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Siege of Tashkent

The siege of Tashkent was the last major clash in the Russo-Kokand war [ru], fought between the Khanate of Kokand and the Russian Empire. The battle would cause the death of the then de-facto leader of Kokand Alimqul, and the weakening of the khanate as a whole. The Russian Empire would annex the city, strengthening its position in Central Asia, and facilitating it's later conquest of Bukhara.

Seige of Tashkent
Part of The Russian conquest of Central Asia

The Capture of Tashkent by General Chernyayev, 1890, painting by Nikolay Karazin
Date9 May – 17 June 1865
Location
Tashkent
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire Russian Empire  Khanate of Kokand
Tashkentis
Commanders and leaders
Russian Empire Mikhail Chernyayev Khanate of Kokand Alimqul †
Strength
1,951 approx. 30,000
Casualties and losses
41 dead
179 wounded		 Extremely heavy
For the 1365 battle, see battle of Tashkent.

Background

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Conflict within Kokand allowed Russia to conquer Kokand's subjects in the Kazakh Steppe in 1864.[1] Further division was present, as the clergy were willing to ally with the Khanate of Bukhara, and merchants were willing to accept Russian rule due to heavy taxation from Kokand.[2]

During the 1800s, Tashkent was the most prosperous city in Central Asia.[2] Over the past decades, much of Russian foreign policy in the region had been centered on eventually capturing the city.[3] While the city was highly valued by the Russian Empire, Tsar Alexander II held off on ordering an attack of the city, fearing possible reprisal from the British and doubting the capability of regional commander Mikhail Chernyayev's small army.[2]

As for Tashkent, I beg your Excellency vigilantly and closely to observe everything that occurs in this town, and to assist the moral party that wishes to separate from hostile Khoqand and through your actions to direct the formation from Tashkent of a polity, independent from Khoqand and Bukhara, but a vassal of Russia.

—Letter from Nikolai Kryzhanovsky [ru] to Mikhail Chernyayev[1]

However, on February 2 1865 Governor-General of Orenburg Province Nikolai Kryzhanovsky [ru] sent a letter Chernyayev, containing a summary of document by Foreign Minister Alexander Gorchakov and a set of instructions. While Gorchakov's section was clear that Tashkent was not to be annexed by Russia, and an independent city-state was desired, Nikolai Kryzhanovsky's notes were vague, and granted Chernyayev reasonable powers to attack the city.[4][5] Kryzhanovsky additionally stated that he would be visiting the region in summer, which possibly motivated Chernyayev to attack faster, not wanting to share credit for the battle.[6]

Prelude

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In May 1865, Chernyayev began the march to Tashkent after receiving news that Bukharan forces were 15 miles away from Tashkent, and preparing to launch an assault. On April 29, Chernyayev's forces reached Fort Niazbek, a garrison of 7,000 Kokand soldiers just south of Tashkent. Chernyayev would launch an attack on the city, successfully capturing it at a loss of only seven men wounded.[7][8] Niazbek lay upstream of Tashkent on the Chirchik River, which served as Tashkent's primary water source. Chernyayev ordered his engineer company to divert the river, cutting off water supply to Tashkent.[4] While in Niazbek, reinforcements called by Chernyayev arrived, bolstering his numbers to 1,900.[8]

Upon hearing of Niazbek's capture several days later, Alimqul sent riders to inform provincial leaders, and immediately rode to Tashkent accompanied by 6,000 soldiers and 12 guns from the Ferghana valley.[4][9]

Siege

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Clash with Alimqul

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On May 8 Chernyayev reached Tashkent, and began to study the defenses and contact allies within the city. Chernyayev came to the conclusion that his comparatively small numbers would render a siege impossible, and that the city could only be captured through a sudden assault. This was enabled by the length of the wall, which caused defenses to be spread extremely thin.[10]

On May 9, Alimqul arrived near Shur-Tepa, a location outside of Tashkent's walls where Chenyaev's troops were stationed, and at 6:00 a.m. began shelling the Russian camp. Russian forces soon prepared a counterattack, with the 4th companies splitting to initiate a frontal assault hitting the center and a flanking maneuver. Alimqul's troops offered very weak resistance.[11] At some point during the battle Alimquil was shot and killed, leading to a mass retreat of forces.[12][13] The guard retreated first, followed by the infantry. Much of the infantry was overrun by Russian forces, and the artillery were abandoned. In total, approximatly 300 Kokandi soldiers were killed, and 10 Russian soldiers were wounded.[11] Those remaining in Alimqul's army would not stay for the final defense of Tashkent.[12][13]

 
Map of the Russian blockade

While Chernyayev hoped that the power vacuum would empower the pro-Russian faction within the city, residents focused on other option. One group attempted to form an independent state led by Sultan Sayyid Khan, and elders asked Muzaffar bin Nasrullah for support, which he expressed interest in.[13]

Chernyayev's expedition lacked the numbers to fully siege the city. Instead, he dispatched patrols to harass citizens attempting to gather food from gardens outside the walls or graze their animals, enforcing a general blockade. The city was additionally bombarded by a light battery under the leadership of Colonel Kraevsky.[9] Most residents of Tashkent were aware of a possible assault, but much less were ready to actively resist a Russian invasion. Tashkentis were likely growing increasingly frustrated due to the Russian blockade and raiding.[9]

Chernyayev's exact reasoning for ordering an assault of Tashkent is unknown. While he would state after the battle that he wanted to prevent the Emirate of Bukhara from capturing the city, other factors were likely in play. His failed siege of the city one year before would have severely damaged his career if left unrectified, and this second expedition would likely be lauded by the government if successful. Additionally, one uncorroborated account states Chernyayev feared any possible retreat would be attacked and overrun by "Asian hoards".[14]

 
Outer tower of Tashkent's walls

Assault

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Before the main assault, Chernyayev visited the troops where he talked with them to build morale. On June 15 at 2:00 a.m, the Russians began the assault of Taskent, with priest Andrei Malov at the head of the columns encouraging the attackers.[15] Russian troops waited in the outer gardens until about 4:00 a.m, when the guards could no longer be heard. At this point, Russian troops charged the walls with scaling ladders, easily climbing and capturing the walls from several different sides. However, upon reaching the top began to receive fire from hidden musketeers in the city gardens and fortified areas. Russian troops began to experience losses while fighting for the towers, which contained Tashkenti artillery. Captain Rotmistr Wulfred led a successful assault of the Kamelan Gate, though he was wounded in the attack.[16][17] At about 5:30 a.m, the Kamelan Gate was opened and Russian artillery entered the city, dislodging Kokandi defenders after a few salvos. As the other commanders had been wounded, these soldiers were placed under the command of Lieutenant Soltanovsky and formed the storming column.[17]

Another Russian detachment under Abramov fought across a bridgehead to capture and open a key gate. The advance was successful despite heavy artillery fire, and the detachment eventually reached the gate. In the gate, Russian soldiers discovered their lost licorne, which Kokandi forces had captured in the battle of Ican.[18]

One Russian column under Colonel Kraevskii simultaneously worked to destroy the Tashkenti artillery near the Salar Gate, using explosive shells to destroy cover and canister shot to kill Tashkenti defenders. Despite tough resistance and soft soil which caused Kraevskii's artillery to bury themselves in the dirt, after an hour of fighting the Tashkenti artillery was destroyed. Kraevskii's detachment was then dispatched to destroy escaping Tashkenti cavalry. After scattering two retreating groups several miles north with canister shot, Kraevskii returned to Tashkent and entered the city through Kashgar Gate.[17]

After the gates had been opened, Soltanovsky's column and Kraevskii’s column began a systematic offensive towards the city center from opposite sides of the city.[19] A

Russian soldiers met strong resistance from Tashkenis, who possibly included Kokandi loyalists, supporters of an independent city-state, and followers of Syzdyk Sultan. Tashkentis gathered in road barricades, in trees, on top of roofs, and within buildings to fire at Russian forces. Both columns would successfully advance several miles into the city. Soltanovsky's force used artillery to destroy entrenched positions and riflemen to pick off soldiers hiding in trees.[20][21] Kraevskii’s column was unable to return to the main force at the outer Kamelan Gate by evening, but was able to capture and defend the citadel. Kraevskii’s column would continue to defend the structure throughout the night.

During this march through the city, 5,000 Kokani guards attempted to evacuate the city, but wer intercepted by Russian forces, who captured the guards banners.[15]

Soltanovsky's column and Kraevskii’s column would continue to patrol the city the following day, focusing on roads to and from the Kamelan Gate. Many of the Tashkenti artillery positions which had been destroyed the previous day had been rebuilt, though Russian artillery was able to scatter them with only a few volleys. By June 17, the city was fully under Russian control.[19]

Aftermath

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St. George's Cavaliers, awarded during the storming of Tashkent

After the siege, Chernyayev feared a possible attack from the Emirate of Bukhara, who he believed was preparing to attack with over 80,000. To prepare for this possible attack, Chernyayev attempted a conciliatory policy with Tashkentis. He visited local mosques and bazaars, formed close ties with the cities ulama, and promised to strongly enforce sharia law. By creating an alliance with the ulama, Chernyayev was able to maintain control of the city while lacking the troops to hold it with force.[22] In the Russian government, a year long debate would occur over what the status of Tashkent should become. In August 1866, the city was officially annexed into the Russian Empire.[12]

The capture of the city became a mythologized event in Russian history, and would be marked by increasingly elaborate anniversary celebrations. On the 50th anniversary in 1915, a swath of public buildings and the city of Shymkent, which Chernyayev had captured a year before Tashkent, were renamed in honor of Chernyayev.[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b Levi 2017, p. 194.
  2. ^ a b c Hopkirk 1994, p. 306.
  3. ^ Allworth 1999, p. 59.
  4. ^ a b c Levi 2017, p. 195.
  5. ^ Morrison 2014, p. 184-188.
  6. ^ Morrison 2014, p. 189.
  7. ^ Pierce 1960, p. 24.
  8. ^ a b Hopkirk 1994, p. 307.
  9. ^ a b c Morrison 2021, p. 245.
  10. ^ Hopkirk 1994, p. 307-308.
  11. ^ a b Terentyev 2022, p. 331.
  12. ^ a b c Levi 2017, p. 196.
  13. ^ a b c Morrison 2021, p. 244-245.
  14. ^ Morrison 2021, p. 247.
  15. ^ a b Egorshina & Petrova 2023, p. 541.
  16. ^ Terentyev 2022, p. 337.
  17. ^ a b c Morrison 2021, p. 248.
  18. ^ Terentyev 2022, p. 339.
  19. ^ a b Morrison 2021, p. 249.
  20. ^ Terentyev 2022, p. 340.
  21. ^ Morrison 2021, p. 249-250.
  22. ^ Morrison 2021, p. 251-252.
  23. ^ Morrison 2014, p. 216.

Citations

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  • Terentyev, Mihail (2022) [1906]. История завоевания Средней Азии [The history of the conquest of Central Asia] (in Russian). Vol. 1. Moscow: Sekachev V.Yu. ISBN 978-5-4481-1325-3.
  • Pierce, Richard (1960). Russian Central Asia 1867-1917: A Study in Colonial Rule. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-52031-774-1.
  • MacKenzie, David (1974). The Lion of Tashkent: the career of General M. G. Cherniaev. Athens: University of Georgia Press. ISBN 978-0-8203-0322-2.
  • Hopkirk, Peter (1994). The Great Game: the struggle for empire in central Asia. New York: Kodansha. ISBN 978-1-56836-022-5.
  • Allworth, Edward (1999). Central Asia, 130 years of Russian dominance: a historical overview. Durham: Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-1521-6.
  • Ploskikh, Vladimir (2014). Киргизы и Кокандское Ханство [The Kyrgyz people and the Kokand Khanate] (in Russian). Bishkek: Neo Print. ISBN 978-9967-19-187-7.
  • Morrison, Alexander (2014). "Russia, Khoqand, and the Search for a "Natural" Frontier, 1863–1865". Ab Imperio. 2014 (2): 166–192.
  • Levi, Scott Cameron (2017). The rise and fall of Khoqand, 1709-1876: Central Asia in the global age. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press. ISBN 978-0-8229-6506-0.
  • Morrison, Alexander (2021). The Russian conquest of Central Asia: a study in imperial expansion, 1814-1914. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-03030-5.
  • Egorshina, O.; Petrova, A. (2023). "Завоевание Кокандского ханства" [The conquest of the Kokand Khanate]. История русской армии [The history of the Russian Army] (in Russian). Vol. 19. Moscow: Edition of the Russian Imperial Library. ISBN 978-5-699-42397-2.
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