Isatay Taimanov is a national hero who acted as an ideological fighter against feudalism and the oppressed position of the Kazakh people in the Russian Empire. His life was a constant struggle, in which the batyr entered at the head of the poor. Isatay Taimanov's opponents were bai and Russian Cossacks. The forces were unequal, but the fierce confrontation between the poor and the rich remained forever in the historical chronicles of Kazakhstan.
The vast territory, on which the Astrakhan region currently exists, at the beginning of the nineteenth century belonged to the Bukreev Horde. Most of the inhabitants of the horde came from the Younger Zhuz. The nomads settled in the Bukreev Horde, since there were steppes rich in forage and the Kazakhs could raise livestock. Over time, nomadic Kazakhs began to be squeezed by immigrants from Russian territory. Cossack families created their own farms and pastures. This was done with the permission of the authorities. The thirties were a time of armed conflict.
Isatay Taimanov stood at the head of the masses, dissatisfied with the way they were oppressed by the Russian authorities.
Biography
Taimanov came from a noble ancient family. The date of his birth falls on 1781. It is known that Isatay served at the court of Zhangir-Kerey-khan. He brought up and trained the khan's heir. In addition to the fact that Isatay Taimanov educated the khan's little son, he was fluent in words and composed poetry and poems for the entertainment of the ruling family. In addition to poetry, Isatay spoke Arabic and wrote well in Russian, since he knew literacy. This was his job as a courtier.
The family of Isatay Taimanov came from the famous Batyr clan Agatay. Since the batyr Agatay fought against the Dzungars, his descendants were freedom-loving and brave warriors. Also, Isatay was not afraid to openly criticize the rich and considered the policy of the government of the Russian Empire to be unfair in relation to the Kazakh people. Such independence and love of freedom was punished - Isambay Taimanov was repeatedly arrested. Batyr was imprisoned for his harsh statements.
Contribution to the liberation struggle
The hero considered it his duty to defend the interests of the Kazakhs. It is known that the Governor-General of the Astrakhan Territory Vasily Perovsky received messages from Isatai Taimanov, in which the human rights activist described the grievous situation of his people and demanded to treat the nomadic people with respect.
These requests did not have the desired effect. The Kazakhs did not manage to support their families in prosperity due to the redistribution of land. Then the natives of the poor began to openly engage in robbery in the nomadic territories of the rich khan and sultan families.
In February 1836, a spontaneous uprising began, led by Isatay Taimanov, supported by like-minded Makhambet Utemisov.
The main slogans of the rebels were associated with the conquest of the khan's lands and territories, which were dominated by the Ural Cossack army. Isatay Taimanov planned to reach the Urals, seizing property and livestock along the way. Several Kazakh families enthusiastically accepted these calls and joined the rebels.
Military confrontation
In response, the Governor-General of Astrakhan Perovsky in 1837 carried out punitive operations. An army was formed, which included the Ural and Astrakhan Cossacks and the detachments of Khan Dzhangir.
In the battle of Tas-Tyube, the rebels were defeated, but having broken through to the left bank of the Ural River, they again began to group up in combat detachments.
Under the leadership of Isatai, thousands of dissatisfied people accumulated. This was very dangerous for the authorities, so regular troops entered the battle with the Kazakh rebels. On July 12, 1838, the rebels' troops were defeated, and their leader Isatay Taimanov died.
In this decisive battle, Taimanov's sons were also killed. The remnants of the rebel groups fled and dispersed over the lands that are currently occupied by the Atyrau region of Kazakhstan.
The people's memory has preserved knowledge about these events from the glorious history of Kazakhstan. In honor of the hero Isatay Taimanov, a memorial was created in Kazakhstan in 2003. It is located in the city of Atyrau.
