The Mongol dynasty, established in China and known as the Yuen, founded by Kubilay Khan423 cir. 1260, began to decline very soon after his death (1294); and in 1353 a native of humble birth, named Chu Yuan Chang, succeeded in overthrowing the alien line, and, in 1368, originated the famous dynasty of Ming. The nomads’ rule was again confined to the steppes of Mongolia.

Eastern and Western Turkestan continued, in the Ming period, to constitute the dominions of the Chaghatays.424 This so-called Middle-Empire originally included Transoxiana, but in the first half of the fourteenth century Transoxiana came under the sway of a separate line of Chaghatay Khans.

North of the Middle-Empire was that of the Dasht-i-Kipchak, which included the vast steppes extending east and north of the Sea of Aral, a part of modern Siberia, the land north of the Caspian, and both sides of the Lower Volga.425 These broad realms had been given to Chingiz Khan’s first son, Juji, on whose death, in 1225, it was divided into two sections. The Eastern division, the habitat White Horde, fell to Juji’s eldest son, Orda; while the Western, that of the Golden Horde, was ruled over by Batu, the conqueror of Russia, who had his residence in Sarai, on the Lower Volga.426

Another branch of the house of Juji was the heritage of his fifth son, Shayban, whose dominions were contiguous with those of the White Horde.427 They became famous in the fifteenth century under the name of Uzbegs, and the origin of their name has given rise to many strange conjectures.

The real founder of the Uzbeg power was Abu-l-Khayr, a descendant of Shayban in the sixth degree, who was born in A.H. 816 (1413). His rule extended over the western portion of the present Kirghiz steppes. About the year A.H. 870 (1465) a number of these Uzbegs, discontented with their Khan, Abu-l-Khayr, migrated into Moghulistan, with the Sultans Giray and Janibeg, of the line of Juji.428 Isan Bugha, the then Khan of Moghulistan, or Jatah, received them hospitably, and allotted them some territories on the river Chu, to the west of his own domains. These emigrants were subsequently known as the Uzbeg-Kazaks, or simply Kazaks.429 After the death of Abu-l-Khayr, in A.H. 874 (1469), a large number of his Uzbegs passed into Moghulistan and joined their kinsmen.430

Abu-l-Khayr overran Khwarazm and part of Turkestan; and at the beginning of the sixteenth century his son Mohammad Shaybani, also known as Shahi Beg, made himself master of Samarkand and Transoxiana, and was the first of the so-called dynasty of the Shaybanides. It is more than a mere coincidence that the appearance of the Uzbegs and Kazaks in Southern Central Asia was contemporaneous with Russia’s liberation from the Tartar yoke.

Shaybani Khan achieved the conquest of Transoxiana in A.H. 906 (1500),431 but soon after this event Zahir ud-Din Baber, then aged nineteen, entered that country and captured Samarkand, Soghd, Miyankul, Karshi, and other strong places; Bokhara alone remaining in the possession of the Uzbegs. However, in the following year, A.H. 907 (1501), Shaybani Khan defeated Baber and regained the lost territory. By A.H. 911 (1505), from which date historians reckon the commencement of his reign,432 he had made himself master of Transoxiana, Farghana, Khwarazm, and Hisar.

His attention was now turned towards Khorasan, which was in the hands of Husayn Mirza, also called Sultan Husayn Baykara, a descendant of Timur’s second son, `Omar Shaykh. In A.H. 912 (1506) Baber, hearing of the Uzbeg designs, marched northwards from Kabul to assist his relatives.433 But in the interval Mirza Husayn died, and Baber, on his arrival in Khorasan, A.H. 913 (1507), found that the two sons of the late prince had instituted a dual government. So disgusted was he with their lack of definite policy and their mutual recriminations, that he returned to Kabul and left them to fight their own battles. In this year Shaybani Khan, entering Khorasan, defeated these ill-assorted colleagues and made himself master of the country. The next three years were passed in successful expeditions in the direction of Khorasan and India, and against the Kazaks. But in A.H. 916 (1510) his career of conquest was brought to a sudden close. Shah Isma`il, the Safavi,—who eight years previously had overthrown the Turkoman dynasty of the “White Sheep” in Azerbayjan, and had set upon the conquest of all Persia,—now marched into Khorasan. Here he defeated and slew Shaybani Khan in the vicinity of Merv, thereby making himself master of the whole country.434

For two years, from A.H. 916 to 918 (1510 to 1512) Transoxiana practically passed out of the hands of the Uzbeg Sultans. At all events, we find no coin of theirs during that period, though Persian historians aver that Shaybani Khan was succeeded in the chief Khanate by Kuchunji. The nobles were probably too much occupied in providing for their own safety, after the disaster of Merv, to give consideration to the choice of a new chief.435

Baber, on hearing of the death of Shaybani Khan, and having been led to suppose that his presence would be attended by most important advantages, again set out from Kabul, and, entering Transoxiana, entirely defeated the Uzbeg army sent out to meet him under Hamza Sultan, A.H. 917 (1511). The Uzbegs were pursued as far as the Iron Gates. Meanwhile Baber’s victorious army assembled in Hisar, where it was now reinforced by a larger body of Persians, sent by Shah Isma`il, who made common cause with Baber against the Uzbegs. The united forces, numbering 60,000 men, next marched against Karshi, where Sultan `Ubaydullah had fortified himself, while the most of the Uzbeg Sultans had fled to Samarkand. On the march, Baber learnt that `Ubaydullah had abandoned Karshi and fled to Bokhara. Baber at once followed him, marching day and night until he reached the city, whence he drove `Ubaydullah into the deserts of Turkestan.436 When the rest of the Uzbeg Sultans in Samarkand learnt this disaster, they were filled with terror and fled in disorder into different parts of Turkestan, leaving Baber absolute master of Transoxiana. He now entered Samarkand amid the rejoicings of the people, who welcomed him as the rightful successor to the realms of Timur. But the enthusiasm of the orthodox Sunnis began to cool when they found that Baber still maintained cordial relations with the Shi`ite Shah Isma`il and carried out the stipulation on which the alliance was based by recognising his suzerainty.

Becoming aware of the popular discontent, the Uzbeg Sultans collected their forces and marched out of Turkestan.437 Their main body took the direction of Tashkent, while `Ubaydullah, with the remainder, proceeded to Bokhara by way of Yati Kuduk.438 Baber also advanced on Bokhara at the head of 40,000 well-equipped men, and overtook `Ubaydullah at Kul-Melik.439

The Uzbeg had only 3000 men under his command; but, nothing daunted by the fearful odds, he rallied his troops and attacked Baber’s force with such fury that, after a bloody encounter, he put them utterly to rout, A.H. 918 (1512). After this disaster Baber returned to Samarkand, but, finding no supporters there, fled to Hisar, after a reign of just eight months.440

Though the Uzbegs were again masters of Transoxiana, their position was by no means secure. On the west, Baber, with the aid of 60,000 Persians, sent at his request by Shah Isma`il, under Amir Yar Ahmed Isfahani, known as Najm-i-Sani, or the Second Star, passed the Iron Gates and, entering Karshi, massacred the inhabitants and sacked the town. On the east, the Khan of Moghulistan, on learning Baber’s success at Karshi, marched out by way of Andijan to attack Suyunjik Khan, one of the chief Uzbeg Sultans. An encounter took place at Bishkand,441 in which the Khan was utterly defeated.

Meanwhile Baber and his Persian auxiliaries were marching in the direction of Samarkand, causing great alarm among the Uzbegs. On reaching Ghujduvan442 they encountered Janibeg Sultan,443 who had thrown himself into the fort. A fierce battle ensued, which is vividly described by Mirza Haydar in the following words: “The Uzbeg Sultans entered the fort on the same night on which the Turkomans and Baber, who were encamped before the place, were busy preparing their siege implements. At dawn they arranged their forces in the midst of the suburbs, and stood facing the enemy. On the other side, too, preparations were made for a fight. Since the Uzbegs were in the suburbs, the field of battle was a narrow one. The Uzbeg infantry began to pour forth a shower of arrows from every quarter, so that soon the grip of Islam wrenched aside the hands of heresy and unbelief, and victory declared for the true faith.444 The victorious breezes of Islam overturned the banners of the schismatics. The Turkomans were so completely routed that most of them perished on the field; all the wounds that had been effected by the swords at Karshi were now sewn up by the arrow-stitches of vengeance. They sent Mir Najm and all the Turkoman Amirs to hell; and the emperor retired, broken and crestfallen, to Hisar.” Baber now determined on relinquishing his designs on Transoxiana, and, returning to Kabul, he prepared for an easier conquest—that of Hindustan. On gaining possession of Transoxiana, the Shaybanides divided it into a number of appanages, the eldest Sultan usually assuming the leadership of the rest. His name alone was read in the public prayers throughout the whole empire, and appeared on the coins of all the states which composed it.

For nearly ninety-nine years did the Shaybanis, that is, the descendants of Abu-l-Khayr Khan,445 rule in Transoxiana. M. Veliaminof-Zernof was the first to elucidate the complications in their system of government during the sixteenth century.446 In his article on the coins of Bokhara and Khiva, above quoted, he published a list of the chief Khans, whom he calls the Khakans, of the Shaybanis, and also a genealogical table showing their descent from Abu-l-Khayr Khan.447

The separate appanages passed from father to son, and thus the residence of the Khakan, or chief Khan, was continually changing from one city to another. Thus Bokhara lost its proud position as capital of Transoxiana, and took rank with other towns as the headquarters of successive chiefs.448

After the battle of Ghujduvan, in A.H. 918 (1512), in accordance with their established custom, tura and yasak, the Shaybani Sultans proceeded to elect their Khakan. Kuchunji Khan, as the eldest, was appointed to the high office; while Suyunjik was nominated Kalgha, or heir-apparent. The latter, however, died before Kuchunji, whereupon Janibeg became the Kalgha; but he too predeceased Kuchunji, and the title of Kalgha passed to Abu Sa`id Khan, who eventually became Khakan, A.H. 936 (1529). On his death he was succeeded by `Ubaydullah Khan, A.H. 939 (1533).

The various appanages of Transoxiana were thus apportioned in 918 by Janibeg:—Kuchunji received Samarkand; Suyunjik, Tashkent; and `Ubaydullah, Karakul and Karshi, besides Bokhara, which was his by inheritance. Janibeg reserved for himself and his children all the country of Miyankul, Soghd of Samarkand, and the town of KerminÉ, which was his residence. Omitting the unimportant reigns of the seven following Khakas,449 we will pass at once to a short account of the greatest of the Abu-l-Khayrides, `Abdullah II., the last but one of his dynasty; and for this purpose we cannot do better than summarise the account given by Professor VambÉry in his History of Bokhara450.

In A.H. 964 (1556) he had put an end to the sub-dynasty of Bokhara, and in A.H. 968 (1560) proclaimed his father in that town as “Khakan of the world”; in A.H. 986 (1578) he similarly abolished the sub-dynasty of Samarkand, which had sprung up during Iskandar’s reign at Bokhara; and in A.H. 991 (1583), on his father’s death, he became Khakan.

“In imitation of Shaybani Khan and `Ubaydullah, who, although practically sovereigns of the country, had left the actual seat of the Khanate to others, the more freely to pursue their military career, `Abdullah placed his father Iskandar on the throne, and put himself at the head of his army to re-conquer the original frontiers of Shaybani’s empire. The greater part of his life was spent in this enterprise, but he was more fortunate in his conquests than any of his predecessors, and also contributed more to the restoration of prosperity to the countries of the Oxus and the Jaxartes.... Under him the frontiers of the Khanate of Bokhara were pushed forward in the north far beyond the inhabited province of Turkestan. In the east, not only all Farghana, but also Kashghar and Khotan, were subdued by the Shaybanides. In the south, an aggressive policy had been pursued—on the one hand by the family of Baber, and on the other by the Safavis, who both coveted the possession of Balkh; but the power of the Uzbegs was even greater than in the time of the first Shaybanides. Balkh was fortified, Tokharistan and Badakhshan were incorporated with Transoxiana, and once more the bright green waters of the Murghab became the frontiers of Turania. In the west, the armies of `Abdullah were again victorious, in spite of the united opposition of the Iranians and Khwarazmians. Astarabad was surprised and taken; the Prince of Gilan, an ally of Sultan Murad III., had to take refuge at Constantinople, and the frontiers of the empire of the Shaybanides were extended in this direction farther than they had ever been before. For the moment `Abdullah ... got possession of a great part of Khorasan, including the towns of Herat, Meshed, Sarakhs, Merv, etc., all of which he retained very nearly to his death.”

Soon after `Abdullah’s death anarchy broke out in Transoxiana, and the way was prepared for a change of dynasty. The line of Shaybani, after holding the government for nearly a century, gave place to the dynasty of Astrakhan.451 During its tenure of power the Khans of Bokhara and Khwarazm were continually at variance. On the conquest of Transoxiana by Abu-l-Khayr and Shaybani, both Khanates were simultaneously occupied by the invaders. Subsequently, when Shah Isma`il drove Shaybani out of Khwarazm, he placed a Persian governor in charge of the province, but the Sunni people detested the Shi`ite Shah, and expelled him in 921.452 During the Khakanship of Kuchunji the Uzbegs founded an independent principality in Khwarazm;453 Ilbars, son of a chief named Bereghe, being the first Khan of the new line.

THE UZBEG APPANGES.

A full account of the Uzbeg Khakans, based on all available authorities, will be found in Part II. of Howorth’s Mongols. Space will not permit us to enter into details with regard to all these petty chiefs. The following is a list of Khakans and the genealogy of Abu-l-Khayr’s descendants, with the locality of their respective appanages, where information on the point is available. The Khakans are printed in capitals, and the numbers after their names represent the order in which they ruled.