The Emir of Bukhara Appoints Kurbandzhan as Datka — Ruler of Alay
After the death of Alymbek, political power and the leadership of the clan were inherited by his widow, Kurbandzhan-datka. In 1862, Khudoyar Khan, with the help of the Bukharan army, once again occupied Kokand and seized the throne. However, the eastern regions of Fergana, the Kyrgyz and Kipchaks, remained the most rebellious. A Bukharan detachment sent by Emir Muzaffar reached Osh and besieged the fortress of Mady.
There is a vague mention that during this time, a meeting occurred between the emir and the Alay ruler. Muzaffar, upon learning of Kurbandzhan-datka's influence over the Alay Kyrgyz, "contrary to Muslim custom, bestowed upon her the honorary title of datka, providing her with the appropriate charter and gifting her presents," as noted in Russian journals.
It was an unheard-of act for Central Asia, and indeed for the entire Islamic East — a Muslim woman, defying traditions and the will of her parents, does not go to live with her chosen husband, and later, after the death of the husband chosen by herself, does not transfer power to his eldest son, but takes it into her own hands. And — is it not remarkable! — the bastion of Islam in Central Asia — the Emir of Bukhara confirms her as datka — ruler of Alay. Khudoyar Khan graciously receives in his palace a woman who has come down from the mountains and does not recognize the veil, who has usurped, from the perspective of a male Muslim fanatic, power among the warlike nomadic Kyrgyz of Alay. Khudoyar Khan forgives ... no, he does not even remember (!) the various uprisings of the Kyrgyz against him, in which the instigators and open political force were the subjects of Alymbek and Kurbandzhan, confirms her as datka and as the full ruler of Alay, gifts her a brocade robe from his own shoulders and ... sends her back to her native Alay pastures alive (!) This was indeed a unique case in the fanatical Islamic world of Bukhara and Kokand. Her stepson Jarkinbay, having renounced his hereditary title of datka in favor of his stepmother, was appointed as the hakim of Osh in 1864 (he was soon killed in one of the battles of the Kokand army against the troops of General M. G. Cherniaev).
In 1865, Khudoyar Khan managed to seize the throne for the third time, and Kurbandzhan hastened to appear before him in Kokand. The khan confirmed her rights to the title of datka and to govern Alay, and instead of the slain Jarkinbay, appointed her eldest son Abdullabek as hakim of Osh.
The famous traveler in the Kokand Khanate, A. P. Fedchenko, who visited Alay in 1871, noted that Kurbandzhan-datka "enjoys immense authority; our dzhigits spoke of her only with great respect." Even Khudoyar Khan, in the case of her arrival in Kokand, received the "Alay queen" "as an important bek."
During the incorporation of Southern Kyrgyzstan into Russia in 1876, a meeting took place between Kurbandzhan and General M. D. Skobelev, who commanded the Russian detachment. The "Alay queen" came to the general accompanied by her son Kamchibek and grandson Mirzapayaz. The future first military governor of Fergana, the future hero of Shipka in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, received Kurbandzhan warmly.
Through an interpreter, he expressed his satisfaction with the meeting, praised the bravery of her sons, and asked Kurbandzhan to persuade them and the subordinate Kyrgyz to lean towards Russian citizenship, promising everyone complete safety of life and property. Kurbandzhan heeded the advice, sending her messengers throughout Alay with orders to return freely to their ails. Her three sons: Mahmudbek, Hasanbek, and Batyrbek obeyed their mother and soon returned to the Osh district. The governor-general of the Turkestan region, K. P. Kaufman, who arrived there by that time, appointed all the sons of the datka as volost administrators.
A little later, in the historical narratives of the popular Kyrgyz akyn-democrat Togolok Moldoo, the motif will sound that "the Alay Kyrgyz joined the Russians under the leadership of Kurbandzhan." The "Alay queen" now becomes a loyal supporter of tsarism, playing an important role in the governance of the Alay Kyrgyz even after their incorporation into Russia. For this, by a special imperial decree in 1881, Kurbandzhan-datka was granted a lifetime state pension of 300 rubles.
Kurbandzhan-datka's Attitude Towards Russian Authorities
Friendly relations were established between Kurbandzhan-datka and the first Osh district chief, Major Ionov — an associate of Skobelev in the Alay campaign — which lasted until her death. Her son Mahmudbek kept a bundle of letters addressed to Kurbandzhan-datka from various representatives of the Turkestan authorities. However, most of the letters were from General Ionov, who later became the military governor of the Fergana region. The datka exchanged gifts and photographs with him multiple times.
Of particular interest is a letter from Kurbandzhan to the Russian authorities from 1885.
"To the Most Honorable High-Ranking Governor of the Fergana Region from the servant of the Osh District, Kurbandzhan-datka. Statement.
Dear Sir, I ask for your forgiveness. I hereby declare to you that when the Fergana Muslim state did not yet recognize Russia, I fought and argued with you. Then Abdullabek, along with his two brothers — Mahmudbek and Hasanbek — fled to Kabul through Osh. I, poor, remained in Alay with my little Kamchibek. At that time, the Osh chief Ionov arrived in Alay with the general (Skobelev, — 1876 — ed.). And he introduced me to the general. The general greeted me warmly and treated me with respect. I was satisfied.
In size, Russia is equal to Rome; perhaps it is even increasing at present.
Now my sons have returned to me. Without hope and in torment. They were afraid of the tsar, but I ordered through a messenger that they return here. By God's will, Abdullabek died there. Mahmudbek and Hasanbek returned healthy.
Then I met with the Turkestan governor-general Kaufman when he came to the city of Osh. He also treated me with respect and said: if you listen to my words — it will be beneficial and good for you — as if you were at a reception with the tsar-emperor.
The late governor-general, with the consent of the tsar, paid a monthly pension of 25 rubles. It is a pity that I cannot personally express my gratitude to him.
Thanks to God, I now have 3 children. We have never seen such a state before. Throughout history, no state has treated orphans so well. As with our own kin, we will live together with the entire people in such a state. If suddenly we do not recognize its authority, change the state, then I believe that an indelible shame will fall upon us. I believe that if we treat this state with all our soul, with all our heart and respect, then God will forgive all that we have done against it before.
In this peaceful time, I declare: my entire people, myself, and my kin will never rise against you (emphasized by us. — ed.). There will be no trouble from us. If my people do something wrong and become traitors, then I will punish the guilty with the harshest measure, and I will suffer eternally until the end of my days.
In conclusion, I place my seal. — daughter of Mamatbek, Kurbandzhan-datka.
In connection with the loss of the seal, I sign."
And the "queen of Alay" signed her name personally.
The "queen of Alay" lived to be 96 years old and quietly passed away on February 3 (according to other sources, February 1) 1907 in the village of Mady, 13 versts from Osh, surrounded by numerous relatives: at that time, two of her sons, two daughters, 31 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren were alive.
Kurbandzhan was buried at the foot of Suleiman Mountain in the main cemetery of Sary-Mazar. A tall dome made of brick was built over her grave.
The role of Kurbandzhan's personality in the history of Kyrgyzstan is dual. Thus, in our opinion, this is how one should approach her; it is impossible to entirely condemn her as a large feudal lord, but it is also not possible to idealize her as a "wise mother of the people" or a "leader fighting for the freedom and interests of the working people." Primary sources debunk the idealized image, without diminishing her role as a strong, extraordinary personality and representative of her class and her time. She was a feudal lord with all the consequences that entails. But she was a smart and far-sighted representative of her people and stood out brightly with her originality against the backdrop of the grim, harsh khan's oppression and Islamic obscurantism. Kurbandzhan-datka did not immediately recognize Russia, but as soon as she understood the inevitability and necessity of uniting with Russia, she devoted herself entirely to its service. However, since the tsarist officials were in charge in Turkestan, it is natural that Kurbandzhan, who had previously been loyal to the khans, became a faithful servant of tsarism.