Kalmyks of Astrakhan Governorate in the Early Nineteenth Century: Some Aspects of Everyday Life

Abstract

Introduction. The study examines some aspects of everyday life once led by inhabitants of Kalmyk uluses (Astrakhan Governorate). The relevance of the topic arises from the necessity to compile a more complete panorama of Kalmyk life witnessed by the period when Russian and local authorities were seeking for ways of introducing the region into Russia’s administrative and political agenda. Goals. So, given that the topic has remained somewhat understudied, the paper aims to characterize some aspects of everyday life viewed by governorate-level officials as ‘bottlenecks’ in the path toward Russia’s integration of Kalmyk society. Materials and methods. The work focuses on records-keeping material primarily housed at the State Archive of Astrakhan Oblast, and introduces the former into scientific circulation. The study basically employs both general scientific and special historical approaches, with particular roles be played by the method of systems analysis and principles of historicism and objectivity. These have proved most instrumental in outlining a true panorama of Kalmyk nomadic life in the second decade of the nineteenth century. Results. The paper characterizes some questions and proposals set forth by the civil Governor on various aspects of Kalmyk life — and related opinions of local landlords and ulus rulers. Conclusions. Our insights into the material attest to that most important issues of everyday life across Kalmyk uluses in the early nineteenth century included those of land, interior affairs, and trade. The then Kalmyk elites and governorate-level officials did come to consensus on some points, while others proved controversial enough.

Keywords

• astrakhan governorate
• uluses
• aimaks
• kalmyk nomadic society
• land question
• noyons
• zaisangs
• ulus rulers
• governor
• overseers
• merchants