Хозяин Аблай-кита. Кто и зачем построил монастырь-крепость на Иртыше?

It is argued in the paper that up to 1680s the political culture in upper Irtysh area was based on the leadership of Khoshut clan. The leading role of the Khoshuts spread over not only military and political but also religious spheres. Ablai-taiji of the Khoshut house, the founder of the Buddhist monastery Ablai-Kit, did much for reinforcement of his positions among other Oirats. He inherited and pursued the policy of cooperation with Muscovy trying to gain profits from its trade with China. The accounts of early observers and recent findings and manuscripts allow us to claim that in the mid-17th c. the monastery might be the most significant Buddhist center of Irtysh area. In the course of 1670s, the Khoshut clan gradually declined. Under pressure of his brother Ablai lost his domains and was defeated by his enemies. The conclusions are made through application of the methods of critical analysis of diverse archival sources and existing historiography.