Abstract
This article examines archival letters of the Kazakh khans as a key source for studying the structure and functioning of the Khanate’s diplomatic chancellery. Special attention is given to documents and correspondence exchanged between Kazakh khans and sultans and the Russian Empire, which reflect the dynamics of international relations and the evolution of diplomatic practices within the Kazakh Khanate. The analysis of these materials demonstrates the depth and richness of the diplomatic tradition of the Kazakh rulers, for whom the diplomatic service was a vital instrument in consolidating and preserving statehood. By exploring various types of diplomatic correspondence, the study addresses the linguistic features of historical letters, as well as the formalized structures and protocols of communication. The research draws upon medieval written sources and historiographic studies to reconstruct the activities of the diplomatic chancellery and to contextualize the archival letters within the broader framework of Kazakh diplomatic history.