Quqon, Khanate Of
The khanate of Quqon (Kokand) was a state centered in the Fergana Valley from the early eighteenth century until its absorption into the Russian empire in 1876. The Fergana Valley had been an economically important part of Central Asia for generations, but had never been the center of its own state until the foundation of the khanate of Quqon.
The khanate of Quqon was founded by Shahrukh biy, the chief of the Ming Uzbeks, when he carved a small independent principality (c. 1700) from the lands of the emirate of Bukhara. He chose the village of Quqon as his capital and built a citadel there.
Quqon remained a small principality confined to the western and central Fergana Valley until sometime around 1798. Alim biy (reigned 1800–1809), the eighth ruler of Quqon, formed a mercenary army and subjugated the rest of the Fergana Valley. Upon his consolidation of power, Alim took the title Khan.
Quqon expanded swiftly over the next forty years. Alim, his brother Omar (reigned 1809–1822), and Omar's successor Madali (reigned 1822–1840) added the cities of Khojend (present-day Khudzhand), Tashkent, Karategin, Darvaz, Kulob, and Alai to the khanate.
The reigns of Omar and Madali coincided with a time of rapid expansion of the economy that saw the Fergana Valley become the center of Central Asia's cotton and silk industries. Unfortunately Madali antagonized his people with his cruelty and corruption. Quqon's neighbor Bukhara took advantage of the unrest and invaded in 1842.
A popular uprising drove the Bukharans out quickly. In the aftermath of the invasion Quqon was torn by internal conflicts between sedentary Turkic and Iranian peoples and the nomadic Kipchak Turks. Kazakh rebellions, dynastic conflicts, and continuing conflicts with Bukhara also plagued Quqon.
Quqon's fate was sealed by Russia's interest in Central Asia. Russia began moving into the area around 1850 and in 1864 captured Tashkent. Soon after, Russia captured the important city of Khojend. In 1868 Khudoyar Khan signed a commercial convention with Russia that granted them a number of concessions. The Khan's seeming favor towards Russia antagonized many elements in Quqonian society and an anti-Russian uprising broke out that deposed the khan. The Russians moved in and put down the rebellion. Unrest continued and Russia invaded in 1876 and absorbed Quqon into the Russian empire as the Fergana Oblast in February 1876.
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