An outstanding monument of the Kazakh activist, the commander and diplomat - Abylkhair Khan is located in the square near the regional akimat in the central part of Aktobe.
This is the main place of the city, where all newlyweds and guests of Aktobe come on well-established tradition. The monument is suited to architectural landscape of the city, next to is a great place for walking, park, hotel, shops. There are always a lot of people, and life is buzzing in the city. Abylkhair is proudly looking at this excitement from the high pedestal by sitting on a horse.
Abylkhair (Abulhair) Khan, Abylkhair Mukhambet Gazi Bahadur Khan was a khan of the little zhuz (1710-1748), the great commander, politician and diplomat. From young age Abylkhair actively participated in military campaigns and raids of the Kazakh khans and sultans. He became one of the military leaders of Kazakhs at the age of 17. Bogenbay batyr administered the total.
Sultan Abylkhair participated in the defense of Tashkent, Turkestan and Sairam, which belonged to his ancestors. In 1718, Abylkhair was elected as a khan of little zhuz. He opposed Dzhungars by leading 30-thousand troops and gave battle on the river Ayaguz. Despite his youth age, Abylkhair became popular by his personal courage, military skills and ability to organize. He was elected as the supreme commander of the Kazakh Khanate at the Kazakh Congress by all three zhuzs, bies and sultans in Ordabasy, 1726.
Under his leadership, united Kazakh forces defeated dzhungars twice: in the Battle Anyrakay (1729) and regional battle "It іshpes Alakol" (1930) and were close to a complete victory. Despite military successes, Abylkhair khan understood that kazakhs' military could not resist to dzhungars. He began negotiations with the Siberian administration of Russia about military union against oirats. It was the right decision for saving people and gave a peaceful life.
Abylkhair khan sent his representative to Moscow on September 1730 in order to accept Kazakhs as a Russian citizenship. Then Empress Anna signed the diploma about joining little zhuz to Russia on 19 February 1731. Embassy of Foreign Affairs Committee of Russia, which was headed by A.Tevkelev, came from St. Petersburg (1731). There was a congress of tribe leaders of little and middle zhuzes on 10 October 1731. Abylkhair Khan and well-known batyrs as Bogenbay, Eset, Khudaynazar myrza and 27 influential rulers swore on the Koran to show their loyalty to the Russian Empress. After adopting Russian citizenship, little and middle zhuzes' increased relations with Kalmyks, Bashkirs, Yaitsk and Cossacks. Conditions for barter trade were improved in the border fortresses.
Despite it, Abylkhair was not often at war with Russia. Here is Kazakh proverb: "Kіshі zhuzdі naiza berіp zhauga koy", which means: Send Kazakhs of the little zhus to war. Years did not pass without bloodshed between Kazakhs and Cossack troops in Western Kazakhstan.
Abylkhair khan was an art and military leader, talented diplomat. By being a representative of his era, he was one of the outstanding examples, who had manners and customs, notions about the dignity of aristocrat and unwritten code of honor of the Chingiz ruler. Abilhair khan was killed on1 August 1748 by Sultan Barak. He was buried in the "Khan molasy" cemetery, which was located on the territory of Aiteke Bi district, Aktobe region, from 4 km west of the rivers and Olkeyyak and Kabyrga.
The monument to the legendary military leader and diplomat Abylkhair Khan was established in Aktobe, 2000. The total height of the monument is about six and a half meters, the height of the granite pedestal - 2.8 m., width - 2,1 m., length - 5.8 m. Monument was poured of bronze, pedestal was done of granite.
The authors of the monument were well-known Kazakh sculptor E. Sergebaev and architects B.Egimbayev and N. Kozhagulov.
According to the authors' idea - the legendary commander was depicted in that period, when the fate of Kazakhs was solving during a great battle with Dzhungars.
The raised hand of Abylkhair Khan is a call for unity and victory. The horse symbolizes the rush to freedom.
The Abylkhair Khan monument is a decoration of Aktobe and pride of local people. It is included to the list of the main attractions of the city.
Kazakh people have a special mentality formed in complicated historical conditions and expressing by honoring forefathers – talented statesmen, brave people’s batyrs, and protectors of the native land.
Theatrical history of Aktobe began after opening of the Kazakh theatre, back in 1935.