Khotons of the Kalmyk Khanate of the XVIII century

Introduction. The article analyzes a little–studied problem in historiography – khotons (nomadic settlements) the Kalmyk Khanate of the XVIII century, which at the same time were the smallest administrative units.

Materials and methods. The study is based on an extensive set of archival materials, primarily clerical correspondence, which somehow deposited information about the khotons of the Kalmyk Khanate of the XVIII century, the number of people in them, the degree of kinship, etc. Historical-genetic, comparative-historical, functional and descriptive methods were used in the analysis of source and bibliographic material and in writing the text of the article.

Analysis. The analysis showed that a significant part of khotons consisted of 10-15 kibits (families), which were connected with each other by kinship relations, including those who were at different levels of kinship relations. However, archival documents show that in the 18th century, in addition to ordinary khotons consisting of related families, nomadic settlements began to appear in the Kalmyk Khanate, consisting of families or individuals not related by kinship and even belonging to different sub-ethnic groups. Sometimes, for various reasons, several khotons could unite and form a separate group of several dozens of kibits, and in some cases, due to extraordinary circumstances, they could form groups even of several hundred kibits, though for a short period. In addition to the official authorities, khotons and other nomadic groups of khoton type had their own internal public self-government built on the life experience and authority of their managers.

Results. Thus, it can be concluded that in the socially stratified Kalmyk society of the XVIII century tribal relations began to deform under the influence of the prevailing circumstances.

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