The Uzbek Khanate is a Turkic state on the territory of modern Kazakhstan and southern Russia, formed in the 1420s. after the collapse of the Golden Horde. Also, in some historical documents, the country is called the State of nomadic Uzbeks.
History
Due to internecine strife, the Golden Horde was weakened and split into several separate khanates. First, the eastern wing separated, which was called the Blue Horde. The wars between the new and old khans did not subside, and the newly formed state continued to disintegrate. So, as a result, the Nogai Horde and the Uzbek Khanate were formed, which occupied the territory of modern Kazakhstan and a small part of southern Russia. The Khanate was headed by Abulkhair, who ruled the country for 40 years. His power was unstable. Numerous descendants of previous rulers claimed the throne, and two years after the formation of the Uzbek Khanate, Khan Abulkhair was forced to enter into a fierce struggle.
Khan's army won one battle after another. Losing rivals were executed, and their property and wives, according to the tradition of that era, were transferredto Abulakhayr. The victories strengthened the power of the Uzbek Khanate and significantly replenished the state treasury, however, the wars continued. In 1457, a battle took place between the troops of the Uzbeks and the Oirats, in which Abulakhair suffered a severe defeat. He was forced to retreat and helplessly watch as the Oirats plundered and then destroyed Tashkent, Turkestan, Sharuh. After that, the enemies concluded a peace treaty, humiliating for Abulakhayr.
The Uzbek Khanate was extremely weakened by the defeat of the Oirats. Some subjects of the Khan, dissatisfied with his policies, went east, to Moghulistan, where they formed their own state - the Kazakh Khanate. Residents began to call themselves Uzbek-Cossacks, which in the Turkic language meant "free Uzbeks".
Wishing to punish obstinate subjects and demonstrate his power, in 1468 Abulkhair went on a military campaign. However, without reaching the enemy positions, the khan died on the way. After his death, new civil strife began in the Uzbek Khanate, and the state collapsed.
Political structure
Khan was at the head of the country. All heads of clans and tribes living on the territory of the khanate obeyed him. The political elite, which could influence decision-making, included the Islamic clergy and officials of the administrative apparatus. To discuss important issues, the khan convened a general meeting of the elite, called kurultai. Also, there were ministries in the state, and in the regions the power of the khanwere represented by governors. The population of the country was taxed, which went to replenish the state treasury.
Geography
Due to continuous hostilities, it is not possible to determine the exact boundaries of the Uzbek Khanate. The country under the control of Khan Abulakhayr occupied the southern part of the territory of modern Kazakhstan along the Syr Darya River. The following cities were the capital of the Uzbek Khanate in different periods:
- Chingi-Tura (on the site of the city of Tyumen) - from 1428 to 1446;
- Orda-Bazaar (150 km from the modern Kazakh city of Zhezkazgan) - in 1446;
- Sygnak (existed until the 19th century, then was destroyed) - from 1446 to 1480;
- Kazhi-Tarkhan (on the site of the city of Astrakhan) - from 1468 to 1501
The Nogai Horde was located in the west of the khanate's possessions, Moghulistan was in the east, the Timurid state was in the south, and the Siberian Khanate was in the north.
Origin of the name
In the period from 1313 to 1341, the Golden Horde was ruled by Uzbek Khan. In the historical documents of that period, the lands under his rule were called the ulus of the Uzbeks. Even decades after the death of the ruler, many sources continued to call the country "the state of Uzbek Khan." The state created by Khan Abulkhair was traditionally called the Uzbek ulus. In historical literature, the country of Khan Abulkhair was called the Uzbek Khanate, as well as the State of nomadic Uzbeks.
During the entire period of the existence of the khanate, internecine wars did not stop on the territory of the countrywar. The state created by Khan Abulkhair was unstable, although his power was strong and extended over a vast territory. After the death of the khan, the country existed for several more years, and then fell apart: part went under the rule of the Nogai Horde, part went to the Kazakh Khanate, and part went to the Genghisides, direct descendants of Genghis Khan.
