The Struggle of the Kyrgyz Against the Conquerors. Tylek Batyr

The Kokand Domination in Kyrgyzstan. In the early 1830s, the Kokand Khanate urgently began constructing fortress fortifications to maintain a constant military presence. This was extremely necessary for strengthening its rear and conquering the northern regions of Kyrgyzstan. In 1830, the Jumgal fortress was built. In 1831-1832, the Kurtka fortress was erected in Naryn. The tribes of Central Tian Shan—Sajaks, Basiz, Cheriks, Moguls, and Bugus—who sided with the Kokand against the Chinese expansion did not offer armed resistance to the entering Kokand troops. Moreover, the people of Tylak Batyr helped them build fortifications. The ruling circles of Kokand skillfully exploited the sentiments of linguistic and religious community with the Kyrgyz. Indeed, the local population perceived the Kokand as "their own" compared to Qing China.

After building the fortresses and placing detachments of 300-500 infantry and cavalry warriors there, the Kokand appointed a bek-governor. A local administrator—a datka—was chosen from among the Kyrgyz feudal lords, who collected taxes for them. Every two years, the amount of taxes and dues increased. Such oppressive orders severely affected the lives of free nomads. Year by year, their exploitation intensified, and the people fell into poverty.

The violence of the Kokand manifested not only in the collection of unbearable taxes from the population. In 1832, the Kokand governor began to seize beautiful girls and young men in Naryn, At-Bashi, Ak-Tala, and Toguz-Toro. According to him, the young men were to be taught how to care for livestock, military skills, etc. Three flocks of sheep, 30 camels, and 200 horses were driven to the Kurtka fortress. To calm the parents and relatives, a rumor was spread that the training would take place in the fortress mosque. But in the fall of 1832, it became known that the girls and young men, along with the collected livestock and jewelry, were being sent under guard to Kokand. This news quickly spread through the ails. The cup of patience was overflowing...

The Feats of Tylak Batyr. Learning of the Kokand plans, Tylak Batyr said: “Indeed, the Kokand have gone too far. How can one endure such things!” Gathering forty dzhigits, Tylak Batyr set off in pursuit.

...At the descent from the mountain pass, an ambush was set up led by Chabyldai. Tylak waited for the Kokand troops with forty warriors at a fork in the road, at the turn towards Muuanak. Evening was approaching when the Kokand appeared around the bend. Ahead, serenely seated on a horse surrounded by 20 warriors was the deputy governor. Behind them trudged the girls and boys being sent to the camp as offerings. The young men had their hands tied behind their backs, and shackles on their feet. They were driving livestock. The procession was closed by 20 warriors. On both sides of the convoy, another 10 warriors guarded it.

But from the red spur, Tokchoro hooted like an owl, signaling the attack. It was a convenient moment: the beginning of the lengthy convoy was on the western side of the spur, and the end was on the southeastern side; the rear guard did not hear or see what was happening ahead. With the battle cry “Tylak! Tylak!” the dzhigits spurred their horses. Tylak Batyr directed his horse straight at the deputy bek—Nazar, widely known to the inhabitants of both banks of the Naryn for his audacity and cruelty. He had many dirty deeds on his conscience—mockery, violence against the defenseless. He was simply taken aback when he saw Tylak Batyr charging at him in shining armor on a huge bay horse, fierce like a lion. “Duel!”—was all he could make out. Nazar's soul sank to his heels, but there was no way out, and he, cracking the whip on his steed, rode forward. Holding a spear in his right hand, he rushed at Tylak. A powerful blow from Tylak struck Nazar in the collarbone. The spear did not pierce the armor, but Nazar, unable to stay in the saddle, fell to the ground.

At that moment, Tylak Batyr's close friend Bebe Tai threw a noose around Nazar's neck and dragged him along.

The fight with the guards that followed the duel between Tylak and Nazar lasted no more than half an hour. A dozen Kokand warriors were seriously wounded, eight received minor injuries, and the rest were tied up. There were also wounded among Tylak's entourage. The boys and girls were freed, given horses, supplied with food for three days, and sent back to their native ails. The weapons and livestock were divided among Tylak's dzhigits. A vow was taken from the Kokand sipays that they would not return. The deputy bek and the remaining "army" were driven out of Toguz-Toro. A messenger was sent to Madali Khan, the ruler of the Kokand Khanate, with a message that if he dared to send troops to Kurtka again, no one in the fortress would guarantee the life of the khan's deputy and his warriors. A warning followed: “We will wait for the messenger in Uzgen for three days. If there is no response or if the messenger gets into trouble, we will level Kurtka to the ground...”

Enraged, Madali Khan ordered both Nazar and the messenger to be hanged and commanded the troops to march. This was reported to Tylak Batyr by trusted people from Kokand.

To suppress the uprising, the khan sent a force of 500 men to Ak-Tala led by Arab Batyr. The battle took place on the Bychan plain in Toguz-Toro. The Kokand suffered defeat, with 400 of their warriors lying on the battlefield. The commander and the remnants of his entourage fled. Tylak caught up with them and challenged Arab to a duel, in which he killed his opponent with a spear. Realizing that Tylak could not be defeated in open battle, the Kokand decided to take him by trickery.

The Death of Tylak Batyr. Summer of 1838. Tylak Batyr was feeling unwell. He had a headache. In fact, this year he often had headaches. His mood was gloomy, he felt dizzy, and wanted to lie down. There was no benefit from the invited tabibs (doctors). One of the dzhigits, having heard that there was an old healer in one of the neighboring villages, sent for his son...

The healer turned out to be a man of about fifty, in a neat white turban, dressed like an Andijan. He held Batyr's hand, saying each time: “Inshallah” (“if Allah wills”), then poured a potion from his flask into a spoon and gave it to Batyr to drink. After a while, Tylak opened his eyes and felt better. Raising his head, he gave orders to his wives. He called his son Osmon and seated him beside him. Then he stood up, performed a prayer, and lay down again. The old man whispered some incantation and addressed Tylak: “Batyr, allow me to let blood from your head.” Tylak shook his head. “Then at least allow me to shave it,” suggested the old man. The Batyr did not respond. The healer washed Batyr's head with warm water and soap, took out a knife, and in an instant shaved him. He applied medicine to the two cuts. After some time, the old man went out to the guest room. The sun had already set. Batyr was tossing from side to side, enduring the pain, then said: “Call the old man.” The dzhigit sitting at his feet immediately jumped up and ran for the healer, but he was nowhere to be found. He ran out into the yard. One horse was missing from the hitching post, while the old man's donkey stood quietly aside. Everything became clear. With a shout, the dzhigit rushed into the street, but heard faint moans. He peeked behind the partition where kitchen utensils were stored and saw a woman lying in blood, who had been serving the guest. “Catch the old man!”—he ordered the dzhigits who had come running at his shout, and hurried to the yurt where Tylak Batyr lay. Osmon was sitting as if nothing had happened beside his father, while his wife was busy with her own affairs. The Batyr was dead...

Tylak's blue banner was hung on the left side of the yurt of the senior wife—baybiche, the huge yurt was covered with black felt, two steeds—a bay trotter and a black horse were saddled, covered with a black blanket. Forty dzhigits, nine sons lined up in a row, bracing their sides with their arms, mourned the Batyr. The three widows of the Batyr echoed them in voice. And the sorrowful news spread to different corners of the Kyrgyz land.