On the View of Kalmyk Khan to the Activites of Russia in the Volga-Caspian Frontier: From the Letters of Donduk-Dashi to V. Tatishchеv, 1741–1745

Introduction. The article based on Michael Adas’s analytical category “avoidance protest” presented by Paul W. Werth examines the view of the Kalmyk khan on the activities of the Russians to strengthen positions on the Volga-Caspian frontier, when V. Tatishchev was the head of the Kalmyk Commission...

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Main Authors: Zhanat B. Kundakbayeva, Danara A. Suseeva
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Volgograd State University 2020-11-01
Series:Вестник Волгоградского государственного университета. Серия 4. История, регионоведение, международные отношения
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Online Access:https://hfrir.jvolsu.com/index.php/en/component/attachments/download/2328
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author Zhanat B. Kundakbayeva
Danara A. Suseeva
author_facet Zhanat B. Kundakbayeva
Danara A. Suseeva
author_sort Zhanat B. Kundakbayeva
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. The article based on Michael Adas’s analytical category “avoidance protest” presented by Paul W. Werth examines the view of the Kalmyk khan on the activities of the Russians to strengthen positions on the Volga-Caspian frontier, when V. Tatishchev was the head of the Kalmyk Commission and Astrakhan Governor, between 1741 and 1745. Methods and materials. Whereas previous studies considered only the Russian view on the politics toward the region and determined the attitudes of nomadic elites in terms of absolute compliance or violent opposition. However, in practice the relations between Russian authorities and indigenous people’s elite were much more complex.Using as primary sources the letters of Donduk-Dashi to V. Tatishchеv of the period between 1741 and 1745 from the National Archive of the Kalmyk Republic published by prof. D. Suseeva gives us an opportunity to examine the situation from below. Analysis and Results. We argue that although Donduk-Dashi was quite embedded within the Russian system, we cannot claim about his unconditional subordination. First, speculating on general Tarakanov’s misstep, Donduk-Dashi evaded investigations regarding the plans to relocate to the protectionof Persian shah. The second argument was built around his alleged unawareness about theposition of Russian authorities regarding the Kazakh-Kalmyk relations and entreaties to provide with guns as an attempt to divert attention away from current problems on the relations with the Kazakhs. The formal notification of the forthcoming marriage of the Kalmyk nobleman with Kazakh princess and about non-sanctioned contacts with Kazakh Middle zhuz khan demonstrates that nomad’s relations went beyond the line prescribed by the government.
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spelling doaj.art-4861fb28c78c4f2789fc28d2fcb0f2362023-09-03T11:32:45ZrusVolgograd State UniversityВестник Волгоградского государственного университета. Серия 4. История, регионоведение, международные отношения1998-99382312-87042020-11-01255324110.15688/jvolsu4.2020.5.3On the View of Kalmyk Khan to the Activites of Russia in the Volga-Caspian Frontier: From the Letters of Donduk-Dashi to V. Tatishchеv, 1741–1745Zhanat B. Kundakbayeva0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3074-6332Danara A. Suseeva1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8814-8007Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Republic of KazakhstanB.B. Gorodovikov Kalmyk State University, Elista, Republic of Kalmykia, Russian FederationIntroduction. The article based on Michael Adas’s analytical category “avoidance protest” presented by Paul W. Werth examines the view of the Kalmyk khan on the activities of the Russians to strengthen positions on the Volga-Caspian frontier, when V. Tatishchev was the head of the Kalmyk Commission and Astrakhan Governor, between 1741 and 1745. Methods and materials. Whereas previous studies considered only the Russian view on the politics toward the region and determined the attitudes of nomadic elites in terms of absolute compliance or violent opposition. However, in practice the relations between Russian authorities and indigenous people’s elite were much more complex.Using as primary sources the letters of Donduk-Dashi to V. Tatishchеv of the period between 1741 and 1745 from the National Archive of the Kalmyk Republic published by prof. D. Suseeva gives us an opportunity to examine the situation from below. Analysis and Results. We argue that although Donduk-Dashi was quite embedded within the Russian system, we cannot claim about his unconditional subordination. First, speculating on general Tarakanov’s misstep, Donduk-Dashi evaded investigations regarding the plans to relocate to the protectionof Persian shah. The second argument was built around his alleged unawareness about theposition of Russian authorities regarding the Kazakh-Kalmyk relations and entreaties to provide with guns as an attempt to divert attention away from current problems on the relations with the Kazakhs. The formal notification of the forthcoming marriage of the Kalmyk nobleman with Kazakh princess and about non-sanctioned contacts with Kazakh Middle zhuz khan demonstrates that nomad’s relations went beyond the line prescribed by the government.https://hfrir.jvolsu.com/index.php/en/component/attachments/download/2328letters of donduk-dashi to v. tatishchеvvolga-caspian frontiergeneral tarakanov’s misstepgunsmarriage of the kalmyk nobleman with kazakh princesskazakh middle zhuz khan
spellingShingle Zhanat B. Kundakbayeva
Danara A. Suseeva
On the View of Kalmyk Khan to the Activites of Russia in the Volga-Caspian Frontier: From the Letters of Donduk-Dashi to V. Tatishchеv, 1741–1745
Вестник Волгоградского государственного университета. Серия 4. История, регионоведение, международные отношения
letters of donduk-dashi to v. tatishchеv
volga-caspian frontier
general tarakanov’s misstep
guns
marriage of the kalmyk nobleman with kazakh princess
kazakh middle zhuz khan
title On the View of Kalmyk Khan to the Activites of Russia in the Volga-Caspian Frontier: From the Letters of Donduk-Dashi to V. Tatishchеv, 1741–1745
title_full On the View of Kalmyk Khan to the Activites of Russia in the Volga-Caspian Frontier: From the Letters of Donduk-Dashi to V. Tatishchеv, 1741–1745
title_fullStr On the View of Kalmyk Khan to the Activites of Russia in the Volga-Caspian Frontier: From the Letters of Donduk-Dashi to V. Tatishchеv, 1741–1745
title_full_unstemmed On the View of Kalmyk Khan to the Activites of Russia in the Volga-Caspian Frontier: From the Letters of Donduk-Dashi to V. Tatishchеv, 1741–1745
title_short On the View of Kalmyk Khan to the Activites of Russia in the Volga-Caspian Frontier: From the Letters of Donduk-Dashi to V. Tatishchеv, 1741–1745
title_sort on the view of kalmyk khan to the activites of russia in the volga caspian frontier from the letters of donduk dashi to v tatishchеv 1741 1745
topic letters of donduk-dashi to v. tatishchеv
volga-caspian frontier
general tarakanov’s misstep
guns
marriage of the kalmyk nobleman with kazakh princess
kazakh middle zhuz khan
url https://hfrir.jvolsu.com/index.php/en/component/attachments/download/2328
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