Sozak

For other uses, see Suzak (disambiguation).

Sozak Sozaq
Sozak Location in Kazakhstan
Coordinates: 44°08′N 68°28′E / 44.133°N 68.467°E / 44.133; 68.467
Country	Kazakhstan
Region	Turkistan Region
District	Sozak District
Population
• Total	4,335
Time zone	UTC+5 (UTC+5)
Climate	BWk

Sozak, or Sozaq (Kazakh: Созақ, Sozaq, سوزاق, also Russified Suzak), is a village in Sozak District, Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan.

History

Sozaq was the capital of the Kazakh Khanate from c. 1465-1469. The ancient settlement of Sozak dates from the 10th to the 18th centuries and occupies an area of about 19 hectares. In historical documents from the 13th century, it is mentioned as Khuzak, and in the 16th century, it appeared under the name Suzak in connection with the struggle between the Kazakh khans, Timurids, and Sheibanids over the Syr-Darya cities.^[1] In February 1930, there was an anti-Soviet insurgency in the village, following which the administrative center of the district was transferred to the village of Sholakkorgan.^[2]

Notable sites

• Ancient settlement of Sozak (X-XVIII centuries) - The archaeological remnants of the ancient settlement can be found in the central, historical part of the village. The excavations have revealed five construction horizons, the oldest of which dates back as far as the 10th-11th centuries. The finds include copper coins, pots, and remains of structures.^[1]
• Azhe Ata Mausoleum - Located on the western part of the ancient settlement, this mausoleum dates from the end of the 19th century and is built of adobe bricks.^[3]

References

1. "Ancient Settlement of Sozak". silkadv.com. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
2. Niccolò Pianciola; Paolo Sartori (2013). "Interpreting an insurgency in Soviet Kazakhstan : the OGPU, Islam and Qazaq 'Clans' in Suzak, 1930". Islam, Society and States Across the Qazaq Steppe: 297–340.
3. "Azhe-Ata Mausoleum in Sozak". silkadv.com. Retrieved 2025-09-07.