Abylai Khan, the house

"Abylaizhannyng ak uyi" - Abylai's rate at the fortress of Peter. Located in Petropavlovsk, 16, K. Sutyushev Street.

For a long time there were various assumptions about the location of the building. Today it is reliably established that it was 2-3 km away from the fortress, on the "mountain" (meaning the area), which later (from the second half of the XIX century) was within the city. The wooden building probably burned down during one of the fires, and in its place in 1829 a stone building was erected. The building is a unique architectural monument - the first stone building in the mountainous part (upper forstad) of the city. The history of the building is inextricably linked to the facts and legends of the life of Khan Abylai.

Since ancient times, the "White House of Abylai" in Petropavlovsk has been talked about on the territory of Saryarka. From word of mouth, from generation to generation, the story was passed on as a large house was built for Abylai in Kyzylzhar and separate buildings for the office and guests at the behest of the "whiteest king". In the course of time, the existence of the residence became a legend in the stream of turbulent events of the past century. But even in Soviet times, when everything related to the name of the khan, was not welcomed by the official ideology, the list of protected monuments of history included the "House of Abylai" - a building on Teatralnaya Street, where until the 1990s was located the barracks of the military unit.

Life has confirmed the truth: what is carefully kept in the people's memory does not disappear from history. Descendants of khan's comrades-in-arms, ordinary people did not forget about the residence. The legend of akyns, writers was especially worried. So, in regional archive the poem "Abylaidyng ak uyine" ("To the white house of Abylai") of Saryarka's favorite, Ybyrai Sandybayuly (Ukili Ybyrai) is found. In a poem published on March 6, 1926 in the newspaper "Bostandyk Tuy", akyn sang pictures of a new life of the house of Abylai, where in the 1920s there was a children's community and courses for women-activists. Sabit Mukanov wrote about the "White House of Abylai" in his trilogy "School of Life": "Above the precipice is the largest white building. This building is known as the White House of Abylai. It is said that it was built and presented to Abylai for the voluntary acceptance of Russian citizenship".

It is natural that centuries-old events in the Kazakh steppe and personalities such as Abylai could not but leave documentary traces in the archives of neighboring countries, which traditionally accumulated their written history for many centuries. The tireless, painstaking and systematic search for archivists and scientists confirmed this fact of building a house for Abylai Khan. Colonization of Northern Kazakhstan and advancement into the country was preceded by the construction in 1752 of the fortress of St. Peter on the mountain "Kyzylzhar", on the high coast of the river Ishim/Esil. The reason for the construction of the fortress was the establishment of political and trade and economic relations between the Russian administration and the Khan's authorities. In this regard, there was a need to build a special residence of the Khan to address the issues that arose in the course of frequent Cossack raids on the steppe, the theft of cattle from the indigenous population and the seizure of land. Archival materials testify that "at his request, Abylai, for his stay, it was built right at the fortress of St. Peter up the river Ishim in the mountains of Engistau* [*"Engistau", or "Еnkystau" in translation from the Kazakh "a valley for wintering". - Aut.] in 1765 wooden house" [NKSAO, f. 1, op. 1, d. 295, p. 33]. Thus, "Abylaidyng ak uyi" was intended not only for staying, but also for solving conflict situations.

Due to the lack of repair and reconstruction works, the building suffered significant damage. On the initiative of the akim of the region T.A. Mansurov and with the support of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan the historical and cultural monument was restored during 2006-2007. In 2008 the solemn opening of the restored building with the participation of the Head of the State took place. Besides the main building, the museum complex also includes the building of Khan's office, guest house and bathhouse. Expositions in four halls tell about the activities of Abylai Khan. In the first hall there are materials about Abylai khan's childhood and youth years, in the exposition there are also presented weapons and equipment of the XVIII century. In the second hall there are reproduced apartments of Abylai khan in traditional Kazakh style. In the third hall the central exhibit is the figure of Abylai khan, there are also household items, men's and women's khan's clothing and weapons. In the fourth hall there are the materials revealing Abylai khan as a great statesman who with honor ruled the khanate, was a clever politician, a competent diplomat, a talented military leader. He managed to restore the unity of the Kazakh khanate, his main task was to strengthen the state. Thanks to the activity of this great man, the Kazakh people managed to preserve their national identity, customs, history and culture. All activity of Great Abylai eventually led to creation of independent Kazakhstan.

Today the residence of the great khan is a unique monument of history, testifying to the deep roots of the national history, materialized memory of the people. Its restoration will serve for deeper knowledge of history and culture of Kazakh people. The absence of other buildings in Kazakhstan connected with the name of the great khan, undoubtedly, puts the house of Abylai in Petropavlovsk in a number of unique historical objects.

The building is a monument of national importance.