Since the 1960s, in connection with the decline of Russia's overland trade with China, on whose markets cheaper and higher-quality English goods appeared in large quantities, the territory acquired special importance for Russia, along with Iran. Central Asia as a market for their industrial products, as well as a raw material base for the Russian textile industry.

In the Russian press, a broad discussion began on the benefits of including Central Asia in the Russian Empire. In 1862, one of the articles frankly stated: "The benefit that Russia will derive from relations with Central Asia is so obvious that all donations to this cause will soon pay off." Due to backward industrial relations, Russia, not being able to penetrate the Central Asian states economically, began to look for ways to conquer these countries with the help of military force.

In the Central Asian feudal states - Bukhara, Kokand, Khiva, Herat khanates, the Kabul emirate and several semi-independent beks in the first half of the 19th century. Uzbek, Turkmen, Tajik, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Afghan, Karakalpak and a number of other peoples lived mainly in agriculture and cattle breeding. Many Turkmen, Kyrgyz and Afghan tribes led a nomadic and semi-nomadic lifestyle. Agriculture associated with irrigated agriculture was developed by Uzbeks, Tajiks and Kirghiz. The best plots of land and irrigation systems mainly belonged to the feudal lords. The lands were divided into three categories: the khans' amlak possessions, the waqf lands of the Muslim clergy, and the mulk lands of the secular feudal lords. The peasants cultivated the land plots of the feudal lords on the terms of sharecropping, paying from 20 to 50% of the harvest.

Crafts developed in the cities, serving the needs of the feudal lords (weapons, luxury goods, etc.) and, to a small extent, the peasantry. The industry of Central Asia hardly developed, being limited only by insignificant smelting of metals. Each of the feudal khanates had local trade and craft centers: Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, Herat, Kokand, etc. The population of the Central Asian states adhered to the Muslim religion, both the Shiite and Sunni branches, and the clergy in these states occupied an important place.

In the Middle Ages, the economic well-being of the Central Asian states was ensured by the fact that trade caravan routes from Asia to Europe passed through their territory. With the development of capitalism in Europe, the countries of Central Asia began to experience economic decline, which Russia and Great Britain did not fail to take advantage of back in the 30s. XIX years century, however, at that time the claims of these states to economic and political dominance in this region were still insignificant.

In the 60s, Russia, fearing that Great Britain would seize the Central Asian states by economic means, decided to impose its economic presence in the region by military force, especially since the borders of the Russian Empire were nearby.

Already in 1860, the Russian troops that broke into Central Asia occupied the Kokand Khanate and annexed the Semirechye (the southeastern part of the Kazakh territories - the Senior Zhuz. From these territories in 1864 the bloody campaign of the Russian troops, commanded by Generals Verevkin and Chernyaev, began, in the depths of Central Asia. In 1865, Tashkent was taken. Significant assistance in the capture of the city was provided by the local wealthy merchants, flattered by the promised benefits in trade with Russia. On the territory of the Bukhara and Kokand khanates in 1867, the Turkestan in Tashkent, headed by General Kaufman.The colonial system of government he created exercised complete control over the life of the indigenous population, which continued to remain, as under the khan's power, in a humbled position. pursued a policy of brutal repression against the local population in case of disobedience, which caused repeated uprisings, the largest of which was the Kokand uprising of 1873-1776.

After a series of successful military operations, Russian troops defeated the weakly armed army of the still existing Bukhara Khanate. Betraying the interests of the masses in the struggle against the aggressors, the emir began to look for ways of agreement and signed a enslaving unequal treaty that opened free access to Russian goods to Bukhara on preferential terms. The Emir of Bukhara was also forced to renounce his claims to his former possessions occupied by the Russian army.

At the same time, Russia was negotiating with the UK on the delimitation of "spheres of influence" in the region, as a result of which an agreement was reached between the two imperialist predators, according to which the Russian government retained "special interests" in Khiva, and the UK granted influence in the Afghan principalities.

Enlisting non-interference in the conflict of the British, in 1873 Russian army launched a new broad offensive against Khiva. The troops of the Khiva Khanate, armed with medieval weapons, were unable to actively resist modern weapons and soon capitulated. In the same year, the Khiva Khan signed an agreement on the vassal dependence of Khiva on Russia, and soon lost the right to conduct an independent foreign policy altogether - the Khiva territories east of the Amu Darya were forcibly included in the Turkestan Governor General, and the Khan was forced to agree to the free navigation of Russian ships along this river and for duty-free trade in Russian goods within Khiva.

Thus, as a result of the wars in 1868 - 1676. in Central Asia, significant territories of the Kokand Khanate were annexed to Russia, and Khiva and Bukhara, having lost part of their territories, recognized Russia's suzerainty over themselves. Russia really benefited greatly from the seizure of these territories, and the Central Asian peoples experienced new hardships: the sale of Russian goods increased sharply in the markets of Central Asia, as a result of which many branches of local handicraft production fell into decay; increased planting of improved varieties of cotton led to the provision of the cotton industry in Russia to a large extent with Central Asian cotton, and in Central Asia, food crops began to noticeably decrease, and soon the poor began to feel the need for food. However, despite all the negative consequences of the colonial policy of Russia, the inclusion of the states of Central Asia into it had objectively progressive consequences. In the region, within the feudal system, conditions began to be created for rapid socio-economic development, for the growth of new productive forces and the maturation capitalist relations.

At the same time, the conquest of the Caucasus was completed by Russian troops. In 1859, after a long heroic resistance to the Russian conquerors in the mountains of Dagestan, Shamil, the leader of the Caucasian highlanders, surrendered to General Baryatinsky, after which the resistance of the Caucasians was broken, and in 1864 the longest Russian history The Caucasian war was over.

The multinational state of the Russian Empire by the last quarter of the 19th century. stretched from the Vistula and the Baltic Sea to the shores of the Pacific Ocean and from the shores of the Arctic Ocean to the borders with Iran (Persia) and the Afghan principalities.

In the middle of the 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 the deployment of further military-political expansion. The desire to prevent the strengthening of Britain in this region prompted the Russian government to 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 made, which included a series of reconnaissance expeditions to Iran and East Turkestan, which were called upon to comprehensively study the political and socio-economic situation and positions of Great Britain in the region. In 1863 military operations began against Kokand. In the course of successful operations carried out by the commander of the Syr-Darya line, Colonel Verevkin and the Semirechensk 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, 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 of Central Asia. This event, in fact, put the entire Kokand Khanate in a position 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 Emir of Bukhara and his claims to dominance over Kokand predetermined the inclusion of Tashkent in the Russian Empire - in 1867 he entered the newly formed Turkestan Governor General.

In the middle of 1865 it was decided to start military operations against the Bukhara Emirate. On May 8, 1866, the Bukhara army was defeated in the battle in the Irjar tract. Then the Russian troops under the command of General Romanovsky captured Khujand and the fortress of Nau, thus expelling the Bukharians from the territory of the Kokand Khanate. The refusal of the Emir of Bukhara 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, 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 got the Kokand Khan Khudoyar to sign a trade agreement, which actually turned this state into a Russian colony. On June 23, 1868, the Emir of Bukhara also signed an agreement with Russia. He recognized the entry of Khujand, Ura-Tyube, Jizzakh into the Russian Empire. Russian citizens were granted the right to free trade and the establishment of trade agencies in the emirate, freedom of movement around the country, security of person and property, etc. The Emirate of Bukhara undertook to pay an indemnity to Russia, but in order to fully guarantee its receipt, Russia temporarily occupied Samarkand and Kata-Kurgan, from the regions of which the Zeravshan district was formed. As a result, Russia achieved complete dominance over the vast territories of Central Asia.

The last stage was the occupation in 1869-1873 of the western part of Central Asia. On August 22, 1869, Emperor Alexander II authorized the capture of the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. On November 3 of the same year, Russian troops landed in the Muravyova Bay of the Krasnovodsk Bay and occupied the adjacent territories inhabited by Turkmens. In February 1873, the Russian troops began to attack Khiva from the Krasnovodsk Bay.

On August 12, 1873, Khan of Khiva Mohammed Rakhim II signed an agreement with Russia, according to which he recognized dependence on the Russian Empire, refusing to independently conduct foreign policy. Part of the territories of the khanate was transferred to the Emirate of Bukhara, 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 courts the right to sail along the Amu Darya was granted, it was supposed to allocate territory for the construction of Russian marinas, trading posts, trading warehouses and ensure their safety. Russian merchants were exempted from paying trade duties.

In 1874-1885 Kokand and Turkmenistan joined Russia. From the beginning of the 1870s. the internal political situation in the Kokand Khanate became much more complicated, Khan Khudoyar, who was loyal to Russia, was forced to flee to Tashkent. In the circumstances, the Turkestan Governor-General Kaufman began to insist on decisive action. In his opinion, the mastery of the Namangan region should have strengthened Russia's position in mountainous Kyrgyzstan and strengthened 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 agreements with Khiva and Bukhara, and on February 19, 1876, a royal decree was issued on the inclusion of the Kokand Khanate in the Turkestan Governor General.

This was followed by the capture of Turkmenia by Russian troops. In 1879-1881, the Akhal-Teke oasis with the administrative center in Ashgabat was included in the Transcaspian region, in 1884 the Tejen, Merv and Pendinsky 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 fact, 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 the Anglo-Russian rivalry in Central Asia shifted to the Pamirs. This region consisted of 2 parts - the Eastern Pamir, inhabited by the Kirghiz, 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, in 1891 and 1892 Russia sent several reconnaissance expeditions to the Pamirs, and in the summer of 1892 a border detachment under the command of Colonel Ionov was permanently stationed on the Murghab River, consisting of 200 infantrymen and 50 Cossacks. This action was of great foreign policy importance - it became clear that the solution of the "Pamir issue" is 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 border demarcation of the Pamirs. In August 1895, an agreement between the two states was ratified and, in fact, completed the accession of Central Asia to the Russian Empire.

Speaking about the conquest of Central Asia by Russia, it should be noted that the regular and Cossack troops of Western Siberia played an exceptional role in the implementation of this task. The Siberian Cossack army and Semirechensk, formed from the 9th and 10th regimental districts of the Siberian Cossack regiment, participated in the Tashkent, Khiva, Kokand campaigns, etc. The settlements of the Siberian Cossacks on the Upper Irtysh - Semipalatinsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk, the Siberian fortified line with the villages of Kopalskaya, Iliyskaya, Urdzharskaya, Lepsinskaya, Alma-Ata, formed during the creation of the Semirechensk Cossack army, became a stronghold for Russia's active offensive in Central Asia.

One of the directions of Russia's foreign policy was penetration into Central Asia. Two reasons prompted the autocracy to take up the annexation of this region.

• 1. Economic reason. The middle one, with its vast territory and undeveloped industry, was a first-class market and a source of raw materials for the young Russian industry. Textile products, metal products, etc. were sold there. Mainly cotton was exported from Central Asia.
• 2. Another reason was of a political nature and was connected with the struggle against England, which was trying to turn Central Asia into its colony.

In socio-economic terms, this territory bordering Russia was heterogeneous: it was dominated by feudal relations while maintaining the remnants of the patriarchal system.

Politically, Central Asia was also heterogeneous. In fact, there was feudal fragmentation, constant enmity between the emirates and khanates. Since the CHIYY century, three large states have been formed - the Emirate of Bukhara, the Kokand and Khiva khanates. In addition to them, there were a number of independent fiefs. The most developed of them economically was the Emirate of Bukhara, which had several large cities that concentrated crafts and trade, as well as 38 caravanserais. Bukhara and Samarkand were the largest trading centers in Central Asia.

Russia's interest in Central Asia was great as early as the first half of the CCH century. Even then, attempts were made to study it. In the 50s, three Russian missions to Central Asia were undertaken - scientific under the guidance of a scientist - orientalist N.V. Khanykov, diplomatic embassy N.P. Ignatiev, the trade mission of Ch.Ch. Valikhanov, these missions had common task- study of the political and economic situation of the states of the Middle East.

In the 1960s, the Russian government developed plans for military penetration into Central Asia.

In 1864, troops under the command of Major General M.G. Chernyaev launched an attack on Tashkent, but the first campaign ended in failure. Only in 1865 did Russian troops capture Tashkent.

In 1867, the Turkestan Governor General was formed, which became the center of a further offensive against Central Asia.

In 1868, the Kokand Khanate became dependent on Russia.

In 1868, troops under the command of K.P. Kaufman captured Samarkand and Bukhara. The two largest states - Kokand and Bukhara, while maintaining internal autonomy, were subordinate to Russia.

“At the beginning of 1869, the British government, headed by the liberal leader Gladstone at that time, proposed to the tsarist government to create a neutral zone between the possessions of Russia and England in Central Asia, which would be inviolable for both and would prevent their direct contact. The Russian government agreed to the creation of such an intermediate belt and proposed to include Afghanistan in its composition, which was supposed to protect the country from being captured by England. The British government took a counter move: it demanded a significant expansion of neutral territory to the north, into areas that were the object of the desires of tsarist Russia. We failed to reach an agreement." England made attempts to expand its sphere of influence further north. In this regard, she demanded that Russia recognize the Amu Darya River as the northern border of Afghanistan from its upper reaches to the Khoja Salekh point in the middle reaches in the Turkmen steppe. Disputes between Russia and England continued for three months, and on January 31, 1873, the tsarist government recognized the line proposed by England as the northern border of Afghanistan.

This concession was not unfounded, Russia pursued a specific goal: to weaken England's opposition to the conquest of the Khiva Khanate. On December 4, 1872, Alexander YY decided to organize a campaign against Khiva.

After the capture of the capital of the Khiva Khanate, which took place on June 10, 1873, an agreement was concluded with the khan, according to which he became a vassal of the king, and refused independent external relations with other states. Khiva fell under the protectorate of tsarist Russia. The conquest of Khiva was completed without serious international complications, except for protests in the English press. But six months after these events, the English Foreign Minister, Lord Grenville, sent a letter to the tsarist government.

“The letter stated that in the event of further advance of Russia to Merv, the Turkmen tribes neighboring Khiva could try to seek salvation from the Russians on Afghan territory. In this case, clashes between Russian troops and Afghans can easily arise. The British cabinet expressed the hope that the Russian government would not refuse to recognize the "independence" of Afghanistan. important condition the security of British India and the tranquility of Asia. Strictly speaking, the desire to protect the sphere of influence from the Russians was the entire business content of this extremely wordy message. The British government did not object to the subjugation of the Khiva Khanate. This is understandable: it itself sought to do the same with Afghanistan. Gorchakov again assured the British government that Russia considered Afghanistan to be "completely outside its sphere of action." This was a repetition of statements made repeatedly in the preceding decade. If the Afghan emir fears complications because of the Turkish tribes, Gorchakov's reply read further, then let him let the Turkmen leaders know in advance so that they do not count on his support.

Negotiations on the Afghan border are a typical example of the diplomacy of the colonialists. It was about Afghanistan, but instead of it, the British government acted as a party in the negotiations, arrogating to itself the "right" to represent this country.

The rivalry was not in the interests of England and Russia. In a memorandum dated April 29, 1875, Gorchakov stated the need for an "intermediate belt" that would protect them from immediate proximity. Afghanistan could become such in case of mutual recognition by both sides. Immediately, Gorchakov assured that Russia did not intend to further expand its possessions in Central Asia.

Thus, the long and complex process of accession combined both elements of conquest by Russia and elements of voluntary entry into its structure (Merv - the territory bordering Afghanistan - in 1885). Some peoples of Central Asia voluntarily joined Russia, preferring it to English or Iranian rule.

The accession of Central Asia to Russia had an objectively progressive significance. It consisted of the following:

• 1. Slavery was abolished.
• 2. The endless feudal strife and ruin of the population ended.
• 3. Central Asia was drawn into the sphere of capitalist relations, which laid the foundation for the development of an advanced economy and culture.
• 4. Accession connected the advanced Russian culture with the original culture of the peoples of Central Asia.

After the overthrow of the Tatar rule, gradually strengthening, the Russian sovereigns turned their attention to the East, where endless plains spread, occupied by the hordes of the Mongols, and behind them was the fabulously rich Indian kingdom, from where caravans came, bringing silk fabrics, ivory, weapons, gold and gems. In this mysterious country, under the bright rays of the sun that shone all year round, the waves of a huge blue sea splashed, into which rich rivers flowed, flowing through fertile lands with fabulous crops.

Russians who were captured and taken to distant cities of Central Asia, if they managed to return to their homeland, reported a lot of interesting information about those places. Among our people there were those who were fascinated by the idea of ​​visiting new places of the blessed, distant, but also mysterious south. For a long time they wandered around the wide world, penetrating into the adjacent present-day Central Asian possessions, often experiencing terrible hardships, endangering their lives, and sometimes ending it in a foreign country, in heavy slavery and in chains. Those who were destined to return could tell a lot of interesting things about distant, unknown countries and about the life of their peoples, dark-skinned pagans, so little like the subjects of the great white king.

The fragmentary and sometimes fabulous information of adventurers about the lands they visited, about their wealth and wonders of nature, involuntarily began to draw attention to Central Asia and was the reason for sending special embassies to the Central Asian states in order to establish trade and friendly relations.

The desire to the East, to Central Asia, and behind it to distant, full of miracles, India could not be carried out immediately, but first required the conquest of the Kazan, Astrakhan and Siberian kingdoms. From two sides, from the Volga and from Siberia, the conquest of the Central Asian lands began. Step by step, Russia advanced deep into the Caspian steppes, conquering individual tribes of nomads, building fortresses to protect its new borders, until it advanced to the southern part of the Ural Range, which for a long time became the border of the Russian state.

The Cossacks, having settled on the Yaik River, built fortified settlements, which were the first stronghold of Russia against the nomads. Over time, they established Yaitskoye, later renamed the Ural and Orenburg Cossack troops to protect eastern dominions. Russia has established itself in a new region, the population of which has joined the special, peculiar life of farmers, cattle breeders, who can turn into Cossack warriors every minute to repel the raids of their warlike neighbors; the Kirghiz, who roamed all over the northern part of Central Asia, were at war with each other almost constantly, causing a lot of anxiety to their Russian neighbors.

Cossack freemen, settled along the Yaik River, in their own way way of life was not able to calmly wait for the Russian authorities to recognize it as timely to announce an order for a new campaign into the depths of Asia. And therefore, the enterprising, courageous Cossack chieftains, remembering the exploits of Yermak Timofeevich, at their own peril and risk, gathered gangs of daredevils who were ready to follow them at any time to the ends of the world for glory and prey. Raiding on the Kirghiz and Khivans, they beat off the herds and, loaded with prey, returned home.

The memory of the people has preserved the names of the Yaik chieftains Nechai and Shamai, who went on a campaign to distant Khiva with strong detachments of Cossacks. The first of them, with 1000 Cossacks at the beginning of the 17th century, having crossed the waterless deserts with terrible speed, suddenly, like snow on his head, attacked the Khiva city of Urgench and plundered it. With a huge convoy of prey, Ataman Nechay moved back with his detachment. But it is clear that the Cossacks went on a campaign at a bad time. The Khan of Khiva managed to hastily gather troops and overtook the Cossacks, who were walking slowly, burdened with a heavy convoy. For seven days Nechay fought off numerous Khan's troops, but the lack of water and the inequality of forces nevertheless led to a sad end. The Cossacks perished in a brutal slaughter, with the exception of a few, exhausted by wounds, captured and sold into slavery.

But this failure did not stop the daring chieftains; in 1603, ataman Shamai with 500 Cossacks, like a whirlwind of a hurricane, flew into Khiva and defeated the city. However, like the first time, the bold raid ended in failure. Shamai was delayed for several days in Khiva because of the slaughter and did not have time to leave in time. Leaving the city, pursued by the Khivans, the Cossacks lost their way and landed on the Aral Sea, where they did not have provisions; famine reached the point that the Cossacks killed each other and devoured the corpses. The remnants of the detachment, exhausted, sick, were captured by the Khiva and ended their lives as slaves in Khiva. Shamai himself, a few years later, was brought by the Kalmyks to Yaik to receive a ransom for him.

After these campaigns, the Khiva people, convinced that they were completely protected from the north by waterless deserts, decided to protect themselves from sudden attacks from the west, from the side of the Caspian Sea, where the Amu Darya River flowed from Khiva. To do this, they erected huge dams across the river, and a huge sandy desert remained in the place of the high-water river.

Russia slowly continued its forward movement into the depths of Central Asia, and it became especially clear under Peter, when great king set out to establish trade relations with distant India. To implement his plan, in 1715 he ordered to send a detachment of Colonel Buchholz from Siberia to the steppes from the Irtysh, which reached Lake Balkhash and built a fortress on its shore; but the Russians could not firmly establish themselves here, only over the next five years Buchholz managed to conquer the nomadic tribes of the Kirghiz and secure the entire valley of the Irtysh River for more than a thousand miles completely behind Russia by building the fortresses of Omsk, Yamyshevskaya, Zhelezinskaya, Semipalatinsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk. Almost simultaneously with the dispatch of Buchholz, another detachment, Prince Bekovich-Cherkassky, was sent from the Caspian Sea, among other things with instructions to let the waters of the Amu Darya, which flowed into the Caspian Sea, along its old channel, blocked by dams a hundred years ago by the Khivans.

“To dismantle the dam, and turn the water of the Amu Darya River back to the side ... into the Caspian Sea ... it’s really necessary ...” - so they sounded historical words royal order; and on June 27, 1717, the detachment of Prince Bekovich-Cherkassky (3727 infantrymen, 617 dragoons, 2000 Cossacks, 230 sailors and 22 guns) moved to Khiva through waterless deserts, suffering terrible hardships from lack of water and the scorching rays of the southern sun, withstanding almost daily skirmishes with Khivans and dotting the path with their bones. But, despite all the obstacles, two months later Bekovich had already reached Khiva, the main city of the Khiva Khanate.

The Khivans blocked the road for the Russian detachment, surrounding it from all sides near Karagach. Prince Bekovich fought back for four days, until he inflicted a complete defeat on the Khivans with a bold onslaught. Having expressed feigned humility, the Khiva khan let the Russians into the city, and then convinced the gullible prince Bekovich to divide the detachment into small parts and send them to other cities for their most convenient placement, after which he unexpectedly attacked them, breaking and destroying each part separately. The planned trip failed. Prince Bekovich-Cherkassky laid down his head in Khiva; his comrades-in-arms died in heavy captivity, sold into slavery in the Khiva bazaars, but the memory of this unsuccessful campaign was preserved in Russia for a long time. “He died like Bekovich near Khiva,” said every Russian who wanted to emphasize the futility of any loss.

They attack by surprise. From a painting by V.V. Vereshchagin

Although this first attempt, which ended so tragically, delayed the fulfillment of the grandiose plan of the great Russian tsar for a hundred years, it did not stop the Russians; and in the following reigns, the offensive continued along the same two routes outlined by Peter I: western - from the Yaik River (Ural) and eastern - from Western Siberia.

Like huge tentacles, our fortresses stretched from two sides into the depths of the steppes, until we established ourselves on the shores of the Aral Sea and in the Siberian Territory, forming the Orenburg and Siberian lines; subsequently advanced to Tashkent, they enclosed the three Kirghiz hordes in a strong iron ring. Later, under Catherine II, the idea of ​​a campaign deep into Central Asia was not forgotten, but it was not possible to carry it out, although the great Suvorov lived for almost two years in Astrakhan, working on organizing this campaign.

In 1735, having built the fortress of Orenburg, which was the base for further military operations, Russia established itself in this remote region inhabited by the Kirghiz and Bashkir tribes; to stop their raids 19 years later (in 1754), it was necessary to build a new outpost - the fortress of Iletsk; it soon acquired special significance due to the huge deposits of salt, the development of which was carried out by convicts, and the salt was exported to the inner provinces of Russia.

This fortress with the Russian settlement founded near it was later called the Iletsk defense, and together with the Orsk fortress built in 1773, it formed the Orenburg line; from it gradually began further movement into the depths of Central Asia, which continued uninterrupted. In 1799, sharing the plans of Napoleon I and recognizing the political moment as convenient for fulfilling the cherished goal of conquering India, Paul I, having concluded an agreement with France, moved the Don and Ural Cossacks to Central Asia, giving his famous order: “The troops must gather in regiments - go to India and conquer it."

A difficult task then fell to the lot of the Urals. Gathering hastily on a campaign by royal order, poorly equipped, without an adequate supply of food, they suffered heavy losses both in people and horses. Only the highest command of Alexander I, who had ascended the throne, overtook the detachment, returned the Cossacks, who had lost many of their comrades.

At the fortress wall. "Let them in." From a painting by V.V. Vereshchagin

During this period, the Siberian and Orenburg defensive lines that protected the Russian borders from nomadic raids were interconnected by a number of small fortifications advanced into the steppe. Thus, Russia moved even closer to the Khiva Khanate, and on the new line all the time there were small skirmishes with the Kirghiz and Khiva, who carried out raids with cattle rustling, taking people into captivity and selling them into captivity in the Khiva bazaars. In response to such raids, small detachments of daring men set off in pursuit of the robbers and, in turn, captured cattle at the first opportunity in the Kirghiz nomads; sometimes small detachments of troops were sent to punish the Kirghiz.

At times, the frequent raids of the Kirghiz attracted the attention of the highest authorities in the region, and then larger military detachments were sent out. They traveled considerable distances across the steppes, seized hostages from noble Kirghiz, imposed indemnities and beat off cattle from those clans that raided the Russian line. But during this period, the offensive movement stopped for a while, and only in 1833, in order to prevent the Khiva raids on our northeastern borders of the Caspian Sea coast, by order of Nicholas I, the Novoaleksandrovskoe fortification was built.

Military operations in Central Asia from 1839 to 1877

By the end of the 30s. unrest began throughout the Kyrgyz steppe, causing an urgent need to take measures to calm them down and establish order among the Kyrgyz. Appointed with special powers by the Orenburg Governor-General and commander of the Separate Orenburg Corps, Major General Perovsky, upon arriving in Orenburg, found the turmoil among the Kyrgyz in full swing.

Already long pressed by Russian detachments, the border Kyrgyz began to move away from the Russian line into the depths of the steppes, and at the same time, among the Russian subjects of the Kirghiz and Bashkirs of the Orenburg Territory, supporters of the former liberty caused confusion, inciting them also to evict from Russian borders.

At the head of the Kyrgyz clans, nomadic in the Semirechye and on the Siberian line, was the Sultan of Keynesary Khan Kasymov, who belonged by birth to one of the most noble and influential Kyrgyz clans, who quickly subjugated the rest of the Kirghiz. Under the influence of agitation, the Russian Kirghiz decided to leave Russia, but were detained by force on the border line and mostly returned back; only a small number of them managed to break through and connect with the advanced gangs of Keynesary Khan, who had already declared himself an independent ruler of the Kirghiz steppes and threatened Russian settlements along the Siberian line.

In view of the growing unrest, a detachment was sent from Siberia in 1839 under the command of Colonel Gorsky, consisting of half of the regiment of Cossacks with two guns, to pacify; this detachment, having met the gatherings of the Kirghiz near Dzheniz-Agach, dispersed part of them, having occupied this point.

From the side of Orenburg, in order to stop the robberies of the Kirghiz and free the Russian captives captured by them and the Khiva at different times and who were in slavery within the Khiva borders, a large detachment moved towards Khiva, under the command of General Perovsky, consisting of 15 companies of infantry, three regiments of Cossacks and 16 guns .

Unfortunately, when discussing the question of this new campaign, the lessons of the past and previous failures were already firmly forgotten.

Having previously built fortifications on the Emba River and in Chushka-Kul and wishing to avoid the summer heat, General Perovsky set out from Orenburg in the winter of 1839 and went deep into the steppe, keeping the direction to Khiva, to the Emba River. The guides were Cossacks who had been in captivity in the Khiva possessions, and peaceful Kirghiz, who used to go to Khiva with caravans. With a large pack and wheel convoy, provided with significant food supplies and equipped in winter, the troops cheerfully moved across the steppes, covered that year with huge snowdrifts. But from the very beginning of the campaign, nature seemed to rebel against the Russian troops. Snowstorms and blizzards howled, deep snow and severe frosts interfered with the movement, greatly tiring people even with small transitions. The exhausted infantrymen fell and, immediately covered by a snowstorm, fell asleep under a fluffy cover. The chilling breath of winter was equally unfavorable for both people and horses. Scurvy and typhus, together with frosts, came to the aid of the Khivans, and the Russian detachment began to decrease rapidly. The consciousness of the need to fulfill his duty to the sovereign and the motherland and a deep faith in the success of the enterprise led Perovsky forward, and this faith was transmitted to people, helping them overcome the difficulties of the campaign. But soon the supplies of food and fuel were almost exhausted.

In endless winter nights, under the howling of a storm, sitting in the middle of the steppe in a wagon, General Perovsky was tormented by the already obvious impossibility of achieving his goal. But, having given the detachment a rest in a fortification built in advance in Chushka-Kul, he managed to withdraw the remnants of the troops from the steppe and return in the spring of 1840 to Orenburg.

Unsuccessful campaign 1839–1840 clearly showed that flying expeditions into the depths of the Asian steppes without a solid consolidation of the traversed space by building strongholds cannot give useful results. In view of this, a new conquest plan was developed, which assumed a slow, gradual advance into the steppe with the construction of new fortifications in it. The latter were caused by the need to take measures against Sultan Keynesary Khan, who united all the Kirghiz clans under his rule and constantly threatened the peaceful life of Russian settlers.

In 1843, it was decided once and for all to put an end to Sultan Keynesary Khan, who carried out constant raids and even under the walls of our fortifications captured Russians into captivity. To accomplish this task, two detachments were sent from the Orskaya fortress: the military foreman Lobov (two hundred and one gun) and Colonel Bazanov (one company, one hundred and one gun), by the joint actions of which they managed to disperse the crowds of the Kirghiz and take the Sultan himself in battle Keynesary Khan, who was later executed.

In 1845, it turned out to be possible to build fortresses along the line of the Irgiz and Turgai rivers: on the first - Ural, and on the second - Orenburg, at the same time, the Novoaleksandrovskoe fortification was transferred to the Mangyshlak Peninsula with its renaming to Novopetrovsk; thanks to this, almost half of the western coast of the Caspian Sea became actually owned by Russia.

Two years later, a detachment of General Obruchev (four companies, three hundred and four guns) was moved to occupy the northeastern coast of the Aral Sea and the mouths of the Syr Darya, on the banks of which Obruchev built the Raim fortification. At the same time, the Aral military flotilla was established, and the steamships Nikolai and Konstantin began to cruise the sea, thereby joining it to Russian possessions; later they carried out transport service, transporting military cargo and troops up the Syr Darya.

At the same time, the entire Kyrgyz steppe, up to the advanced fortifications, was divided into 54 distances, headed by Russian commanders, and to resolve disputes that arose between individual clans, congresses of Kyrgyz foremen were established, which streamlined the management of nomads.

Meanwhile, the occupation by Russian troops of the mouths of the Syr Darya, along which native ships sailed, led to constant clashes with a new enemy - the Kokand Khanate, through whose possessions this huge Central Asian river flowed for the most part. The Khiva and Kokand people could not come to terms with the strengthening of the Russians, who prevented them from robbing and robbing caravans on the roads to Orenburg. To prevent raids, special detachments began to be sent. So, the detachment of Colonel Erofeev (200 Cossacks and soldiers with two guns), having overtaken the Khiva crowds, defeated them and on August 23 occupied the Khiva fortress of Dzhak-Khodzha. In the following year, 1848, the Khiva fortification of Khodja-Niaz was captured and destroyed.

Gradually populating the lands around the steppe fortifications with Cossacks and settlers, Russia had to take measures to protect them, as well as prevent the Khiva gangs from breaking into the Orenburg steppe, where the Kyrgyz population suffered from their raids; for this it was necessary to move even further south and push back the Kokand and Khivans, inflicting a thorough defeat on them.

The offensive plan was developed, and from 1850, the simultaneous movement of Russian troops from the Siberian and Orenburg lines began. A detachment was moved from Kapal to the Ili River in order to arrange crossings, build fortifications and reconnaissance of the Kokand fortress Tauchubek. On the Orenburg line, a detachment of Major Engman (one company, one hundred and one gun), leaving the Raim fortification, scattered the crowds of Kokand, taking the Kash-Kurgan fortress from battle. The following year, a strong detachment of Colonel Karbashev (five companies, five hundred, six horse guns and one rocket launcher) again crossed the Ili River, defeated the Kokand and completely destroyed the Tauchubek fortress.

The detachment of Major Engman (175 Cossacks and one unicorn), having met the Kokand troops under the command of Yakub-bek near Akchi-Bulak, utterly defeated them, putting them to flight.

At the same time, in order to finally secure for Russia the entire steppe adjacent to the Siberian line, the construction of Cossack villages was begun and a Cossack line was established, on which a detachment was advanced beyond Anchuz (Sergiopol) to the Chinese city of Chuguchak and two hundred Siberian Cossack troops settled in fortified villages; of these, the Semirechensk Cossack army was subsequently formed.

Appointed again by the Orenburg Governor-General, General Perovsky, having familiarized himself with the state of affairs in the region, became convinced that the main stronghold of the Kokand people was the strong fortress of Ak-Mechet, behind the strong walls of which the gatherings of the Kokand people found refuge and from where gangs of robbers were sent out to raid our fortifications. ; in view of this, in 1852, a detachment of Colonel Blaramberg (one and a half companies, two hundred and five guns) was sent to carry out reconnaissance of the Ak-Mechet.

The detachment, having passed a considerable space and withstood several onslaughts of the Kokand, destroyed the Kokand fortifications: Kumysh-Kurgan, Chim-Kurgan and Kash-Kurgan, reconnaissance of the Ak-Mecheti fortress.

Thanks to this, next year it became possible to send significant forces (4.5 companies, 12.5 hundreds and 36 guns) to conquer the fortress under the general command of General Perovsky himself. Having marched with the detachment in the heat for about 900 miles in 24 days, having repulsed several attacks by the Khivans, General Perovsky approached the walls of the Ak-Mechet, which was considered impregnable, and sent the commandant an offer to surrender the fortress. But the people of Kokand met the parliamentarians with shots, and therefore they had to abandon negotiations and take her out of battle.

The high walls and the strong garrison of the Ak-Mosque were such an impressive force that they decided to blow up part of the walls first. They carried out siege work that lasted seven days, and then, after the explosion on June 27, which caused great destruction, they began an assault that lasted from 3 hours to 16 hours and 30 minutes. During the assault, the brave commandant of the Ak-Mosque, Mukhamet-Vali Khan, was killed, and the Kokand people, after a desperate defense, were forced to surrender. Ak-Mosque was renamed into Fort Perovsky.

The difficult campaign that resulted in the capture of the Ak-Mechet was appreciated by the sovereign, and General Perovsky, for the capture of this important point, which had already withstood several sieges, was elevated to the dignity of a count, and the troops were generously awarded.

At the same time, a new Syrdarya line was established from the fortifications: Aral (Raim), Fort No. 1, Fort No. 2, Fort Perovsky and Fort No. 3 (Kumysh-Kurgan). Thus, the entire steppe from Orenburg to the Aral Sea and the Syr Darya River was finally assigned to Russia, and the fortifications of the former Orenburg line, having lost their importance as advanced ones, turned into strongholds and staging posts and fortified trading posts, under the protection of which new settlers began to arrive.

The people of Kokand could not come to terms with the loss of Ak-Mechet, which was considered impregnable and withstood a number of sieges in the past. Huge crowds of them, numbering up to 12 thousand, with 17 guns, suddenly approached Fort Perovsky on December 18, in which there were 1055 people of the Russian garrison with 14 guns and five mortars. Although the fort itself was not completed at that time, but the head of the left flank of the Syrdarya line, Lieutenant Colonel Ogarev, recognizing the disadvantage of the siege, decided, despite the inequality of forces, to send a detachment of 350 infantrymen, 190 Cossacks with four guns and two rocket launchers under the command of Shkup towards the Kokand people . Taking advantage of the fog and the carelessness of the Kokand people, at dawn the Russians approached the Kokand camp at a distance of 400 sazhens, occupying sandy hills, and at 6 o'clock in the morning opened a cannonade on it.

After a short turmoil caused by surprise, the Kokandians soon came to their senses and at first began to respond with cannon shots, and then, going on the offensive, surrounded the detachment and made several attacks from the front and flanks. But all these attacks with great damage were repelled by buckshot and rifle fire. Then, having decided to cut off the detachment from the fortress, the Kokandians sent part of the troops of their center and reserves around.

Fortunately, Lieutenant Colonel Ogarev, noticing the enemy's flank coverage, sent two teams of reinforcements, 80 people and 10 guns each, under the command of Captain Pogursky and Ensign Alekseev. At this time, Captain Shkup, having found out a significant weakening of the enemy troops and seeing our reinforcements approaching, covering his rear, left three platoons of infantry and a hundred Cossacks in position, and he himself with one hundred and six platoons of infantry quickly rushed forward, knocked over the enemy riflemen and captured the entire Kokand artillery and camp.

Although the remaining three platoons withstood a strong onslaught, the Kokandians were finally shot down by the attack of Pogursky and Alekseev, as a result of which, pursued by four hundred Cossacks and Bashkirs, they retreated in disarray, losing up to 2000 killed in this battle. Our losses were 18 killed and 44 wounded. The trophies were four bunchuks, seven banners, 17 guns and 130 pounds of gunpowder. For this glorious deed, Lieutenant Colonel Ogarev was promoted directly to Major General, and Captain Shkup was promoted to the next rank.

Despite such a terrible defeat and the loss of artillery, the Kokand people almost immediately began casting new artillery pieces in the city of Turkestan, having collected all the copper utensils from the inhabitants for this, and new troops began to concentrate in Kokand.

Conquest of the Trans-Ili Territory (Seven Rivers). The movement from Siberia was carried out with great success, and in 1854 the Verny fortification was built in the Alma-Ata tract on the Almatika River and the valley of the Ili River was occupied with the establishment of the Trans-Ili Department for the administrative management of the population of this region. Verny became the base for further military operations, launched the following year, in order to protect the Kirghiz, who were subordinate to Russia.

In the reign of Alexander II, Russia's advance into the depths of Central Asia went at an accelerated pace due to the fact that talented, strong-willed leaders, Kolpakovsky and Chernyaev, were at the head of the Russian troops operating on this outskirts. The activity of Lieutenant Colonel Kolpakovsky was extremely fruitful in terms of consolidating the conquests of Russia within the Semirechye, where the Russian troops under his command subdued the Kirghiz, who roamed in the areas adjoining their borders with China. By the mid 60s. Russian troops advanced from Orenburg to Perovsk, and advanced from Siberia to Verny, firmly securing for themselves the entire space covered by a number of fortifications.

But there was still a considerable space between the extreme points of this border line, where the Kokand people firmly held on, relying on a number of their strong fortresses - Azret, Chimkent, Aulieata, Pishpek and Tokmak - and constantly exciting the nomadic Kirghiz to hostile actions against the Russians. Because of this, it was urgently required to close our advanced lines and in this way finally cut off the Kyrgyz subject to Russia from the influence of Kokand. The urgency of the execution of this plan was highly approved, and since 1836 the non-stop movement of Russian troops began again in order to close the Syrdarya and Siberian lines with the construction of one common line of fortresses. The detachment of Colonel Khomentovsky (one company, one hundred and one rocket launcher) conquered the Kirghiz of the Great Horde of the Topai clan, and the head of the Syrdarya line, Major General Fitingof (320 infantrymen, 300 Cossacks, three guns and two rocket launchers) took the Khiva fortification from battle Khoja-Niaz and on February 26, the Khiva crowds, supported by the Kirghiz, who did not submit to Russia, were defeated.

The following year, the head of the Trans-Ili Territory, Lieutenant Colonel Peremyshlsky, with a detachment of one company, one hundred and two horse guns, subdued all the other rebellious clans of the Kirghiz and threw back a 5,000-strong Kokand detachment across the Chu River.

In 1859, a reconnaissance of the upper reaches of the Chu River and the Kokand fortresses of Tokmak and Pishpek was carried out, and on the Syrdarya line - the Yanidarya (a branch of the Syrdarya). Colonel Dandeville's detachment reconnoitered the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea and the routes from the sea to Khiva. In the same year, the administration of the Kirghiz of the Orenburg steppe was transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The entire Trans-Ili Territory became part of the newly established Alatau Okrug, which had borders from the north: the Kurta and Ili rivers (Lake Balkhash system); from the west of the Chu and Kurdai rivers (Lake Issyk-Kul system); in the south and east, a definite border was not established, since hostilities with Kokand, Khiva and Bukhara continued. No distinctions were made between the possessions of these khanates and the Russians, nor were the borders with the border regions of western China, with which at that time neither treaties nor treaties were concluded in this respect.

The population of the new Alatau district and the Trans-Ili region consisted of nomadic Kirghiz of various clans, numbering about 150 thousand, who were officially considered Russian subjects, not a large number Cossacks, Russian settlers and Sarts, who constituted the settled part of the population of the region, in which the Verny fortification was the administrative center.

Wishing to avoid the oppression of the Kokand officials, the Kirghiz, who recognized the power of Russia over themselves, although they roamed mainly within Russian borders, often crossed to the Kokand territory, mainly due to the fact that its border was determined only approximately along the course of the Chu River along the spurs of the Tien Shan.

The Kokand authorities, having lost significant incomes with the transfer of the prosperous Kyrgyz population to Russian citizenship, collected taxes from them by force, and the Kokand emissaries, who mainly belonged to representatives of noble Kyrgyz families, incited the Kirghiz to revolt against the Russians. To protect their new subjects, the Russian authorities had to constantly send expeditions to the Kokand possessions.

Gradually, due to the concentration of Kokand troops near the Russian line, the situation became rather difficult, especially by 1860, when the Kokand, having strengthened at the expense of Bukhara, in addition to collecting tribute from the Kirghiz - Russian subjects, began to prepare for an invasion of the Trans-Ili region in towards the fortification of Verny. They hoped, by causing an outrage among the Kirghiz, to cut off the communication of the region with Kapal, the only point connecting it with Russia, and to destroy all Russian settlements.

To prevent the implementation of the plans of the Kokand people, a detachment was formed consisting of six companies, six hundred Cossacks, two hundred Kirghiz, 12 guns, four rocket launchers and eight mortars, and two large detachments were sent to Lake Issyk-Kul under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Shaitanov and centurion Zherebyatyev, forcing the Kokandians, after several skirmishes, to retreat from the lake to the foothills of the Tien Shan.

At the same time, the detachment of Colonel Zimmerman, moving towards the Kostek pass near the Kostek fortification, utterly defeated the troops of the Kokandans, who had invaded Russian borders in the number of 5,000 people. Having then crossed the pass in August and September of the same year, the detachment occupied and destroyed the Kokand fortresses Tokmak and Pishpek, which served as the main strongholds of the Kokand people. But the Kokandians began to concentrate their forces again, restoring the fortress of Pishpek, and in early October their crowds were already approaching the Chu River.

At that time, Lieutenant Colonel Kolpakovsky, a man of rare willpower, ability to work and energy, was appointed head of the Alatau district and commander of the troops of the Trans-Ili Territory. Quickly assessing the situation and recognizing it as extremely serious, he immediately took a number of measures to counter the Kokand invasion. Having strengthened the garrisons of fortifications everywhere, he completed some of them, and then armed all the Russian settlers and trustworthy natives. The total number of troops under his command barely reached 2,000 people, among whom were predominantly Siberian Cossacks, who at that time did not differ in special fighting qualities, and the militia he gathered from local residents consisted of completely untrained settlers.

The unrest among our Kirghiz had already taken on such serious proportions that most of them went over to the side of the Kokandans, whose forces numbered up to 22 thousand people. In view of these reasons, the position of the Russians in the Trans-Ili region had to be recognized as critical.

Fortunately, the Kokand troops consisted of a small number of regular sarbaz, and the rest were militia. The chief commander was the Tashkent Bek Kanaat-Sha, who was famous for his successful actions against the Bukharans. Going on the offensive, the Kokands moved from Pishpek along the valley of the Kurdai River to the Dutrin-Aigir River, in the direction of Verny, while using the support of the Kirghiz, who began to go over to their side in masses.

Hastily advancing towards the Kokandians, Kolpakovsky placed the 8th line battalion in Kostek, four hundred and seven guns (Major Ekeblad); on the mound Skuruk - one company with a rocket machine (lieutenant Syarkovsky); at Uzunagach - one company, one hundred and two guns (lieutenant Sobolev); in Kaselena - fifty; in Verny - two companies and fifty, and, finally, the rest of the troops - in the Iliysky and Zailiysky fortifications.

The first offensive on April 19, consisting of 10 thousand people under the command of Alim-bek, bypassing Uzunagach, ended unsuccessfully for them, and they were repulsed with great loss, retreating under heavy Russian fire, but immediately launched a new offensive along the Kara-Kastek river valley. Having received news of this, Lieutenant Colonel Kolpakovsky managed to gather most of his forces by the evening of October 20 (three companies, two hundred, six guns and two rocket launchers), which approached lightly, and on October 21, not expecting an attack by the Kokand troops, the Russian detachment quickly went out to meet the enemy , moving through a terrain cut by ravines and a number of parallel heights. As soon as the Kokand troops appeared, four guns that had gone forward, ahead of the Cossacks, forced the Kokand troops to retreat behind the next ridge with grapeshot fire. Pressing the enemy, the detachment reached Kara-Kastek, where it was unexpectedly attacked from the flanks and rear by cavalry crowds of Kokand, and the company of Lieutenant Syarkovsky was almost taken prisoner, but, fortunately, two companies sent by Kolpakovsky managed to rescue her.

Unable to withstand the volleys, the Kokandians retreated and at that time were attacked by the entire detachment: from the left flank - by Shanyavsky's company, from the right - by Sobolev's company, and artillery opened fire in the center. Syarkovsky's company with a hundred and a rocket machine, taking up a position at an angle, guarded the right flank and rear of the detachment.

Rushing to the attack, Shanyavsky's company overturned the sarbaz with bayonets, and after them, after several attempts to go on the offensive, all the forces of the Kokand people turned. Despite the fatigue, the detachment pursued the enemy at a distance of more than two versts, at the same time fighting off the gangs of the Kirghiz, who rushed at the detachment from the rear and flanks. During the day, the detachment covered 44 miles, while enduring a fierce eight-hour battle. The Kokandians lost up to 1000 killed and wounded at Uzunagach and hastily retreated across the Chu River.

According to the general conclusion, in all our wars in Central Asia until 1865, not once were the interests of Russia exposed to such a terrible risk as before the battle of Uzunagach. If Kolpakovsky had not taken decisive measures and had not taken the initiative of the offensive, it is difficult to say how the attack of the 20,000-strong mass of Kokand would have ended, especially if we take into account that the slightest success could attract all the Kirghiz of the Trans-Ili and Ili regions to their side. The moral significance of the victory at Uzunagach was enormous, since it clearly showed the strength of Russian weapons and the weakness of the Kokand people.

Emperor Alexander II appreciated the significance of the Uzunagach battle and wrote on the report: “Glorious deed. Lieutenant Colonel Kolpakovsky to promote to colonel and give George 4 degrees. About those who distinguished themselves, enter with a presentation, and declare goodwill to all staff and chief officers, send insignia of the military order to Gasford, according to his desire.

In 1862, Colonel Kolpakovsky, having established order in the management of the Kyrgyz nomad camps, made a new reconnaissance, crossing the Chu River (four companies, two hundred and four guns), and took the Kokand fortress of Merke. Having then received reinforcements, on October 24, already with a detachment of eight companies, one hundred and eight guns, he again took the Pishpek fortress restored by the Kokand.

On the Syrdarya line, hostilities continued, and in 1861 a detachment of General Debu (1000 lower ranks, nine guns and three rocket launchers) took and destroyed the Kokand fortresses of Yani-Kurgan and Din-Kurgan.

Thus, the offensive of the Russian troops on the Kokand possessions continued unabated, and at the same time, our borders with China in the east were expanded in the Trans-Ili Territory, and in 1863 Berukhudzir, Koshmurukh and the Altyn-Emel Pass were occupied, and the detachment of Captain Protsenko (two companies , one hundred and two mountain guns) inflicted heavy defeats on the Chinese.

At the end of the 60s, almost simultaneously with the military operations against Bukhara, the movement towards Chinese Turkestan and the conquest of the Trans-Ili region continued. The restless nomadic population of Chinese Turkestan, consisting of Kalmyks, has long disturbed the Russian subjects of the Kirghiz with their constant raids. At the same time, the Chinese subjects of the Dungans (Muslim Chinese) rose up against the Chinese, who, seeing the complete impossibility of coping on their own, turned to the Russian authorities for help.

Considering such a situation on the borders of the newly conquered region unacceptable and dangerous and finding it necessary to take measures to pacify the population of the adjacent Chinese regions, General Kolpakovsky, with a detachment of three companies, three hundred and four guns, moved in 1869 to Western Chinese possessions. Here, near Lake Sairam-Nor, having met huge crowds of Taranchins, he entered into battle with them and scattered them, and then on August 7 he took the Kaptagay fortress from battle.

But the Taranchins and Kalmyks began to gather again at Borakhudzir, as a result of which the Russian detachment headed for this point and, having inflicted a terrible defeat on these crowds, occupied the fortifications of Mazor and Khorgos. However, he was forced to leave the first of them soon because of the small number of the Russian detachment, and besides, incited by the Chinese authorities, the nomads and settled Taranchins began to threaten the Russian possessions.

In 1871, General Kolpakovsky with a large detachment (10 companies, six hundred and 12 guns) again entered the Chinese borders, having occupied the fortress and the city of Mazor on May 7 in battle and, pushing the Taranchins back to the Chin-Chakhodze fortress, took it by storm on June 18, and on the 19th - the Saydun fortress, approaching the main city of the Trans-Ili Territory, Kulja, which he occupied on June 22.

Together with the occupation of Kulja, hostilities in Semirechye ended, and this region, formed from the Alatau district and the Trans-Ili region, got the opportunity to develop peacefully, becoming part of Russia. Later, Ghulja and the area adjacent to it, occupied solely for the purpose of appeasing the population, after complete calming it, were returned back to China.

From the conquered lands, one of the richest regions of Russia, Semirechensk, was formed, with the main city of Verny, where the Cossacks of the newly established Semirechensk Cossack army stood guard over the Russian border with China. With the appointment in 1864 of the head of the West Siberian line, Colonel M. G. Chernyaev, and with the strengthening of the troops of the Trans-Ili Territory, a faster forward movement began due to the special energy and enterprise of the new chief, who recognized the need to close the Trans-Ili and Syrdarya lines as soon as possible. Between their extreme points there was already an insignificant space, where the gangs of the Kokand people penetrated, carrying out unexpected attacks and disturbing the Kirghiz nomadic population, dutifully submitting to the Russians until the first appearance of the Kokand people. The wild riders of the desert found this position especially convenient, as it gave them the opportunity to carry out raids and robberies with impunity of hostile clans.

Recognizing it as necessary, moving forward, to push back the Kokandians, Colonel Chernyaev with a detachment of five companies of the 8th West Siberian battalion, the 4th company of the 3rd West Siberian battalion, rifle companies of the 3rd West Siberian battalion, a semi-battery of Cossack artillery and the 1st Siberian Cossack the regiment moved from Pishpek in the direction of Aulieat and, unexpectedly appearing under the walls of this fortress, located on a significant hill, on June 4 took it by storm. Two weeks later, he sent a flying detachment of Lieutenant Colonel Lerkhe (two companies, fifty, two guns and one rocket launcher), which, having crossed the snowy ridge of Kara-Bura with terrible difficulties, descended into the valley of the Chirchik River, attacking the Kokand, defeated their crowds and conquered the Karakirghiz, who wandered in the Chirchik valley. The main detachment of Chernyaev again moved forward, to Yas-Kich, occupying Chimkent on July 11, and marched from July 13 to 15 with a battle to Kish-Tyumen.

On July 16, a detachment of Colonel Lerkhe (three companies of infantry, one company of mounted riflemen and two mounted guns) was already sent to the Akbulak tract against the Kokand people to join the troops of the Orenburg detachment, which left Perovsk under the command of Colonel Verevkin (consisting of 4.5 companies, two hundred, 10 guns, six mortars and two rocket launchers) and on July 12, having taken the Kokand city of Turkestan from the battle and fortified in it, sent a flying detachment of Captain Meyer (two companies, one hundred, three guns and one rocket launcher) to Chimkent and further to the Akbulak tract towards Chernyaev's troops.

The people of Kokand, having received information about the movement of Russian detachments from two sides, pulled over 10 thousand people to Akbulak; With these masses, on July 14 and 15, the detachment of Captain Meyer had to engage in battle, which was soon assisted by the approaching detachment of Lieutenant Colonel Lerche. After the connection, both detachments, under the general command of Lieutenant Colonel Lerkhe, who had taken command, having withstood several attacks by the Kokand on July 17, headed for the Kish-Tyumen tract, where the main forces of General Chernyaev were located.

Five days later, after giving people a little rest, on July 22, Colonel Chernyaev went to Shymkent, reconnoitring this strong fortress, but, having met huge masses of Kokand people - up to 25 thousand people - and having endured a fierce battle with them, his detachment, due to the inequality of forces, retreated to Turkestan.

Only two months later, having brought the units into full order and waiting for reinforcements to arrive, on September 14, General Chernyaev again headed for Chimkent (three companies, one and a half hundred and two horse guns); at the same time, under the command of Colonel Lerche, a detachment was advanced in the same direction, consisting of six companies of infantry, one company of mounted riflemen and two guns. Having united on September 19, both detachments met the troops of the Kokand and, having entered into battle with them, overturned them, taking the Sairam fortress from battle.

On September 22, despite the strong garrison of Chimkent, an assault was launched on this fortress, which was considered impregnable by the Kokand people, located on a significant elevation that dominated the surrounding area. The fierce artillery and rifle fire of the Kokand people did not stop the assault column, led by Colonel Lerhe, burst into the fortress and knocked out the desperately defending Kokand people.

The news of the capture of Chimkent by the Russians by storm quickly spread around, and all the Kokand detachments hastily began to retreat to Tashkent, seeking protection behind its strong walls. General Chernyaev, wanting to use the moral impression of our successes, on September 27, that is, on the sixth day after the capture of Chimkent, headed for Tashkent with a detachment of 1,550 people with 12 guns - a total of 8.5 companies and 1.5 hundreds of Cossacks. Thanks to its speed and surprise, this movement promised success, especially since among the inhabitants of Tashkent there were many Russian supporters who wanted an end to the war, ruinous for merchants.

On October 1, remaining under the walls of Tashkent, which numbered up to 100 thousand people with a garrison of 10 thousand and surrounded by walls for 24 miles, Chernyaev, choosing the weakest place, began bombarding the walls in order to form a gap in them; this, apparently, was succeeded in doing, but when the assault column under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Obukh was moved, it turned out that only the top of the wall had been shot down, and the wall itself, covered by a fold of terrain and invisible from afar, stood unshakably, so that climbing it without assault stairs were unthinkable.

Having suffered significant losses, including the death of Lieutenant Colonel Obukh, General Chernyaev, due to the inability to take the fortress without siege work, was forced to retreat back to Chimkent. The troops were eager to launch a new assault, believing that they were repelled not by the Kokands, but by the height of the Tashkent walls and the depth of the ditches, which was fully confirmed by the absence of any pursuit from the Kokands when the detachment retreated to Chimkent.

After the unsuccessful assault on Tashkent, the Kokand people perked up, believing that the victory remained on their side. Mulla Alim-Kul, spreading the rumor about his departure to Kokand, in fact, having gathered up to 12 thousand people, went, bypassing Chimkent, straight to Turkestan, assuming to capture this fortress by an unexpected attack. But the commandant of Turkestan, Lieutenant Colonel Zhemchuzhnikov, wishing to check the rumors that had reached him about the movement of the Kokand people, immediately sent a hundred Urals under the command of Yesaul Serov for reconnaissance. Not expecting to meet the enemy close, a hundred set out on December 4, taking one unicorn and a small supply of food. Only on the way from the oncoming Kirghiz did Serov learn that the village of Ikan, 20 versts from Turkestan, was already occupied by the Kokandans.

Considering it necessary to verify this rumor, he led his detachment at a trot and, not reaching 4 versts to Ikan, noticed lights to the right of the village. Assuming that this was an enemy, the detachment stopped, sending out one of the Kirghiz who were with the detachment to collect information, who almost immediately returned, meeting the Kokand patrol. Not yet knowing anything definite about the forces of the enemy, Serov decided, just in case, to withdraw for the night to the position he had chosen, but before the detachment had time to go a mile, he was surrounded by crowds of Kokand.

Having ordered the Cossacks to dismount and make a cover out of bags of food and fodder, Serov met the Kokandans with shots from a unicorn and rifles, which instantly cooled the ardor of the attackers.

Their subsequent attacks were also repulsed with great damage to the attackers. The Kokand people, having retreated about three versts, in turn opened fire from three guns and falconets, which lasted all night and caused much harm to both people and horses.

On the morning of December 5, the fire intensified. Many Cossacks suffered from grenades and cannonballs. Meanwhile, the main forces of Alim-Kul approached, with a total number of up to 10 thousand people. Counting on help from Turkestan, where two Cossacks were sent with a report, having made their way through the enemy position at night, the brave Urals continued to shoot behind their shelters all day. Although the wheel in the unicorn crumbled from the shots by noon, the fireworker Sins attached a box fireworks and continued non-stop firing, and the Cossacks helped the artillerymen, many of whom were already wounded. The Kokand people, irritated by this steadfastness and afraid to attack openly, began to carry out attacks, hiding behind carts loaded with reeds and thorns.

Around noon, muffled cannon and rifle shots were heard from the direction of Turkestan, which for a while encouraged the Cossacks, who assumed that help was not far away, but by evening the Kokand people sent Serov a letter in which they reported that the troops coming from the fortress to the rescue had been defeated by them. Indeed, a detachment of 150 infantrymen with 20 guns sent to help, under the command of Lieutenant Sukorko, came quite close, but, having met masses of Kokand, retreated back.

Despite this news, Serov decided to hold out to the last extremity, making new blockages from the dead horses, and at night again sending the Cossacks Borisov and Chernoy with a note to Turkestan. Having made their way through the Kokand troops, the brave men fulfilled the order.

On the morning of December 6, the Urals were already in really bad shape, and the enemy, having prepared 16 new shields, apparently intended to rush into the attack. Not losing hope for help and wanting to gain time, Serov entered into negotiations with Alim-Kul, which lasted more than an hour. After the termination of negotiations, the Kokand people rushed to the rubble with even greater ferocity, but their first and three subsequent onslaughts were repulsed. By this time, all the horses were killed by shots from the Kokands, and 37 were killed and 10 wounded from the people. Serov saw that it was impossible to hold on any longer, and therefore decided on the last resort - to break through the ranks of the thousandth enemy cavalry at all costs, a cloud surrounded the detachment, and in case of failure, everyone will fall in this battle, remembering the covenant of Prince Svyatoslav: "The dead have no shame."

The Cossacks, having riveted the unicorn, rushed at the Kokand people with a cry of "hurrah". Stunned by this desperate determination, they parted, letting the brave men pass and seeing them off with strong rifle fire.

For more than 8 versts, the Urals walked firing back, every minute losing their comrades killed and wounded, whose heads were cut off by the Kokandians immediately jumping up. The wounded, some with five or six wounds, walked, supporting each other, until they fell completely exhausted, immediately becoming the prey of enraged enemies. It seemed that the end was near and all this handful of brave men would lay down their bones in the wilderness. But at this last moment there was a movement among the attackers, and they immediately retreated, and from behind the hills a Russian detachment finally appeared, sent from Turkestan to the rescue. The wounded and exhausted Cossacks, who had not eaten for two days, were put on carts and taken to the fortress. During the three days of the battle, a hundred lost: 57 killed and 45 wounded - a total of 102, only 11 people survived, including four shell-shocked.

The case near Ikan clearly confirmed the invincibility of the Russians and prevented Alim-Kul from attacking Turkestan. All survivors of the Ikan battle were awarded the insignia of the military order, and Yesaul Serov was awarded the Order of St. George and the next rank for feats that are an example of rare stamina, courage and bravery.

Gradually, the Kokand people cleared the entire area, General Chernyaev, considering it necessary to capture the main stronghold of the Kokand people - the fortress of Tashkent, approached its walls a second time. After the reconnaissance of Tashkent, which made it possible to clarify that the Kamelan Gates were the most convenient place for an assault, a military council was assembled at which Chernyaev discussed with his subordinates the procedure for storming this strong fortress.

After the bombardment of the city walls, Chernyaev at 2 am from July 14 to 15 moved three assault columns under the command of Colonel Abramov, Major de Croa and Lieutenant Colonel Zhemchuzhnikov. A special detachment of Colonel Kraevsky was instructed to make a demonstration from the opposite side of the fortress in order to divert the attention of the Kokand people from the Kamelan Gate. Taking the assault ladders and wrapping the wheels of the guns in felt, the assault column approached the wall.

The Kokand guard standing at the very wall outside the fortress, at the sight of the Russians, rushed to run through a small hole in the fortress wall, covered with a felt mat. In their footsteps, non-commissioned officer Khmelev and cadet Zavadsky were the first to break into the fortress, climbed the fortress walls and, having split the servants with bayonets, threw guns down. A few minutes later the gates were already open, and the soldiers, company after company, entered the fortress, capturing the neighboring gates and towers; then drawn into the city along the narrow streets, they took one fortification after another, despite the rifle and artillery fire, opened from all sides by the Kokand. Finally, the citadel was taken by the columns of Zhemchuzhnikov and de Croa. But because of the fences, they were fired continuously.

It was extremely difficult to dislodge the enemy archers from their hiding places, since the exit from the citadel was subjected to fierce shelling. Then the military priest, Archpriest Malov, wanting to incite people to carry out a dangerous enterprise, raised the cross high and, shouting: “Brothers, follow me,” ran out of the gate, and he was followed by arrows who, quickly crossing the dangerous place, stabbed with bayonets those who sat behind fences in the gardens and nearby buildings of the Kokand people.

Meanwhile, the detachment of Colonel Kraevsky, noticing the enemy cavalry approaching Tashkent, rushed to the attack and quickly dispersed it, and then began to pursue the crowds of Kokand people fleeing Tashkent. By evening, having gathered a detachment near the Kamelan Gates, General Chernyaev sent small teams from here through the streets of the city, knocking out the settled Kokandites; as the latter continued to fire, artillery was advanced, reopening fire on the city, which soon began to catch fire. At night, the troops disturbed small parties, but the next day, a detachment of Colonel Kraevsky again went around the whole city and, having taken and destroyed the barricades, blew up the citadel. On July 17, a deputation from the inhabitants appeared and asked for mercy, surrendering to the mercy of the winner. The trophies were 63 guns, 2100 pounds of gunpowder and up to 10 thousand shells. The centurion Ivasov and lieutenant Makarov especially distinguished themselves during the capture of Tashkent.

The occupation of Tashkent finally strengthened the position of Russia in Central Asia, in which this city was one of the largest political and commercial centers; retaining its importance in the future, it became the main city of the newly formed Syrdarya region.

Conquest of the Bukhara Khanate. Actions of the Russians in 1864 and 1865 in relation to the conquest of the region was especially successful. In a short time, having mastered the vast territory from Perovsk and Verny to Tashkent, Russia involuntarily began to threaten directly Kokand and Bukhara, which directed all their forces to contain the Russian movement. Their attempts in this direction were paralyzed by General Chernyaev, who, as a result of the Bukhara attack on the new Russian line, was forced to go on the offensive again. Having reached the Bukhara fortress of Dzhizak, he inflicted several defeats on the Bukhara troops, and then General Romanovsky, who was appointed after him the military governor of the Syrdarya region, took this fortress as well.

However, despite the defeats suffered, the Emir of Bukhara still did not believe that the Russians had forever occupied the areas beyond the Syr Darya River, which previously belonged to Bukhara. The dignitaries surrounding him hid the true state of affairs, and therefore the emir's confidence in his own strength was so great that, while negotiating with the Russians in order to gain time, he at the same time gathered troops, at the same time encouraging the attacks of the Kyrgyz gangs on the new Russian borders. .

As a result of this situation, General Romanovsky with a detachment of 14 companies, five hundred, 20 guns and eight rocket launchers moved to the Irjar tract, where a 38,000-strong militia of Bukharans and 5,000 sarbaz with 21 guns were concentrated.

Major General D. I. Romanovsky

The appearance of the Russian detachment on May 8 was a big surprise for the Bukharans, and, attacked by the detachments of Colonel Abramov and Pistohlkors, the Bukharans immediately retreated, losing up to 1000 killed, six guns and the entire artillery fleet.

After giving a short rest to the troops, General Romanovsky decided to head for the Kokand fortress of Khujand, where he approached on May 18. Located on the Syr Darya River, Khojent was a very strong fortress with a numerous garrison, which was impossible to take by storm without preparation; as a result, the bombardment of the city was scheduled for May 20, which continued intermittently until May 24. On that day, the assault on the Khojent walls was launched by two columns under the command of Captain Mikhailovsky and Captain Baranov; although at the same time the assault ladders, unfortunately, turned out to be lower than the walls, nevertheless, despite this and the terrible resistance of the Kokand people, the company of Lieutenant Shorokhov climbed them, dropping and splitting the defenders.

At the same time, captain Baranov with his companies, under a hail of bullets, buckshot, stones and logs thrown from the walls, climbed the walls and broke down the gates. And again, as during the storming of Tashkent, Archpriest Malov walked in the front ranks of the assault column with a cross in his hands, encouraging people with his example. Having broken the gates of the second inner wall, the troops entered the city, meeting great resistance on the street and knocking out the Kokand people from every house.

Only in the evening did the firing subside, and the next day the deputies appeared with an expression of complete humility. During the defense of Khujand, the Kokand people lost up to 3,500 people killed, whose corpses were then buried for a whole week, while we - 137 killed and wounded. Almost immediately after the capture of Khojent in order to disperse the crowds of Bukharans who had gathered in Ura-Tyube and posed a great danger when the detachment moved to Jizzakh, General Kryzhanovsky approached this city and, after the bombardment, took it by storm at dawn on July 20.

The strong artillery and rifle fire of the Bukharians from the walls of the fortress did not stop the assault columns marching under the command of Glukhovsky, Shaufus and Baranov; just as during the capture of Khojent, they, having occupied the fortress, stumbled inside on a column of Bukhara troops, with whom they withstood a fierce hand-to-hand fight. The trophies were four banners, 16 guns and 16 pack cannons. The losses of the enemy reached 2000 people, and ours - 10 officers and 217 lower ranks killed and wounded.

With the capture of Ura-Tube in the hands of the Emir of Bukhara, one more point remained - Dzhizak, owning which, he could still hope to retain the valley of the Syr Darya River due to the location of this fortress at the exit from the gorge on the only road to Samarkand and Bukhara. In view of the fact that by this time the Emir had not received a response to the proposed conditions, General Romanovsky sent his troops to Jizzakh, which they approached on October 12.

This fortress, surrounded by three parallel walls, was considered especially strong, and therefore storming it without preparation was too risky, especially taking into account that the garrison in it reached 11 thousand people. After the reconnaissance and construction of the battery, on October 16, the bombardment of Jizzakh began, all the tricks and turns of which indicated the presence in it of a large number of Bukhara regular troops, who made repeated sorties.

Having made collapses of walls and gaps, our troops began to prepare for the assault. But since it was noticed that by dawn, when the Russians usually began the assault, the fire from the Bukharans intensified, they decided to change the time and storm at noon. On October 18, two columns of Captain Mikhailovsky and Lieutenant Colonel Grigoriev, thanks to surprise, quickly occupied the walls, climbing the stairs to them.

The Bukharians, apparently not expecting an assault during the day, were taken by surprise and crowded in masses between the inner two walls; despite desperate resistance and strong but disorderly fire, the fortress was in our hands within an hour. During the assault on Djizak, the Bukharians lost up to 6,000 killed and wounded, while our losses amounted to 98 people. The trophies were 43 guns, 15 banners and many weapons. Most of the Jizzakh garrison surrendered, but some of them managed to escape from the fortress in the direction of Samarkand.

But even this terrible defeat did not bring the emir to his senses, and attacks began again on the Russian troops stationed at Dzhizak, and the emir himself again began to gather troops, sending small parties to Dzhizak and calling on the population to war with the infidels.

Attacks on the new Russian line soon became so frequent that, seeing no way to persuade the emir to cease hostilities, the newly appointed Turkestan Governor-General General von Kaufman decided to do away with Bukhara, whose defiant behavior demanded, in order to strengthen the Russian position in Central Asia , inflicting a complete defeat on the Bukhara troops. In view of this, the Russian detachment, consisting of 19.5 companies, five hundred and 10 guns, leaving Jizzakh, went to Samarkand, which was considered not so much the capital of the Bukhara Khanate, but also a holy city in the eyes of all Muslims. Meanwhile, the emir, having gathered a huge army, about 60 thousand people, sent it to Samarkand, where the Bukharians occupied the Chapan-Ata heights that were in front of the city. The Muslim clergy called on all the faithful to protect the holy city.

On May 1, 1868, Russian troops under the command of General Golovachev began to cross the Zeravshan River. Chest-deep in water, fighting against a strong current, under heavy fire from the Bukharians, the companies crossed to the opposite bank, attacked the heights of Chapan-Ata and with bayonets drove the Bukharians out of their positions. Unable to withstand a quick and decisive onslaught, the Bukhara troops began to retreat; most of them rushed to run towards Samarkand, seeking salvation behind the high walls of this strong fortress, but here they were severely disappointed.

The inhabitants of Samarkand, who were engaged in trade and agriculture, had long been burdened by the war, which ruined them with unbearable taxes; therefore, knowing about the complete calm that came in Tashkent with the annexation of this city to Russian possessions, and about the benefits acquired by the civilian population, they decided to stop the useless bloodshed; closing the gates of Samarkand and not letting the emir's troops in, they sent at the same time a deputation to General Kaufman declaring their desire to surrender to the mercy of the victors. The next day, Russian troops entered Samarkand, whose inhabitants opened the gates and brought the keys of the fortress to General Kaufman.

But, despite the fact that the main city of the khanate was in the power of the Russians, it was still impossible to recognize the defeat of the Bukharians as complete, since the emir again gathered his troops in Kata-Kurgan, where the units that had failed near Samarkand joined him.

On May 18, Russian troops headed for Kata-Kurgan; they took it by storm and, attacking on June 2, the masses of the Bukharans, who occupied the heights near Zerabulak, overturned them with a quick and decisive onslaught. This bloody battle ended with the complete defeat of the Bukharans, who turned into a disorderly flight; only now the emir of Bukhara, recognizing his cause as completely lost, soon signed the peace terms.

Meanwhile, major events took place in the rear of the Russian troops. Taking advantage of the Russian advance towards Zerabulak, the Shakhrisabz beks gathered a 15,000-strong army and laid siege to Samarkand, which contained a small garrison (up to 250 people) and the sick or weak (up to 400 people) under the general command of the commandant Major von Shtempel. This siege continued for a whole week.

An insignificant number of guns and the need to conserve cartridges created a particularly difficult situation during the repulse of assaults: our weak fire was not able to stop the enemy moving towards the fortress walls and even climbing them, from where he had to be knocked out with bayonets. Attack followed attack, and the people of Shakhrisabz climbed the walls like mad. Only hand grenades thrown by the defenders temporarily stopped these onslaughts. Several times the enemy tried to light the wooden gates, and also tried, by digging under the bottom of the walls, to overturn them, thus opening the passage. Seeing his critical situation, the commandant sent a report to General Kaufman through a faithful horseman who disguised himself as a beggar.

The expectation of the proceeds again raised the spirit of the garrison, in the ranks of the defenders of which all the sick and wounded became; but already on July 4, the enemy, having made a breach in the wall, broke into the fortress, although he was knocked out.

In the first two days, the garrison lost up to 150 people, but despite this, Major Shtempel firmly decided not to give up, and in the event of the capture of the fortress walls, lock himself in the Khan's palace. To maintain the spirit of the garrison, he constantly made sorties, setting fire to the nearest houses, which covered Shakhrisabz. Already on the fifth day, the situation of the besieged became desperate: the meat was eaten, people did not sleep for the fifth day, and there was an extreme shortage of water. Having made a sortie under the command of Colonel Nazarov, the defenders of the city received several sheep and some water.

Finally, on July 7, when it seemed that the surrender of the city was already inevitable, the news came that Kaufman's detachment was approaching Samarkand, and the next day in the morning, the Shakhrisabz residents quickly retreated from the fortress. Thus, a handful of Russians defended Samarkand, repulsing up to 40 attacks and losing a quarter of their composition in battles. Among those who especially distinguished themselves were later famous artists Vereshchagin and Karazin, who at that time served as officers in the Turkestan battalions.

On July 28, a peace treaty was concluded with the Emir of Bukhara, according to which all the lands up to Zerabulak went to Russia, but even after that the hostilities had not yet ended; the uprising of the heir to the Bukhara throne of Katta-Tyura and the need to punish the people of Shakhrisabz for attacking Samarkand forced the dispatch of a detachment of General Abramov to suppress the flaring uprising. Having first defeated the gatherings of Katta-Tyura near the city of Karshi, and then, the next year, having withstood a fierce battle with the Shakhrisabzians near the Kuli-Kalyan lakes, Abramov took the cities of Shakhrisabz and Kitab and deposed the rebellious beks who had fled to Kokand.

With these last military actions of the Russian troops, the conquest of the Bukhara Khanate was completed. With the death of Emir Muzafer Khan, Bukhara finally calmed down, and in 1879 new treaty about friendship, according to which the Bukhara Khanate was included in the Russian borders with the recognition of the protectorate of Russia.

Conquest of the Khiva Khanate. After the Russian troops occupied the left bank of the Syr Darya, on which a number of our fortifications were arranged, the Khiva khan, still believing in the strength of his troops and instigated by the clergy, again opened hostilities against the Russians. Gangs of Khiva-Turkmen and Kirghiz began to cross the Syr Darya and attack the nomad camps of the Kirghiz, who were considered Russian subjects; robbing and beating off their livestock, they created a situation impossible for a peaceful life.

Constantly sowing confusion and inciting the Russian subjects of the Kirghiz to revolt against Russia, the Khivans finally achieved their goal: major unrest and unrest arose among the Kirghiz of the Orenburg Territory.

By the end of 1873, the robberies of caravans en route from Orenburg to Persia and other Asian states by Khiva Turkmens terrified merchants, and raids on the Russian line and the withdrawal of prisoners took on a mass character. To put an end to this, the Governor-General of Turkestan turned to the Khan of Khiva with a written demand to return all Russian captives, to prohibit his subjects from interfering in the affairs of our Kirghiz and to conclude a trade agreement with Russia.

The proposals were not accepted, the khan did not even answer the letter of General Kaufman, and the Khiva raids became so frequent that even Russian postal stations began to be subjected to them. As a result of this situation, in the spring of 1873, Russian troops set out on a campaign against Khiva simultaneously from four points as part of specially formed detachments:

1) Turkestan (General Kaufman) - 22 companies, 18 hundreds and 18 guns - from Tashkent;

2) Orenburg (General Verevkin) - 15 companies, eight hundred and eight guns - from Orenburg;

3) Mangyshlak (Colonel Lomakin) - 12 companies, eight hundred and eight guns;

4) Krasnovodsky (Colonel Markozov) - eight companies, six hundred, 10 guns - from Krasnovodsk.

Khiva campaign in 1873. Transition of the Turkestan detachment through the sands of Adam-Krylgan. From a painting by N. N. Karazin

In addition, the troops operating against Khiva were assigned the Aral flotilla, which consisted of the Samarkand and Perovsky steamships and three barges.

General leadership was entrusted to Adjutant General von Kaufmann.

The troops faced a difficult campaign across boundless deserts, where occasionally there were wells with bitter-salty water. Loose dunes, sultry winds and scorching heat were the allies of the Khiva people, whose possessions were separated by a thousand-verst expanse of deserted, dead deserts that stretched to Khiva itself; not far from it, all the detachments were to unite and simultaneously approach the Khiva capital.

The Turkestan and Caucasian troops moved briskly, numbering in their ranks many participants in previous expeditions and steppe campaigns. From the very beginning, the Krasnovodsk detachment had to go deep into the sands, encountering terrible, insurmountable obstacles at every step. Having defeated the Turkmens at the Igda well on March 16 and pursuing them in the scorching heat for more than 50 miles, the Cossacks took about 300 prisoners and recaptured up to 1000 camels and 5000 sheep from the enemy.

But this first success was not repeated, and further movement to the wells of Orta-Kuyu was unsuccessful. Deep sands, lack of water and a sultry wind were enemies that people could not cope with, and the 75-verst desert to Orta-Kuyu turned out to be an obstacle that could not be stepped over; the detachment was forced to return to Krasnovodsk; nevertheless, he brought great benefit to the common cause, keeping the Tekins from participating in the defense of the Khiva possessions.

The Turkestan detachment went on a campaign in two columns - from Dzhizak and Kazalinsk - on March 13, and from the very first crossings began for him hard days. Spring was especially cold. Heavy rains with winds and snow on viscous, soggy soil made movement unusually difficult. Getting bogged down knee-deep in viscous clay, soaked through, chilled by the icy wind, people barely wandered to the place of lodging for the night, hoping to warm themselves by the fires there. But a whirlwind with a snow blizzard swooped in and put out the fires at once, and once the whole detachment almost died from the frost. In place of the bad weather in April, the heat began with strong hot winds, showering fine sand and making it difficult to breathe.

On April 21, the Kazaly and Dzhizak columns joined at the wells of Khala-Ata, where the Khivans appeared in front of the detachment for the first time.

The wind blew every day with terrible force, throwing up clouds of sandy dust that covered the horizon. In people, the skin burst on the face, and, despite the back of the head, burns appeared on the neck, and later eye diseases developed. At the lodging for the night, the wind tore off the tents and covered them with sand.

Particularly terrible was the transition to the wells of Adam-Krylgan along huge sand dunes, with a scorching 50-degree heat and a complete absence of vegetation. The very name "Adam-Krylgan" in translation means "the death of a man."

Horses and camels from the terrible heat and fatigue began to fall, people began to have sunstrokes. With great difficulty, a detachment of these wells reached, but, after resting and stocking up on water, they went on. The edge of the desert adjoined the banks of the high-water Amu Darya, and it remained no more than 60 versts to reach it. But even this relatively insignificant distance proved beyond the strength of exhausted people.

The heat was unbearable, and the loose dunes rose higher and higher. Soon the water supplies were used up, and a terrible thirst began to torment people. It seemed that the death of the detachment was inevitable. But fortunately, the jigits who were with the detachment found wells that were filled up on the side of the road.

Step by step, stretching over a great distance, the detachment walked six miles to the wells, losing a lot of people, horses and camels, who died from sunstroke and thirst. Having reached the wells of Alti-Kuduk (six wells), all at once rushed to the water, making a terrible mess. There was little water in the wells, and the troops were forced to wait near them for six days to recover. It was again necessary to make a supply of water for the further journey in the wells of Adam-Krylgan, where they sent a whole column with wineskins.

Only on May 9 the detachment headed for the Amu Darya; this transition was again terribly difficult, and at the lodging for the night the Turkmens suddenly attacked, apparently determined to prevent the Russians from reaching the Amu Darya and the Khiva cities at all costs.

On May 11, in the afternoon, huge masses of mounted Turkmens appeared on the horizon, covering the detachment from all sides. The shots of the Turkmen rifles were heard continuously. Almost at the Amu Darya, 4,000 Turkmen horsemen tried to block the road again, but, beaten off by buckshot, were forced to retreat with great loss. Having crossed the Amu Darya in boats, the detachment immediately occupied Khoja-Aspa in battle.

Khiva campaign in 1873. Crossing of the Turkestan detachment across the river. Amu Darya. From a painting by N. N. Karazin

The unshakable courage and willpower of General Kaufman helped the Russians overcome all the terrible obstacles and pass through the dead Khiva deserts, enduring all the hardships and hardships with particular firmness.

The Orenburg detachment under the command of General Verevkin went on a campaign in mid-February, when the steppes were still 25-degree frosts and lay deep snow which made it necessary to clear the road. Across the river Emba, the weather changed, and when the snow began to melt, the soil turned into a viscous mess, which impeded movement and caused great losses of horses and camels. Only from the Ugra the passage became relatively easy and a sufficient amount of water appeared.

Having occupied the city of Kungrad, near which the detachment met with little resistance from the Khivans, the troops moved on, all the while repulsing unexpected attacks. Beyond Kungrad, the convoy was attacked by 500 Turkmens. The hundred Orenburg Cossacks of Yesaul Piskunov, who were escorting the convoy, famously rushed, led by their commander, into the attack, and then, dismounting in front of the enemy, fired several volleys, dispersing the attackers.

In Karaboyli, on May 14, the Orenburg detachment joined up with the Mangyshlak detachment, which, under the command of Colonel Lomakin, set out on a campaign against Khiva later than all the others. From April 14, he also had to endure all the horrors of waterless sandy deserts, making transitions in scorching heat and walking up to 700 miles within a month. But these difficult conditions did not affect the people who remained cheerful, and only a huge decrease in camels, the bones of which were littered with the entire road, indicated the hardships suffered by the troops.

On May 15, both detachments marched under the general command of General Verevkin from Karaboili to Khodzheyli. The troops of the Khiva tried to block the way of the Russians, first in front of Khodjeyli, and then, on May 20, in front of the city of Mangit. Huge masses of Turkmens at Mangit moved against the Russian detachment, which met the onslaught of a numerous enemy with artillery and rifle fire. The rapid attacks of our cavalry forced the Turkmens to retreat, leaving the city, and when Russian troops entered it, they were met with shots from houses. As punishment, Mangit was burned to the ground.

The total loss of Khivans in the battles of the last two days reached 3,100 killed, but despite this, on May 22, the Khan's 10,000-strong army, when the detachment left Kyat, again attacked the Russians with great bitterness. Strong fire from the head units of the detachment dispersed these crowds, and the Khivans, littering the ground with their corpses, quickly retreated, and then sent envoys from the khan with peace proposals. General Verevkin, who did not trust the Khan of Khiva and did not receive instructions on peace negotiations, did not receive the ambassadors.

On May 26, the detachment approached the capital of the Khiva Khanate - Khiva, under the walls of which until May 28 began to wait for news from the Turkestan detachment. But the Turkmens intercepted the Russian papers sent with the jigits, whereby, without receiving any orders, General Verevkin moved towards the city on the morning of May 28, behind the walls of which the Khivans were preparing for a desperate defense.

The Khivans took several guns outside the city and by firing from them prevented the detachment from approaching the gates. Then the companies of the Shirvan and Absheron regiments rushed to the attack and repulsed two guns, and part of the Shirvans under the command of Captain Alikhanov, in addition, took another gun that stood aside and fired at our flank. During the skirmish, General Verevkin was wounded.

The fire of Russian guns and exploding grenades finally forced the Khivans to clear the walls. A little later, a deputation arrived from Khiva with a proposal to surrender the city, saying that the khan had fled, and the inhabitants wanted an end to the bloodshed, and only the Turkmens, the Yumuds, wanted to continue defending the capital. The deputation was sent to General Kaufman, who on May 28 in the evening approached Khiva with a Turkestan detachment.

The next day, May 29, Colonel Skobelev, having taken the gates and walls by storm, cleared Khiva of the rebellious Turkmens. Having then reviewed all the detachments and thanked the people for their service, the commander-in-chief, at the head of the Russian troops, entered the ancient Khiva capital.

The khan, who returned at the request of the Russians, was again elevated to his former dignity, and all the slaves languishing in captivity, including more than 10 thousand people, were immediately released through the announcement on behalf of the khan of the following order:

“I, Seid-Mukhamet-Rahim-Bogodur-Khan, in the name of deep respect for the Russian Emperor, command all my subjects to immediately grant freedom to all slaves. From now on, slavery in my khanate is destroyed forever. May this philanthropic deed serve as a guarantee of eternal friendship and respect of all my people for the great Russian people.

At the same time, all the Khiva lands on the right side of the Amu Darya went to Russia with the formation of the Amu Darya department, and an indemnity of 2,200 thousand rubles was imposed on the Khiva khan for Russia's military expenses, and Russian subjects in the Khiva Khanate were granted the right to duty-free trade. But with the occupation of Khiva, hostilities on Khiva land did not end; Turkmens who used slaves for field work, did not want to obey the order of the khan on their release and, having gathered in huge masses, intended to migrate, also refusing to pay the indemnity imposed on them.

Finding it necessary to force the Turkmens to recognize the strength of Russia and subject them to punishment for failure to fulfill the requirements, General Kaufman sent two detachments against the recalcitrants, who, having overtaken their crowd on June 14 near the village of Chandyr, entered into battle with them. The Turkmen defended themselves desperately: sitting two by two on horseback with sabers and axes in their hands, they jumped up to the Russians and, jumping off their horses, rushed into battle.

But the swift attacks of the cavalry, and then the rocket and rifle fire, quickly cooled the ardor of the wild riders; turning into a disorderly flight, they left up to 800 bodies of the dead and a huge cart with women, children and all their property. The next day, July 15, the Turkmens made a new attempt to attack the Russians near Kokchuk, but here they also failed, and they began to hastily retreat. During the crossing through a deep channel, they were overtaken by a Russian detachment, which opened fire on them. More than 2,000 Turkmens died, and, in addition, 14 villages were burned by the Russian detachment as punishment.

Having received such a terrible lesson, the Turkmens asked for mercy. Having sent a deputation, they asked for permission to return to their lands and begin paying indemnities, which was allowed to them.

It is noteworthy that the Russian troops, having inflicted such a terrible defeat on the Turkmens at Mangit, Chandyr and Kokchuk, did not know at all which clans they belonged to; but fate itself in this case, obviously, directed the weapon: the descendants of the Turkmens, who treacherously exterminated the detachment of Prince Bekovich-Cherkassky in Porsa, as it turned out later, were exterminated almost without exception by Russian troops. This instilled in the Turkmens an unshakable confidence that the Russians knew who their enemies were and 150 years later they avenged their descendants for the treacherous attack of their ancestors.

The Khiva khanate, although it was left independent under the control of its khans, but, fulfilling the precepts of Peter, Russia assigned to it a special “sentinel” in the form of a fortification of Petro-Alexandrovsky built on the right bank of the Amu Darya with a strong garrison.

The brilliant results of the Khiva campaign consisted, in addition to the destruction of slavery and the return of Russian prisoners, in the final pacification of the Khiva Turkmen and in the complete subordination of the Khanate of Russia; The Khanate of Khiva gradually turned into a huge market for Russian goods.

Conquest of the Kokand Khanate. Next to the new Russian regions of the Turkestan region, adjoining them directly, were the lands of the Kokand Khanate, during the long wars with Russia in the 60s. who lost all his northern cities and regions that were annexed to Russian possessions.

Surrounded from the east and southwest by snow ridges, the Kokand possessions occupied a lowland called Ferghana, or the Yellow Land. It was one of the richest places in Central Asia, which is confirmed by the legend that in ancient times there was a paradise in Fergana.

The numerous population of the khanate consisted, on the one hand, of settled residents of cities and villages engaged in trade and agriculture, and on the other hand, of nomads who settled in mountain valleys and mountain slopes, where they roamed with their countless herds and herds of sheep. All nomads belonged to the Karakirghiz and Kipchak tribes, who recognized the Khan's power only nominally; quite often, dissatisfied with the management of the khan's officials, they made unrest, being dangerous even for the khans themselves, who were sometimes deposed, choosing others at their own discretion. Not recognizing any territorial boundaries and considering robberies a special feat, the Karakirghiz were extremely undesirable neighbors for the Russians, with whom they had old scores.

The Kokand Khan himself, having lost a significant part of his territory, stopped military operations against the Russians after the capture of Khujand; on the other hand, terrible troubles began inside the khanate, especially when the Kipchaks and Karakirghiz opposed Khudoyar Khan. In 1873, a certain impostor Pulat, declaring himself the Khan of Kokand, attracted all the dissatisfied to his side. Fearing that he could not cope with the flaring uprising on his own, Khudoyar Khan turned to the Russians for help, and after refusing it, he gathered his troops, who pushed Pulat Khan into the mountains.

Later, Khudoyar's closest dignitaries joined Pulat; the rebellion flared up with renewed vigor, and unrest in the khanate also began to affect the nomadic Kyrgyz in the border districts of the new Syrdarya region. Gradually, the uprising swept the entire khanate, and even the heir to the throne joined the rebels, as a result of which Khudoyar Khan was forced to flee to Tashkent. In order to prevent the movement of the Kokand people into the Russian borders, Russian troops were moved to the borders of the Khanate.

Not content with robberies within the khanate, the Kirghiz, according to a premeditated plan, launched a series of attacks on Russian postal stations between Khojent and Ura-Tube, burned or destroyed them, apparently wanting to interrupt communication between these cities.

One of the Kyrgyz gangs suddenly attacked the Murza-Rabat station, the head of which was the reserve shooter of the 3rd rifle battalion Stepan Yakovlev. The Kyrgyz coachmen immediately galloped away when the Kokandians approached, and Yakovlev was left alone to defend the state property entrusted to him. The post station looked like a small fortification with two towers at the corners. Locking and blocking the gates and blocking the windows, Yakovlev loaded two guns and a rifle and settled down on the tower, from where the surroundings were visible. For two days the brave shooter fired back, hitting the Kirghiz besieging the station with well-aimed shots and littering the ground with their bodies.

Finally, seeing the complete impossibility of breaking into the station, the Kirghiz threw dry clover near its walls and set it on fire. Shrouded in smoke, Yakovlev decided to break through to the tower that was not far away above the spring.

Throwing himself through the gate, he killed several people with a bayonet, but, not having reached fifteen steps to the goal, he himself fell under the blows of the attackers. At the place where the glorious shooter died, a monument was subsequently erected with the inscription: “The shooter Stepan Yakovlev, who valiantly fell on August 6, 1875 after a two-day defense of the Murza-Rabat station against the Kokand people.”

On August 8, up to 15 thousand Kokandians unexpectedly approached the city of Khujand, but were repulsed by the Russians with heavy losses. The need to push back the crowds of the Kokand people at the same time forced General Kaufman to move troops into the Kokand borders from Tashkent and Samarkand, which was done on August 11. General Golovachev defeated the 6,000th crowd at Zyulfagar, and on August 12, the Russian main forces under the command of Kaufman himself set out in the direction of Khujand; Colonel Skobelev’s flying detachment of two hundred with a rocket launcher was sent forward, which withstood a number of small skirmishes, while all Russian troops gathered near Khujand in the number of 16 companies of infantry, eight hundred, 20 guns and eight rocket launchers. The head of the cavalry was Colonel Skobelev.

On August 22, the Kokand cavalry at Karochkum attacked the Russian detachment at the bivouac, but, repelled with great damage, was forced to retreat. When the troops left the bivouac and moved from their place, huge crowds of Kokandians appeared from all sides, striving to cover the Russian cavalry units, of which they were incomparably less afraid than the infantry. Firing on all sides, the detachment approached the bank of the Syr Darya, where the Kokand fortress of Makhram was located, with a well-fortified position adjoining it, from which it was necessary to dislodge the enemy.

To prepare for the assault on the fortress, fire was opened from 12 guns, to which Kokand guns from embrasures began to respond. Excellent fired artillery soon silenced the enemy, after which two battalions were moved under the command of General Golovachev to storm the fortified position; The 3rd company of the 1st rifle battalion of staff captain Fedorov, having crossed the ditch with water, jumped into the fortification and, having pierced the defenders with bayonets, took 13 guns; and three companies of Major Renau's 2nd Rifle Battalion captured eight guns.

The 1st rifle battalion, sent to storm the Mahram fortress itself, withstood strong rifle fire from the fortress walls. Rushing to the gates and breaking them down, the companies of this battalion quickly occupied the fronts of the fortress and opened frequent fire on the crowds of Kokandans who fled to the river bank. An hour later, the fortress was in our hands and the badge of the rifle battalion fluttered over it. Trophies were guns taken from the battle: 24 - in a fortified position and 16 - in the fortress, a total of 40 guns.

Simultaneously with the movement of the infantry to storm the position, cavalry was advanced to cover its right flank, firing at the enemy position from the flank, and with rockets - the equestrian crowds of Kokand that appeared. After that, Colonel Skobelev went to the rear of the enemy location in order to cut off the retreat path for the Kokand troops. Leaving fifty to cover the artillery, Skobelev with a division quickly approached the Mahram gardens, crossing a wide and deep ravine.

At this time, a mass of retreating Kokandians with guns and badges appeared on the banks of the Syr Darya. Without a moment's hesitation, Skobelev, at the head of the division, rushed to attack these huge crowds, cutting himself first into the middle of the Kokand infantry, along with the military foreman Rogozhnikov and the senior wahmister Krymov. This dashing raid caused a terrible panic in the ranks of the Kokand people, who turned into a disorderly flight. Having taken two guns from the battle, the Cossacks drove the Kokandians for more than ten miles, but, suddenly stumbling upon new crowds, numbering up to 12 thousand people, Skobelev, firing several rockets at them, returned to Makhram, since the forces were unequal, and people and horses were too tired. The trophies of the battle near Mahram were 40 guns, 1500 guns, up to 50 bunchuks and banners, and a lot of gunpowder, shells and food supplies.

Subsequently, it turned out that all the forces of the Kokand people were concentrated near Mahram, with a total number of up to 60 thousand people. Abdurakhman-Avtobachi himself, who commanded the troops, having suffered such a terrible defeat, fled with insignificant forces.

The moral significance of the Mahram battle was extremely great and clearly showed the Kokand people the strength of the Russian troops. The Makhram fortress was turned into a stronghold and storage point, and a Russian garrison of two companies and 20 Cossacks was left in it.

The defeat of the Kokand troops opened the way to Kokand, and on August 26, General Kaufman moved to the capital of the khanate, which was occupied on August 29; Khan Nasr-Eddin, expressing complete humility, during the entire stay of General Kaufman came to him daily with a report on complete calm that had come among the urban population. At the same time, extremely disturbing news came from the eastern part of the khanate, confirming that rebels were again gathering in the cities of Margilan, Asaka and Osh, led by Abdurakhman-Avtobacha. With the arrival of a transport with supplies in Kokand, General Kaufman went to Margilan, whose inhabitants not only sent a deputation, but also brought nine guns.

That same night, Abdurakhman left Margilan, abandoning his entire camp. To pursue him, a detachment of six hundred, two companies of infantry and four guns was sent under the command of Colonel Skobelev. Strong-willed and distinguished by insane courage, the future commander pursued the rebels non-stop through the valleys and mountain gorges to the Ming-Bulak tract; here the first skirmish with the troops of Abdurakhman-Avtobacha took place. Unable to withstand the onslaught, the Kokandians retreated, and the Cossacks, pursuing them at a distance of more than 10 versts, captured many guns and carts with property. Only the extreme fatigue of the horses and people, who had previously covered up to 70 versts, forced Skobelev to suspend the pursuit for a while and, after a rest, move to Osh.

This decisive raid made a great impression on the natives, in whose eyes Autobaci instantly fell and his impotence was sharply revealed; from the cities of Andijan, Balykchy, Sharykhan and Asaka, one after another, deputations began to arrive to General Kaufman with an expression of complete obedience. The general peace-loving mood of the inhabitants and the transfer to our side of the main assistants of Avtobachy served as proof that the uprising was almost over; recognizing the goal of the campaign as already achieved, General Kaufman concluded an agreement with the Kokand Khan, according to which the entire area on the right bank of the Naryn River with the city of Namangan went to Russia with the formation of the Namangan department, where the Russian troops were pushed back.

But this decision turned out to be premature, and as soon as the Russian troops left, even greater unrest began again in the khanate, especially in Andijan, where a gazavat was declared, that is, a holy war against the infidels. In view of this situation, Russian troops under the command of General Trotsky had to be sent to Andijan; here, outside the city, the 70,000-strong army of Abdurakhman-Avtobachi and 15,000 Kyrgyz under the leadership of Pulat Khan settled down. Having instructed Skobelev to make reconnaissance, Trotsky approached Andijan on October 1, and with a quick, decisive attack, his vanguard, despite terrible rifle fire and desperate defense, occupied the nearby hills, and three assault columns under the command of Colonels Skobelev, Aminov and Meller-Zakomelsky were moved into the city, where they beat out the defenders with bayonets.

This circumstance was immediately taken advantage of by Pulat Khan, who rushed with his Kyrgyz to the defenseless, in his opinion, Wagenburg. Met by shots from two guns, and then by rifle volleys of soldiers left to protect the convoy under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Travlo, the Kyrgyz, unable to stand it, dispersed for a while.

Skobelev himself rode at the head of the first assault column. Powder smoke swirled in the streets, as a result of which, due to poor visibility, the convoy suddenly found itself in front of a blockage, from where the Kokandans showered buckshot on the fighters. With a shout of “Hurrah”, the arrows rushed to the blockage and, having bayoneted its defenders, took the gun, opening the way to the fortress.

Andijan fought with terrible ferocity, taking advantage of every closure and firing from the roofs of houses, from behind trees, from mosques, protecting every yard and garden. This stubborn resistance aroused the soldiers even more.

The column of Colonel Aminov also made its way with great difficulty, and under the constant onslaught of the enemy cavalry attacking from the rear.

The column of Meller-Zakomelsky, after taking several blockages made of arbs and beams, had to knock out the Andijan residents for a long time, who occupied a separate large mosque.

At about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, all three columns converged on the Khan's palace, and then, leaving the city, General Trotsky bombarded it, which caused great fires in it and destroyed a significant part of its defenders. All the surroundings were illuminated by the glow of the fire, and the bombardment continued all night, which forced the last remnants of Andijan to flee, especially after a Russian grenade exploded at a meeting near Abdurakhman-Avtobacha, killing many participants.

The prisoners later said that almost all the troops of the khanate were gathered in Andijan, called to defend Islam against the infidel Uruses, and that all the participants before the battle took an oath to defend Andijan to the last drop of blood, as a result of which the Kokand people fought with such enthusiasm and perseverance.

But this pogrom did not bring the people of Andijan to their senses, and after the departure of the Russian troops, a new rebellion against the Kokand Khan, led by Pulat Khan, flared up with terrible force. Appointed head of the Namangan department, General Skobelev was forced to approach the city, defeating the crowds of Kokand near Asaka; Pulat Khan himself managed to escape, and then again gathered many supporters. At this time, the Kirghiz, taking advantage of the turmoil, attacked the Russian Kuroshin district.

Skobelev, recognizing the need to put an end to Pulat Khan at all costs, on October 24 set out from Namangan in the direction of the city of Chust with three companies, one and a half hundred and four guns. With the departure of the Russian troops, a popular uprising began in Namangan itself, and its inhabitants, with the help of the approaching Kipchaks, laid siege to the Namangan fortress from all sides. For three days, the Russian troops repulsed the attacks of the enemy on the fortress, which was not yet fully brought into a defensive state, making constant sorties.

Fortunately, on October 27, General Skobelev returned, having learned about the outbreak of the uprising. Approaching Namangan, he bombarded the rebellious city, whose inhabitants, having suffered heavy losses (up to 3,000 killed and wounded), asked for mercy.

But this lesson had little effect on the Kipchaks, and they again soon concentrated in the number of up to 20 thousand people near the city of Balykchi, under the command of Vali-Tyura Khan. Having forded the Naryn River, General Skobelev set off with the 2nd company of the 2nd rifle battalion and fifty mounted riflemen to storm the Balykchy blockages; artillery opened fire, and the cavalry was sent around the city to block the retreat of the enemy. Having quickly taken three blockages from the battle, the assault column occupied the bazaar, where they stumbled upon mounted Kipchaks, detained by their own blockage. Under the fire of archers in this cramped place, the Kipchaks fell in rows, flooding the entire street. The total loss of the enemy amounted to 2000 killed and wounded.

Having cleared the region from the gangs of troublemakers, Skobelev went to Margilan, where the mass of Kipchaks again concentrated. Wanting to take out their defeat on our prisoners, they were taken to the square in Margilan, demanding to accept Islam, but since the Russian soldiers remained firm, they were brutally slaughtered. The non-commissioned officer of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, Foma Danilov, was subjected to prolonged painful torture: they chopped off his fingers, cut out the belts from his back and roasted them on coals. Despite the terrible pain, the martyr remained adamant and died, leaving a long memory of his unshakable courage even among enemies.

At this time, Pulat Khan, having solemnly entered Kokand, began to gather new adherents there.

Having ravaged all the villages abandoned by the inhabitants along the way, Skobelev sent a strong detachment to the mountains, where their families were taken by the rebels. Seeing then their hopeless situation, part of the Kipchaks sent a deputation asking for mercy. Having imposed an indemnity and demanding the issuance of the leaders of the ghazavat, on January 4, Skobelev again approached Andijan and, having reconnoitered the approaches, decided to storm the city, for which assault ladders, battering rams, axes and incendiary material were prepared. Before the assault, the residents of Andijan were twice asked to surrender, but of the deported parliamentarians, the first returned without an answer, and the second was stabbed to death and his head was put on the wall.

On the morning of January 8, after a prayer service and a volley of 12 guns, the advance detachment of Yesaul Shtakelberg (one company and fifty Cossacks) stormed the suburban village of Ekimsk, and then began the bombardment of Andijan, during which up to 500 shells were fired. Exactly at noon, huge cavalry masses of the Kipchaks suddenly attacked our Wagenburg from behind, but Major Renau, who commanded them, beat off this attack with rifle fire. At the same time, under the roar of flying shells, the columns of Colonels Baron Meller-Zakomelsky and Pishchuka and Captain Ionov moved to storm.

The enemy, apparently, was waiting for an attack from the side of the Andijan-Sai ravine, along which Russian troops were storming three months ago, and therefore fortified their position in this place especially strongly. Noticing their mistake, the Andijanians hastily began to build new blockages and fortifications, at the same time showering Russian troops with a hail of bullets. The columns of Captain Ionov were sent to the height of Gul-Tyube, which was strongly fortified, dominated the city and was, as it were, a citadel. Taking one blockage after another, the arrows of the 1st battalion famously rose to the height and, having split its defenders, established their badge on it.

But the city itself had to be taken by battle, since each saklya, and especially madrasahs and mosques, surrounded by high walls and occupied by Andijan residents who sat behind them, were something like small fortresses. From evening and all night, our batteries sent their shells to those places where the shots were heard. The mass of shells, howling through the air and showering courtyards, setting fires, forced most of the Kipchaks, together with Abdurakhman, to seek salvation in flight.

On January 9, the streets of the city were cleared of rubble by sent companies, and on January 10, Andijan was finally in our hands, and Skobelev occupied the Khan's palace, in front of which a thanksgiving service was served. At the height of Gul-Tube, a redoubt was set up for 17 guns and a Russian garrison was placed. An indemnity was imposed on Andijan residents.

But even after the occupation of Andijan, the region was still far from complete pacification. The Kipchak gangs scattered throughout the khanate agitated the civilian population, attacking the Russian detachments at the same time, as a result of which a purely guerrilla war began.

Deciding to finally clear the khanate of the rebels, Skobelev with a detachment of two companies, hundreds of cavalry riflemen, five hundred Cossacks, four guns and a rocket battery headed for the city of Asaka, near which up to 15 thousand Kipchaks were concentrated under the command of Abdurakhman-Avtobacha, apparently in last time decided to engage in battle with the Russian troops. Having fired at Asaki and the heights occupied by the enemy, the detachment, having crossed a deep ravine, climbed to the heights and with a quick onslaught knocked out the enemy, and the Cossacks scattered the 6,000-strong column of sarbaz, which was a reserve, with a dashing attack. Having suffered a complete defeat, on January 28, Abdurakhman-Avtobachi surrendered to the mercy of the victors.

On February 12, Russian troops again occupied the city of Kokand, and the Kokand Khan Nasr Eddin Khan was announced that the Khanate would join Russia forever.

Having managed to escape with a small part of his adherents, Pulat Khan still tried to continue the uprising, leaving for the mountains, until he was caught and, by order of the governor general, was executed in Margilan, at the site of his brutal massacre of Russian prisoners. The former Kokand khan Nasr-Eddin-khan and Abdurakhman-Avtobachi were deported to Russia.

But the Karakirghiz, accustomed to self-will in khan times, could not calm down for a long time. To stop the unrest, Skobelev marched towards Gulcha with three hundred and one rocket launcher. Then, occupying the exits from the mountains to the Fergana Valley with small detachments and forming several flying detachments under the command of Colonel Meller-Zakomelsky, he himself, with two companies of riflemen, fifty Cossacks, one mountain gun and two rocket launchers, moved from the city of Osh to the Alai Range, directing two columns - Major Ionov and Colonel Prince Wittgenstein.

The Karakirghiz, who at first offered strong resistance, began to retreat quickly, having suffered heavy losses. During one of the searches, a detachment of Prince Wittgenstein captured the Alai queen Marmonjok-Datkha, who ruled the Alai Kirghiz. Since the Alai queen, who enjoyed great influence, recognized the power of Russia, the Karakirghiz soon expressed complete obedience. Thus, the actual accession of the Kokand Khanate to the Russian possessions ended.

From Fergana with its suburbs, the Fergana region was formed with the appointment of its conqueror, General M. D. Skobelev, as the first military governor of the region. In memory of him, the main town of Novomargilan was subsequently renamed Skobelev.

Together with the conquest of the Kokand Khanate, the conquest of Turkestan was completed, which gave Russia the opportunity to finally and firmly establish itself in Central Asia.

Characteristics of the main figures in the conquest of the Turkestan region

Adjutant General General of Infantry M. D. Skobelev. There are happy names that, having gained fame during the life of the figures themselves, after their death are transmitted from one generation to another, rising in the memory of the people in all their gigantic growth, and the exploits of such persons, surrounded by legends, are set off especially strongly in the minds of the people; these are some kind of heroes, not only standing head and shoulders above their contemporaries, but also having special properties that distinguish them from all other people who have gained fame. The name of Adjutant General M. D. Skobelev undoubtedly belongs to them.

As a young staff captain, after graduating from the academy, having arrived in the Turkestan region in the midst of hostilities, he soon distinguished himself even among the shelled Turkestans who had been in battles with his amazing self-control and courage. The ability to take initiative, great willpower, speed in decision-making declared themselves already in the first years of the young officer's service. For an outstanding reconnaissance in terms of courage and dashing from Khiva to the wells of Igda and Ortakuyu, on the territory occupied by the Turkmen hostile to us, he was awarded the insignia of brave men - the cross of St. George of the 4th degree.

Either being the head of the cavalry, or performing responsible assignments, Skobelev, with the advance of the Russian troops on the Kokand Khanate, already commands a separate detachment. In a number of cases in which he participated, the talent of the future commander had already begun to unfold, and the constant success that accompanied them served as a clear confirmation of the correctness of his views and decisions. Striking the enemy with a quick and decisive blow, Skobelev made a special impression with his insane courage not only on his troops, but also on the enemies.

On a white horse, invariably in a white tunic, Mikhail Dmitrievich was always ahead in battle, encouraging everyone by personal example, amazing calmness and complete contempt for death. The soldiers idolized their chief and were ready to follow him into fire and water.

Adjutant General M. D. Skobelev. From a photograph taken at Geok-Tepe on February 12, 1881.

Amazing happiness, thanks to which Skobelev, who was under fire hundreds of times, was never wounded, gave rise to a legend in the Turkestan troops that he was charmed by bullets. And this legend, growing, surrounded his name with a special halo. Wholeheartedly loved military affairs, the conqueror of the Kokand Khanate subsequently participated in the Russian-Turkish war, and even later conquered the Transcaspian region of Russia.

Awarded with the Orders of George of the 3rd and 2nd degree, having reached the rank in the service full general, he died suddenly at the age of 38, plunging all of Russia into deep sorrow, leaving a vivid memory in the army and the Russian people. The military activity of Mikhail Dmitrievich was short. Like a meteor, he flashed with his bright exploits and disappeared into eternity. But the memory of him will not die in the Russian troops, and his name is written in golden letters on the pages of the history of the Russian army.

A guerrilla war, a number of major uprisings, a holy war declared in the Kokand Khanate, forced Mikhail Dmitrievich to wage a long and tireless struggle for the annexation of Central Asia to Russia. The militant Kipchaks, Karakirghiz and Kokand fanatics were completely armed people, which could only be subdued thanks to quick and terrible blows, which only M. D. Skobelev could inflict with incomparable skill.

Surrounded by a haze of mystery, stories about the military exploits and life of M. D. Skobelev, passed down from generation to generation, have long distinguished him from among ordinary people and ranked him among the heroes of the Russian land, which he really was in spirit, exceptional courage, courage and remarkable military talents.

There are legendary people. You can’t put an everyday measure on them. It's hard to judge them up close. Both their virtues and their weaknesses do not fit into the usual framework. These giants in comparison with the rest of mankind, and such, in fairness, we must recognize M. D. Skobelev, who won immortal glory for himself. And the monument erected to perpetuate his name in Moscow is only a modest tribute to the descendants of the exploits of this hero, who was crowned with glory during his lifetime and left an eternal memory of himself.

Adjutant General K. P. Kaufman. General Kaufman is one of the few people who have earned honorable fame for their work for the benefit of Russia in the conquest and development of Central Asian possessions. Richly gifted by nature, Konstantin Petrovich was an outstanding military leader, a thoughtful administrator and a kind and sympathetic person.

The newly conquered Turkestan region required a lot of work and skill to cope with the difficult situation in which he found himself, being between Bukhara, Khiva and Kokand, subsequently conquered on the instructions of Kaufman and with his direct participation by the Russian troops.

As a comprehensively educated person, he, managing the Turkestan region, paid great attention to the study and scientific research of its territory.

Persistent, he always brought the work he started to the end, despite the obstacles, thanks to which even such an extreme in terms of difficulties as the Khiva campaign, where the troops had to fight against nature itself, was completed with complete success. By his personal example, General Kaufman maintained the cheerful mood of the troops, who saw his invincible energy and readiness to endure all hardships in order to achieve his goal.

The long, almost 30-year period of his administrative activity in Turkestan gave great results and brought to this country, which for a long time was in a state of almost complete anarchy, after the despotic rule of the khans, constant civil strife and wars for the khan's throne, the beginning of citizenship, allowed the large population to calmly engage in peaceful labor without fear for their lives and well-being.

Adjutant General K. P. Kaufman

The fruitful activity of General Kaufman helped Russia to firmly establish itself in its new possessions, turn Central Asia into an integral part of the Russian state and raise the halo of Russian power to an unattainable height.

Lieutenant General M. G. Chernyaev. Among the names jealously preserved in the memory not only of the army, but also of the Russian people, the name of the conqueror of Tashkent M. G. Chernyaev occupies a prominent place.

Despite the relatively short period of his stay in Central Asia, General Chernyaev left a bright mark on this distant land.

Modest, but knowing his own worth, extremely independent, with invincible willpower, M. G. Chernyaev was especially close to the heart of the Russian soldier. Separated from Russia by thousands of miles, left to his own devices, he led his troops to the intended goal, removing all obstacles, and managed to conquer most of Central Asia within a few years with an insignificant number of troops and amazingly low costs. Knowing the nature of the Central Asian peoples and seeing that in order to achieve success it is necessary to impress their imagination with the courage, stamina and indefatigability of the Russian troops, he marched irresistibly forward, quite definitely realizing that in his position one can either win or die. And this amazing determination gave great results, creating charm for the Russian name and facilitating the conquest of the region by subsequent commanders. It is impossible not to note an exceptional feature in the character of Mikhail Grigorievich - special concern for his troops, thanks to which he sometimes preferred, as was the case near Jizzakh, to sacrifice his glory, endure the murmuring and displeased glances of his subordinates, even more displeasure of the authorities than to put the lives of the fighters at stake. caught in a difficult situation.

M. G. Chernyaev enjoyed the special love of his troops, who were proud of their commander, and gradually the glorious name of Chernyaevites was assigned to the participants in his campaigns, among whom were people of tested courage who gained experience during the Central Asian wars. “The general sent by the Russian tsar is Ak-Padishah,” this is how the people of Bukhara spoke about Chernyaev, and the Bukhara emir later recalled this glorious name with special reverence.

Lieutenant General M. G. Chernyaev

Too much independence, a broad understanding of Russia's tasks made General Chernyaev dangerous for British policy in Central Asia, and fear for his Indian possessions and influence in Afghanistan led to the fact that, through the machinations of British diplomacy, Chernyaev was recalled from Central Asia at a time when he had to conquer only one valley of the Zerafshan river.

After retiring, General Chernyaev soon became the head of the Serbian army, defending its independence against Turkey, as a result of which he gained even greater popularity and fame in Russia.

Only in the reign of Alexander III, General Chernyaev was again appointed to Central Asia to the post of Turkestan Governor-General.

The monument in Tashkent and the Chernyaevsky house near the Tashkent fortress, in which he lodged during the conquest of this city, were carefully guarded by his admirers. His memory was jealously guarded in the troops of Turkestan, and among the Muslim population of Central Asia, the brave, resolute Russian commander who firmly kept his word was remembered with special respect.

General G. A. Kolpakovsky. The conqueror of Semirechye and the Trans-Ili region, General Kolpakovsky, spent almost his entire life in the steppe Turkestan campaigns.

As the first organizer of the Semirechinsk region, Kolpakovsky left a memory of himself throughout the Semirechye. A stern-looking, but soft-hearted, resolute, with an unbending will, a man who knew how, when doing a great state business, to take on his own responsibility decisions caused by an exceptional situation, recognized by him as necessary. He was revered in the troops for his courage, ability to find a way out of the most difficult situation and amazing tirelessness.

General G. A. Kolpakovsky

Left to himself, being thousands of miles away from Russia, and therefore having no support, surrounded by a hostile population, he realized that to subdue the natives who inhabited the Semirechye and the Trans-Ili region, it was possible only by courage and readiness to die, but not to retreat and not surrender to the enemy . With courage and endurance that amazed even the nomadic Kirghiz, General Kolpakovsky combined the talents of a military leader and the broad outlook of a statesman. Calm in battle, cold-blooded in moments of terrible danger, he led the troops to victories, conquering for Russia the vast Trans-Ili Territory, Semirechye and Ghulja, later returned to China.

Without special connections and patronage, he achieved higher ranks only by his merits and was awarded the highest Russian orders, among which the most prominent place is occupied by the cross of St. George, received by him for the Uzunagach case. General Kolpakovsky gave all his strength to his beloved Turkestan region, and with the Semirechensky Cossack army he established an inseparable connection for life until his death.

Gerasim Alekseevich Kolpakovsky died in 1896 and was buried in St. Petersburg.

The nature of wars in Central Asia. Organization and tactics of troops. All wars and campaigns of Russian troops in Central Asia have many characteristic features making them completely different from the wars in the European theater.

Russian troops very often had to fight not only with enemies, but also with nature itself. The lack of roads, food for horses, settlements and wells made these trips extremely difficult in scorching heat, loose sands and salt marshes. It was necessary to carry and carry food supplies, water, firewood and fodder for horses.

The countless number of camels for transporting military cargo involuntarily turned the Russian detachments into huge caravans. It was necessary to be constantly on the alert, ready to repel a sudden attack by nomads hiding behind every fold of the terrain. Small parties of natives in the boundless steppes were positively elusive. Climatic conditions, unusual for Russians, made steppe campaigns extremely difficult at all times of the year. In summer, the heat was tormenting, heating the soil to the point of a blazing furnace, which, in the absence of water, made the thirst unbearable. In winter, snowstorms rushed towards us, sweeping huge snowdrifts.

Looking out. From a painting by V.V. Vereshchagin

To all this we must add the lack of good guides, little acquaintance with the country and the language of its population. Sharp fluctuations in temperature, combined with poor water quality, contributed to epidemics raging among the troops; a mass of people fell ill with typhus, malaria and scurvy, in addition to numerous cases of sunstroke. There were so many sick among the fighters on the front line that, for example, in 1868 in Jizzakh, from two battalions stationed here, it was hardly possible to assemble a company of healthy ones. In addition, there were very few doctors, and with constant malaria, cinchona was often lacking. The average death toll per month was over 135; thus, out of 12,000 patients admitted to the infirmary within eight months in 1867, 820 died.

The need to build fortresses, and later barracks for housing, greatly weakened the Turkestan troops. The assignment of people to medical and economic institutions, to postal stations and as batmen to various civil officials put a lot of people out of action.

The constant, from year to year, movement into the depths of the Central Asian steppes developed special methods of warfare among the Turkestan troops and tempered the fighters on campaigns, and the inability to move large military units forced them to switch to actions in small detachments. In all wars in Central Asia, military units were counted not by regiments and battalions, but by companies and hundreds, which, due to the superiority of weapons, were tactical units quite sufficient in terms of numerical strength to carry out independent tasks.

In Central Asia, it was adopted as the main principle of operating in close formation against an enemy who was poorly disciplined, acted alone or in small groups, insufficiently obedient to the will of the leader, incapable, despite his overwhelming large number, of unity of action and maneuvering the masses. Friendly well-aimed volleys and a bayonet strike in close formation always had a paralyzing effect on the nomads. The sight of the closed mouths of linemen and riflemen in white caps with back-caps and white shirts made a strong impression on the wild riders, and the horsemen, often even very numerous crowds of Turkmen and Kirghiz, hit by well-aimed volleys, were forced to immediately retreat, covering the ground with the bodies of the dead and wounded. .

For operations against the irregular cavalry under the Turkestan troops, rocket teams were formed, attached to the Cossack units and firing rockets from special machines. The noise of crawling, in the form of huge fiery snakes, rockets made an overwhelming impression on people and horses. Frightened horses shied away and carried a crowd of riders, maiming and killing them, giving rise to a terrible confusion, which was used by the Cossacks, chasing and chopping the enemy fleeing in panic horror. Artillery pieces - light and mountain guns and unicorns - also made a great impression, especially with their destructive effect in the siege of native fortifications.

The storming of cities was a very difficult matter. The crowding of buildings, narrow streets and high adobe fences made it possible for residents to defend themselves for a long time; each garden, courtyard or mosque was a separate fortification, from which the enemy had to be driven out, thus occupying the city step by step and fighting on every street. During the deployment of troops on rest and outposts, no last role company dogs played, going out with the lower ranks to posts; they often warned sentries about the appearance of creeping enemies, who sought to get the head of a Russian soldier at all costs for a reward with a dressing gown or a gold coin. During attacks on the native infantry, the company dogs rushed furiously at the sarbaz, helping their masters in hand-to-hand combat.

The guides in the steppe were mainly the Kirghiz, who entered the service as horsemen and translators, and many of them were promoted to police officers for their faithful service. In addition, in some detachments of reliable Kyrgyz, Turkmen and Afghans, special teams were formed that took part in hostilities. A long, 25-year service life with continuous movement from Orenburg into the depths of Central Asia educated the Turkestan troops, accustomed them to steppe campaigns in the deserts and developed amazing tirelessness, thanks to which the infantry sometimes made transitions up to 60-70 miles per day.

Some of the battalions formed in Orenburg were on a continuous march, for 25 years, moving from place to place, and their composition consisted of hardened and fired people, accustomed to both the whistle of bullets and sudden attacks by the natives. All these conditions made it possible to create from the Turkestan troops perhaps the best units of the Russian army in the combat sense. By combat training, by the manifestation of a private initiative, these troops were like the Caucasian army of the times of Yermolov, Vorontsov and Baryatinsky. The need to have everything with you developed special methods of marching, bivouac and guard service.

The infantry was armed with rifled rifles of the Carle system, and a small part of the shooters had rifles of the Berdan system No. 1 and a fitting.

The absence of the sometimes required number of camel drivers forced them to involve lower ranks in caring for them, and their inability to pack and care for these animals often led to damage and loss of camels, and only a long stay on campaigns taught people to camels, which gradually replaced horses in the Turkestan troops. .

In relation to the enemy troops, it must be said that the regular troops of the Bukhara, Kokand and Khivans were kept in small numbers; the so-called sarboses - the infantry, uniformly dressed, was poorly trained. The walking sarboses were armed: the first rank - wick guns on bipods, but there were also all kinds of samples of flintlock, percussion and hunting double-barreled guns; the second rank - mostly cold weapons: batiks, axes (ai-balts) and peaks - and only a few had pistols.

Mounted sarboz were armed with pikes and sabers, and the first rank also had rifles. The artillery consisted mainly of iron and copper guns of Persian and local casting. These troops were trained mainly by Russian fugitive soldiers, of whom Osman, the constable of the Siberian army, became famous.

The main contingent in the native troops was irregular cavalry, mounted on excellent horses, extremely hardy and able to travel long distances, and the riders were excellent at using edged weapons. The cavalry, manned from the Kirghiz, Yumuds, Karakirghiz, who knew the area well, greatly disturbed the Russian troops with unexpected attacks, mainly at night, but, having flown into the detachment, immediately scattered across the steppe at the first volleys, leaving quickly from the shots, and, usually attacking in large masses, it sought to crush the small Russian units with its numbers.

The Russian cavalry - the Cossacks - due to the inequality of forces, usually preferred to repel the enemy with fire from a closed formation and attack him also in a closed formation; the Cossacks dismounted, battled or hobbled their horses and, having arranged shelter from them, bags, supplies of fodder, hit the crowds of enemies with their rifled rifles with friendly volleys; after the retreat, they began the pursuit, although in some battles they famously attacked in the cavalry.

The infantry, on the other hand, always acted in close formation, building a square, on which, as a result of well-aimed volleys, attacks of the natives were usually broken.

Inflicting defeats in all major battles, the Russian troops sometimes suffered losses only in small skirmishes, mainly due to the absence in these cases of security measures, reconnaissance and some carelessness when moving and at rest among the native population hostile to the Russians.

But nevertheless, firm devotion to duty, unshakable stamina and courage prevailed, and the Turkestans, having broken the troops of the Kokand, Khiva and Bukharians one after another, won victories over them, thanks to which they included the lands of the conquered states in the number of Russian possessions, giving the opportunity under their protection to the population the vast territory of the Turkestan region to begin a peaceful life, engage in agriculture and trade, opening at that time the Central Asian markets for Russian goods.

Thus, the conquest of Turkestan, Khiva, Bukhara and Kokand was completed, which fulfilled the precepts of Peter the Great.

Notes:

In 1925 the city was named Fergana.

Batovat - “to put riding horses in the field, tying them together; so that they stand still, they are placed side by side, with their heads back and forth, through one ... if they shied away, then, pulling one forward, the other back, they hold each other ”(V. Dahl).

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 under the name of the Great Game.

For Russia, the situation was also complicated by tense relations with the Central Asian neighbors, whose aggressive moods were supported by the 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 seen as a policy of "appeasement of the eastern lands."

"Handfuls of Our Soldiers"

Before the start of the Great Game, the territory of Central Asia was subordinate to the Emirate of Bukhara, the Kokand and Khiva khanates. The first clashes between Russian soldiers and the Kokand Khanate, which occupied the 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 battles, St. Petersburg was forced to stop the offensive due to the difficult Crimean War (1853-1856). In 1860, the Russian expeditionary forces resumed their onslaught on the Kokand Khanate. 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. A 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 the resources to colonize Central Asia. The consequences of the lost Crimean War had a negative impact on the process of colonization. In addition, in the 1860s, a large-scale military reform took place in the empire, accompanied by a revision of the state and a fundamental change in the system of command and control of troops.

St. Petersburg could not pay enough attention to the Central Asian direction. Often the imperial army did not have 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.

“A strange sight was presented by these handfuls of our soldiers, surrounded and separated by a cloud of Bukhara horsemen, all moving forward to a position that was recognized as impregnable and occupied by ten times the strongest enemy. But such is the strength of the 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 inferior to the enemy in numbers dozens of times. However, the superiority of the Asians was leveled by the Russians by the use of tactics on the battlefield.

A vivid 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. The 2,000-strong detachment of Kaufman easily defeated the 35,000-strong group of the Emir of Bukhara (according to other sources, its number was 21,000 people). The Russians included 18 companies of infantry 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 Shtempel, from extermination. A small detachment of Russians (about 700 bayonets) heroically repulsed enemy attacks for seven days.

“The commandant of the citadel, Major Shtempel and Lieutenant Colonel Nazarov, mobilized for the defense of all non-combatants (clerks, musicians, quartermasters), as well as the sick and wounded of the local hospital, capable of holding weapons in their hands. The first attack was repulsed, but the defenders also suffered serious losses, ”Kuropatkin described the siege.

During the first two days of fighting, the Russian garrison lost 25% of its personnel. Shtempel sent daily messengers from among the locals 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, help is needed,” the report said.

The Kaufman detachment, which arrived in time to rescue 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 one. In addition, before the campaigns, systematic training was carried out, the development of combat coordination. The rear worked superbly, providing the troops with everything they needed. Separately, it is worth highlighting the talent of our commanders and the courage of soldiers who steadfastly endured unusual climatic conditions, ”said Andrey Grozin, head of the Central Asia and Kazakhstan Department of the Institute of CIS Countries, in an interview with RT.

Access to Afghanistan

The military defeat of the Bukhara Khanate was preceded by the declaration of a ghazavat - a holy war - to the Turkestan Governor-General. In response, at the end of April 1868, the Russians launched an offensive against Samarkand. The city was captured in mid-May. The advancing forces lost only a few soldiers, while hundreds of people died on the Bukharian side.

The catastrophic defeat of the emirate on the Zirabulak heights and the consolidation of Samarkand for Russia opened the way for the imperial army to Bukhara. 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 near the fortress wall"

The last major campaign in Central Asia - to the Khiva Khanate, located on the territory of present-day Turkmenistan - was undertaken by the imperial army in 1873. The Russian troops were commanded by a participant in the Crimean War, General Nikolai Aleksandrovich Veryovkin. For military merits, 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 recalcitrant natives was broken by troops led by the legend of 1877-1878, General Mikhail Dmitrievich Skobelev.

The conquests in Central Asia allowed the imperial army to reach northern Afghanistan, which caused a commotion in London. The Great Game with Great Britain ended with the signing of several compromise agreements. The British Empire recognized Russia's dominance over the 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 the delimitation of spheres of influence in the Pamir mountain system (in the area currently located on the territory of modern Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the PRC).

Considering the interests

A feature of the Russian colonization of Central Asia was the absence of stubborn resistance from the local population. Western empires, on the contrary, often resorted to mass extermination of natives in order to secure a colony for themselves. In particular, there are versions that as a result of the actions of the British conquerors in India, tens of millions of inhabitants died of starvation and were killed.

Russia, on the other hand, 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 announcement of the ghazavat, which was insisted on by the Muslim clergy.

• V. Vereshchagin. parliamentarians
• "Parliamenters" Vasily Vereshchagin

After the capitulation of the emirate, the Russian government left garrisons in the large cities of the Bukhara state, but did not deprive the emir of power. Sayyid Muzaffaruddin Bahadur Khan continued to rule in the territory under his control until the conquest - the protectorates of the Russian Empire always retained great internal autonomy.

The policy of the Russian administration in Central Asia was aimed mainly at collecting taxes, developing agriculture and preventing conflicts, including on ethnic grounds. Officials and the military practically did not interfere in the culture and traditions of the Central Asian peoples, and the Muslim clergy refrained from anti-Russian agitation.

Andrey Grozin believes that the Emirate of Bukhara, like other states of Central Asia, ceased to exist due to 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 hindered the socio-economic development of the region.

“Central Asia was relatively easily colonized by Russia, mainly because of the unwillingness of the locals to support the former political regime. The Russian administration maintained the necessary tact, interacting with the elite and population of the region. Therefore, the Russians did not meet serious resistance, and some of the Central Asian peoples even provided them with assistance, ”Grozin emphasized.