The Yenisei Kyrgyz were made to pay tribute in a treaty concluded between the Dzungars and Russians in 1635. The Dzungar Oirat Kalmyks coerced the Yenisei Kyrgyz into submission. Some of the Yenisei Kyrgyz were relocated into the
Dzungar Khanate by the
Dzungars, and then the Qing moved them from
Dzungaria to northeastern China in 1761, where they became known as the
Fuyu Kyrgyz. Sibe Bannermen were stationed in Dzungaria while Northeastern China (Manchuria) was where some of the remaining Öelet Oirats were deported to. The Nonni basin was where Oirat Öelet deportees were settled. The Yenisei Kyrgyz were deported along with the Öelet. Chinese and Oirat replaced Oirat and Kyrgyz during
Manchukuo as the dual languages of the Nonni-based Yenisei Kyrgyz. In the 17th century, the Khakas formed Khakassia in the middle of the lands of Yenisei Kyrgyz, who at the time were
vassals of a
Mongolian ruler. The
Russians arrived shortly after the Kyrgyz left, and an inflow of Russian agragian settlers began. In the 1820s,
gold mines started to be developed around
Minusinsk, which became a regional industrial center. The names Khongorai and Khoorai were applied to the Khakas before they became known as the Khakas. Khakas refer to themselves as Tadar. Khoorai (Khorray) has also been in use to refer to them. Now the Khakas call themselves Tadar and do not use Khakas to describe themselves in their own language. They are also called Abaka Tatars. During the 19th century, many Khakas accepted the Russian ways of life, and most were converted en masse to
Russian Orthodox Christianity.
Shamanism, however, is still common;. Many Christians practice shamanism with Christianity. In Imperial Russia, the Khakas used to be known under other names, used mostly in historic contexts:
Minusinsk Tatars (),
Abakan Tatars (абака́нские тата́ры), and
Yenisei Turks. During the
Revolution of 1905, a movement towards autonomy developed. When Soviets came to power in 1923, the Khakas National District was established, and various ethnic groups (, , ,
Koibal, and ) were artificially "combined" into one—the Khakas. The National District was reorganized into
Khakas Autonomous Oblast, a part of
Krasnoyarsk Krai, in 1930. The
Republic of Khakassia in its present form was established in 1992. Khakas account for only about 12% of the total population of the republic (78,500 as of 1989 Census). Khakas traditionally practiced nomadic herding, agriculture, hunting, and fishing. The Beltir people specialized in handicraft as well. Herding sheep and cattle is still common, although the republic became more industrialized over time. == Genetics ==