If a nation does not know its history, if the country loses its history, then its citizens have nowhere to go.
Mirzhakyp Dulatuly

Tahir khan

Name Tahir khan
Tahir khan was the sixth Kazakh khan. He governed after death Mamash khan (supposedly from 1521/1522 or 1523 to 1529/1531). He was the son of Adik sultan, the eldest brother of Kasym khan. A year of b

Tahir khan could not suppress strife. His wars against the dynasty Shaybanids on Syrdarya also ended up with failure. The relationship with the Nogai horde was tense. Wars lay burden on the people’s shoulders. Tahir khan had no influence among the people, as Kasim khan, due to his extremely cruelty. His servants began migrate to other areas.

He had to take shelter at the Mogul khan to fight against their own servants, as well as against Sheibanids and Nogais. The visit to headquarter of Mogulistan khan was successful —sister of Tahir khan got married to Abd Ar-Rashid. 

In mid-winter 1523 – 1524, Tahir arrived in Kochkar. Mughal khan Sultan Said, the headquarter of which was at that time there, gave him welcome, which has surpassed all expectations: Tahir sister was married to the son of Sultan Said. However, in 1524 there was a gap between them, as Tahir managed to win over the part of the Kyrgyz, who were then the subjects of the Mughal Khan.

In 1526, Tahir khan’s influence retained only in Zhetysu. He formed an alliance with the Kyrgyz and together with them fought back to Sultan Said, the khan of Mongols. Nevertheless, the alliance did not last long — Tahir khan’s brother Abul-Kasim sultan (Abulkasym-sultan) considered by people as the source of all cruelties so that they killed him and left Tahir khan.

Contemporary Kazakh writer Mukhtar Magauin in the book “The ABC of Kazakh history” about Tahir khan writes: “His misfortune is not in the time which he lived, but in his deeds, in irrationality, rudeness of character. He, apparently, wascourageousandbraveman. However, necessary to the governor qualities like rationality and foresight were absent. Short-sighted and unwise Tahir contributed to the open military confrontation of hostile neighbors, even worse to unite and jointly attack to Kazakhs. Due to his feeble mind and foolishness he doomed his people to unhappiness.

To reflect the aggression he stubbornly fought against external enemies, however, had serious defeats, lost large possessions and his influence. In order to bring discipline he undertook harsh measures, but people run aimlessly from hordes and he remained in isolation”. During Tahir khan’s governance the Kazakh khanate weakened. He died between 1529-1531 among his Kyrgyz servants.