Zhalantos-Batyr

Kazakhstan’s independence has deep roots in its ancient past, with one of the most significant figures of that era being Zhalantos Bakhadur—a Kazakh hero who played a pivotal role in uniting the peoples of Central Asia in their struggle against enemies.

Zhalantos Bakhadur was born in 1576 in the Kazalinsky District, in the vicinity of modern-day Kyzylorda, within the ancestral nomadic lands of the Kazakh clan “Tortkara” (tribe “Alimuly”). His father, Setkul-Kazi, was a wealthy and influential man in these regions, holding considerable authority among his fellow tribesmen. The clan’s nomadic territory extended partially into present-day Uzbekistan, and in 1581, Zhalantos’s family, along with thousands of relatives, migrated to the Nuratau Mountains near Bukhara.

From the age of twelve, Zhalantos was raised in the court of the Bukharan ruler Dinmukhammed-Khan. He received his initial education in a mosque and later attended a specialized military school where future leaders and commanders were trained. As a result, the future hero quickly learned the arts of governance and military strategy.

In 1593, at the age of seventeen, Zhalantos was elected as a biy (leader) of the Alimuly clans that roamed the territories around the cities of Bulanghar, Laish, and Kattikorgan. For three years, he trained in Baghdad under renowned scholars and military leaders of the time. Serving under Khan Bekmukhammad, Zhalantos became a member of the khan’s advisory council, the Kengash, where he acted as a military advisor. After Bekmukhammad’s death, Zhalantos refused to recognize the legitimate claimant to the throne of the Bukhara Khanate, Abd al-Mumin Khan, and instead supported the ascension of Imam Quli Khan. In gratitude for his efforts and remarkable organizational skills, the new khan appointed Zhalantos as the emir (governor) of Samarkand in 1612, where he became known as Yalangtush-Bakhadur.

Zhalantos was distinguished by his resilience and military pragmatism, earning the title of batyr (hero), and due to his successful battles against the Dzungars, he was honored with the esteemed title of “atalyk.”

In 1640, Zhalantos’s army decisively defeated the invading Dzungars, who threatened Kazakh and nomadic Uzbek lands. Subsequently, he was promoted to tumenbashi, commanding a force of ten thousand troops. The Dzungars persisted in their military expansion, continuing to launch devastating raids on the territories of Zhetysu and Maverannahr. Zhalantos came to the aid of his kinsmen with an army of thirty thousand from Samarkand, assisting them in liberating Semirechye from the encroaching Dzungars.

In 1643, Zhalantos aided the Kazakh ruler Jangir Khan and participated in the pivotal Battle of Orbulak. His twenty-thousand-strong army delivered a decisive blow to the enemy forces.

The following year, a conflict erupted between Bukhara Khan Abdul-Aziz and the Iranian Shah over the strategic cities of Khorasan and Balkh, both claimed by the Bukhara Khanate and the “Mongol” dynasty ruling in Iran at that time. This disagreement escalated into war. According to historical accounts from the source “Tarikh-i Kipchak Khani” by Khajamkuli Balkhi, Zhalantos gathered a hundred thousand warriors composed of Bukhara soldiers and Kazakh militia, and he soundly defeated the Iranians. This time, Jangir Khan from the Kazakh steppes also came to Zhalantos’s aid.

Zhalantos Bakhadur went on to achieve numerous victorious campaigns, conquering Kabul, Mashhad, and Tashkent. He was also known as a skilled builder. In the very heart of Samarkand, on Registan Square, he played a crucial role in the construction of the Sher-Dor Madrasah (“Adorned with Tigers”), which later became a world-renowned historical and cultural monument. Additionally, he built the Tillya-Kari Madrasah (“Adorned with Gold”) in Samarkand. These architectural marvels continue to beautify modern Samarkand and attract tourists from around the globe.

Zhalantos Bakhadur is buried twelve kilometers from Samarkand in a mausoleum in the village of Dagbit. His descendants live both in Samarkand and the Kazalinsky District, holding the memory of their great ancestor in high esteem. One of the central streets of modern Samarkand bears the name of Zhalantos Bakhadur, and streets in Kazakhstan’s cities, such as Almaty, Semipalatinsk, Pavlodar, and Kyzylorda, also carry his name.

In 2001, a scientific and theoretical conference titled “Zhalantos Bakhadur and Kazakh Statehood in the Middle Ages” was held in Kyzylorda. Scholars, politicians, and writers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and many other countries participated in the conference. A republican aitys (poetic contest) dedicated to the 425th anniversary of the famed hero also took place in Kyzylorda.

In recent years, a monument to Zhalantos Bakhadur was unveiled opposite the central mosque of Kyzylorda. The famous military leader and ruler is depicted in bronze, astride a rearing steed. The monument was crafted by sculptor Nurlan Dalbai and architect Kazbek Zharilgapov, who are also the creators of the Independence Monument in Almaty, alongside Bokebai Samatbek and Baymyrza Toleukhan. The opening ceremony of the monument was attended by descendants of the great commander from Samarkand and Kazalinsky, as well as state officials and scholars.