Kinzia, Arslanov

Kinzia, Arslanov 

Dates of birth and death unknown. Cooporated with E. I. Pugachev; a leader of the insurgent Bashkirs during the Peasant War of 1773–75.

Kinzia Arslanov was an abyz (teacher) and knew Russian. In the early 1760’s he became a starshina (elder, administrator elected by local communities) of Bushmas-Kypchak volost (small rural district) in the Nogai doroga (region) of Bashkiria. In early October 1773, at the head of the Bashkirs of his district, he came to Pugachev’s camp at Berdskaia Sloboda (near Orenburg), was given the title of “regimental leader,” and became “ataman” of the Bashkirs. He wrote decrees and manifestos in Tatar and was a member of the commanding staff of the rebel forces. Together with Pugachev, he led numerous rebellions in Bashkiria. In September 1774, Kinzia Arslanov disappeared and was never heard of again.

REFERENCE

Usmanov, A. N. “Kinzia Arslanov—vydaiushchiisia spodvizhnik Pugacheva.” In the collection Istoricheskie zapiski, vol. 71. Moscow, 1962.