ON THE SEALS OF KAZAKH KHAN-SULTANS, BIIS AND ELDERS USED IN THE 18TH-19TH CENTURIES

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of prints of seals that have been preserved in the epistolary heritage of representatives of the Kazakh authorities (khans-sultans and biis, elders) of the 18th-19th centuries. The author of the article considers the scope of use, their types, purposes and functions of seals. It is known that the history of seals dates back to ancient times. In the 18th century, the Kazakh Khanate became part of the Russian Empire. After the liquidation of the khan's system of power, the Russian authorities created institutes of senior sultans and biis to manage the Kazakhs of the three zhuzes. Special seals were introduced for these authorities. As a result of specially organized scientific trips in various archival funds, imprints of the seals of representatives of the Kazakh ruling elite were revealed on the texts of letters and on various documents. Thus, in the materials kept in the Orenburg Regional State Archive, mainly prints of the seals of the rulers of the Younger Zhuz have been preserved, in the Omsk regional historical and local history archive of the rulers of the Middle Zhuz, and in the State Central Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the rulers of the Elder Zhuz. The main purpose of the author of the article is to introduce these archival materials into scientific circulation, to accurately translate the texts of these seals, and determine the names of officials who owned the seals.