Darma-Bala — a supporter of the reunification of Kalmyks with Dzungaria

Abstract

The article focuses on political events in the history of Kalmyk khanate in the first half of the XVIII century and the role of the khan’s wife Darma-Bala. Coming from the ruling family of Jungaria and becoming the wife of Auka khan, Darma-Bala didn’t forget about her motherland and played a significant role in the life of Kalmyk khanate. The article looks into the political views of Darma-Bala on the development of the Kalmyk society. It analyses various steps she took after the death of her husband Auka khan in order to tighten the bonds of Kalmyks with Jungaria. In particular, the article keeps track of Darma-Bala’s different contacts with the representatives of Jungaria khanate, it gives the evidence and opinions verifying her intention to move back to Jungaria with some of the uluses. It gives the ground for assumption that through all her life in the Kalmyk khanate DarmaBala was the fervent advocate of the idea of unification of Mongolian tribes and maintained the policy of reunification of Kalmyks with Jungars that she couldn’t implement due to various internal and external reasons.