ZHALANTOS SEITKULULY

He descended from Tortkara stem of Alimuly family of the Small Zhuz. Zhalantos? father Seitkul ruled a part of the tribes of the Small Zhuz, Uzbeks and Kara-Kalpaks who lived in Nuraty neighborhoods since 1570. According to the legends Zhalantos was born near Syrdarya. At the age of 12 he was fostered to Dinmukhammed, the khan of Bukhara. He studied at his military school which specialized in training of commanders. After finishing it he got the title of tumenbasy (commander of a 10 thousand troop). In 1593 Zhalantos was elected the bi of part of Alimuly tribes moving on the territory of Bulangar, Layish, Kattykorgan. In 1595-1598 he studied in Bagdad. At the end of XVI and beginning of XVII centuries he took an active part in the political life of the Bukhara Khanate. He was a member of the Khan?s Council, a military advisor, deputy vizir for internal affairs. In 1640 Zhalantos led an army against the Kalmyks of Batura and defeated them. In 1643 he greatly contributed to the victory over Dzungar invaders having sent a 20 thousand army to Zhanibek khan. In 1649 Zhalantos led the Kazakh army and together with Abdul Aziz, the khan of Bukhara, won over the Iranian Khanate for Khurasan and Balkh. According to ?Tarikhi Kypshaktar? (Kypchaks in history) of Khotazhkuli bek Balkhi, Kazakh khan Zhangir participated in this war with his 100 000 army. Three times Zhalantos struggled against Tashkent and Turkestan and conquered Kabul and Mashhad. Zhalantos was famous for his heroism and excellent knowledge of military art. Kirgiz, Kalmyk and Kazakh khans, peoples of India, Khoresm and Tibet used to send him expensive gifts for his bravery. According to academician M. Masson the value of these presents was much higher of those which were sent to the public treasury. Zhalantos used these gifts and money both for the needs of the army and construction of big mosques, high palaces and madrasahs in Samarkand. In 1609-1633/36 he built a Sher-Dors Madrasah in Registan, centre of Samarkand, later known as Arystan Madrasah. In 1647-1660 he ordered to erect a Tilla-Kori Madrasah. These architectural ensembles took a worthy place among the historical monuments of the Orient. Zhalantos batyr was buried in 12 km from Samarkand. His descendants are living today in Kazaly district of Kyzylorda oblast.