Kurmanjan Datka

Perhaps the brightest and most memorable heroine of Kyrgyz history is Kurmanjan Datka, the wife of Atshmbek. The life of Kurmanjan Datka is a story of love and tragedy, of willpower and optimism, of faith and hope for a better future.

At nineteen, Kurmanjan was slim and attractive. Moreover, she possessed an unusual intellect and curiosity for a woman of her time. It was these qualities that determined her future destiny.

It is no coincidence that among other noble and beautiful girls, the ruler of the Alai Kyrgyz, Alymbek Datka, chose and loved her. They lived together for almost thirty years. After her husband's death, she inherited his power. The people nicknamed her the "Queen of Alai." She was later granted the title of "Datka." Among her people, she was respected and honored, justly resolving all intertribal disputes. At that time, even the royal general M. Skobeleva was struck by her beauty and intellect. It was he who managed to persuade the Queen of Alai to become an ally of Russia. Thus, the Alai Kyrgyz were annexed to Russia.

Having lived a long, difficult, yet happy life (96 years), she became a true national pride.

The life of the Queen of Alai, Kurmanjan Datka, is a whole story of our country's past. This means that the name of Kurmanjan Datka, embodying the character of the Kyrgyz woman and becoming a living legend, is immortal.