THE SOVIET HISTORIOGRAPHY AND THE QUESTION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S HISTORY

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THE SOVIET HISTORIOGRAPHY AND
province Sultan Ablay Gabbasov and Karkarlı province Sultan Tursun
Cengizov will be waived from the “prohibition” tax of giving 1000
horses, 1000 oxen and 1000 sheep for a lifetime and this decision
will be valid for the first generation relatives of these people” shows
this openly. Sultans and biys also took over judiciary power. Czarist
Russia’s playing Kazakh community against itself served the aim of
Russia. When the captured land of the community was extorted by
Sultans and Biys, the Russian government took the side of Sultans
and this way instilled social conflict. According to the Charter in 1822,
the Middle Jüz lands were divided as exterior provinces.
The governance of the provinces was given to Aga Sultans 186 who
had two Russian and two Kazakh assistants. Aga Sultans were chosen
for three years by other sultans and they got the title of commander
in Czarist Russian army. Provinces consisted of 15-20 districts (bolys)
and the governors of those districts belonged to the class of Sultans
or Biys, namely ‘Bolys Starşin’. Sultans under the governance of Bolys
were in 12 th rank officer status of Czarist Russia. Bolys’ consisted of
10-12 villages (aul) and in every aul there were 50-70 houses. The
aul was governed by Biys named as Starşin. Obviously, the governing
system in Kazakh community was organized as Czarist government
ordered. The governors were turned into officers paid and dubbed by
Russian government. “In order to show the title ‘Aga Sultan’ more
attractive and beneficial for Kyrgyzs” 187 , Aga Sultans were decided to
be given 100 silver ruble and 60 sacks (990 kg) rye flour, once a year.
There were 200 Kazak soldiers under the governance of Aga Sultans
and this prevented Sultans from acting freely. In accordance with
Kazakh traditions and for the aim of familiarizing the new system,
Aga Sultans were announced by making them sit on a white mat as
in ancient Khan Elections. Between 1822 and 1838, on the lands of
Middle Jüz there were established 7 provinces, 98 districts and 1042
186 Aga Sultans were managing Province Court and at first, just the Sultans coming from
Genghis Khan’s ancestry were elected. In 1824, Tursun Cengizov was elected first “as Aga
Sultan of Karkaralı Province in the former governance of Bökey Khan. On the other hand,
Gubaydulla Valihanov was Aga Sultan of Kökşedağ Province under the former governance
of Uali (Veli). Apart from that, there are other Aga Sultans often heard in Kazakh history
like Cengiz Valihanov (Kusmurun Province), Tezek Töre (Great Jüz), and Musa Şormanov
(Bayanavul Province). Czarist Russia government entitled Aga Sultans as ‘major’ after they
served for 3 years and the Sultans elected from ordinary people as ‘lieutenant’. In 1854 with
the enactment of I. Nikolai Czar Aga Sultan title was abolished (Kazakh Encyclopedia, red.B.
Jakıp., Almaty, 2011, p. 880; Sayasi Tüsündirme Sözdük., Almaty, 2007) Some of Aga Sultans
have become subject to Kazakh oral literature with their misuse of authority.
187 İstor. Arhiv KSSR, font. 345, opis 1., d.215, from Asian Committee Enactment in 13 January
1824 // E. Bekmakhanov, Kazahstan 20-40 gody XIX.veka, Almaty,1992 edition, p.121.