The accession of Kazakhstan to Russia began in the first half of the 18th century. It took place in several stages and stretched over a century. Both countries were interested in developing relations and rapprochement, however, there were geopolitical factors that hindered the accession process.
Background
At the beginning of the 18th century, Russia was turning into an empire and rapidly building up its military power. Its influence on neighboring states increased. The geographical location naturally made Russia a profitable ally. Its territory closely adjoined the Kazakh lands. In the immediate vicinity of the border there were large Russian cities, which contributed to the development of trade relations. All these circumstances made the Kazakh khans think about passing under the authority of an influential and powerful empire.
Russia's interest in gaining control over neighboring territory was explained by the desire to secure its southern borders. In addition, the empire needed to protect important trade routes through the lands of the Kazakh khans to Central Asia.
Talks aboutprotectorate
The possibility of joining Kazakhstan to Russia was repeatedly mentioned by Peter I. He called this country "the key to Asia". One of the Kazakh khans in 1717 turned to Peter I with a proposal to become a subject of the empire in exchange for the king's military assistance in the fight against Dzungaria (a Mongol-speaking steppe state). But Russia at that time was involved in a difficult and prolonged confrontation with the Swedish king Charles XII, which took away all its strength and resources.
Khans Abulkhair and Ablai
Empress Anna Ioannovna for the first time in history established a protectorate over part of the Kazakh people. The Khan of the Younger Zhuz (tribal union) named Abulkhair asked her for protection from the devastating raids of the Jungars and the threat from the Chinese state of Qing. The empress agreed to provide military support if the Kazakh ruler swore allegiance to her. An agreement on the establishment of a Russian protectorate over the lands of the Little Zhuz was signed in 1731. Abulkhair decided to take this step in an effort to rise above the rest of the Kazakh khans. Soon his example was followed by the ruler of another tribal union. Khan of the Middle Zhuz Ablai turned to the Empress with a request to establish a protectorate over his territory. The Kazakhs, who received royal patronage, pledged to promote the political and commercial interests of Russia. Only the Elder Zhuz, which was subordinate to the Kokand Khan, did not fall under the dominion of the empress.
Russian army intervention
In 1741, the Dzungars undertook another conquest campaign in the Kazakh lands. The Russian army stationed in the border areas offered them vigorous resistance and forced them to retreat. Since that time, the Dzungars had to reckon with the presence of a new strong rival in the region and exercise caution. The first consequences of the accession of Kazakhstan to Russia have acquired real outlines. The expansion to the East, which Peter the Great thought about, began to be put into practice.
Weakening the influence of St. Petersburg
In 1748 Khan Abulkhair died, one of the main supporters of joining the Russian Empire. Dzungaria was defeated and almost completely destroyed by the Chinese state of Qing. This changed the balance of power in the region. The Qing Dynasty began to pose a serious threat. After the Chinese army inflicted several defeats on the Kazakhs, the khan of the Younger Zhuz recognized his vassal dependence on Beijing. The royal protectorate turned into a formality. The history of Kazakhstan's accession to Russia has entered an unfavorable phase. However, Chinese expansion was not successful. Khan Ablai led the fight against the Qing commanders and managed to hold back their onslaught.
Restoration of the protectorate
A significant part of the Junior and Middle Zhuzs supported the rebellion raised by Yemelyan Pugachev. This caused the tsarist governmentthe desire to return the region under its control. In the era of Catherine II, the process of joining Kazakhstan to Russia resumed. The integration policy was carried out through administrative reforms. After the death of Ablai, the khan's power began to have a symbolic character. The management of zhuzes gradually passed into the hands of St. Petersburg officials. From the Kazakh side, an armed struggle for independence unfolded, which continued until the middle of the 19th century.
Final entry into the empire
In 1873, the three zhuzes were divided into six regions, each of which was ruled by a military commandant. This was the completion of the accession of Kazakhstan to Russia. Six new regions became part of the provinces of the empire. Years of armed resistance could not prevent the onset of this event. The accession of Kazakhstan to Russia turned out to be a historical inevitability.
