Alen Zheniskhanuly
Prince Alen Zheniskhanuly | |||||||
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 Alen (right) speaking in Dihua (now Ürümqi) in 1947 | |||||||
| Born | 1889 | ||||||
| Died | 1960 (aged 70–71) | ||||||
| Spouse | |||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Chinese | 艾林·精思汗 | ||||||
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| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||
| Chinese | 艾林郡王 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | (Commandery) Prince Alen | ||||||
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| Kazakh name | |||||||
| Kazakh | الەن جەڭىسحانۇلى Әлен Жеңісханұлы Älen Jeñıskhanūly | ||||||
Alen Zheniskhanuly[a] (1889–1960), known to the Chinese as Prince Alen,[b] was a Kazakh nobleman from Jeminay in northern Xinjiang, China. He was a fourth-generation descendant of Kogedai Abilpeizuly.[1][2]
As a child, he was educated at a local madrasa. In 1910, he married Kadisha "Kaduan" Mamyrbekkyzy, who became his personal advisor and translator. In 1912, the first president of China Yuan Shikai gave him the title Junwang (郡王), which means prince of a commandery. In 1933, Chinese warlord Sheng Shicai overthrew the provincial government in Dihua (present-day Ürümqi) and Alen became a member of the provisional government. Alen was supportive of Sheng's modern ideas and brought new tools and technology to rural Kazakh herders. Alen also benefited from trade with the Soviet Union, which backed Sheng. Sheng detained and imprisoned Alen in Dihua in 1937–38, but he was freed by the Kuomintang after Sheng was dismissed and exiled. In 1944, Alen was sent back to Altay Prefecture to win over the local Kazakh population during the Ili Rebellion.[1][2]
In 1949, he participated in the incorporation of Xinjiang into the People's Republic of China and became an advisor to the Xinjiang Provincial People's Government.[1]
Alen died in 1960.[1]