Alymbek Baatyr
October 5th is Osh City Day … and in 2011 it was planned to have installed three new statutes to grace the city. One of these was of Alymbek Baatyr who is seen by many as one of the great characters of Kyrgyz history.
In fact, his story is often overshadowed by that of his wife and he is known mainly as the husband of Kurmandjan Datka, the Queen of the Alai.
That is probably unfair. He was an important historical character in his own right. Indeed, one of his direct descendants, (Djanybek Adyshev, a specialist in molecular biology and biomedicine who currently teaches at the University of Illinois in Chicago), considers that without Alymbek’s contribution, then his great grandmother, Kurmandjan Datka, would not have become the great leader that she did.
His role in the history of Kyrgyzstan has not been as well researched as some other and has probably suffered by interpretation during the Soviet period – as he was both an important nationalist figure but he was also, after all, an “aristocrat”.
There is some doubt as to whether Alymbekov Datka Asan-bai uulu was born in 1799 or 1800, but it is generally agreed that he was born in the Alai of what is now in Southern Kyrgyzstan.
His father, Asan-bai, was the descendant, (the grandson), of a prominent landowner, Tilek Baatyr, who owned strategic stretches of land that straddled important trade routes and who was courted by both the Chinese and the Khan of Kokand, and who was able to follow an independent policy, (which Akylbek and eventually Kurmandjan Datka were to continue later on). He was described as one of the most influential, respected, rich and famous people, not only in the Alai but throughout the Ferghana valley.
The young Alymbek showed himself as a person and whilst still a teenager he was elected Bai, (ruler of his district), and himself as a fair and decisive leader with considerable abilities and intelligence, as a far sighted visionary who was both clever and cunning. He learned to read and write and, according to tradition, travelled extensively, visiting Samarkand, Bukhara, Kashgar and even Istanbul.
When he was 27, Alymbek was invited by the then Khan of Kokand to enter his service. Just four years later, at the age of 31, (a year before his marriage to Kurmanjan Datka), he was granted the title of Datka. This title is sometimes translated as General and sometimes simply as “ruler”, a representative of the Khan who acted as a Governor General over a region. The granting of the title was limited to just 10 people and it seems that in the period between 1804 and 1876 something like 15 or 16 Kyrgyz were to so appointed.
Entering the service of Kokand was advantageous to both Alymbek and the Khan. Kokand was to gain influence over the Alai and an able and authoritative administrator as well as increasing access to the considerable resources that Alybek had at his disposal. Alymbek was also able to extend his influence, gain additional power, placing himself at the center of power and political intrigue and thus protect the independence of his people.
The following year he was appointed as Bey and granted the governorship of Andijan, a territory which included most of the Andijan region in modern Uzbekistan, as well as parts of Naryn and most of Osh and Djalal Abad in modern day Kyrgyzstan.
Alymbek’s ‘ independent policy sometimes led him into conflict with the Kokand authorities. When a new Khan had ascended the throne, who was unpopular amongst the Kyrgyz, Alymbek did all in his power to oppose the excesses of the new power. He is supposed to have led a rebellion of the Southern Kyrgyz against Kokand, in 1845, although he is not actually mentioned in the official records. The revolt was brutally put down with many people either killed or taken prisoner.
For a while following the revolt he retreated to Andijan and occupied himself with developing the development of the city and region. For example, he built nine bridges across the Ak Bura River which flows through the city making a huge contribution to social and economic life of the city. Apparently, three of them still survive to this day; constructing nine irrigation canals in the city, at his own expense, and several others serving villages in the surrounding region; he built a variety of madrassahs, (schools), including the Alymbekov Datka madrassah in Osh.
A couple of years later, Alymbek led the Kyrgyz of the Alai in support of another revolt, this time by the residents of Kashgar against Chinese rule in Eastern Turkestan – “the revolt of the seven Khojas” – against the wishes of the Kokand Khan who saw it as against his foreign policy interests.
On his return from Kashgar, Alymbek became involved in palace intrigues. Acting in support of one group of Kyrgyz Bais, and he was rewarded on the success of their success by regaining control of Andijan and eventually rose to become Chief Minister.
A couple of years later, in 1860, court intrigues started to work against him, however, and the Khan turned against him after hearing allegations that he had treacherously left a battlefield when facing a Russian force. (Other accounts suggest that, aware of the futility of facing the numerous well armed, well trained, disciplined and courageous Russians with his meager force, he sought rapprochement with the opposing force who were seeking to open access to China – and the Alai valley, which was under his control would have been a natural route, making him a valuable ally for them.) Forced into exile amongst the Northern Kyrgyz in the Tien Shan mountains, at Naryn.
Whilst in Naryn, Alymbek attempted to unite the Kyrgyz under a single Khan – united in opposition to Kokand. There are accounts of him actually being elected as the Great Khan of the Kyrgyz and being raised on a white mat in a ceremony attended by many other important Kyrgyz leaders, including Baityk Baatyr, (who had requested help from the Russian garrison in Verney, (Almaty), to take the fortress of Pishpek, (Bishkek)). Unfortunately, his efforts came to nought and he returned to Osh and then to the Alai.
Negotiations took place as a result of which he was [persuaded to return to Kokand as Vizier, (Chief Minister). Although he didn’t accept these initial advances, but seems that following a coup in February 1862, in which the ruling Khan was killed, his 15 year old son was imprisoned, Alymbek was back in Kokand and declared regent.
The generally accepted story then states that he was killed as the result of a palace coup, however, there are conflicting accounts concerning his death, even amongst contemporary reports. For example, was he strangled by his rival Alymkulov or “executed”?, was it in 1862 or 1863? The consensus seems to be that it was done in secret, (that is, it wasn’t a public execution), and took place in 1862 with his rivals then taking advantage of the resulting uncertainty seizing power.
During his lifetime he held various offices: the Governor of Andijan; vizier – or minister; he became the Chief Minister of the Kokand Khanate and was even appointed regent for the under age Khan of Kokand. In some historical sources he is even, apparently, referred to as the Khan. He was to accumulate a number of titles during his career, but the one which is mainly linked with him, and his wife, was that of Datka – or General.
Following his death the Emir of Bukhara was to acknowledge Kurmandjan as Alymbek’s successor, ruler of the southern Kyrgyz, and with the authority to follow an independent policy.
Alymbek is sometimes portrayed as someone who made hasty decisions and did not always have the patience or “cunning” to make wise decisions. On the other hand, he couldn’t have risen so far as he did if this was a complete picture of the man and his attributes. He was a very experienced diplomat and well acquainted with the intricacies of oriental politics and etiquette.
If he has fallen somewhat under the shadow of his wife and widow, then many scholars seem to stress that, without Alymbek Datka , then Kurmandjan would not have been able to assume the position and importance in history that she has come to enjoy.
We also have to note that he was in a powerful position that enabled him to protect the Kyrgyz and promote their interests in a wider context at the same time trying to maintain order and harmony between different factions and groupings. He also played an important role in the development of the region in many different aspects, (social, economic, infrastructural, intellectual and cultural).
Furthermore he played an important role in helping to formulate and define the idea of a separate, independent state for the Kyrgyz.
(Original Postcard: 05/10/11 – Updated: 15/10/11)
Bishkek