The Tribes of Uisun and Alshin: From the Great Horde to the Nogai Horde and the Kazakh Khanate

Abstract

Introduction: This article is dedicated to the study of the history of the Uisun and Alshin tribes, their role in the formation of the Kazakh ethnos, and their connections with the state formations of Ulus Jochi, the Great Horde, the Nogai Horde, and the Kazakh Khanate. The importance of these tribes in the ethnic and political history of Kazakhstan is examined based on written and oral sources. Aims and Objectives: The main aim of this work is to identify the historical role of the Uisun and Alshin tribes in the ethnogenesis of the Kazakhs and their connection with the aforementioned state formations. The objectives include analyzing the origin of these tribes, their migrations, and their influence on the formation of the Kazakh zhuzes. Materials and Methods: To achieve the research objectives, written sources such as "Daftar-i Chingiz-name," oral traditions, as well as critical analysis of historians' works were used. Methods of source criticism and historical analysis were applied. Results: The research established that the Uisun and Alshin tribes played a key role in the ethnogenesis of the Kazakhs. Their migration from Ulus Jochi to the Kazakh Khanate is traced through the Nogai Horde. These tribes formed the basis of the Elder and Junior Zhuzes, which determined their significant place in the political and social structure of the Kazakhs.