THE TORGHUTS (The Volga Kalmucks) The western branch of the Kalmuck people (see Dzungarian Kalmucks, Xinjiang), they migrated into the Volga Basin in the early 17th century, there serving for the most part as mercenaries in Czarist armies. In doing so however, their religion (Lamaist Buddhism) and tribal traditions came under increasing oppression, and at length (in 1771) 300,000 of them made an epic journey back to Xinjiang, pursued by Cossacks and harried by intervening Muslim Khanates all the way. The surviving 15,000 settled in their old homeland once more, and swiftly faded from view. A small remnant remained by the Volga, and survive today as a minor ethnic group with it's own autonomous Republic within the Russian Federation (1936-1944, suppressed for anti-Soviet sedition, re-instated 1958).
Under Russian suzerainty
Juljaghan Orloq............................... ? -1616
Qo Orloq.....................................1616-1643
Shikur Dayiching.............................1643-1654
Merghen......................................1654-1667
Buntshok.....................................1667-1670
Ayuki........................................1670-1724
Sheren Donduk................................1724-1735
Donduk Ombu..................................1735-1741
Kandul I..........................................1741
Kandul II Taijhi.............................1741-1761
Ubashi.......................................1761-1775
In 1770 The Torghuts left the Volga Basin and returned to Xinjiang. Thereafter they were under Chinese rule.