The Epistolary Heritage of Bopay Khanum in the Context of Russian-Kazakh Communications in the first half of the 18th century
Эпистолярное наследие Бопай ханым в контексте русско-казахских коммуникаций в первой половине XVIII в.
Kartova Z.K. Abuov N.A. Zhumanova A.Z. Ilyassova G.S.
1 December 2025Cherkas Global University Press
Bylye Gody
2025#20Issue 41659 - 1670 pp.
This article explores the role of female rulers in Russian-Kazakh diplomatic communications through the example of Bopai (Batima) Khanym, the wife of Abulkhair Khan. By analyzing the content of diplomatic correspondence, the authors conducted a textological analysis of more than 20 documents, examining forms of communication and the distinctive features of Bopai Khanym’s diplomatic strategy. The research is based on historical sources and archival materials, providing deeper insight into the role of women in the politics and diplomacy of the Kazakh Khanate. The study focuses on Bopai Khanym’s diplomatic correspondence with officials and rulers of the Russian Empire in the first half of the 18th century, reflecting her influence on the political processes of the Kazakh Khanate. The letters are treated as objects of microhistorical, prosopographical, and contextual analysis. The volume of letters to Russian officials significantly increased after the death of her husband, when she, as a fully empowered regent ruler, began addressing both political matters and everyday concerns. Her correspondence serves as an important source for studying the epistolary legacy of Kazakh rulers in the context of intergovernmental communication with the Russian state. The uniqueness of these documents lies in their varying tones and the features of “female” diplomacy, which significantly enrich the study of the epistolary genre. Special attention is paid to the private matters contained in the letters, including economic issues and personal requests. The letters also shed light on topics such as the fate of hostages (amanats), the strengthening of the political status of her husband Abulkhair Khan and her sons Nuraly, Yeraly, and Ayshuak in the eyes of the Tsarist authorities, and other historical events. These aspects may serve as additional sources for the nuanced interpretation of relations during the period of the Khanate’s nominal incorporation or its protectorate-client status under the Russian Empire.
18th century , Bopai Khanym , diplomacy , female rulers , historical sources , Russian-Kazakh relations
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Manash Kozybayev North Kazakhstan university, Petropavlosk, Kazakhstan
Ch. Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology, Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan
Karaganda Buketov University, Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Manash Kozybayev North Kazakhstan university
Ch. Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology
Karaganda Buketov University
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