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Ajüz (Modern Kazakh tribes) (/ˈ(d)ʒ(j)uːz/;Kazakh:ءجۇز / жүз,pronounced[ʒʉz], also translated as 'horde') is one of the three main territorial and tribal divisions in theKypchak Plain area that covers much of the contemporaryKazakhstan. It represents the main tribal division within the ethnic group of theKazakhs.
The origin of the Kazakh zhuzes (tribal confederations) is dated by Kazakh historiography to the early 18th century, while pre-revolutionary Russian historiography attributes their emergence to the 17th century.[1]
According to various Soviet, pre-revolutionary, and Kazakhstani researchers, the concept of “zhuzhood” (zhuzovost’) emerged as a result of internal elite conflicts among the Chinggisid clan of Töre following the death ofTauke Khan. The first khans of the three zhuzes were established in 1721.
Chokan Valikhanov believed that when the Golden Horde began to disintegrate, the Kazakhs formed large tribal alliances (zhuzes) in order to retain control over their nomadic territories.
N. A. Aristov linked the formation of the zhuzes to Dzungar raids, suggesting that external threats prompted the unification.
V. V. Bartold associated the rise of zhuzes with geographic factors, arguing that the natural environment of distant regions allowed Kazakhs to preserve distinct cultural and economic traditions.
M. P. Vyatkin agreed with Bartold’s position but added political developments to the explanation, asserting that by the 16th century, the separated hordes had become political unions.
LinguistSarsen Amanzholov proposed that the Kazakhs had already divided into zhuzes between the 10th and 12th centuries, prior to Genghis Khan’s unification of the Turkic and Mongolic peoples into a single Turko-Mongol Empire.
Orientalist T. I. Sultanov emphasized the lack of reliable evidence regarding the origin of the zhuzes. He suggested that in the second half of the 16th century, the traditional ulus system transformed into the zhuz system.
The etymology of the word “zhuz” remains unclear. Some scholars associate it with the Arabic word juzʼ (جزء) meaning “a part” or “segment.” The earliest references to zhuzes in Eastern historical documents appear around the mid-17th century. In the works of Mahmud ibn Wali, written between 1634–1641, it is stated that after the death of Khan Shaybani, his son Bahadur “took charge of the land and uluses… he chose the White Horde as his wintering grounds and zhailau, which is also known as Yuz Horde.” Some scholars interpret “Yuz” in this context as being equivalent to the Kazakh “zhuz.” Thus, even Arab chronicles suggest that “Yuz Horde” = “Zhuz Horde,” i.e., the Middle Zhuz, implying a central or commanding position.
Another theory proposed by Bagdat Naikam suggests that the word zhuz means circle or ring. According to his theory, the number of Kazakh tribes corresponds to three concentric defense rings. In ancient times, Turkic military formations were divided into 12, 9, and 6 units. Each “ring” included 12, 6, and 3 main tribes, respectively:
According to this theory, the three-tiered military-defense formation was developed during a period of intense external pressure, when Kazakh tribes primarily defended themselves against the Dzungars, Kalmyks, and Kokands. Thus, Naikam challenges the hierarchical interpretation of zhuz origin and instead presents a strategic-military rationale rooted in Kazakh defense tactics.
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The earliest mention of the Kazakh jüz or hordes dates to the 17th century. Velyaminov Zernov (1919) believed that the division arose as a result of the capture of the important cities ofTashkent,Yasi, andSayram in 1598.[2]
Some researchers argued that thejüz in origin corresponded to tribal, military alliances of steppe nomads that emerged around the mid 16th century after the disintegration of theKazakh Khanate. They played a role in regulating livestock, access to watering holes, pastures, and the sites of nomadic camps.[3]
Yuri Zuev[year needed] argued their territorial division comprises three ecological or topographic zones, the Seniorjüz of the southern and southeastern steppe being set apart from the two other zones byLake Balkhash.
According to some researchers, the Kazakhs were separated in theFirst Civil War. Tribes that recognized Buidash Khan formed the Senior jüz. Tribes that recognized Togym Khan formed the Middle jüz. Tribes that recognized Ahmed Khan formed the Junior jüz.
According to Kazakh legends,[citation needed] the threejüz were the territorial inheritances of the three sons of the legendary founder-ancestor of the Kazakhs. The wordjüz (жүз) also means "a hundred" in Kazakh.
Shoqan Walikhanov believed that when theGolden Horde began to disintegrate, the reasons why Kazakhs createdlarge tribal unions were in order to retain their nomadic territories and secure their rights in the lands where they migrated.
Historically, the Senior jüz (Kazakh:Ұлы жүз, ۇلى ءجۇز,romanized: Ūly jüz) inhabited the northern lands of the formerChagatai Ulus of theMongol Empire, in theIli River andChu River basins, in today's South-EasternKazakhstan and China'sIli Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (northernXinjiang). It was also calledÜisın jüz.
The first record of the Senior jüz dates to 1748, due to aTatar emissary of theTsaritsa who had been sent to the steppe to negotiate the submission ofAbul Khair Khan in 1732. According toNikolai Aristov,[citation needed] the estimated population of the Senior jüz was about 550,000 people in the second half of the 19th century.The territory was conquered by theKokand Khanate in the 1820s, and by theRussian Empire during the 1850s to 1860s. The Senior jüz Kazakhs were incorporated into theRussian Empire in 1845–1847.[4]
Kazakhstan's ruling elite, including former presidentNursultan Nazarbayev, formerFirst Secretary of theCommunist Party of KazakhstanDinmukhamed Konayev, as well as famous poetJambyl Jabayev are representatives of the Senior jüz.
There have been several attempts to determine the exact names and nature of top-level clans throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. However, different studies created vastly different names and population numbers for the steppe clans. Generally accepted names of the first order Senior jüz tribes or clans are:[citation needed]
The Middle jüz (Kazakh:Орта Жүз, ورتا ءجۇز,romanized: Orta Jüz, also known asArğyn Jüz [Арғын Жүз]), occupies the eastern lands of the formerGolden Horde, in central, northern and eastern Kazakhstan.
The Middle jüz Kazakhs were incorporated into theRussian Empire in 1734–1740.[5]
Some of Kazakhstan's famous poets and intellectuals were born in the Middle jüz territories, includingAbay Qunanbayuli,Akhmet Baytursinuli,Shokan Walikhanuli andAlikhan Bokeikhanov.
The Middle jüz consists of the following tribes:
The Junior or Lesser jüz (Kazakh:Кіші Жүз, كىشى ءجۇز,romanized: Kışı Jüz, also known asAlşyn Jüz) occupied the lands of the formerNogai Khanate in Western Kazakhstan.
They originate from theNogais of theNogai Horde, which once was placed in Western Kazakhstan, but in the 16th century it was defeated by the Kazakhs and the Russians andNogais retreated to the Western part of their khanate, to theKuban River steppes. In the 18th century, they endangered inner Russian cities, so the Russian Empire allied with the MongolicKalmyks to supplant the Alshyns and push them back to theUrals. There they formed the Lesser jüz. During the Kazakh-Kalmyk struggles, theKhiva Khanate annexed theMangyshlak Peninsula to repel Kalmyk raids and managed it for two centuries before the Russian conquest. At the beginning of the 19th century, Kazakhs shifted some to the west, toAstrakhan Governorate, formingBukey Horde there. When theKazakh SSR was formed.Bukey Horde was positioned in its most remote, western part,[clarification needed] situated geographically inEurope.
The Junior jüz Kazakhs incorporated into theRussian Empire in 1731.[6] Historical leaders of Kazakh resistance against the Russian Empire associated with the Junior jüz includeIsatay Taymanuly (Kazakh:Isatai Taimanūly, 1791–1838) andMakhambet Otemisuly (Kazakh:Mahambet Ötemısūly, 1803/4–1846).
The Junior jüz consisted of three groups, subdivided into clans:
In jüzes, a clear purpose of each son in the family is determined. According to the customs and traditions of the Kazakhs, different people were engaged in the upbringing of each son.
To this day, knowledge of one's genealogical tree, including one's jüz, is considered a duty of every Kazakh.[7] Any relative who comes for help (even the most distant one) will definitely receive it.