MARGASKA ZHYRAU

It is known that he was a batyr, one of the leaders of Yessim Khan?s army; he participated in fights and military campaigns, singing of heroism and courage of soldiers. Creating the songs devoted to military campaigns he continued and developed traditions of a song genre. In 1627 he participated in the subjection of the rebels ruled by Tursyn Khan in Tashkent against Yessim khan. The events connected with this campaign are described in his work The Legend to Katagan Tursyn Khan. Here he convicts Tursyn Khan, the governor of Tashkent, in mean treacherous attack on Kazakh auls, in cruelty with which he shed blood of innocent people. The Legend to Katagan Tursyn Khan born in a wartime and filled with the historical data about the military campaign says that he was an ardent poet-storyteller who passionately loved his homeland, had perfect poetic skill and brightly described events of those years. Margaska Zhyrau is one of the primogenitors of a historical song genre in Kazakh literature. His legends are of great importance for the studying of the history of that period rich with drama events for the life of Kazakh people. Reference: Kazakhstan, National Encyclopedia, vol.3 ?Historical Figures? book