Paper Title
Christianization of the Kalmyks and its Influence on Public Relations of the Kalmyk Khanate as a Factor in the Imperial Acculturation Policy (Late 17th - Mid 30s Of 18th Centuries)

Abstract
The creation of a Christian mission was determined both by the political interests of the state — strengthening of Russian influence in the Kalmyk steppe, and by the interest of the Russian Orthodox Church in increasing the number of congregations. At the same time, the focus was on christening of representatives of the Kalmyk nobility. But when it became apparent that the most influential applicant to the khan's throne, able to bring the Kalmyks to an agreement, was an adherent of Buddhism, the imperial authorities decided to retreat from their original ideas and withdraw the christened Kalmyks from the bounds of the Volga Khanate. Keywords - Acculturation, Kalmyk Khanate, Christened Kalmyks, Christianization, Russian Empire.