The Kalmyk-Noghai Relations at the Beginning of the 17th Century

Abstract

The initial stage of the Kalmyk-Noghai relations history still remains low-studied in many respects in the historiography due to the lack of sources. The author considers the relations of the two nomadic ethnic groups on the basis of already known publications and the recently found Russian archival materials. At the beginning of the 17th century the two nations greatly influenced on the political situation in the Northern Caspian and neighbouring regions. The Kalmyk-Noghai relations developed towards escalation of conflicts by which the first decades of the 17th century were marked. First of all, it was connected with the arrival of Kalmyk Taishi Kho-Urliuk with his subjects to this area. Thus it should be noted that in the initial stage of relations between two nomadic peoples there was not only an armed opposition accompanied by mutual attacks, but also attempts to negotiate peace agreements. However, numerous conflicts arising in the Great Noghai horde and the internal war among the Kalmyks in 1625 did not allow to peacefully settle contradictions and quarrels regarding the territory.