FOREIGN POLICY ORIENTATIONS OF THE KAZAKH KHANATE: DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN THE 18TH CENTURY

Аннотация

The 18^th century marks a complex historical period characterized by profound transformations in the geopolitical landscape of Eurasia, including the intensification of the expansionist policy of the Russian Empire and the growing pressure of the Dzungar-Kalmyk forces. Under these conditions, the foreign policy orientations of the Kazakh Khanate underwent significant transformation. These processes necessitate a reconsideration of political and diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire based on newly introduced archival sources. A thorough analysis of Kazakh-Ottoman relations remains one of the most relevant yet insufficiently explored issues in contemporary historical scholarship. The study examines the position of the Kazakh Khanate within the system of international relations and analyzes its diplomatic activity in the context of interactions with the Ottoman state.

The article provides a detailed examination of the official correspondence between Kayyp Muhammed Khan and Sultan Ahmed III, identifying the formation of the first diplomatic contacts between the two states based on archival evidence. The aim of the study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the emergence of diplomatic relations between the Kazakh Khanate and the Ottoman Empire in the first quarter of the 18^th century and to determine their historical nature through archival documents.

The methodological framework is based on historical-genetic, comparative-historical, source-critical, and systematic analysis methods. Materials from Ottoman archival collections, particularly the Nâme-I Hümâyûn Defterleri, were transcribed, translated, and subjected to content analysis. The reliability of historical data was verified through comparative examination of various sources, enabling well-grounded scholarly conclusions.

The results demonstrate that the Kazakh Khanate’s efforts to establish diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire were primarily driven by the search for political support in response to external threats. However, geopolitical distance, limited transport and communication infrastructure, and the Ottoman Empire’s diplomatic commitments with Russia constrained the development of stable and institutionalized relations. Nevertheless, the official letters of Kayyp Muhammed Khan addressed to Sultan Ahmed III provide clear evidence of the active engagement of Kazakh rulers in international diplomacy and their aspiration to establish political cooperation within the Turkic-Muslim world.