Governance in Kyrgyzstan in the 18th to early 20th Century
The new period of Kyrgyzstan's history spans from the 18th to the early 20th century. It can be conditionally divided into several stages.
1. Kyrgyzstan as part of the Kokand Khanate (1711-1876).
2. Kyrgyzstan as part of the Russian Empire (1850s-70s — 1917).
During this new period, the Kyrgyz did not have their own statehood and were part of two states. The chronological boundaries of the Kyrgyz's inclusion in either state are expressed vaguely. Therefore, historical processes could not have a logical sequence in terms of time and space.
The Kyrgyz were part of the Kokand Khanate almost since its formation (from the 1720s for the southern Kyrgyz, and from the 1820s for the northern Kyrgyz), but they were often nominally dependent populations, as they relied on the strong support of their tribes. This circumstance allowed them to actively intervene in both the internal and external politics of the khans, especially in matters of succession.
At the beginning of the 18th century, Fergana was a region politically separated from the Bukhara Emirate. The population of the southwestern part of the valley lived under the leadership of the hakim of Khojent, Akboto-biy-Kyrgyz. The central and northern parts of the valley were under the theocratic authority of the Khodja of Chodak and Kasan. The eastern and mountainous parts of the Fergana Valley were mainly under the control of nomadic Kyrgyz. The conditions of relative peaceful life contributed to the strengthening of the influence of the nomadic nobility. The developing external threat from Dzungaria (from the east) and the favorable political situation within the valley created conditions for the renewed political activity of two nomadic clans striving to seize political power from the Khodjas and create a secular state. The result of this activity was the formation of the polyethnic Kokand Khanate in the early 18th century — a union of two nomadic clans: the Uzbek-Ming clan led by Shahruq-biy, a descendant of Babur, and the Kyrgyz clan led by the Khojent Akboto-biy, who was the son-in-law of Shahruq-biy.
The 167-year existence of the Kokand Khanate (1709-1876) can be divided into three major periods.
1. 1709-1800s — the establishment of the Kokand Khanate as a state. During this period, the Fergana Valley was fully incorporated into the Kokand state.
2. 1800-1840s — the time of development and flourishing of the Kokand Khanate. During these years, with the further development of the political-administrative organization of the khanate, both internal and external policies were strengthened. The Kokand Khanate expanded territorially far beyond the Fergana Valley.
3. 1842-1876 — social and political crises intensified in the Kokand state. A popular movement emerged in 1873-1876, which resulted in the fall of the khanate — the Fergana Valley was conquered by Russian colonizers (1876).
Based on sources on the history of Kokand, we can see four political forces that significantly influenced its history: the Sart, the Ming (Uzbeks), the Kyrgyz, and the Kipchaks. While the political power of the Sarts mainly formed the "Sartiya," the Kyrgyz and Kipchaks united in the "Ilatia." The Ming (Uzbeks) in the 18th century constituted a group of nomadic feudalists aligned with the "Ilatia," but by the 19th century they gradually merged into the "Sartiya."
In the years 1709-1760, a group of Mings held political power in Kokand. However, they shared power with Kyrgyz biys (Akboto-biy, the Kokand-Kyrgyz alliance of 1741-1760, Kubat-biy, Azhy-biy, and others). Starting from 1760-1800, the political group of Mings gradually began to align with the "Sartiya" (the policy of Narboto-biy). Although the Mings were in power during the 1800-1840s, their policy was economically controlled by a strong group of Sarts and the military caste of Galchi. As the Mings transitioned to settled life, conditions were created for their transformation into urban populations, increasing connections with the Sarts, and even their incorporation into this category.
As a result of the political crisis of 1840-1842, the Kyrgyz biys re-emerged on the historical stage, and in 1842-1844 they managed to fully take power into their own hands (Kyrgyz Nuzup-biy). From 1844-1856, the Kipchaks came to prominence (Musulmanqul Minbashi). In 1856-1858, the Kyrgyz regained power. During the rule of Kyrgyz biy and datka Alymbek and Kyrgyz military leader Alymkul from 1858-1865, the khan's authority almost lost its significance, especially during Alymkul's leadership (1863-1865), when the official khan Sultan Seyit was completely dependent on the will of the Kyrgyz biy. Although from 1865-1875 power passed to representatives of the former feudal Mings and the "Sartiya," the Kyrgyz and Kipchak biys actively participated in state administration (Abdrahman Aptabachi, Sher Datka, Narimanbet Datka, Kedeibai Datka, Kurmanjan Datka, and others). During the movement of 1873-1876, the Kyrgyz biys once again tried to seize power — Kyrgyz mullah Ishak Asan uulu was proclaimed khan under the name Polot-khan. This was an attempt to achieve the previous traditional political balance. When a separate group achieved leadership in the power structures, representatives of other groups also participated in governance.
All state positions in the khanate were distributed among representatives of the nomadic Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Kipchak peoples. Usually, the Kyrgyz and Kipchaks received positions such as atalyk, minbashi, amirlyashker, naib, ynak, eshik-agalyk, and others. For example, under Alimkhan (1800-1810), the son of Narboto-biy, the relatives of his Kyrgyz wife Momunbek and Yrysqulbek were appointed commanders of the Kokand troops — amir lyashkers. Under Madali-khan (1822-1841), Kyrgyz Nuzup held the position of commander-in-chief — minbashi. At the same time, the title of datka was held by Kyrgyz from the Adigine tribe — Alymbek, from the Keseq tribe — Seyitbek, from the Tolos tribe — Polot, from the Avat tribe — Satybaldy, from the Saruu tribe — Azhibek. They were influential figures at the khan's court and held prominent positions in the Kokand state. At this time, the influence of Kyrgyz feudal lords was so high that they held positions in the khanate such as: Nuzup (1842-1844) — minbashi and atalyk, Alymbek Datka (1858-1862) — chief vizier of the khan, Kasym (1853-1856) — minbashi, Alymkul (1863-1865) — amir lyashkar (commander-in-chief of the Kokand army) and atalyk, Atabek — naib (commander of the ground forces and artillery), Sheraly — ynak (commander of the cavalry), Kydyr-biy — eshikagalyk (head of the khan's court), etc. In addition, prominent Kyrgyz feudal lords were awarded titles such as parvanachi, pansad, and were treated with respect. The mother of Kudaayar-khan, the Kyrgyz Jarkynaiym, and the wife of Alymbek Datka, Kurmanjan Datka, had great authority and influence in the khanate. The fact that the last khan of the Kokand state was Kyrgyz Ishak Asan uulu (Polot-khan) also confirms the role of the Kyrgyz in this regard.
All the historical facts mentioned above indicate that the Kokand Khanate was a political regime, a united state of both "Sartiya" and "Ilatia," and thus represented the statehood of both Uzbeks and Kyrgyz, as well as Tajiks. Based on these indisputable materials, it can be stated that the Kokand Khanate was one of the forms of development of Kyrgyz statehood in the 18th-19th centuries.
