Khanate of Kokand: Map & History
The Khanate of Kokand was an early modern state in the Fergana Valley of Central Asia.
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The Khanate of Kokand was an early modern state in the Fergana Valley of Central Asia. At its peak, it stretched from the Ulu Tau mountains in the north, Sariqol in the south, Aq Masjid in the west, and Karakol in the east. Its territory is today divided between Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan.
Modern Countries Once Part of Khanate of Kokand
At its mapped extent, Khanate of Kokand covered territory in 4 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Kyrgyzstan1709–1876 CE · most
- Uzbekistan1709–1876 CE · a large part
- Tajikistan1709–1863 CE · a small part
- Kazakhstan1809–1863 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Khanate of Kokand's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Khanate of Kokand in Depth
History
The Khanate of Kokand was ruled by the Shahrukhid dynasty, who belonged to the Ming tribe of Uzbeks. During this period, the term "Uzbek" did not have the same meaning as today. It specifically referred to the descendants of the several hundred thousand Turkic people led by Muhammad Shaybani at the start of the 16th century, who moved from the Qipchaq steppe to Central Asia. During the early 18th-century, the authority of the Khanate of Bukhara over the Fergana Valley was weakening. Meanwhile, the authority of the Sufi Khojas was increasing, and invasions were carried out by nomadic Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, and Oirats (including their Kalmyk subgroup). Throughout the 18th century, the rulers of the Kokand Khanate used the title of biy, a local version of the Turkic title beg.
Military
Between 20,000 and 30,000 Uzbek irregulars made up Kokand's army under Narbuta Bey; these troops, known as the Qaraqazan ("Black Scorpion"), relied mainly on plunder as their form of payment. Alim Khan realized that his ambitions to consolidate power would be thwarted by this structure, even though the army had demonstrated its efficacy in the Fergana valley. Alim Khan sought to make use of on the significant advancements in military technology that had occurred over the previous century. He understood that a standing army, properly armed with muskets, cannons, and gunpowder and trained to use them effectively, was essential for Kokand to reach its full potential.
Society and culture
In the 1830s, more than 5 million people lived in the Khanate of Kokand. Roughly 3 million of them were sedentary residents with Turkic and Iranian roots, while the remaining population of 2.0–2.5 million were nomadic tribes, spread across 400,000 households, consisting of various Turko-Mongolian groups such as Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Karakalpaks, Kalmyks, and Farghani Qipchaqs. Turkic-speakers, whatever their dialect, were referred to as Turks, while Persian-speakers were referred to as Tajiks. Some non-Persian Iranians from the mountains, such as the Pamiri Shughni people, also referred to themselves as Tajik, though others commonly called them by different names, such as "Ghalcha". The term "Sart" was commonly applied to sedentary Turks and Tajiks.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Khanate of Kokand (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Khanate of Kokand: Key Facts
| Capital | Qoʻqon |
|---|---|
| Official language | Persian |
| Founded | 1709 |
| Dissolved | 1876 |
Preceded by
- Senior jüz
- Khanate of Bukhara
Succeeded by
- Fergana Oblast
Facts from Wikidata Q696241 (CC0).
Khanate of Kokand Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Khanate of Kokand appears, with the other states of the time.
Khanate of Kokand Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 475,816 km² in 1834 CE.
Khanate of Kokand: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Khanate of Kokand exist?
The Khanate of Kokand is dated to 1709 CE – 1876 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
What was the capital of the Khanate of Kokand?
The capital of the Khanate of Kokand was Koktonliq Ata (1709–1740), Kokand (1740–1876).
How large was the Khanate of Kokand at its peak?
At its peak in 1834 the Khanate of Kokand covered about 475,816 km².
How did the map of the Khanate of Kokand change over time?
The Khanate of Kokand appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1800 CE to 1850 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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