Raiymbek Batyr

Mu'izz id-Din Mūhammed Rahim-Bek Bahadur (, , romanized: ), also spelled as Raiymbek Batyr, was a famous Kazakh warrior from the 18th century. The term Bahadur is an honorific term meaning 'hero' in the Kazakh language, meaning that Rahim-Bek Bahadur's given name was simply Muizziddin Muhammed Rahim-Bek.

He fought against the Dzungar invasion of Kazakh territories. Rahim-Bek saw the Kazakh Khanate as a hub of Muslim culture and felt that it was necessary to maintain its sovereignty at all costs. Thus, he came to view the Kazakh–Dzungar Wars as a jihad in defending the land of modern-day Kazakhstan.

Rahim-Bek was the grandson of a Kazakh diplomat, and prevailed on the Russian czarina Anna Ivanovna asking for protection from the Dzungars, one of the Oirat (West Mongolian) tribes that were the last remnants of the Mongol horse archer empire. He was instrumental in bringing the Senior Jüz into a closer relationship with Russia in exchange for protection from the Dzungars. This was a move that Kazakh rulers Abu'l Khair Khan and Abu'l-Mansur Khan worked to establish in the latter years of the Kazakh Khanate.

He is the subject of a two-volume historical novel of the same name. His name is commonly given to public features in Kazakhstan such as streets and mosques.

Early life In Almaty, Raiymbek Batyr was born in 1705. By the age of 15, he had practiced archery, sword fighting, and wrestling. He soon began participating in military campaigns against the Dzungars. His main principle was to achieve victory with minimal losses. This strategy was first successfully implemented in the battle along the Ili River. Captives held by the Dzungar people were freed, while many enemy soldiers were taken prisoner. Raiymbek liberated Sögeti, Oyrantöbe, and Jalaǵash from Dzungar Khanate control. After this victory, Raiymbek continued his campaigns, freeing Zhinishke, Taushilik, Karabulak, Ush Merke, Kengsu, and Karkara.

Aid to the Middle Jüz

One of Raiymbek Batyr's significant campaigns was his mission to assist the Middle Jüz. Upon receiving a proposal from Qabanbai Batyr to block the area between Tarbagatai and Tacheng, preventing the enemy from regrouping, Raiymbek immediately set out on horseback. He played a key role in liberating Sarytau and Üygentas, then followed the Ili River back toward Qorghas. Historian Mambet Koigeldiev notes that this fact is also documented in the research of Zeinolla Sanik in Xinjiang. The Badam River is named after Badam-Bakhadur, a Dzungar noble who was defeated by Raiymbek. Similarly, the place name Kegen is believed to originate from the Dzungar prince Gengen, though some sources claim "Gengen" was a religious title. In 1729, Raiymbek fought alongside other reputable Kazakh warriors such as Nauryzbai Batyr, Ötegen, Qabanbai, and Bogenbay Batyr at the Battle of Añyraqai, crushing the army of Sary Myngzhan. Later, at the Itempes River, he led his forces to destroy the army of Shona Doba.