Draft:Battle of Aygouz

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Battle of Ayaguz River
Part of the Kazakh-Dzungar Wars
Date 1717 Location Ayaguz River (Angus River), tributary of Lake Balkhash Result Decisive Dzungar victory
Belligerents
Kazakh Khanate	Dzungar Khanate
Commanders and leaders
Kaip Khan	Dzungar generals
Strength
30,000	800–1,000
Casualties and losses
Heavy	Unknown

The Battle of Ayaguz River (also known as the Battle of Angus River) was a significant conflict fought in 1717 between the Kazakh Khanate and the Dzungar Khanate. The battle occurred near the Ayaguz River, a tributary of Lake Balkhash, and resulted in a decisive victory for the Dzungars.

Background

In the summer of 1717, a large Kazakh force of approximately 30,000 horsemen launched an incursion into Dzungar territory, reaching the Ayaguz River. The Kazakh advance was part of ongoing hostilities between the Kazakh Khanate and the Dzungar Khanate, who were vying for control over the region.

The Battle

According to reports sent to the Governor of Siberia, Matvey Petrovich Gagarin, by Russian envoys Boris Bryantsev, Yakob Tarystin, and Kabai Mameyev, the battle unfolded as follows:

Kazakh leader Murza Kutlubai described the initial engagement, stating that the Kazakh forces encountered a Dzungar detachment of a thousand soldiers along the Ayaguz River. The battle commenced with intense fighting that lasted until nightfall. During the night, the Dzungars constructed defensive fortifications using the nearby forest, which the Kazakhs responded to by building their own higher barricades. The skirmishes continued for two days, marked by heavy gunfire exchanges.

On the third day, a reinforcement of a thousand troops arrived from the Dzungar heartland, leading to fierce combat in which two Dzungar noblemen were killed. Despite the chaotic fighting, the Kazakhs managed to retreat with significant spoils of war.

Another account from a Kazakh warrior mentioned a surprise night attack by the Dzungars on the Kazakh camp on the third day. Although the Kazakhs fought back with firearms against the Dzungar lancers, the ferocity of the attack forced them into a retreat. The Dzungars pursued them for half a day, causing further casualties.

Aftermath

The Kazakh forces faced devastating losses, with numerous warriors killed or captured. Kaip Khan barely escaped with two soldiers, abandoning his possessions, which fell into Dzungar hands. The battle's outcome significantly weakened the Kazakh Khanate's military capabilities and bolstered Dzungar dominance in the region.

Kazakh noble Bektash's retainer, Tatar Butuk Kutsashev, provided additional details, noting that the Kazakh army crossed the Ayaguz River at night. The following day, approximately 800 Dzungar troops launched a mid-day assault on the Kazakh camp, resulting in a chaotic retreat by the Kazakhs. Many soldiers were killed, and their supplies were left behind.

Significance

The Battle of Ayaguz River highlighted the military prowess of the Dzungar Khanate and underscored the vulnerabilities of the Kazakh Khanate. The defeat had long-term implications for the power dynamics in Central Asia, contributing to the eventual decline of Kazakh influence in the region.

References

• Boris Bryantsev, Yakob Tarystin, Kabai Mameyev. Report to Governor M.P. Gagarin. March 11, 1718.
• "Political Implications in Mongolian Invasion of N. China Province". The Canberra Times. June 13, 1947.
• Perkins, D. (1947). "The Soviets in Xinjiang 1911–1949". Oxus Communications.