In the steppes of Central Asia, although all peoples were of Turkic origin, conflicts involving raids and attacks over pastureland and water resources were not uncommon. In particular, in nomadic societies such situations were considered normal. As an example, one may cite the wars of varying scale that occurred between the Kazakhs and the Kyrgyz in the eighteenth century.

In fact, the Kazakhs and the Kyrgyz had lived as neighboring communities for many centuries, maintaining close interaction. In other words, their relations were not limited to conflict alone; they also maintained cultural and economic ties. Trade was conducted, and at times marital alliances were established. This demonstrates the ethnic and cultural closeness of the two peoples.

After the fall of the Dzungars, the Kazakhs and the Kyrgyz—who had long engaged in warfare with them—established official political and economic relations with the Qing Empire and developed the horse-for-silk trade. Nevertheless, conflicts between them continued to occur. Among the most significant were the events of 1774, known as “Barak Shabylygan” and the “Jayil Kyrgyny.”

These conflicts had previously been studied on the basis of oral traditions and legends. In the writings of Chokan Valikhanov and in subsequent research, it was suggested that this war took place in 1770. However, recent studies based on Chinese archival materials have demonstrated that these events occurred in 1774.

The evidence for this comes from written historical sources, including a letter by Sultan Abilpeiz and related statements written in the Manchu language. These documents therefore constitute highly valuable written sources for the study of Kazakh history.

Drawing on these newly examined sources, the article provides a scholarly analysis of the two largest steppe wars that occurred between the Kazakhs and the Kyrgyz in the late eighteenth century.