The Emergence of Bishkek

THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF BISHKEK

Findings of stone tools by archaeologists during the construction of the Ala-Archa Hydroelectric Power Station on the eastern side of the city indicate that primitive people inhabited the territory of Bishkek in the 5th-4th millennium BC.

Archaeologists also discovered settled populations on the left bank of the Ala-Archa River (village of Ala-Archa) dating back to before our era.

According to Chinese sources, the ancestors of the Kyrgyz, the Usuns, have long inhabited this area. The base of the tribal unions of the Usun state, which emerged in 161 BC, was located on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.

The Usun period was densely populated in the mountain valleys, with part of the Usun population living a settled life and engaging in agriculture. This is confirmed by the remains of settlements found in various locations in the Chui Valley. Wealthy Usuns owned up to 4,000-5,000 horses. The Usun society had slaves, mainly from among prisoners of war.

The archaeological investigation uncovered the Sako-Usun burial ground, located in the interfluve of the Ala-Archa and Ala-Arch rivers, where the nobility of the nomadic Saka and Usun tribes were buried, dating back to the second half of the first millennium BC. By the end of the 5th century, the Usun state was part of the Turkic Khaganate.

In the Middle Ages, nomadic and settled agricultural populations inhabited the basins of the Ala-Archa and Ala-Arch rivers.

One of the major medieval settlements was the so-called Bishkek settlement of the 7th century (Klyuchevskoye and Kyzyl-Asker), discovered through archaeological research. In the vicinity of the Bishkek settlement were the Karajygach, Chumyshe, and Sokuluk settlements. These settlements were located on the caravan (Silk) route and had systems of fortifications. During the invasion of the Tatars and Mongols in the 13th century, the settlement fell into decline. After some time, life resumed there and continued until the 15th century. Both cities, located along the ancient caravan route through the Chui Valley, were visited by merchants from various countries of the East and West. The urban population engaged in trade, various crafts, and agriculture.

After the 15th century, the territory of modern Bishkek and its surroundings were inhabited by nomadic Kyrgyz.

Gradually, a settled settlement formed here, founded by a hero-leader named Bishkek, from the "Solto" tribe, lineage of Tüleberdi, Kyrgyz warriors. The latter settled on the left bank of the Ala-Archa River in the Chui Valley at the foot of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too.

Bishkek the hero is buried in a Muslim cemetery, where a tomb was erected for him, made of rammed earth, which has almost collapsed after more than 100 years, as evidenced by the drawing.

In the post-Soviet period, the tomb was demolished, and the current cinema and restaurant Issyk-Kul were built on the site of the cemetery.

Bishkek has been functioning for over 200 years. However, due to the lack of specific documentary evidence regarding its origin, it is difficult to write about the ancient settlement of semi-nomadic Kyrgyz, which has long turned into ruins, and the life that once thrived there has long since faded. They can only be reconstructed from scattered information from written sources, materials from archaeological excavations, and memories of them.

Archaeological findings here have uncovered traces of medieval settlements, which allows the capital of Kyrgyzstan to be placed alongside ancient cities.

After the 15th century, the territory of modern Bishkek and its surroundings were inhabited by nomadic Kyrgyz.

Gradually, a settled settlement formed here, founded by Bishkek-baatyr — the leader of the Kyrgyz warriors from the "Solto" tribe of the "Tüleberdi" lineage. This is confirmed by materials from "The History of the Kyrgyz and Kyrgyzstan," Volume 1, published by "Nauka," M.f 1973, extracted from Arabic and Persian writings of the 10th-19th centuries, which state that "In Tarikh and Shahruhi" this is the first mention of Bishkek among the local Kyrgyz population. This name was pronounced as "Pishpek," "Peshek," and "Bishkek." According to local legends, the origin of the settlement "Bishkek" dates back to the late 18th century, i.e., it occurred at least 25-30 years before the onset of the Kokand conquest, accompanied by the construction of Kokand fortresses in the Chui Valley in the 1820s (published by "Nauka," M., 1973, p. 235).

According to Chinese sources, by the time the Kokandians arrived, the settlement of Bishkek represented an abandoned fortress, and the Kokandians built their earthen fortification in its place. (Ploskikh V. M. Kyrgyz and the Kokand Khanate. F. 1977, p. 139).

According to the census data of the tsarist administration, the descendants of the founder of Bishkek lived in the Aala-Archa area in auls No. 3 and No. 4 of the East Sokuluk volost in the early 20th century. The relatives of Bishkek engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry, lived in yurts and semi-earth houses made of rammed earth. In the post-Soviet period, the settlement of Bishkek was completely built up with multi-story buildings. The great-grandchildren of Bishkek now live in the city and in the Sokuluk and Alamudun districts.

According to local legends, the name of the studied population is phonetically similar to the name of a whisk for whipping kumis — Bishkek. The mother of the future child began to have (labor) pains while whipping kumis. This served as the reason for the father to name his newborn son Bishkek.

Bishkek grew tall, healthy, strong, and of heroic build. He began to lead an independent life. He established his settlement (fortress), and together with his warriors repelled foreign raids and participated multiple times in internecine battles. He would go into the Kazakh steppes to steal herds of horses. Together with cattle traders, he visited the city of Orenburg.

Bishkek-baatyr had 5 sons: Baymurat, Matsakozu, Manapbay, Jorgo, and Ryskul. Among them, during the clashes between the Kyrgyz and Kokand troops, Manapbay Bishkek uulu and Ryskul Bishkek uulu were killed (See articles: Shaik Jamansariev, newspaper "Slovo Kyrgyzstana," June 7, 1995, Niyazaly Usupbekov, newspaper "Eldik Tribuna," April 4, 1995).

History of Bishkek. Introduction