Kalmyks

Kalmyks are a special group of people who live in the easternmost part of the European Plain. They are the only Mongolic people found in Europe. Their ancestors were Oirats, a group of Western Mongols, who moved from Dzungaria to Eastern Europe in the past. They set up a place called the Kalmyk Khanate in the 17th century.

Today, Kalmyks mainly come from a subgroup called the Torghut, but there are also smaller groups like the Dörbets, Khoshuts, and Dzungars. Some Kalmyks who settled among the Don Cossacks are known as the Buzavas. Even now, Kalmyks keep their unique sub-groups separate from nearby people in Russia and the northeast Caucasus.

One interesting thing about Kalmyks is that they are the only ethnic group in Europe who practice Buddhism traditionally. Because of people moving to other places, there are now small Kalmyk communities in the United States, France, Germany, and the Czech Republic.

Origins and history

The Kalmyks are a branch of the Oirat Mongols, whose ancient lands covered parts of Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, and China. After the fall of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty in 1368, the Oirat-Mongols became a strong force, fighting against other Mongol groups, the Ming dynasty, and the Qing dynasty. Their struggles lasted for 400 years until they were defeated by the Qing Empire in 1757.

During the late 16th century, the Oirat-Mongols and Khalkha-Mongols tried to establish their own rule. By 1640, they created the Mongol-Oirat Code, with Kalmyks participating. The Western Mongols were known as the Four Oirat, consisting of four main tribes: Khoshut, Choros, Torghut, and Dörbet. These tribes roamed the grassy plains between Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan and Lake Baikal in Russia, living in yurts and raising animals.

Etymology

The name "Kalmyk" comes from a Turkic word meaning "remnant" or "to remain". Some Turkic tribes might have used this name as early as the 1200s. An Arab geographer named Ibn al-Wardi was the first to write about it in the 1300s when talking about the Oirats. Later, in the 1400s, leaders in Kashgaria called the Oirats by this name. Russian records from 1530 mentioned "Kolmak Tatars", and a map maker named Sebastian Muenster drew the area of the "Kalmuchi" in 1544. However, the Oirats themselves never really used this name for themselves.

Subgroups

The Kalmyks have several main ethnic subgroups, including the Baatud, Dörbet, Khoid, Khoshut, Olot, Torghut, and Buzava. Among these, the Torghuts and Dörbets are the largest groups. The Buzava are a smaller group and are often considered the most influenced by Russian culture.

Demographics

Main article: Kalmykia § Demographics

The Kalmyks are a special group of people who belong to the Mongolic family. They live in the far eastern part of Europe, in a place called the European Plain. Their ancestors were Oirats, also known as Western Mongols, who moved from a place called Dzungaria to Eastern Europe a long time ago. Today, most Kalmyks come from a group called the Torghut, with some also coming from smaller groups like the Dörbets, Khoshuts, and Dzungars.

Location

Main articles: Kalmykia and Kalmyk Americans

The Kalmyks mainly live in the Republic of Kalmykia, which is part of Russia. Kalmykia is found in the southeast part of Europe, between the Volga and Don rivers. It shares borders with the Republic of Dagestan to the south, the Stavropol Krai to the southwest, and the Rostov Oblast and Volgograd Oblast to the west and northwest. To the east lies the Astrakhan Oblast, and the Caspian Sea forms its southeast border.

After the Soviet Union ended, many young Kalmyks left Kalmykia for bigger cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as the United States. They moved to find better education and job opportunities, and this trend continues today. Currently, most people in Kalmykia are Kalmyks. In 2021, about 159,138 Kalmyks lived there, making up over 60% of the republic's population. Kalmyks also have more children compared to other groups in the area, so their numbers are expected to keep growing.

Religion

Further information: Buddhism in Kalmykia

The Kalmyks are the only ethnic group in Europe where most people practice Buddhism. They follow the Vajrayana tradition, known as Tibetan Buddhism, and belong to the Gelugpa sect, also called the Yellow Hat sect. They began following Tibetan Buddhism in the early 1600s.

Historically, Kalmyk religious leaders trained either in their homeland or in Tibet. Those who trained locally joined monasteries, often located in tents that moved with the tribes. These monasteries were centers of learning and played important roles in the community.

Over time, different governments tried to change the Kalmyks’ religious practices. Some Kalmyks converted to other religions due to pressure or mixed marriages, but many kept their Buddhist beliefs. In the 20th century, attempts were made to stop Buddhism, but it continued quietly. Today, many Kalmyks still practice Buddhism, and new temples have been built. The Kalmyks in Kyrgyzstan mostly follow Islam now, but elsewhere, Buddhism remains strong.

Language

Main article: Kalmyk Oirat

The Kalmyk Oirat language is part of the Eastern group of Mongolic languages, which includes Standard Mongolian. Some experts think it belongs to the Western group instead, making it quite different from Standard Mongolian because it developed separately.

The main dialects of Kalmyk are Torghut, Dörbet, and Buzava, with smaller ones like Khoshut and Olöt. These dialects are quite similar to each other. The Buzava dialect, used by Kalmyks who moved to the Don region, has many Russian words because of their close contact with Russians.

In 1938, the Kalmyk language began using the Cyrillic alphabet. During World War II, many Kalmyks were moved far away, and they were not allowed to speak their language in public. When they returned in 1957, most Kalmyks spoke Russian instead of their own language. Today, many young Kalmyks grow up speaking Russian, which worries some people. The Kalmyk government is now working to bring the language back, such as by putting Kalmyk words on signs. UNESCO says the Kalmyk language is definitely in danger of disappearing.

Writing system

Further information: Zaya Pandita and Clear Script

In the 1600s, a Buddhist monk named Zaya Pandita created a special writing system called Clear Script. This helped write the Oirat language, which the Kalmyks speak. Later, in 1923, the Kalmyks stopped using this and started using the Russian letters instead. In 1930, they tried using Latin letters for a short time, but that didn’t last long.

List of notable Kalmyks

See also: List of Oirats

This list includes some well-known Kalmyks from different areas of life. Here are a few examples:

• Vladimir Ulyanov (born 1870), a Russian politician
• Lyudmila Bodniyeva (born 1978), a Russian handball player
• Jean Djorkaeff (born 1939), a French footballer and manager
• Youri Djorkaeff (born 1968), a French footballer
• Oka Gorodovikov (1879–1960), a Russian military officer
• Kirsan Ilyumzhinov (born 1962), a Russian oligarch and politician
• Sandje Ivanchukov (1960–2007), an American soccer player
• Batu Khasikov (born 1980), a Russian politician and kickboxer
• Maria Kirbasova (1941–2011), a Russian human rights activist
• Lavr Kornilov (1870–1918), a Russian military officer
• Eugenia Mandzhieva (born 1985), a Russian fashion model
• Mingiyan Semenov (born 1990), a Russian wrestler
• Roman Shogdzhiev (born 2015), a Russian chess player
• Sanan Sjugirov (born 1993), a Russian chess grandmaster
• Mingiyan Beveyev (born 1995), a Russian football player
• Dinara Wagner (born 1999), a Russian chess grandmaster
• Ngawang Wangyal (1901–1983), a Buddhist lama and scholar

Khans of the Kalmyk Khanate

See also: Kalmyk Khanate

Here are some leaders of the Kalmyk Khanate:

• Kho Erleg — 1580–1644
• Shukhur Daichin — 1654–1661
• Puntsug (Monchak) — 1661–1669
• Ayuka Khan — 1669–1724
• Tseren Donduk Khan — 1724–1735
• Donduk Ombo Khan — 1735–1741
• Donduk Dashi Khan — 1741–1761
• Ubashi Khan — 1761–1771