A jüz (; , , also translated as '
horde') is one of the three main territorial and tribal divisions in the
Kypchak Plain area that covers much of the contemporary
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country primarily in Central Asia, with a European Kazakhstan, small portion in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the Kazakhstan–Russia border, north and west, China to th ...
. It represents the main tribal division within the ethnic group of the
Kazakhs
The Kazakhs (Kazakh language, Kazakh: , , , ) are a Turkic peoples, Turkic ethnic group native to Central Asia and Eastern Europe. They share a common Culture of Kazakhstan, culture, Kazakh language, language and History of Kazakhstan, history ...
.
*The Senior jüz () covers territories of southern and southeastern
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country primarily in Central Asia, with a European Kazakhstan, small portion in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the Kazakhstan–Russia border, north and west, China to th ...
, northwestern
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
(
Xinjiang
Xinjiang,; , SASM/GNC romanization, SASM/GNC: Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Sinkiang, officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the China, People' ...
) and parts of
Uzbekistan
, image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg
, image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg
, symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem
, national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...
.
*The Middle jüz () consists of six tribes, covering northern, central and eastern Kazakhstan.
*The Junior jüz () consists of three tribes, covering western Kazakhstan and eastern European
Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
(
Orenburg Oblast
Orenburg Oblast (also Orenburzhye) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast), mainly located in Eastern Europe. Its administrative center is the city of Orenburg. From 1938 to 1957, it bore the name Chkalov Oblast in honor of Valery Chkal ...
).
History
The earliest mention of the Kazakh jüz or hordes dates to the 17th century. Velyaminov Zernov (1919) believed that the division arose as a result of the capture of the important cities of
Tashkent
Tashkent (), also known as Toshkent, is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uzbekistan, largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of more than 3 million people as of April 1, 2024. I ...
,
Yasi, and
Sayram in 1598.
Some researchers argued that the ''jüz'' in origin corresponded to tribal, military alliances of steppe nomads that emerged around the mid 16th century after the disintegration of the
Kazakh Khanate. They played a role in regulating livestock, access to watering holes, pastures, and the sites of nomadic camps.
Yuri Zuev argued their territorial division comprises three ecological or topographic zones, the Senior ''jüz'' of the southern and southeastern steppe being set apart from the two other zones by
Lake Balkhash.
According to some researchers, the Kazakhs were separated in the
First Civil War. Tribes that recognized Buidash Khan formed the Senior jüz. Tribes that recognized Togym Khan formed the Middle jüz. Tribes that recognized Ahmed Khan formed the Junior jüz.
According to Kazakh legends, the three ''jüz'' were the territorial inheritances of the three sons of the legendary founder-ancestor of the Kazakhs. The word ''jüz'' () also means "a hundred" in Kazakh.
Senior jüz

Historically, the Senior jüz () inhabited the northern lands of the former
Chagatai Ulus of the
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire was the List of largest empires, largest contiguous empire in human history, history. Originating in present-day Mongolia in East Asia, the Mongol Empire at its height stretched from the Sea of Japan to parts of Eastern Euro ...
, in the
Ili River and
Chu River basins, in today's South-Eastern
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country primarily in Central Asia, with a European Kazakhstan, small portion in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the Kazakhstan–Russia border, north and west, China to th ...
and China's
Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture
Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture in northern Xinjiang, China. Its capital is Yining, also known as Ghulja or Kulja. Covering an area of 268,591 square kilometres (16.18 per cent of Xinjiang), Ili Prefecture shares ...
(northern
Xinjiang
Xinjiang,; , SASM/GNC romanization, SASM/GNC: Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Sinkiang, officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the China, People' ...
). It was also called ''Üisın jüz''.
The first record of the Senior jüz dates to 1748, due to a
Tatar emissary of the
Tsaritsa
Tsarina or tsaritsa (also spelled ''csarina'' or ''csaricsa'', ''tzarina'' or ''tzaritza'', or ''czarina'' or ''czaricza''; ; ; ) is the title of a female autocratic ruler (monarch) of Bulgaria, Serbia, and Russia, or the title of a tsar's wife ...
who had been sent to the steppe to negotiate the submission of
Abul Khair Khan in 1732. According to
Nikolai Aristov, the estimated population of the Senior jüz was about 550,000 people in the second half of the 19th century.
The territory was conquered by the
Kokand Khanate
The Khanate of Kokand was a Central Asian polity in the Fergana Valley centred on the city of Kokand between 1709 and 1876. It was ruled by the Ming tribe of Uzbeks. Its territory is today divided between Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and ...
in the 1820s, and by the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...
during the 1850s to 1860s. The Senior jüz Kazakhs were incorporated into the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...
in 1845–1847.
Kazakhstan's ruling elite, including former president
Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council of ...
, former
First Secretary of the
Communist Party of Kazakhstan Dinmukhamed Konayev, as well as famous poet
Jambyl Jabayev are representatives of the Senior jüz.
There have been several attempts to determine the exact names and nature of top-level clans throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. However, different studies created vastly different names and population numbers for the steppe clans. Generally accepted names of the first order Senior jüz tribes or clans are:
*
Dulat ()
** Janys ()
** Siyqym ()
** Botbay ()
** Shymyr ()
*
Jalayir ()
*
Qangly ()
* Alban ()
* Suwan ()
* Sary-Uysin ()
* Shapyrashty ()
* Sirgeli ()
* Oshaqty ()
* Ysty ()
* Shanyshqyly ()
Khans
* Kart-Abulkhayr Khan (1718–1730)
* Zholbarys Khan (1730–1740)
* Abulfeyz Khan (1740–1750)
*
Tole Biy (1750–1756)
*
Abylai Khan (1756–1771)
* Abilpeyiz Khan (1771–1774)
* Adil Khan (1774–1781)
* Kasym Khan II (1806–1809)
* Tokay Khan (1809–1826)
Middle jüz

The Middle jüz (, also known as ''Arğyn Jüz''
�рғын Жүз, occupies the eastern lands of the former
Golden Horde
The Golden Horde, self-designated as ''Ulug Ulus'' ( in Turkic) was originally a Mongols, Mongol and later Turkicized khanate established in the 13th century and originating as the northwestern sector of the Mongol Empire. With the division of ...
, in central, northern and eastern Kazakhstan.
The Middle jüz Kazakhs were incorporated into the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...
in 1734–1740.
Some of Kazakhstan's famous poets and intellectuals were born in the Middle jüz territories, including
Abay Qunanbayuli,
Akhmet Baytursinuli,
Shokan Walikhanuli and
Alikhan Bokeikhanov.
The Middle jüz consists of the following tribes:
*
Argyn ()
*
Kerei ()
*
Naiman ()
*
Khongirad
The Khongirad (; ; ; ) was one of the major divisions of the Mongol tribes. Their homeland was located in the vicinity of Hulun Lake, Lake Hulun in Inner Mongolia and Khalkha River in Mongolia,M. Sanjdorj, History of the Mongolian People's Repub ...
()
*
Qypchak ()
*Taraqty )
*Uwaq ()
Junior jüz
The Junior or Lesser jüz (, also known as ''Alşyn Jüz'') occupied the lands of the former
Nogai Khanate in Western Kazakhstan.
They originate from the
Nogais
The Nogais ( ) are a Kipchaks, Kipchak people who speak a Turkic languages, Turkic language and live in Southeastern Europe, North Caucasus, Volga region, Central Asia and Turkey. Most are found in Northern Dagestan and Stavropol Krai, as well ...
of the
Nogai Horde
The Nogai Horde was a confederation founded by the Nogais that occupied the Pontic–Caspian steppe from about 1500 until they were pushed west by the Kalmyks and south by the Russians in the 17th century. The Mongol tribe called the Manghuds con ...
, which once was placed in Western Kazakhstan, but in the 16th century it was defeated by the Kazakhs and the Russians and
Nogais
The Nogais ( ) are a Kipchaks, Kipchak people who speak a Turkic languages, Turkic language and live in Southeastern Europe, North Caucasus, Volga region, Central Asia and Turkey. Most are found in Northern Dagestan and Stavropol Krai, as well ...
retreated to the Western part of their khanate, to the
Kuban River
The Kuban is a river in Russia that flows through the Western Caucasus and drains into the Sea of Azov. The Kuban runs mostly through Krasnodar Krai for , but also in the Karachay–Cherkess Republic, Stavropol Krai and the Republic of Adygea. ...
steppes. In the 18th century, they endangered inner Russian cities, so the Russian Empire allied with the Mongolic
Kalmyks
Kalmyks (), archaically anglicised as Calmucks (), are the only Mongolic ethnic group living in Europe, residing in the easternmost part of the European Plain.
This dry steppe area, west of the lower Volga River, known among the nomads as ...
to supplant the Alshyns and push them back to the
Urals
The Ural Mountains ( ),; , ; , or simply the Urals, are a mountain range in Eurasia that runs north–south mostly through Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the river Ural (river), Ural and northwestern Kazakhstan. . There they formed the Lesser jüz. During the Kazakh-Kalmyk struggles, the
Khiva Khanate annexed the
Mangyshlak Peninsula to repel Kalmyk raids and managed it for two centuries before the Russian conquest. At the beginning of the 19th century, Kazakhs shifted some to the west, to
Astrakhan Governorate, forming
Bukey Horde there. When the
Kazakh SSR was formed.
Bukey Horde was positioned in its most remote, western part, situated geographically in
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
.
The Junior jüz Kazakhs incorporated into the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...
in 1731. Historical leaders of Kazakh resistance against the Russian Empire associated with the Junior jüz include
Isatay Taymanuly (, 1791–1838) and
Makhambet Otemisuly (, 1803/4–1846).
The Junior jüz consisted of three groups, subdivided into clans:
*Baiuly ()
** Adai ()
**
Alasha ()
** Baibaqty ()
** Berish ()
** Jappas ()
** Masqar ()
** Taz ()
** Tana ()
** Esentemir ()
** Ysyq ()
** Qyzylqurt ()
** Sherkesh ()
*Alimuly ()
** Qarakesek ()
** Qarasaqal ()
** Tortqara ()
** Kete ()
** Shomekei ()
** Shekti ()
*Jetyru ()
** Tabyn ()
** Tama ()
** Kerderi ()
**
Kerey ()
** Zhagalbaily ()
** Telew ()
** Ramadan ()
Fourth jüz
Various supposed fourth jüzes typically encompass members of other ethnic groups living in Kazakhstan, in particular
Koreans
Koreans are an East Asian ethnic group native to the Korean Peninsula. The majority of Koreans live in the two Korean sovereign states of North and South Korea, which are collectively referred to as Korea. As of 2021, an estimated 7.3 m ...
and
Russians
Russians ( ) are an East Slavs, East Slavic ethnic group native to Eastern Europe. Their mother tongue is Russian language, Russian, the most spoken Slavic languages, Slavic language. The majority of Russians adhere to Eastern Orthodox Church ...
. This has been argued to create more national unity.
Family in jüzes
In jüzes, a clear purpose of each son in the family is determined. According to the customs and traditions of the Kazakhs, different people were engaged in the upbringing of each son.
* The eldest son went to be raised by his grandparents.
* The youngest son stayed with his parents and subsequently pledged to help the whole family.
* The middle son became a warrior. He was trained in swordsmanship, archery, etc.
To this day, knowledge of one's genealogical tree, including one's jüz, is considered a duty of every Kazakh.
Any relative who comes for help (even the most distant one) will definitely receive it.
See also
*
Kazakh Khanate
*
Zhetysu
*
Ethnic demography of Kazakhstan
*
List of medieval Mongolian tribes and clans
*
Orda (structure)
References
Literature
*Svat Soucek, "A History of Inner Asia". Cambridge University Press (2000). .
*W. W. Bartold, Four studies in history of Central Asia, Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1962.
*Ilkhamov Alisher et al., "Ethnic Atlas of Uzbekistan", Uzbekistan, "Open Society Foundation", 2002, p. 176,
*Isin A., "Kazakh khanate and Nogai Horde in the second half of the 15th - 16th centuries", Semipalatinsk, Tengri, 2002, p. 22,
* S. Qudayberdiuli. "Family tree of Turks, Kirgizes, Kazakhs and their Khan dynasties", Alma-Ata, Dastan, 1990
* S. Kudayberdy-Uly, Family tree of Türks, Kyrgyz, Kazakhs and their Khan dynasties, Alma-Ata, Dastan, 1990
*M. Tynyshbaev, 'The Uysyn', in Materials on the history of the Kazakh people, Tashkent 1925
*Yu.A. Zuev, "Ethnic History of the Usuns", Works of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR, History, Archeology And Ethnography Institute, Alma-Ata, Vol. 8, 1960.
* А. Т. Толеубаев, Ж. К. Касымбаев, М. К. Койгелдиниев, Е. Т. Калиева, Т. Т. Далаева, перевод с казахского языка С. Бакенова, Ф. Сугирбаева. — История Казахстана. Изд-во «Мектеп», 2006 г. — 240 с
External links
Genealogy of the Kazakhs
{{Kazakhstan topics
History of Kazakhstan
Ethnic groups in Kazakhstan