkestan.
Following his death, Ablai's sons, namely Khanzada Wali Sultan, Khanzada Qasim Sultan, and Khanzada Adil Sultan, fought against each other to take the throne. In 1781, Wali Sultan became khan of the Kazakhs, succeeding his father after months of battle for succession, but he only succeeded in ruling over the northern clans of the Middle jüz.

## Ablai Khan's Contributions to the Kazakh People

Ablai was a talented khan, a great leader, and a military commander. During the lifetime of Abilmambet Khan, the Kazakh people considered him their protector and leader. He did not align himself with the governors of the Russian Empire. He was able to protect the freedom and independence of his people.
After forming an alliance with Russia, Ablai was soon detached from the internal and external affairs of the country for about two years. We can refer to a letter found in the Moscow archives (fund 122, inventory 1, case 2) to learn more about this.
The letter mentions that Ablai Sultan was captured by Kalden Serin. However, the circumstances of his capture are not clearly stated. According to popular accounts, there are two versions of how he was captured by the Dzungars. The first one suggests that Kalden Serin suddenly attacked Ablai’s camp and captured him along with his warriors in an ambush. The second version claims that Ablai Sultan was captured while hunting with his followers.
There are also two versions about how he was released from captivity. The first one suggests that Ablai was released after the Russian envoy, Major Muller, delivered a letter from Governor-General Neplyuev to Kalden Serin. The second version suggests that it was the Kazakh elders and warriors who demanded his release.
Based on the letters I have reviewed, I believe there were three main reasons for Ablai Khan’s release from captivity. First and foremost, it was Ablai’s wisdom, cunning, and diplomacy. His people’s respect for him made Kalden Serin think twice. The second reason was the intervention of the influential elders and leaders. The third reason was the letter brought by Muller, which had some influence.
In the report by Gladyshev from May 18, 1742, it is written:
“The Kyrgyz-Kaysaks spoke about Akshora’s visit to the Dzungars. The owner of the Kyrgyz-Kaysaks, Ablai Sultan, was captured by the Dzungar leader, Kalden Serin, who shackled his hands and feet. After Akshora arrived, the shackles were removed, and Akshora’s people were shackled instead. After Akshora left, the shackles on Ablai’s hands and feet were removed, and Ablai’s brother was returned to the Kyrgyz-Kaysak people. Akshora was sent with three Dzungars. The Dzungars said that they would return the prisoners only if 10 families and Karasakal were brought to them. Akshora and the three Dzungars have not yet returned from the Kyrgyz-Kaysaks.”
In the letter from Kirilov dated January 23, 1744:
"...Ablai Sultan was held captive by Kalden Serin for about two years. He was accompanied by Sultan Zholbarys. He managed to establish a rapport with Kalden Serin. In the fall of that year, on September 30, they were sent back to their homelands. There were 35 people in captivity. All of them were returned and reached their native lands safely. During their captivity that summer, many people in the Khanates suffered from smallpox and died. Kalden Serin is at peace with the Kaysaks."
After returning from the Dzungar captivity, Ablai’s reputation rose even further. Now, the khans and biys of the three hordes took him into account. He did not sever ties with Russia but did not bow to the governors. He kept them at a distance.
After Ablai Khan's visit to Orenburg in 1740, he declined several invitations from the governors to visit them. Some historians suggest that Ablai’s return from captivity tied him to Russia, implying that he was indebted. This is not true. He was not dependent on Russia.

## Legacy

* One of his descendants was Shoqan Walikhanov (1835-1865), a Kazakh scholar and historian.
* His grandson Kenesary Kasymov led a revolt against the Russians in the 1830s and 40s.
* Abylai Khan University, founded in 1941, is named after Ablai Khan.
* In 1993, Ablai Khan appeared on the 100 Kazakh tenge banknote.
* The life of Ablai Khan is the subject of the 2005 Kazakhstani film Nomad.
* There is a ceremonial slow march in the Military Band Service named after Ablai Khan
* A street in central Almaty is named after Ablai Khan.
* Abylai Khan (monument)