Yessim khan mausoleum is located in Turkestan, which is preserved from 17th century. It is located south from west minaret of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi mausoleum. The mausoleum was built on Yessim khan grave.
Dzungars’ military potential growth is connected with their way of living. They existed by means of cattle the same as Kazakhs did, however having limited number of pastures, they had to conquer new areas in order to survive. Akseley Seidimbek wrote, “Russia, maintaining connection with Dzungar embassy, caused a hundred years war between Kazakhs and Kalmyks. Kazakh steppe, located between Dzungars and Kalmyks broke apart and immediately turned into field of bloody combats.”
Having adopted diplomacy lessons, Yessim khan reinforced Kazakh khanate and could regain a great number of regions from Dzungars and Kalmyks. Mukhamedzhan Tynyshpayev wrote the following words about Yessim, highlighting his leader skills, “Tauyekel and Yessim khan epoch in Kazakh history is distinguished by unity and monolithic character of Kazakh nation”. Reinforcement of Kazakh khanate aligned with the weakening of Sheibanids Bokharan khanate, this awakened hopes of Kazakh people to conquer them. However, Tauyekel and Yessim could not conquer Bokhara. Yessim khan had undertaken campaign to the suburbs of Samarkand in 1605, 1611 and 1612.
In 1958, Turkestan finally joined the Kazakh khanate and starting from Yessim khan period became its capital. “Tole bi and Yessim achieved unity of the Kazakhs”, those words were said to descendants by Kazybek bi of argyn dynasty. National akyn Kazangap Baibosuly in his poem Yessim khan of great height tried to describe khan in more detailed manner.
There are activities and ruler's portrait of Yessim left in the folktales, and some information can be gathered from the eposes of Yessim khan's companions in campaigns.
Ancient way of Yessim khan is a collection of the steppe laws, which became a foundation for Zhety zhargy code of laws of Tauke khan. One of its prohibitions is Prohibition on marrying relatives to the seventh generation, which greatly contributed to genetic blood purity of Kazakh nation.
