In the IX century, the Kyrgyz, one of the numerous Turkic tribes of Central Asia, created a huge state that stretched from the Yenisei to East Turkestan and from the Irtysh to Kerulen. In the world and Turkic historiography it is known as the Kyrgyz (Yenisei) Kaganate.
In our time there are heated discussions between historians about the origin of the Turkic-Kyrgyz and their appearance in the Minusinsk Basin, inhabited until that time by developed Tashtyk tribes. Presumably the ancestors of the Kyrgyz — Ganguni and Dinlin, lived in the territory of Dzungaria and northwest Mongolia south of Altai, and then under the pressure of Mongolian-speaking Zhuzhans moved in the V-VI centuries to the Minusinsk Basin.
For several centuries, the Kyrgyz Kaganate was a threat to all of Central Asia. The Kyrgyz had a large army (100,000 warriors) and powerful cavalry that crushed the armies of the Uighurs and Usuns. Kyrgyz hordes for many years made devastating campaigns in East Turkestan and plundered the lands of the Uighur Turks.
According to a number of historians, the history of the Yenisei Kyrgyz can be divided into several stages:
Stage I. VI-VIII centuries
This period of Kyrgyz history coincides with the heyday of the Turkic Kaganate, the center of which was Altai. The Altai Turks (Turkuts, Turgesh) conducted a number of military campaigns against their neighbors and created a huge empire extending from the Yellow Sea to the Black Sea. During the conquest campaigns in the south of Siberia, the Altai Turks led by their leader Mugan Khan conquered the lands of the Turk-Kyrgyz. Up to 581, the Kyrgyz paid tribute to the Altai Turks, mainly in weapons, the production of which the Kyrgyz were famous throughout Central Asia. Furs were also supplied to the Turks.
As a result of Turkic feuds, in 581 the Kyrgyz threw off the power of the Turkic Kaganate, but gained independence for a short time. In 629 the Kyrgyz were conquered by the Teles tribe (most likely of Turkic origin), and then by the Kok-Türks.
Continuous wars with related Turkic peoples forced the Yenisei Kyrgyz to join the anti-Turkic coalition created by the Tang state (China). Initially, the Kyrgyz won brilliant victories over the Altai Turks, who formed the Eastern Turkic Kaganate, but in 710-711, the Turks, led by the generals Tunsokuk (Tanyukukuk) and Kyul-Tegin, crossed the Sayan Mountains and attacked the Kyrgyz camp near the settlement of Cherni Sunga. The fierce battle that broke out lasted for several days and ended with a brutal defeat of the Kyrgyz. After that, the Kyrgyz were under the rule of the Turks until 745.
Despite their dependence on the Turks, the Kyrgyz continued to pursue a fairly independent foreign policy. Thus, in 722 the Kyrgyz ambassador Isibo Sheizhi Bishi tegin visited the Tang Dynasty headquarters, and in 723 another Kyrgyz ambassador — Zuili Pinghejun tegin — visited there. It is known that Kyrgyz ambassadors visited China also in 724, 747 and 748. Turkic runic inscriptions were found on the banks of the Yenisei River, where it is said about the noble Kyrgyz Tör-apa, who was brought up at the Chinese court. A monument found in the area of Kherbis-Baary (Tyva) tells about the Kyrgyz prince Kutluk-Yig, sent to the Tokuz tribe of Tatars (probably Turks-Oguzes). Another written monument of the Yenisei Kyrgyz testifies to the presence of the Kyrgyz ambassador Eren ulug in Tibet. It is described as follows: «Erdem uchyun tupyut kanka yala-bach bartym» («I went as an ambassador to the Tibetan Khanate because of my courage…»). The Kyrgyz tried to normalize relations with their suzerain Turks. In 731, during the wake for the deceased Turkic kagan Kul-tegin, the Kyrgyz sent their ambassador Tardush Ynancha Chor to the Turkicut headquarters to participate in the wake. Relations were established with the Orkhon Turks and the Karluks, who helped to establish Kyrgyz access to the Great Silk Road. Relations with the Tibetans and Muslim states were strengthened. The Kyrgyz exported their thoroughbred horses and charm herbs to neighboring countries. At the same time, Kyrgyz merchants brought silk, porcelain, jars, mirrors and many other things from other countries. This shows the wide trade and political ties of the Kyrgyz with their neighbors.
In 745, the suzerain of the Kyrgyz — the Eastern Turkic Kaganate was defeated by the Uighurs. However, the Uigur invasion did not bypass the Kyrgyz and in 758 they again fell under foreign (this time Uigur) rule. The Minusinsk Kyrgyz constantly revolted against the foreign invaders, but in vain. The Uigur conquest also resulted in the loss of the khan title by Kyrgyz princes and the adoption of lower titles of «Ajo». Such a situation persisted in the Minusinsk Basin until the IX century.
II stage. IX-X centuries. The era of prosperity
By the IX century there was a strengthening of the Kyrgyz. Their army was rearmed and better manned. A powerful cavalry was created. The state and military apparatus and the decimal system were formed.
In 820, the Kyrgyz declared their ruler Hagan and began military operations against their neighbors. In 840 the Kyrgyz led by Hagan Yaglakar, taking advantage of the Uigur feuds, moved on the Uigur Khaganate and stormed its capital — the ancient Turkic city of Orda-Balyk. The defeated Uyghurs were still resisting the Kyrgyz. In response, Kyrgyz cavalry descended on Uyghur villages and marched through all of Mongolia and East Turkestan. The Kyrgyz Kaganate was at the peak of its power: trade with Tang China was conducted, the Uighurs, Usuns and Mongols were conquered, and military alliances with Tibet were concluded. The borders of the Kaganate expanded to the upper reaches of the Amur River in the east and to the eastern Tien Shan in the west. The Kyrgyz united under their rule Priobye, Altai, Eastern Kazakhstan, Tyva, Mongolia and Transbaikalia.
The Kyrgyz Kaganate did not flourish for long. The fed Uighurs constantly disturbed the southern borders of the state, in the west the Kimaks were a threat to the Kyrgyz. The Chinese and Manchus became stronger. The steppe drought was a great blow to the Kyrgyz nomads. In addition, the Kyrgyz were unable to control the entire territory of their vast empire. This led to the fact that by the end of the tenth century, the Kyrgyz had abandoned all previously conquered lands.
Stage III. X-XII cc. Era of internecine strife
In 924 in Central Asia appeared the state of Liao, created by Mongolian-speaking tribe of Kidans. It is possible that in the last decades of the 10th century the Kyrgyz fell under the rule of this powerful empire. In the same years, internecine wars began, undermining the internal structure of the Kyrgyz Kaganate. The weakening of the Kyrgyz was taken advantage of by their neighbors. Since 1130 the borders of the Kyrgyz state were increasingly disturbed by Usuns, Kidans and other Central Asian tribes, and in 1209 the Kyrgyz Kaganate was defeated by the hordes of Genghis Khan.
Having been defeated by the Mongols, the Kyrgyz became their subjects and further participated in the campaigns of Genghis Khan and his descendants.
Stage IV. XII-XVIII centuries. Mass migrations of the Kyrgyz people and loss of statehood of the Yenisei Kyrgyz. Russian conquest of Minusin
During the Mongol conquest, the Kyrgyz briefly lost their statehood, but played an important role in the conquerors’ army. For example, Kyrgyz units played an important role in the defense of Karakorum, the capital of the Mongol Empire. Kyrgyz warriors also played the role of guards of the great khan. Soon the Mongol Empire collapsed. This was followed by Kyrgyz migrations southward to Central Asia. During the XIV-XV centuries, some groups of Kyrgyz moved to the territory of modern Kyrgyzstan, but the bulk of the people remained in the Minusinsk Basin. The situation of the Yenisei Kyrgyz worsened with the penetration of Russian colonizers into the region. In the early 17th century, Russian Cossacks encountered the Yenisei Kyrgyz for the first time, experiencing the full force of Turkic weapons. In 1606, the wife of the Kyrgyz khan Nomcha was robbed during negotiations in Tomsk, which started a century-long Russo-Turkish war in the Minusinsk Basin. Also Siberian voivodes abused the collection of yasak (tribute) from the Kyrgyz and this was another reason for the confrontation. By that time the Kyrgyz tribal union Khongorai had formed in Minusin, which was the main obstacle of the Russians on the way of conquering the whole Siberia. In addition, the lands of the Yenisei Kyrgyz were claimed by the Dzungars and the state of the Altyn-Khans. In the middle of the XVII century, the Kyrgyz together with the Dzungars defeated the Altyn-Khans, but then became a stumbling block in the relations between Russia and Dzungaria. At the same time, Qin China, which was trying to weaken the Dzungars by seizing Kyrgyz lands, entered the struggle for the Kyrgyz Sayano-Altai.
At the end of XVII-beginning of XVIII centuries the struggle between Minusin Kyrgyz and Russian colonizers intensified. Kyrgyz detachments ravaged Tomsk district and planned to attack Krasnoyarsk. At the same time, the territory of Khongorai was again invaded by Qin dynasty detachments. The Qin detachment consisting of 3000 thousand Mongols in 1698 invaded the ulus of Kyrgyz prince Dain Irki, but was defeated. In 1701-1702 Khongorai was attacked by detachments of Russian Cossacks, but all attacks were again repulsed.
At the beginning of the XVIII century Dzungarian Khan Tsevan-Rabdan, fearing the capture of Khongorai by the Qin dynasty and the transition of the local population under their rule, decided to resettle the Kyrgyz from Minusin to Dzungaria. In June 1703, a Dzungarian detachment of 3000 warriors entered Khongorai to fulfill the will of the Khan. With the help of local princes, 15-20 thousand Kyrgyz — most of the population of Khongorai — were gathered in the Abakan valley. On three roads Yenisei Kyrgyz under the protection of Dzungarian soldiers were resettled to the possessions of Tsevan-Rabdan. The settlers were allotted lands in the valleys of the Chu and Emel rivers, as well as in the area of Lake Alakol.
The mass resettlement of the Kyrgyz population in Dzungaria led to the destruction of the political system of Khongorai and the millennia-old statehood of the Yenisei Kyrgyz. Kyrgyz settlers in Dzungaria were mainly engaged in military service and guarding the borders of the khanate. They also took part in the political life of Dzungaria. Thus, the influential family of Bushukhtu Khan had Kyrgyz roots. Kyrgyz princes were also related to Dzungarian khans. It is known that the princess of the Kyrgyz Altysar ulus Abahai was the sister of the founder of the Dzungar Khanate Khara-Khula.
The absence of most of the population in Khongorai was hastened to take advantage of the Russians, organizing in 1704-1706 a series of punitive campaigns in the Minusinsk Basin. Russian detachments also attacked small groups of Kyrgyz returning from Dzungaria. On the territory of the conquered Khongorai, the Russians hastily built the Abakan stockade and massacred the remaining Kyrgyz in Minusin. Tsevan-Rabdan, seeing the loss of Kyrgyz lands to his khanate, decided to resettle the remaining Kyrgyz population of Sayano-Alatai in 1706 to Dzungaria, although it was not as large as the first resettlement. At the same time, part of the Kyrgyz, having crossed the Sayan mountains, joined the Mongol feudal lord Gong Bubei, a subject of the Qin Empire. A significant part of the Kyrgyz settled among the Altai, Teleuts and Kazakhs.
Throughout the first half of the 18th century, Russian settlers were reluctant to settle Minusin, fearing the return of the Kyrgyz. These fears were confirmed by the return of some groups of Kyrgyz to their homeland.
In 1733-1736, a small group of Kyrgyz returned to Minusin with the consent of the Russians. In the same years, the Qin army drove some Kyrgyz to Manchuria, who still live in the province of Qiqihar (PRC) and are known as Fuyu or Harbin Kyrgyz. In 1756-1757, the Dzungarian Khanate was defeated by the Qingba Empire, killing a significant part of the male Kyrgyz population. Those who remained were resettled again in the Manchu region of Heilongjiang. Some group of Kyrgyz ended up in Khalkha-Mongolia, on the banks of the Selenga River. The Kyryzes also moved to the area of the Ider and Tuikhe rivers (Khalkha region), as well as near Ubsu-Nur Lake, on the border of Uryankhai and Khalkha.
During the constant migrations that affected the population of Khongorai in the 18th century, the Kyrgyz found themselves scattered throughout Sayano-Altai, Mongolia, East Turkestan, and Manchuria. Part of the Kyrgyz together with the Dzungars went to the Caspian steppes and thus took part in the formation of the Kalmyk people. Also Kyrgyz presumably participated in the ethnogenesis of Khakasses, Teleuts, Altaians, Tuvinians, Irkutsk Buryats, Khalkha-Mongols and other ethnic groups.
The result of these resettlements was the loss of the statehood of the Yenisei Kyrgyz. The Yenisei Kyrgyz state existed for over 1000 years and left a significant trace in the history of the peoples of Central Asia.
However, the loss of statehood by the Yenisei Kyrgyz is only a partial phenomenon. It is worth noting that nowadays the Turkic republic of Khakassia can be considered the successor of the statehood of the Yenisei Kyrgyz, which indicates that this great ethnos has not perished. At the same time, in Central Asia there is the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, which, along with Khakassia, is the keeper of the ancient culture of the Yenisei Kyrgyz, one of the most interesting and greatest peoples of the Turkic world.