Buhara Hanlığı'nın askeri teşkilatı (1500-1868)

Abstract

Bukhara Uzbek Khanate was founded in 1500 in Transoxiana by Muhammed Shibani Khan from Shibanid Dynasty, which descends from Jochi, son of Genghis Khan, and in short time frame dominated West Turkestan and albeit its territory shrinking afterwards, it continued its sovereign existence upto the middle of the XIX century. From the beginning, foundation of the state's military power was based on tribal unions comprising Uzbek Ulus. Alongside this, royal units were formed from elements obtained from Uzbeks and other groups and furthermore, auxiliary forces were provided by communities like Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Karakalpaks and Turkmens who were under the state's control. Bukharan Uzbek Army was influenced to a great extend by military institutions of Turko-Mongol states founded after Genghis Khan. Military terminology and military units were largely inherited from Golden Horde, Ilkhanates and Timurids. The influence of this organisation is also seen in military establishments of Khiva and Hokand Khanates, which were founded in Turkestan after Bukhara Uzbek Khanate. Yet, eventhough Bukharan Uzbek Army, which was formed on the classical Medieval Turko-Mongol military tradition, was an effective combat force in XVIth century, from XVIIth century on wards and upto the middle of XIXth century, in paralel to Central Asia's political, economic and cultural regression, it couldn't make any progress and heavily lagged behind modern world's military system. This condition left the state defenceless against invasions in XVIIIth and XVIIIth centuries.