Otegen Batyr ( Kazakh. Өtegen Batyr ; 1699-1773) - one of the famous Kazakh warriors who fought with the Dzungarian invaders in the first half of the 18th century, comes from the Dulat tribe of the Elder Zhuz . His grandfather Syrymbet in 1635 was in the detachment of Salkam Zhangir, who rebuffed the 50,000th army of the Oirat Khan Batyr. From 15 years old, Otegen participated in wars with enemies. In 1723, he fought with the Dzungars along with the Batyrs Rayymbek , Hangeldy. In 1740, the batyr helped liberate the land by joining the Tole bi detachment on the banks of the Ili River. In 1756, he opposed the policy of Abylai Khan in establishing a truce with China . According to legend, he returned to his homeland after 17 years.
The name of Otegen Batyr has become a legend among the people. His grandfather Suyunbai , akyn Kusen, was the first to sing it.
According to the materials of the historian Delebaev, akyns such as Tlemis and Maykot also sang the deeds of Otegen Batyr. The dastan “Otegen Batyr” performed by Zhambyl came to us. Data and materials about Otegen Batyr were collected by the writers E. Ismailov, K. Turganbaev, N. S. Smirnova, S. Begalin.
According to folk legends and tales of the akyns, 12 sons of his father, Otegul, died of the plague. Otegul was already about 50 years old. He despairingly, crying inconsolably about the heavy grief that befell him.
Once, in a dream, an old man appeared to him and encouraged him: “Don’t cry, you will have a son who will cost 12 of your dead sons.” Soon, his youngest wife, Nurbala, gave birth to a son, Otegen, who later, becoming a batyr, glorified his family.
After the liberation of the Kazakh lands from the Dzungarian invaders, he lived on the lands of the present Kapshagai until the end of his days, where he was buried on the hill, now bearing his name and rising above the surface of the Kapshagai reservoir . In 1973, the remains of Otegen Batyr were reburied in the Kordai district of the Zhambyl region . A monument was erected above the grave. In 1999, the 300th anniversary of the batyr was celebrated. The center of the Ili district of Almaty region is the village of Energetichesky and Auyl Kenes, in the Kordai district of the Zhambyl region , where the batyr is buried, renamed Otegen Batyr. One of the streets of Almaty is named after him. In the Almaty region between the areas of Bozoy and Kara there are lands named after the Batyr.