Capiton I. Kostenkov about Land Rights of Kalmyks in Astrakhan Governorate: A Review of Sources

Introduction. Capiton I. Kostenkov was the first researcher of Tsarist Russia to have explored legal regulations dealing with land rights of Kalmyks in Kalmyk Steppe of Astrakhan Governorate. The article reviews sources mentioned in Chapter Four (‘About Land Rights of Kalmyks in Astrakhan Governorate’) of his work titled ‘Kalmyk Nomads of Astrakhan Governorate: Historical and Statistical Accounts’ (St. Petersburg, 1870). Goals. The paper aims at analyzing the mentioned chapter as a work examining land rights regulations for Kalmyks in Astrakhan Governorate prior to the 1860s. Results. The article outlines most essential provisions of the chapter and some related comments, determines key messages, lists the regulatory enactments included therein, analyzes C. Kostenkov’s viewpoints — both of a scholar and a government official — on the issues under consideration. Conclusions. The chapter contains virtually all documents contained in the Complete Collection of Laws of the Russian Empire and dealing with the pre-1860s land rights of Kalmyks in Astrakhan Governorate. It is noteworthy the former ignores the Regulations of 1825 and Statute of 1834 about the Kalmyk People’s Administration Office, which may result from those pay little attention to land issues. C. Kostenkov’s work shows a semantic evolution of the concept ‘ethnos-inhabited area’, territorial borders — towards lands rights proper. That could be explained by that the Kalmyk Khanate had tended to lose its limited sovereignty, and after the exodus of 1771 the remaining Kalmyks were being increasingly integrated into Russia’s administrative system. So, the issues of land use and tenure shifted from public (a territory) to private law (land as an economic and natural resource). The attitudes and opinions about Kalmyk history and social structure described are characteristic not only of C. Kostenkov as such but also of Russian authorities at large, e.g., the to be initiated sedentarization and economic development of Kalmyk Steppe.  

1. Complete Collection of Laws of the Russian Empire. In 45 vols. Coll. 1: 1649 to 12 December 1825. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Vol. II. 974 p.; Vol. IV. 881 p.; Vol. X. 995 p.; Vol. XIII. 957 p.; Vol. XVI. 1018 p.; Vol. XXI. 1083 p.; Vol. XXII. 1168 p.; Vol. XXIII. 969 p.; Vol. XXVI. 875 p.; Vol. XXVII. 1122 p.; Vol. XXIX. 1372 p. (In Russ.)

2. Imperially Approved Report by the Collegium of Foreign Affairs of 5 July 1764 On Settlement of Kalmyks on the Right Bank of the Volga in a Locality Called Krymskiy Zaton and on Relocation of Astrakhan Cossacks to the Same Place. In: Ibid. Vol. XVI. No. 12198. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Pp. 827–832. (In Russ.)

3. Most Graciously Granted Letter Missive to the Kalmyk People of 14 October 1800 On Reestablishment of the Council Called Zargo for Judicial Settlements among Kalmyks. In: Ibid. Vol. XXVI. No. 19599. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Pp. 340–341. (In Russ.)

4. Letter Missive to Fellow Boyar Vasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn of 21 May 1687 On That Black Kalmyks Headed by Their Tayiji Chagan Batyr Be Received into Russian Allegiance and Granted Volga Meadows along the Akhtuba River as Nomadic Territories. In: Ibid. Vol. II. No. 1245. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. P. 858. (In Russ.)

5. Treaty Articles of Kalmyk Khan Ayuka Established on the Akhtuba River with [Prince] Pyotr Apraksin, Fellow Minister, Governor of Kazan and Astrakhan, of 30 September 1708 On Eternal and Devout Allegiance to the Russian Ruler with All Subject Peoples, [Commitments to] Constantly Nomadize along the Volga, [Secure] Protection for Southmost Towns from All Enemies, Stay in the Left Bank of the Volga River, Keep Chemet and Munkotemir from Further Invasions, and Persecute Chechens and Nogais. In: Ibid. Vol. IV. No. 2207. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Pp. 419–422. (In Russ.)

6. Emperor’s Edict to Prince Potemkin, Governor General of Novorossiysk, of 14 August 1783 On Relocation of Dorbet Kalmyks to the Crimean Steppe and Resettlement of Stavropol Kalmyks to Yekaterinoslav Viceroyalty. In: Ibid. Vol. XXI. No. 15813. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. P. 993. (In Russ.)

7. Emperor’s Edict to [Prince] Potemkin, Acting Governor General of Saratov and the Caucasus, of 9 May 1785 On Establishment of Caucasus Governorate and Astrakhan Oblast. In: Ibid. Vol. XXII. No. 16194. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Pp. 388–392. (In Russ.)

8. Emperor’s Edict to Divisional General [Prince] Potemkin of 18 March 1786 On Resettlement of Kalmyks Residing in Caucasus Governorate. In: Ibid. Vol. XXII. No. 16355. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. P. 557. (In Russ.)

9. Emperor’s Edict to the Senate of 30 April 1786 On Putting Kalmyks of Dorbet Uluses under the [Exclusive] Jurisdiction of [Central] Government. In: Ibid. Vol. XXII. No. 16387. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. P. 583. (In Russ.)

10. Emperor’s Edict to [Prince] Gudovich, Governor General of Ryazan, Tambov and the Caucasus, of 19 April 1793 On That Kabardians, Ossetians and Other Peoples Inhabiting Lands to the South of the Terek and Malka Rivers Be [Duly] Supplied with Salt; On Relocation of Kalmyks from the Right Bank of the Volga to the [Left] Meadow One, and On Establishment of Two [instead of Four] Clan Courts in Great Kabardia. In: Ibid. Vol. XXIII. No. 17118. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Pp. 423–426. (In Russ.)

11. Emperor’s Edict to the Senate of 27 September 1800 On Allotment of All Lands from Tsaritsyn Downstream the Rivers Volga, Sarpa, Sal, Manych, Kuma and along the Caspian Shore to Kalmyks of Baga and Iki Dorbet Uluses. In: Ibid. Vol. XXVI. No. 19575. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. P. 322. (In Russ.)

12. Emperor’s Edict to the Collegium of Foreign Affairs of 26 October 1800 On Confirmation of Rights and Privileges Granted to the Kalmyk People; On Restoration of All Contacts of Theirs in Previous Ways in Accordance with Rights Duly Received from Outer Authorities Independent from the Collegium. Supplemented with Emperor’s Edict to [Baron] Lieutenant General Knorring. In: Ibid. Vol. XXVI. No. 20037. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Pp. 808–809. (In Russ.)

13. Emperor’s Edict to the Senate of 28 April 1802 On Allotment of Lands to Kalmyks, and On Handling of Complaints against the Latter to be Received. In: Ibid. Vol. XXVII. No. 20248. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. P. 126. (In Russ.)

14. Emperor’s Edict to Prince Tsitsianov, Military Commander of Georgia, of 12 June 1803 On That Due Arrangements Be Made to Allot Lands in Astrakhan Governorate for Kalmyks and Kirghiz Kaisaks. In: Ibid. Vol. XXVII. No. 20793. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Pp. 653–655. (In Russ.)

15. Emperor’s Edict to the Senate of 19 May 1806 On Allotments of Lands for Kalmyks and Other Nomadizing Peoples in Astrakhan and Caucasus Governorates. In: Ibid. Vol. XXIX. No. 22135. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Pp. 283–309. (In Russ.)

16. On Appointment of an Unwealthy Kalmyk Zaisang with a Small Aimag for the Protection of Salt [Trains] from Lake Elton, and On Due Payments to the Former. 4 July 1749. In: Ibid. Vol. XIII. No. 9640. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Pp. 99–100. (In Russ.)

17. On Allotment of an Area Convenient for Fishing to Be Developed by Kalmyks Nomadizing around Astrakhan, and On Prohibition on Fishing in Any Other Place. 1 September 1737. In: Ibid. Vol. X. No. 7359. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Pp. 254–255. (In Russ.)

18. Decree of the Senate of 25 August 1788 On Settlement of Kalmyks in Convenient Lands across Russia. In: Ibid. Vol. XXII. No. 16703. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. P. 1099. (In Russ.)

19. Treaty Articles of Kalmyk Khan Ayuka Established with [Prince] Pyotr Matveevich Apraksin, Governor of Kazan and Astrakhan, in a Locality between Astrakhan, Cherny Yar and the Danilovka River of 5 September 1710 On That Khan Ayuka and All His Tayijis and Peoples Enter into Russian Allegiance. In: Ibid. Vol. IV. No. 2291. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Pp. 547–550. (In Russ.)

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21. Imperially Approved Regulation by the Committee of Ministers of 3 April 1828 On That Armenians and Other Peoples Be Prohibited from Using Kalmyk-Inhabited Pastures, and On That Those Be Allowed to Graze Their Herds in Government-Owned Lands of Astrakhan Governorate and Caucasus Oblast. In: Ibid. Vol. III. No. 1912. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1830. Pp. 342–346. (In Russ.)

22. Imperially Approved Regulation by the Committee of Ministers of 23 February 1837 On That Kalmyk-Inhabited Lands Be Classified as Quitrent. In: Ibid. Part I. Vol. XII. No. 9962. St. Petersburg: H. I. M. Chancery (Second Section), 1838. Pp. 111–114. (In Russ.)

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