Discovery of Ancient Manuscript Shedding Light on Kazakhstan’s White Horde Period in France
A valuable manuscript related to the history of Kazakhstan has been discovered in France and published by the National Center of Manuscripts and Rare Books, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Information.
The manuscript, titled “Selected Chronicles,” was written by Mu’in ad Din Natanzi in Shiraz in 1413 and is currently held in the National Library of France. Natanzi, who lived in Shiraz in the early 15th century, was a contemporary of renowned poets such as Haydar Khwarazmi and Hafiz Khwarazmi.
The historical work provides a detailed account of the Ak Orda (White Horde), a state in the Desht-i Kipchak region during the 13th to 15th centuries. It describes the period when the Altyn Orda (Golden Horde) split into the Blue and White Hordes and includes information on the reigns of the Ak Orda khans, as well as a list of rulers, their parents, and burial sites. The manuscript reveals that 10 rulers of the Ak Orda were buried in Syganak.
Written in Persian in Arabic script, the manuscript consists of 15 chapters spread across 413 pages. The discovery of this important historical document was made as part of the Archive 2025 program, which aims to bring together orientalists, historians, and archivists to conduct research in both domestic and foreign archives.
This publication provides valuable insights into the history of Kazakhstan and sheds light on the political and social dynamics of the region during the medieval period. It is a significant contribution to the understanding of Kazakhstan’s rich heritage and cultural history.
