Ormon

(1791–1854) organized a kurultai (congress) of the northern tribes in the first half of the nineteenth century, thus forming a confederation of all the northern Kyrgyz tribes. He was elected as its Khan, strengthened the national basis and created a military structure. In a conflict about how to fight the Russians, he defeated Kenesary (see Kazakhstan) in 1847. This war, however, weakened his position in the confederation and several tribes left it, which resulted in a civil war. He died in battle in one of the expeditions against them in 1854.