Töleñgıt

Töleñgıt, Tulenguts (төлеңгіт) — Kazakh clan which has served Khans and Sultans. Not part of any of the Kazakh zhuzes. In the Ulus of the Kazakhs, was a special class and reliable support of the Khans.

Ethnonym
The ethnonym Töleñgıt (Tulengut) was borrowed by the Kazakhs from the Oirats. It related with the Telenguts (Dolonguts) Oirat clan name. Further, the name Telengut comes from the ancient Tiele and Dolange ethnonyms.

History
The origin of the Tölengıts is related with the Kalmyks and Dzungars. It is believed that the Tölengıts are an estate of former Dzungar (Kalmyk) prisoners of war, from which the Khan's squad, bodyguards and court servants were later created. There is information that the Töleñgıts of Kenesary Khan got to him from his grandfather Ablai Khan and consisted mainly of Kalmyks.