Kazakh–Dzungar War (1698–1703)

The Kazakh–Dzungar War of 1698–1703 was a military conflict by the leader of the Dzungar Khanate, Tsewang Rabtan against the Kazakh Khanate, lasting from 1698 to 1703. This was the third part of the century long conflict, Kazakh–Dzungar Wars that spanned from 1635 until 1741.

Background

During the Reign of Galdan Boshugtu Khan, he had invaded the Kazakh Khanate in 1681, capturing the following cities of: Sayram, Andijan, Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and annexed the region of Jetisu. Galdan later left Kazakhstan and invaded the Khalkhas in 1687, in which the Khalkhas submitted to the Qing dynasty and later the Qing Emperor, Kangxi joined the war against the Dzungars. In 1696, Galdan was defeated in Battle of Jao Modo, which caused the death of his wife—Lady Anu—who attempted to save him but were killed during the battle. Galdan retreated back to the Altai Mountains in 1697 and died en-route, near the city of Khovd.

During those events, Tsewang Rabtan—the son of Sengge—had revolted against the authority of Galdan in 1689 and in 1697, he had ascended to the Dzungar throne as Khong Tayiji. He later married the Kalmyk Khan, Ayuka's daughter and she was sent to Tsewang Rabtan. However, her caravan was intercepted by the Kazakhs and while the Kazakh Khan, Tauke demanded for his son's return from Galdan's campaign, Tsewang agreed to release him and dispatched him from Lhasa with 500 guards. However they were later killed. This soon started the conflict between the Kazakhs and Dzungars again.

Course of the Conflict

The Kazakhs had raided the Dzungar border, as they intercepted Russian merchants and raided the Uriankhai people. The Dzungar forces of about 40,000 men launched a campaign against the Senior Jüz, which the Dzungars massacred the population on the Chu and Talas River and took about 10,000 prisoners of war. They later defeated Tauke Khan and captured cities of Sayram, Tashkent and Turkistan. In 1699, Dzungars led another campaign against the Kazakhs, which they later expelled a Kazakh force on the Chu and Talas interfluve to the Syr Darya. Later in 1702, the Dzungars defeated forces of Abul Khair Khan and Kaip Khan, causing to let the war later ended in 1703, after Tauke and Kaip Khan sent a diplomatic ambassador to end the war, which was accepted.

Aftermath

In 1708, a small detachment of Dzungars invaded the Senior Jüz, devastating the nearby areas and forcing the population to flee to Tashkent. They soon launched another offensive in 1709, causing a meeting on Karakum desert, by the representatives of all jüzes and agreeing to let Bogembai batyr to lead the Kazakh army in which he move in order to repel them back to Dzungaria. In 1710, the Senior and Middle Jüz started resisting against the Dzungars. During 1711–1712, Bogenbai had successfully repelled the Dzungar detachment.