Mongolian Khaganates
The Kalmyks are the western Oirat Mongols, chiefly Torghuts, who left Dzungaria in the early 17th century under Kho Orluk and settled on the lower Volga by the 1630s. Their first chiefs, Kho Orluk, Shukhur Daichin and Puntsuk, ruled as taishi. In 1690 the Dalai Lama gave Ayuka the khan title and a seal, and the khanate became the strongest power between the Volga and the Caspian, allied to Russia and a Tibetan Buddhist state. After Ayuka, Russia had a growing say in choosing the khans, and Russian settlement cut into Kalmyk pastures. In January 1771 Ubashi led most of the Kalmyks east of the Volga back towards Dzungaria; those west of the river stayed, and Catherine II abolished the khanate that October. Their descendants live in Kalmykia, the only Buddhist republic in Europe, and in Xinjiang. This page lists the rulers who held the khan title.
5 Rulers
From Ayuka to Ubashi the Kalmyk rulers held the khan title, conferred by the Dalai Lama or recognised by Russia. The three earlier chiefs, who ruled as taishi from the 1630s to 1690, did not hold it and are named only in the page introduction.
Torghut ruler who received the khan title and seal from the Dalai Lama in 1690; made the Kalmyks the strongest power between the Volga and the Caspian and served Peter the Great as an ally.
Read the profileSon of Ayuka; his weak rule led to civil war among the Kalmyk nobles; the Seventh Dalai Lama granted him the khan title, presented in 1735, the year he lost power to his nephew Donduk Ombo.
Read the profileGrandson of Ayuka who took part of the Kalmyks to the Kuban around 1731, returned in 1735 and was recognised as khan in 1737; fought for Russia against the Crimean Khanate and the Kuban Nogais.
Read the profileGrandson of Ayuka, appointed by Russia in 1741 and later recognised as khan; kept the khanate at peace for twenty years while Russian control over it grew.
Read the profileLast ruler of the Kalmyk Khanate; in January 1771 led most of the Kalmyks east of the Volga back towards Dzungaria; perhaps half died on the way, and the Qianlong emperor received the survivors and named Ubashi Zorigtu Khan.
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