Iron clubs from Chuya and Talas valley of Kyrgyzstan (the collection of museums "Manas-ordo" and "Rarity")

Purpose. The article studies the findings hand strike weapon Kyrgyz warriors kept in the Armoury collection of the state Museum «Manas-Ordo» in the Talas valley and private Museum «Rarity» in Bishkek in the Kyrgyz Republic. Studied information about the use of the clubs in the stone and bronze tops of ancient peoples of the Middle East. Reviews some of the data from the military history of ancient and medieval nomadic and sedentary peoples of the Steppe belt of Eurasia and Central Asian historical-cultural region, demonstrating the use of hand-shock weapons for combat purposes, and as a symbol of power and authority. Results. The article deals available in the medieval sources of information, archaeological finds and images of warriors, indicating the use of the clubs in the ancient Turks, and warriors of other Turkic peoples in the early Middle Ages. Provides news that the use of batons to defeat the enemy in close combat widespread in Mongol and Turkic nomadic people and the population of Central Asia in the late Medieval Ages. In medieval written historical sources contain information about the use of the clubs in the Mongolian warriors during the period of aggressive wars of Genghis Khan and the creation of the Mongol Empire. According to some scientists, clubs have been actively used in the course of the battle warriors of different countries and peoples of Eurasia in periods of Middle and late Middle Ages, which was associated with a worsening of protective armor. Reportedly maces were armed with Kazakh and Kyrgyz soldiers during the periods of the late middle Ages and New time. The article analyzes the findings of iron crowns, maces, studied in the Armoury collections of museums of Kyrgyzstan. Investigated and poetic description of the application of the clubs in the Kyrgyz warriors that are contained in the Kyrgyz heroic epic «Manas». According to available information sources the reconstructed techniques clubs Kyrgyz warriors in the course of the battle. The author analyzes the historical information about the use of the parade, ornate clubs and shestopers as the insignia of power in the countries of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Conclusion. Complex weapons Kyrgyz warriors in the Tien Shan in the late Middle Ages and New Times included a variety of means of distance and melee, and individual metal protection. On the development of this complex during the study period had a significant impact and the close proximity of the ethno-cultural contacts with settled urban Kyrgyz trade-craft and rural agricultural population of cities and oases of Central Asia and Eastern Turkestan. Probably some of the offensive and defensive weapons used by Kyrgyz warriors in the XV-XIX centuries. Was carried out in urban and craft centers in the region. No exception and maces, which were armed with Kyrgyz soldiers Talas and Chuya Valley of Kyrgyzstan. Nomadic tribes Kyrgyz and Kazakhs had for a long time to confront the rulers of the Central Asian states and Dzungar Khanate, which have significant military forces and bases its own arms production. In order to maintain an independent position Kyrgyz tribes are part of two military - political associations, the right and left wing, required to have effective armed formation, equipped with various types of knives and military equipment. Among the offensive weapons of melee a role in the arsenal of the Kyrgyz warriors, along with spears, swords and battleaxes, perform manual strike weapons - mace. Reflection of historical military events, which were attended by military units Kyrgyz tribes and warriors used different types of weapons, including maces, are descriptions of battles and fights soldiers in heroic epic of the Kyrgyz people. In folklore sources, detailing the different types of offensive weapons and protective armor Kyrgyz s warriors and describes various techniques for using different types of weapons, including the use of clubs for applying damaging attacks against the enemy. Despite the fact that their opponents from Dzungar Khanate and the Manchu empire possessed considerable superiority in numbers of troops and their equipment firearms and artillery, Kyrgyz tribes managed to maintain an independent position until incorporation into the Russian Empire.