The Mission of the First Kyrgyz Embassy from Tian Shan to Russia

THE FIRST KYRGYZ EMBASSY TO RUSSIA.

They deliberated for a long time on whom to appoint as ambassador to the distant unknown country. For this role, first of all, a respected person was needed. Secondly, someone experienced, who had seen many foreign lands. Thirdly, intelligent and judicious. And fourthly, this person had to agree to face the many dangers that always lurk for travelers in foreign lands. Where to find such a person?

Then Atake-biy proposed the candidacy of Abdurakhman Kuchakov, a well-known merchant who had already made a name for himself in Russia. He was well-known in the Kyrgyz pastures and respected for his honesty, tact, and vast knowledge gained from endless trading journeys. Moreover, he was literate and spoke the Russian language. Accompanying him was Shergazy, who had proven himself to be judicious despite his youth. They were carrying gifts: two horses for the Siberian rulers, and for the Russian Empress Catherine — fur coats made from leopard and lynx skins, along with a curious slave, an African man, as an addition. The Kyrgyz ambassadors brought with them, as we would say now, "credentials" — two letters.

One was for the Siberian border authorities, and the other was addressed personally to Empress Catherine II of Russia. In the letter to the Siberian governor-general, Atake reported:
“To the one managing the affairs of His Imperial Majesty, Mr. General, from the lineage of the glorious and noble people who served under the ancient kings Solomon and Alexander the Great, and now managing the wild Kyrgyz people, I, Atake-biy, son of Tynaybiyev, send my greetings. And, sending with my men Abdurakhman and Shergazy two horses for you, I kindly ask you to graciously accept this first service of mine, and in the future, I will not fail to strive to provide such services, so that you may confidently know them...”.

As we can see, in order not to fall flat before the Russian Empress, Atake traced his lineage back to the times of Solomon and the legendary Iskander the Two-Horned, as Alexander the Great was called in the East. Let us not judge too harshly and take into account the ambition of the Tian Shan feudal lord who wished to impress the distant queen with the antiquity of his lineage. It is worth noting that in the letter addressed directly to Catherine, the biy was much more modest. Atake reminded her that his ancestors had already provided some services to Russia to the best of their abilities, and he could mediate in accompanying merchant trading caravans.

At the same time, the "most devoted" inquired about the "highest health" of the Empress. Both letters, likely written by the ambassador himself, were in the bag of the proud Abdurakhman, surrounded by a retinue no less than that of the biy...

It was early spring of 1785.

... The whole aiyl came out to see off the ambassadors — from the youngest to the oldest. Despite the warm weather, Atake wore a chepken — a white felt cloak with sleeves, typically worn by shepherds. The biy was unwell. However, his strong will did not allow the illness to take over. He cast an eagle-eyed glance over the ambassadors and the crowd from beneath his bushy gray brows. Today an important matter was being accomplished — the beginning of a new journey. What would it bring to his people?

The departing ones were already mounted on their horses. Everyone was dressed festively in their best attire. Even the African slave was properly dressed up.

The old mother looked at her firstborn Shergazy with misty eyes and could not take her eyes off him. How handsome her son was! A beautiful jigit! He wore a light shirt, over which was a single-breasted beshmet, long to the knees, with a small standing collar. Embroidered leather trousers. On his feet were rawhide boots with short tops. On his head was a white felt cap trimmed with black velvet.

And in the saddle bags lay his winter attire: a tebetei hat with a fox fur trim, a woolen chepken, a fur coat (ichik), and fancy boots made of goat wool with rich embroidery done by her hands.

It was time to say goodbye, and Shergazy began to sing a farewell song — koshtoshuu. In it, he mentioned his native land, the green mountains of Ala-Too, and the blessed valley. He tenderly said goodbye to his father, mother, and little sisters. And at the end, he mentioned his beloved, without naming her.

Atake frowned angrily: who did the jigit mean? He wished they would leave already...

Finally, the farewell came to an end, and the biy, leaning on his staff with his left hand, raised his right:
— Kosh! Goodbye! Safe travels!
— Kosh! Kair kosh! - the crowd shouted in unison.

The three horsemen and a group of jigits who followed them to the borders of the Kyrgyz lands shouted “Chu!” and urged their horses forward. The first Kyrgyz embassy to Russia began its journey... In those years, Russia felt quite confident on the international stage. The success of the Russian army on the battlefields solidified its reputation as the strongest power in the world. Everyone spoke of the names of Rumyantsev, Suvorov, and Potemkin. Two years earlier, in 1783, Russia finally gained the long-awaited access to the Black Sea, having annexed Crimea. The ambassadors of European powers at Catherine's court were seeking an audience.

The Kyrgyz deputies were also waiting for their turn. Catherine, having listened to the letter from biy Atake, graciously ordered to reward him with 800 rubles in silver, and also granted gifts to the envoys: Abdurakhman Kuchakov, the hundredth, and Shergazy, the quarter. This was a substantial amount of money for that time. A trusted representative of Catherine, a member of the Council at the highest court, Prince Vyazemsky, on January 23, 1787, wrote a letter to the biy on behalf of the Empress, stating that his proposals for friendship were accepted and requested “assistance in expanding Russian trade.”

The letter was hastily sent with a courier to the pastures of the Kyrgyz lord. The deed was done. The ambassadors could return home. But... Abdurakhman began to fall ill more frequently, which delayed their departure to their native pastures. He never saw the beloved Chuy Valley again. Already on the Siberian line, the first Kyrgyz ambassador died at the age of about 50, right in prayer at the mosque on June 20, 1789. His son Satynbai and ambassador Shergazy brought the body back to their native aiyl and buried it with honors.

Thus ended the mission of the first embassy from Tian Shan to Russia. The Kyrgyz were not yet officially accepted as subjects, but they received assurances of support, although this was not documented. Only in 1795 did an unfinished article by Siberian engineer Captain Andreev appear in a St. Petersburg journal, in which he reported on the embassy of Atake-biy to Russia and the distant people — the Kyrgyz, who sought the most humble protection.

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