Christianization of Kalmyks in Semirechye and Its Consequences

Introduction. In the process of territorial expansion, Imperial Russia was seeking to implement internal policies, including that of Christianization. Christian missionary endeavors across Kazakh steppes were to involve not only Kazakh ethnic groups proper but also other populations to have emigrated from China in the 19th century. Goals. The study aims at exploring problems and consequences of Semirechye Kalmyks’ conversion to Orthodox Christianity after their arrival from China, revealing the role of missionaries in that Christianization campaign, determining key techniques and methods employed by the latter, identifying essentials and crucial events to have proved efficient thereto and based on the destruction of indigenous culture, traditions and lifestyle of ethnic groups who had been forced to stay away from their historical roots. Results. The paper analyzes archival sources to examine the history of how China’s emigrant Kalmyks acquired Russian citizenship and converted to Orthodox Christianity in the 1860s–1870s. In the aftermath of the Dungan Revolt, the refugee Kalmyks settled in Qapal, Sarkand, Koksu, Verny, Turgen and other areas of Semirechye. Fertile land plots were allotted for them to conveniently engage in agriculture, gardening and vegetable farming. Another goal was that they were thus to establish close relations with Russian peasants and learn the latter’s language, culture, and peculiarities of the newly adopted faith. Conclusions. The missionary activities and Kalmyks’ conversion to Orthodox Christianity resulted in acculturation characterized by that the newly baptized would often change their personal and family names and receive Russian Cossack peasant clothes in missionary shelters.

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