Pursuing, in foreign policy, the goal of expanding its borders in the East, the Russian Empire initially tried to establish multifaceted ties with the Bukhara Emirate, the Khiva and Kokand Khanates.
At the same time, primarily for the purpose of collecting additional information about the khanates, ambassadors were sent to Central Asia. Even during the reign of Peter 1, a military expedition was sent to Central Asia under the command of Alexander Bekovich-Cherkassky. After the plan failed, the tsarist government began building defensive fortifications. In 1718, seven such structures were built on the banks of the Irtysh River.
The collection of information on the political, socio-economic and military situation in Central Asia continued, and data on water supply and land roads was collected. Agents penetrated Central Asia under the guise of travelers, traders, merchants and ambassadors. In the 19th century industry Russian Empire began to feel the need for industrial raw materials, additional markets for the products produced, in addition, the need to own its own territory producing cotton fiber for the textile industry increased. All this further accelerated the conquest of Central Asia. That is why in the middle of the 19th century. the conquest of Central Asia became a priority task for the Russian Empire. In addition, in external economic policy The manifestation of England's increased interest in Central Asia and the accelerated entry of English trade served as a catalyst that accelerated the expansion of the government of the Russian Empire.
Since the 19th century. The East India Company of Great Britain began to show an active interest in the khanates, which had important strategic importance, as well as to their natural resources and raw materials. In 1825, the English government sent M. Moorcroft to Central Asia to establish connections. After his visit to Bukhara, on the way home, he and his two companions were killed. In 1832, A. Burns arrived in Bukhara, in 1844 - Major I. Wolf, and in 1843, Captain J. Abbott went to Khiva and Bukhara.
Representatives of the East India Company C. Stoddart and A. Connolly visit the states of Central Asia with an offer to provide military assistance and create a military alliance against tsarist Russia. However, in 1842, by order of the emir, they were executed. After the execution of the ambassadors, the British government concludes an agreement with Afghanistan against Bukhara and arms the Afghans. As a result, Afghanistan conquered part of the Bukhara Emirate, and in 1855 the southern bank of the Amu Darya, where Uzbeks and Tajiks lived, was declared a province of Afghanistan.
By the middle of the 19th century, in response to England’s policy towards Central Asia, the Russian Empire directed its efforts towards the speedy conquest of the Bukhara Emirate, Kokand and Khiva Khanates. This was also due to the defeat of the tsarist government in the Crimean War (1853-1856), which was the impetus for the conquest of Central Asia. The Russian Empire first of all made its main efforts to conquer the roads leading to Central Asia, focusing on completely blocking trade routes. As a result, defensive fortifications were erected on what was considered the main road leading from Tashkent to Orenburg. At the place where the Syr Darya flows into the Aral Sea, the Raim fortress was built in 1847.
The reason for the invasion of Central Asia was statements about countering the supposedly frequent armed attacks of robbers against the population of the border regions of the Russian Empire. In addition, the Russian textile industry began to experience an acute shortage of raw cotton due to the outbreak of the Civil War between North and South in the United States (1861-1865). This circumstance accelerated the beginning of the conquest of Central Asia.
In the first half of the 19th century. prolonged civil strife and internal strife between the khanates of Central Asia led to the depletion of their economic and military potential. These circumstances made the task of conquering states quite feasible.
Thus, by the middle of the 19th century. clashes between khanates, internal contradictions and conflicts, the inability of the government to carry out far-sighted foreign and domestic policy, led to a serious weakening of these states. In this situation, the tsarist government of Russia, pursuing its political, economic and geopolitical interests, decides to begin military operations to conquer Central Asia.
Stages of the conquest campaign against Central Asia
The Russian Empire's conquest of Central Asia can be divided into four stages.
The first stage (1847-1865) - Russia captured the northwestern regions of the Kokand Khanate and the city of Tashkent. In the occupied territories, the Turkestan region was created as part of the Orenburg Governor-General.
The second stage (1865-1868) completed the main part of the Russian Empire's conquest of the Khanate of Kokand and the Emirate of Bukhara.
The third stage (1873-1879) is the period of complete conquest of the Khiva and Kokand khanates.
The fourth stage (1880-1885) - the defeat and subjugation of the Turkmen tribes.
Thus, from 1864 to 1885, that is, for more than 20 years, as a result of the military campaigns of the Russian Empire, most of the territory of Central Asia was conquered.
The beginning of military expansion against Central Asia
After the decree of Emperor Alexander II of Russia (1855-1881) to continue the conquest of the Kokand Khanate in 1859, military actions against the Khanate became even more fierce. To do this, first of all, it was necessary to conquer main city Khanate - Tashkent. The Akmechet fortress was chosen to capture Tashkent and conduct military operations. In 1852, the tsarist troops were defeated; in 1853, a second attempt was made to capture the fortress. For 20 days, 400 defenders of the fortress confronted an army of three thousand. Despite the heroic resistance of the defenders of the fortress, surrounded on all sides, the army units of the tsarist government captured the fortress. Subsequently, this fortress began to serve as a support base during combat operations and was renamed Perovsky’s fort.
In 1864, an army of more than three thousand soldiers under the command of N. Veryovkin and M. Chernyaev, in two directions - from the side of Fort Perovsky (Orenburg direction) and from the side of the city of Verny (Almaty) set out in the direction of Tashkent. On June 4, troops under the command of M. Chernyaev occupied the fortification of Aulieata (now the city of Taraz), which is located on the left bank of the Talas River. The commander of the troops of the Kokand Khanate, Amir-Lashkar Alimkul, is sent to lead the defense of the cities of Turkestan and Chimkent. N. Verevkin put forward an ultimatum, demanding that the defenders surrender Turkestan, otherwise he would subject the city to total shelling and destroy the mausoleum of Ahmad Yassawi, erected by Amir Temur. As a result, Alimkul was forced to withdraw troops from Turkestan and retreat to defend Chimkent. After three days of fighting, on July 12, N. Verevkin’s detachment captured the city of Turkestan of the Kokand Khanate and prepared for the siege of Tashkent, surrounded by a 20-kilometer fortress wall.
M. Chernyaev was appointed commander of these military operations. In the fall of 1864, the city of Chimkent fell, and the captured fortresses began to unite on the basis of the New Kokand Line. By that time, a continuous fortified line had been formed: from the Raim fortress to the Perovsky fort - the Syrdarya line, and from the city of Semipa-Latinsk to the city of Verny - the Siberian line of fortifications.
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The beginning of the conquest movement of the Russian Empire in Central Asia Updated: January 27, 2017 By: admin
In the mid-19th century, Great Britain, having included India in the British Empire, began to actively explore the Middle East. In the strategic plans of the British government, this region was considered as a potentially profitable market for British industrial goods and a convenient springboard for further military-political expansion. The desire to prevent Britain from strengthening in this region prompted Russian government intensify its foreign policy activities in Central Asia.
The process of capturing Central Asia took place in several stages. In the period 1857-1862, preparations were carried out, which included a series of reconnaissance expeditions to Iran and East Turkestan, which were designed to comprehensively study the political and socio-economic situation and the position of Great Britain in the region. In 1863, military operations against Kokand began. In the course of successful operations carried out by the commander of the Syr-Darya line, Colonel Verevkin, and the Semirechye Cossacks under the command of Colonel Chernyaev, Turkestan was captured on June 12, 1864, and Chimkent on September 21. As a result, the dominance of the Kokand Khanate was eliminated, and the conquered territories were included in the newly formed Turkestan region of the Orenburg Governor-General.
Then, in the period 1865-1868, the independence of the Kokand and Bukhara Khanates was liquidated. In June 1865, General Chernyaev captured Tashkent, which was the largest administrative and commercial center in Central Asia. This event, in fact, made the entire Kokand Khanate dependent on Russia, despite the fact that Chernyaev suspended military operations on its territory. The conquest of the lands of the Kokand Khanate by the Bukhara emir and his claims to dominance over Kokand predetermined the inclusion of Tashkent into the Russian Empire - in 1867 it became part of the newly formed Turkestan Governor-General.
In mid-1865, it was decided to begin military operations against the Bukhara Emirate. On May 8, 1866, in the battle in the Irjar tract, the Bukhara army was defeated. Then Russian troops under the command of General Romanovsky captured Khojent and the Nau fortress, thus expelling the Bukharians from the territory of the Kokand Khanate. The refusal of the Bukhara emir to sign a peace treaty on Russia’s terms became the reason for the entry of Russian troops into the Bukhara Emirate. In September 1866 they captured Ura-Tyube, Jizzakh, and Yany-Kurgan. On May 1, 1868, on the initiative of the 1st Governor-General of the Turkestan Territory Kaufman, the Zeravshan Valley was occupied and Samarkand, Kata-Kurgan and Ursut were occupied practically without resistance. The road to the capital of the emirate, Bukhara, was open, but the Russian government decided to turn the troops back.
At the end of hostilities, Kaufman obtained from the Kokand Khan Khudoyar the signing of a trade agreement, which actually turned this state into a Russian colony. On June 23, 1868, the Emir of Bukhara signed an agreement with Russia. He recognized the entry of Khujand, Ura-Tyube, and Jizzakh into the Russian Empire. Russian subjects were granted the right to free trade and establish trade agencies in the emirate, freedom of movement throughout the country, security of person and property, etc. The Bukhara Emirate undertook to pay an indemnity to Russia, but to fully guarantee its receipt, Russia temporarily occupied Samarkand and Kata-Kurgan, from the areas of which the Zeravshan district was formed. As a result, Russia achieved complete dominance over vast territories of Central Asia.
The last stage is the occupation of the western part of Central Asia in 1869-1873. On August 22, 1869, Emperor Alexander II authorized the seizure of the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. On November 3 of the same year, Russian troops landed in Muravyovaya Bay of the Krasnovodsk Bay and occupied the adjacent territories inhabited by Turkmens. In February 1873, Russian troops began attacking Khiva from the Krasnovodsk Bay.
On August 12, 1873, the Khan of Khiva, Muhammad Rahim II, signed an agreement with Russia, according to which he recognized dependence on the Russian Empire, renouncing independent conduct of foreign policy. Part of the territories of the Khanate was transferred to the Bukhara Emirate, the other part of the lands - along the right bank of the Amu Darya - to the Amu Darya department of the Syrdarya region. The head of this department controlled the activities of the Khiva Khan. Russian ships were given the right to navigate the Amu Darya, and it was planned to allocate territory for the construction of Russian piers, trading posts, trading warehouses and ensure their safety. Russian merchants were exempt from paying trade duties.
In 1874-1885, Kokand and Turkmenistan were annexed to Russia. Since the early 1870s. The internal political situation in the Kokand Khanate became significantly more complicated; Khan Khudoyar, who was loyal to Russia, was forced to flee to Tashkent. Under the circumstances, the Turkestan Governor-General Kaufman began to insist on decisive action. In his opinion, the capture of the Namangan region was supposed to strengthen Russia’s position in mountainous Kyrgyzstan and strengthen control over the situation in the Khanate itself and Kashgar. Therefore, on September 22, 1875, Kaufman imposed an agreement on the new ruler Nasreddin in the spirit of the agreements with Khiva and Bukhara, and on February 19, 1876, a royal decree was issued on the inclusion of the Kokand Khanate into the Turkestan General Government.
This was followed by the capture of Turkmenistan by Russian troops. In 1879-1881, the Ahal-Tekin oasis with the administrative center in Ashgabat was included in the Transcaspian region; in 1884, the Tejen, Merv and Penda oases were included in the empire. According to the Russian-Persian 1881 and Russian-Afghan 1887 treaties, the demarcation of the Russian-Iranian and Russian-Afghan borders in the region was carried out, which, in essence, completed the annexation of Turkmen lands to Russia.
The final stage of 1883-1895 is the solution of the “Pamir issue”. In the late 1880s - early 1890s. the center of gravity of Anglo-Russian rivalry in Central Asia shifted to the Pamirs. This region consisted of 2 parts - the Eastern Pamir, inhabited by the Kyrgyz, was part of the Kokand Khanate, the Western Pamir was inhabited by mountain Tajiks, who retained their independence.
After the successful annexation of Turkmenistan and the establishment of northwestern borders with Afghanistan and Iran, Russia sent several reconnaissance expeditions to the Pamirs in 1891 and 1892, and in the summer of 1892 a border detachment under the command of Colonel Ionov, consisting of 200 infantrymen and 50 Cossacks, was permanently stationed on the Murgab River. This action had enormous foreign policy significance - it became clear that a solution to the “Pamir issue” was now possible only through negotiations, since Britain did not have sufficient military forces in this region.
From 1893 to 1895, Russia and Great Britain actively exchanged notes, in which each state proposed its own version of the Pamir border demarcation. In August 1895, the agreement between the two states was ratified and, in fact, completed the annexation of Central Asia to the Russian Empire.
Speaking about the conquest of Central Asia by Russia, it should be noted the exceptional role of the regular and Cossack troops of Western Siberia in the implementation of this task. The Siberian Cossack Army and the Semirechensk Army, formed from the 9th and 10th regimental districts of the Siberian Cossack Regiment, participated in the Tashkent, Khiva, Kokand campaigns, etc. Settlements Siberian Cossacks on the Upper Irtysh - Semipalatinsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk, the Siberian fortified line with the villages of Kopalskaya, Iliskaya, Urdzharskaya, Lepsinskaya, Alma-Ata, formed during the creation of the Semirechensk Cossack army, became the support base for Russia’s active offensive in Central Asia.
In the 30-40s of the 19th century. England is increasing its penetration into Central Asia. English goods are finding ever wider sales in the khanates, displacing products of Russian industry.
The danger of a reduction in trade turnover between Russia and Central Asia in the 40-50s. forced Russian capitalists and merchants to increase pressure on the government and demand from it a more energetic policy towards the Uzbek khanates. During these years, Russia did not yet intend to completely conquer these khanates, but defeat in the Crimean War in 1855-1857. emphasized the enormous political and strategic importance of Central Asia for Russia.
Thus, the tsarist government began to conduct comprehensive reconnaissance of the situation in Central Asia, sought to strengthen its position diplomatically and economically, but at the same time, resolutely preparing for a military invasion of Central Asia. Russian Foreign Minister A.M. Gorchakov reported to Alexander II: “The future of Russia in Asia” - this was the main content of Russian foreign policy.
Thus, internecine war between the khanates, many cities and villages of the khanates fell into decay. The people suffered greatly from this. The khans begin to send their ambassadors to Russia, seeking her support.
Even during the time of Peter I, there were attempts to conquer the Central Asian khanates. In 1717 A Russian military expedition led by A. Bekovich-Cherkassky invaded the territory of the Khiva Khanate, but they were destroyed by Shergozi Khan.
In 1830 the next attempt is made to take possession of the Khanate. It is headed by the Orenburg Governor-General Perovsky, but difficult conditions force them to return back.
Russia's military invasion of Central Asia intensified in the 60s of the 19th century. This was the most favorable time for Russia. Peasant reform 1861 strengthened the shaky position of tsarist Russia, and the revolutionary situation did not develop into a revolution.
So, the main reasons for Russia’s expansion into Central Asia were:
- 1) Russia’s desire for compensation for defeat in the Crimean War
- 2) Anglo-Russian contradictions in the Near and Middle East, strategic considerations
- 3) The determining motive for the invasion was the post-reform economic development Russia (Central Asia - as a sales market and raw material base)
- 4) Civil War in the USA 1862-1865. reduced the supply of American cotton to Russia. Because 90% of the Russian textile industry worked on this cotton, the textile industry fell into decay. Central Asian traders took advantage of this and sharply raised cotton prices. The Russian bourgeoisie turns to Nicholas I with a request to conquer this region. Central Asia was a convenient source of raw materials.
The movement to Central Asia began with the capture in 1853. Kokand fortress Ak-mosque. The offensive of the troops went in two directions. The eastern direction was headed by General Verevkin, the western direction by General Chernyaev. In 1864 both directions converged in Shymkent. Verevkin captured Aulie-Ata, Chernyaev took Turkestan and Chimkent.
- 1865 - capture of Tashkent. September 27, 1964 Chernyaev heads towards Tashkent. Tashkent was then surrounded by a strong wall, which had 12 city gates. The fence was so strong that a pair of mounted horses could ride on it. Chernyaev lost 72 soldiers and was forced to retreat to Chimkent. 1865 On April 28, Chernyaev conquered the city of Niyazbek near Chirchik and blocked the Kaykovus ditch, which supplies water to Tashkent, its channel was transferred to Chirchik. As a result, Tashkent is left without water.
- 1866 - attempt to conquer Samarkand, but was conquered in 1868.
- 1867 The Turkestan Governor-General was formed (July 14). Baron von K.P. Kaufmann was appointed the first governor-general.
- 1868 Bukhara turns into a vassal of Russia, even agreeing to pay an indemnity of 500 thousand rubles for military costs. The Zarafshan Military District is formed in the conquered territories.
- 1873 there was the conquest of the Khiva Khanate, payment of indemnity in the amount of 2 million 200 thousand rubles. Now Russian merchants had the opportunity to transport their goods through the Khiva possessions to all other neighboring countries without duty.
- 1874 the turn of the Kokand Khanate came, but it was gripped by popular unrest against Khudayarkhan, caused by his exactions and cruelty.
- February 19, 1876 The Kokand Khanate is part of Russia and in its place the Fergana region is formed, the military governor of which is appointed General M.D. Skobelev. With the annexation of the Kokand Khanate, the process of the final formation of the Turkestan General Government was completed, which now had territories from the Tien Shan in the east to the Amu Darya in the West, reaching the Pamirs in the south.
- 1881 conquered Geok-Tepe (now Ashgabat)
- 1884 completion of the final conquest of Central Asia.
It should be noted that representatives of the upper class, in order to assert their position and gain any privileges, began to help the invaders. It was they who in 1867 in March, on behalf of the people, they attended a reception with Emperor Alexander II in St. Petersburg. In this audience, they said that they were very grateful to the emperor for taking them under his protection. This letter was signed by 59 people. Among them are Shaykhul-Islom Nosir mullah (Turkiston), Kazi mullah Talashpan (Chimkent), Major Khudaybergan (Avlie-ota), Saidazimbay Muhammad Ogla (Tashkent), Yusuf Khoja (Khudjent).
For special services in the conquest of Central Asia, 152 people were awarded high awards by the emperor. For example, it was awarded to the “Head of the Zachus detachment, Major General Chernyaev” for the storming of Tashkent on June 15, 16, 17, 1865. a golden saber decorated with diamonds with the inscription “for the storming of Tashkent” - so what kind of voluntary accession can we talk about?
Skobelev was also awarded for his services in the conquest of the Kokand Khanate. To the Chief of the General Staff, Colonel Skobelev - for dealing with the Kokand people in 1875-1876. a golden saber “For Bravery” and a golden sword decorated with diamonds “For Bravery”.
Simultaneously royal Russia led a resettlement policy. By 1910 In the Turkestan region (Syr Darya, Samarkand, Fergana), 124 Russian villages appeared, 70 thousand lived in them, and together with the urban Russian population 200 thousand.
36.7% of the migrants had no property, 61% were the poorest population (without money). Moreover, they were allocated fertile lands.
As a result, the indigenous population found themselves landless or land-poor; the poor were now forced to take up hired labor as mardikers and tearikers. They were forced to be away from their families for 7-8 months, worked 12 hours and received 70 kopecks for their work. At that time, one ram cost 2 rubles, 1 kg of flour - 4 kopecks, rice - 5 kopecks.
In the middle of the 19th century, Russia noticeably intensified its policy in the Central Asian direction in connection with the growing ambitions of the British Empire. Having gained a foothold in India, the British hoped to extend their influence to Afghanistan and Central Asia. The Russian-British confrontation went down in history as Big game.
For Russia, the situation was complicated by tense relations with its Central Asian neighbors, whose aggressive sentiments were supported by Ottoman Empire. The southern borders of the state needed protection from constant raids and predatory attacks. Campaigns in Central Asia in the Russian Empire were considered as a policy of “pacifying the eastern lands.”
"A handful of our soldiers"
Before the start of the Great Game, the territory of Central Asia was subordinate to the Bukhara Emirate, Kokand and Khiva Khanates. The first clashes between Russian soldiers and the Khanate of Kokand, which occupied territory in the eastern part of modern Uzbekistan, as well as in the south and east of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, began in 1850. Military assistance to the regular Russian army was provided by the Ural Cossacks, Kazakhs and representatives of a number of local tribes.
After three years of successful fighting, St. Petersburg was forced to stop the offensive due to heavy Crimean War(1853-1856). In 1860, Russian expeditionary forces renewed their attack on the Khanate of Kokand. A major success of the imperial troops was the capture of Tashkent in May 1865, Khujand in May 1866 and Jizzakh in October 1866.
On the conquered lands in 1867, the Russians created the Turkestan Governor-General. Thus ended the first stage of the conquest (colonization) of Central Asia. The new formation on the map of the empire was headed by a native of the Kingdom of Poland, General Konstantin Petrovich von Kaufman.
- N. Karazin. Alarm in the fortress redoubt
- N. N. Karazin. Alarm in the fortress redoubt
Russia lacked resources for the colonization of Central Asia. Negative influence The colonization process was influenced by the consequences of the lost Crimean War. In addition, in the 1860s, the empire underwent a large-scale military reform, accompanied by a revision of the staff and a radical change in the system of command and control.
St. Petersburg could not pay enough attention to the Central Asian direction. Often imperial army there were not enough people to leave garrisons in the captured fortresses. Therefore, at the first stage of the war with the Kokand Khanate, the Russians destroyed the enemy’s fortifications, after which they returned to their previous positions.
“These handfuls of our soldiers presented a strange appearance, surrounded and separated by a cloud of Bukhara horsemen, all moving forward to a position recognized as impregnable and occupied by ten times the strongest enemy. But such is the strength of spirit, such is the courage that does not know the impossible,” wrote General Alexei Kuropatkin in his memoirs.
Talent and courage
Despite objective difficulties, in the mid-1860s, expeditionary units began to occupy the conquered lands. The imperial troops were still small and outnumbered the enemy by tens of times. However, the Russians neutralized the superiority of the Asians using tactics on the battlefield.
A striking illustration of the military skill of the imperial army was the battle on the Zirabulak Heights between Katta-Kurgan and Bukhara, which took place on June 14, 1868. Kaufman's two-thousand-strong detachment easily defeated the 35-thousand-strong group of the Bukhara emir (according to other sources, its number was 21 thousand people). The Russians included 18 infantry companies and six Cossack hundreds.
The victory at the Zirabulak Heights made it possible to save the Russian garrison of Samarkand, located 250 km from Bukhara, commanded by Major Friedrich Karlovich von Stempel, from extermination. A small detachment of Russians (about 700 bayonets) heroically repelled enemy attacks for seven days.
“The commandant of the citadel, Major Shtempel, and Lieutenant Colonel Nazarov mobilized for the defense all non-combatants (clerks, musicians, quartermasters), as well as the sick and wounded of the local hospital who were able to hold weapons in their hands. The first attack was repulsed, but the defenders also suffered serious losses,” Kuropatkin described the siege.
In the first two days of fighting, the Russian garrison lost 25% of its personnel. Stampel sent messengers daily from among local residents to report to Kaufman about the critical condition of the garrison. But out of 20 envoys, only one reached the general.
“We are surrounded, the assaults are continuous, the losses are heavy, we need help,” the report said.
Kaufman's detachment, which arrived to the rescue of the garrison, quickly dispersed the attackers. The feat of Russian soldiers in Samarkand was sung in his paintings by an eyewitness of those events - the famous painter Vasily Vasilyevich Vereshchagin. From 1867 to 1869, the young artist worked in the Turkestan General Government.
“The Russian army was much better organized than the Bukhara army. In addition, before the campaigns, systematic training was carried out and combat coordination was practiced. The rear worked superbly, providing the troops with everything they needed. It is especially worth highlighting the talent of our commanders and the courage of the soldiers who steadfastly endured unusual climatic conditions“, Andrei Grozin, head of the Central Asia and Kazakhstan department of the Institute of CIS Countries, said in an interview with RT.
Access to Afghanistan
The military defeat of the Bukhara Khanate was preceded by the declaration of gazavat - a holy war - to the Turkestan General Government. In response, at the end of April 1868, the Russians launched an attack on Samarkand. The city was captured in mid-May. The advancing forces lost only a few soldiers, while hundreds of people died on the Bukharan side.
The catastrophic defeat of the emirate on the Zirabulak Heights and the consolidation of Samarkand to Russia opened the road to Bukhara for the imperial army. On July 5, 1868, Emir Sayyid Muzaffaruddin Bahadur Khan concluded an agreement with St. Petersburg, according to which the Central Asian state became a Russian protectorate.
- V. Vereshchagin. Soldiers at the fortress wall
- Vasily Vasilyevich Vereshchagin "Soldiers at the fortress wall"
The last major campaign in Central Asia - to the Khanate of Khiva, located on the territory of present-day Turkmenistan - was undertaken by the imperial army in 1873. The Russian troops were commanded by General Nikolai Aleksandrovich Verevkin, a participant in the Crimean War. For military services he received the Order of St. Vladimir, II degree, and the Order of St. George, III degree.
Russian troops suffered setbacks only in battles against the Tekins, a warlike tribal group of the Turkmen people. In 1880-1881, the resistance of the rebellious natives was broken by troops led by the legend of 1877-1878, General Mikhail Dmitrievich Skobelev.
Conquests in Central Asia allowed the imperial army to reach northern Afghanistan, which caused a stir in London. The Great Game with Great Britain ended with the signing of several compromise treaties. The British Empire recognized Russia's dominance over vast territories of Central Asia.
On July 22, 1887, in St. Petersburg, the parties entered into an agreement on the demarcation of the western section of the northern border of Afghanistan. On March 11, 1895, the two empires exchanged notes on delimiting spheres of influence in the Pamir mountain system (in an area currently located in the territory of modern Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the People's Republic of China).
Taking into account the interests
The peculiarity of the Russian colonization of Central Asia was the absence of stubborn resistance of the local population. Western empires, on the contrary, often resorted to mass extermination of natives in order to secure a colony. In particular, there are versions that as a result of the actions of the British conquerors in India, tens of millions of people died of starvation and were killed.
Russia tried to take into account the interests of the ruling elite and the cultural characteristics of the local population. It is known that before the war with Bukhara, a split occurred in the elite of the emirate. The local merchants opposed the declaration of gazavat, which the Muslim clergy insisted on.
- V. Vereshchagin. Parliamentarians
- "Parliamentarians" Vasily Vereshchagin
After the surrender of the emirate, the Russian government left garrisons in major cities Bukhara state, but did not deprive the emir of power. Sayyid Muzaffaruddin Bahadur Khan continued to rule in the territory under his control before the conquest - the protectorates of the Russian Empire always retained greater internal autonomy.
The policy of the Russian administration in Central Asia was aimed mainly at collecting taxes, developing Agriculture and prevention of conflicts, including on ethnic grounds. Officials and the military practically did not interfere with the culture and traditions of the Central Asian peoples, and the Muslim clergy refrained from anti-Russian agitation.
Andrei Grozin believes that the Bukhara Emirate, like other states of Central Asia, ceased to exist due to the unviable political system. In his opinion, the arrival of the Russians made it possible to destroy the slave system and a number of medieval remnants that hampered the socio-economic development of the region.
“Central Asia was colonized relatively easily by Russia, mainly due to the reluctance of the locals to support the previous political regime. The Russian administration maintained the necessary tact when interacting with the elite and population of the region. Therefore, the Russians did not encounter serious resistance, and some of the Central Asian peoples even provided them with assistance,” Grozin emphasized.
Conquest of Central Asia by the Russian Empire. Asia interested England and Russia. Reasons for the conquest:
- to strengthen international authority;
- not to give England complete dominance in Asia;
- get cheap raw materials and cheap labor;
- sales of the Russian market.
The conquests of Central Asia by the Russian Empire took place in four stages:
- 1847-1964 (war with the Kokand Khanate and attempt to capture Tashkent);
- 1865-1868 (continuation of the war against the Kokand Khanate and military operations against the Bukhara Emirate);
- 1873-1879 (conquest of the Kokand and Khiva Khanates);
- 1880-1885 (subjugation of the Turkmen tribes and the end of the conquest of Central Asia).
The wars in Central Asia carried out by the Russian Empire were exclusively of an aggressive nature.
War against the Khanate of Kokand
The first serious step in the war against the Khanate of Kokand was taken in 1850 from an expedition Russian army to strengthen the Kokand people of Toychubek, which is across the Ili River. The Toychubek fortification was a stronghold of the Khanate, with the help of which control was exercised over the Trans-Ili region. It was possible to take the stronghold only in 1851, which marked the annexation of the region to the Russian Empire.
In 1852, the Russian army destroys two more fortresses and plans an attack on Ak-Mechet. In 1853, Ak-Mechet was captured by a large detachment of Perovsky, after which it was renamed Fort Perovsky. The Kakand Khanate tried more than once to return Ak-Mosque, but the Russian army each time repelled quite massive attacks by the Khanate’s army, which outnumbered the defenders.
In 1860, the Khanate declared Russia holy war and gathers an army of 20 thousand people. In October of the same year, the army of the Khanate was defeated at Uzun-Agach. On December 4, 1864, a battle took place near the village of Ikan, where a hundred Cossacks confronted approximately 10 thousand soldiers of the Khanate’s army. In the heroic confrontation, half of the Cossacks died, but the enemy lost about 2 thousand people killed. For two days and nights, the Cossacks repulsed the attacks of the Khanate and, having formed a square, left the encirclement, after which they returned to the fortress.
The capture of Tashkent and the war against the Bukhara Emirate
Russian General Chernyaev received information that the army of the Bukhara Emirate was eager to capture Tashkent, which prompted Chernyaev to make an immediate move and be the first to take the city. In May 1866, Chernyaev surrounds Tashkent. The Kakand Khanate makes a foray, but it ends in failure. During the raid, the commander of the city's defense dies, which will have a significant impact on the defense capability of the garrison in the future.
After the siege, in mid-July, the Russian army storms the city and within three days completely captures it with relatively small losses. Then the Russian army inflicted a crushing defeat on the army of the Bukhara Emirate near Irjar. Wars against the emirate were fought with long interruptions, and the Russian army finally conquered its territories by the end of the 70s.
Subordination of the Khanate of Khiva
In 1873, military operations against the Khanate of Khiva were resumed. Russian Army General Kaufman led an expedition to capture the city of Hawa. After a grueling journey, in May 1873 the Russian army surrounded the city. Khan, seeing Kaufman’s army, decided to surrender the city, but his influence among the city’s population was so weak that the residents decided not to obey the khan’s orders and were ready to defend the city.
The khan himself fled from Khava before the assault, and the poorly organized defenders of the city were unable to repel the attack of the Russian army. Khan planned to continue the war against the empire, but two days later he came to the general and surrendered. Russia did not plan to completely capture the emirate, so it left the khan as ruler, but he completely obeyed the orders of the Russian emperor. Khan also pledged to support the Russian army and garrisons in the emirate with food.
War against Turkmenistan
After the conquest of the emirate, General Kaufman demanded an indemnity from the Turkmens for plundering the territories of the Khanate of Khiva, but they refused, which was followed by a declaration of war. In the same 1873, the Russian army inflicted several defeats on the enemy armies, after which the latter’s resistance seriously weakened and they agreed to sign the treaty.
Then the wars against the Turkmen began again and until 1879 none of them ended in success. And only in 1881, under the command of the Russian general Skobelev, the area of the Akhal-Teke oasis in Turkmenistan was captured. After the victory, the Russian army showed interest in the city of Merv, which it considered the heart of all crime in the Trans-Caspian region.
In 1884, the Mervians swore an oath to the Russian emperor without resistance. The following year, an incident took place between the British and the Russian army for possession of Afghanistan, which almost led to war between the states. Only by a miracle was war avoided.
The Russian Empire, meanwhile, continued to develop Turkmenistan, encountering only a small resistance from small mountain tribes. In 1890, the small town of Kushka was built, which became the southernmost city in the Russian Empire. The construction of the stronghold marked the complete control of the Russian Empire over Turkmenistan.