History
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The Kalmyks have a remarkable history. The movement of Oirat tribes, the ancestors of the Kalmyks, from the Jungar steppes to what is today Kalmykia was gradual, involving military confrontations with various tribes on their way. Following the abolishment of the Kalmyk Khanate (1630-1771), their military tradition was carried on by Kalmyk Cossack regiments, which were part of wider Cossack military communities of the Don, Ural, Astrakhan, Stavropol, and Orenburg.
This video collection hosts interviews with Kalmyks who talk about historical events, people, heroes, beliefs and many other topics.
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Item Open Access Oleg Minaev, About Kalmyk settlements on the Don(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-10-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Koldaev, Tseren; Korneev, Gennadiy; Bembeev, AleksandrItem Open Access Mergen Ilishkin, About Kalmyk military tactics(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-11-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Korneev, Gennadiy; Sandzhiev, ArturItem Open Access Leonid Ochir-Goryaev, The armor(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2016-02-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Babaev, Andrei; Kovaeva, Bair; Babaev, AndreiItem Open Access Larisa Kandueva, A poem about WW II(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2015-03-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Dovurkaev, Karu; Churyumov, AntonItem Open Access Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, About national idea or ideology in Kalmykia(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-10-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Terbish, BaasanjavItem Open Access Erdni Manzhikov, About the military history of the Kalmyks(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-10-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Korneev, Gennadiy; Koldaev, TserenItem Open Access Bulgun Mankirova, Sanal Badmaev, The history of Kalmyks(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-07-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Terbish, BaasanjavItem Open Access Anatoliy Kekeev, The history of the Kalmyks(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-10-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Bembeev, Aleksandr; Bembeev, AleksandrItem Open Access Yuriy Sangadzhiev, weapons(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-10-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Koldaev, Tseren; Koldaev, TserenItem Open Access Vladimir Ubushiev, The military past of Nayntakhn village(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-09-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Korneev, Gennadiy; Churyumov, AntonItem Open Access Viktor Vankaev, The military history of the Kalmyks(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2018-01-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Sandzhiev, Artur; Korneev, Gennadiy; Churyumov, AntonItem Open Access Oleg Minaev, About the 80th Zyungar regiment(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-10-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Koldaev, Tseren; Korneev, Gennadiy; Bembeev, AleksandrItem Open Access Oleg Minaev, About Kalmyks awarded with Tsarist military awards(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-10-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Koldaev, Tseren; Korneev, Gennadiy; Bembeev, AleksandrItem Open Access Anatoliy Kekeev, How to develop the Kalmyk nation(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-10-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Bembeev, Aleksandr; Bembeev, AleksandrItem Open Access Ivan Ulyumdzhiev, about various ways of using a sword(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2017-08-01) Terbish, Baasanjav; Korneev, Gennadiy; Churyumov, AntonIvan says that in the past Kalmyk soldiers knew many ways of cutting with a sword, including beheading and chopping the body into two (from the shoulder to the waist).Item Open Access Mikhail Erentsenov, About Veterans of WW Two(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2018-09-03) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Korneev, Gennadiy; Churyumov, AntonMikhail recalls how in his childhood war veterans gathered in his house. All of them died quickly one by one: I remember that war veterans gathered in our house and they did not even finish a bottle of vodka. It was in 1959-1963. Once I persuaded my elder brother to drink vodka. I was 6, and my brother 9. After drinking, I climbed into the cattle barn and fell asleep, while my brother began to vomit around the house. Our grandmother immediately understood that we were drunk. Our parents never learnt about the incident though. All of the war veterans died almost at the same time, quickly, one after the other. By 1968, there was no one left.Item Open Access Mergen Ulanov, Why Did the Kalmyks Come to the Volga?(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2018-06-02) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Korneev, Gennadiy; Koldaev, Tseren; Bembeev, AleksandrMergen says that there are oral stories saying that the Kalmyks came to the Volga in search of Maitreya Buddha, based on a prophecy that this Buddha would come from the west. Given in Buddhist cosmology the paradise of Devachan is in the west, according to Mergen, this hypothesis is plausible.Item Open Access Mergen Ulanov, The Role of the Oirats in Spreading Gelug Buddhism(Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge, 2018-06-02) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Korneev, Gennadiy; Koldaev, Tseren; Bembeev, AleksandrMergen says that of all schools of Buddhism, Gelug was the most open to the masses. Whilst other schools, which were more closed, did not send out missionaries, Gelug pursued this line of activity. Despite being like this, Gelug also comprises of esotericism and secret tantric practices. The Oirats played an important role in the establishment of the Gelug tradition. Gushi Khan’s campaign, the creation of the Kokonor Khanate and the creation of a theocratic state in Tibet itself – these are all the contribution of the Oirats. The Oirats were also first among the Mongolian peoples to adopt Buddhism. In addition, the Kalmyks were instrumental in spreading Buddhism in modern Europe and the United States. There are many hypotheses about when Buddhism spread among the Oirats. Some scholars say that it was during Chingis Khan, others take it further back to the pre-Chingis period, and yet there are scholars who contend that Buddhism began to spread in the 17th century. At present, there are no historical sources to verify any of these theories. Before adopting Gelug, various Mongolian tribes practiced other Buddhist traditions. The question of why Mongolian tribes chose Gelug can be explained partly by the fact that Altan Khan of Mongolia had personal contact with the Dalai Lama III, head of the Gelug school. Born in the 15th century, Gelug spread among the Mongols in the 16th century. Why was Gelug so popular among the Oirats? In Mergen’s view, this school’s lavish ceremonies involving large numbers of monks might have attracted the Oirats. To this should be added Buddha’s prediction that his religion would spread to the north. There could be geographical factors as well added to this explanation.Item Open Access Sangadzhi Kononov, About the Fate of the Kalmyk Nation(2018-03-31) Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumova, Elvira; Terbish, Baasanjav; Churyumov, Anton; Kovaeva, BairSangadzhi says that the Kalmyks have a unique fate connected with wars and blood. For many centuries the Kalmyks fought with others and participated in Russian military campaigns. Since shamanism required the worship of furious gods, the Kalmyks adopted this religion in order to preserve their nation.Item Open Access Nadvid Ubushiev, About Great Kalmyk Noblemen(2015-06-13) Okonov, Andzhur; Oshaev, Nikolai; Terbish, BaasanjavNadvid talks about the following historical figures: Kho Orlyuk, Dalai Baatr, Donduk Ombo Khan, Guvzh Dorzh Noyon Khan, Ayuka Khan and Mazan Baatr. Kho Orlyuk had 7 territorial units, whereas Dalai Baatr had only 1. In 1609, the two signed an agreement but soon afterwards fell out with each other. In 1623 in the Year of the Rabbit, Dalai Baatr separated from the rest and took his people with him. He built a temple in a place called Okn Gazryn Kobe Tosn Bura and invited monks from Tibet. In 1648, he again migrated to another place. In 1704 a nobleman came to Kalmykia from China accompanied by his 2 sons. The youngest son was called Guvzh Dorzh Noyon Khan. 4 years later this nobleman died during a battle in the Caucasus. His younger brother called Gal Tomr took custody of the orphaned children. The Kalmyk Ayuka Khan was the contemporary of Peter the Great. Guvzh Dorzh Noyon Khan also lived at that time. Ayuka Khan was married to a Kalmyk woman. Later he married a Kabardian woman. In the Caucasus, there was a strong but stupid man called Ishtg Emin Arvn Dolat who wanted to be a khan. In order to get rid of him the elders decided to pit him against Mazan Baatr by asking the stupid man to steal Mazan Baatr’s horses. He was killed by Mazan Baatr.