Botakoz Mausoleum

Type of monument: Sacral object

Date of monument: 2005

Location: Aktobe region, Uil district, 23 km north-west of Kemer village

Research: Information about the monument included in the book “Oiyl”, published in 2001.  In 2004, an article on the mausoleum was published by local historian Zhaksylyk Bisaliyev in the Uil district newspaper. In the framework of the program “Cultural heritage” in 2004 the information was included in the booklet “Natural-historical-cultural places of Aktobe region”. In 2007 it was published in the book “Toponymic area of Aktobe region”. 

Brief description: Botagoz mausoleum was built in 2005. It is located on Bukirtumsyk hill near Konyrsaya ravine, 23 km away from the Kemer village. The mausoleum is 5×5 m in size and 11 m high.

Legend: Botagoz, the daughter of Tama Esset Kokiuly batyr, daughter-in-law of Azhibai bei, is one of the heroines, who defended the country from enemy invasions (1719-1747). Among the forty auls (villages) of the Tama Zhetyru family clan in the “Sam” sands of Ustyurt there was Esset batyr aul. At the invitation of Abilkayr khan, Esset batyr went to Orenburg. There, at the khan’s council it was planned to consider how to protect the country from the Dzungarian invasion.  Having learned that the batyr was not present, the enemies attacked at night and began stealing livestock. At that moment, Botagoz, dressed as a man and gathering men from among the cattlemen and stablemen, attacked the Kalmyks. Botagoz’s group surrounded the enemy and personally surrounded the Kondy batyr. When the Kazakhs surrounded Batyr Konda, a dzhigit (skilful horseman) on a grey horse deftly threw a harness around batyr’s neck and pulled him off his horse. And he died. The dzhigits destroyed all their enemies. So, the batyr who killed Kondy, was Botagoz. According to historical data, Azhibai bi from the Akkete clan matched the daughter of Esset batyr by marrying his son Barsai to Botagoz.

Azhibai bei had six sons. He gave each of them an opportunity to lead a nomadic travel, but none of them could do it properly. And so, disappointed in them, Azhibai bei gave the opportunity to Botagoz to lead the nomadic travel.

Botagoz mausoleum is a monument to the love of an ordinary Kazakh girl for her homeland, a symbol of her purity, beauty and a work of national architecture.