The Siege of Tashkent 1865: Russia's Bloody Conquest

In June 1865, a small Russian army under General Mikhail Chernyayev stormed the walls of Tashkent, the largest city in Central Asia. This episode unpacks the two-week siege, the brutal street fighting, and the political machinations that led to the fall of the Kokand Khanate. We explore the role of spies like the merchant Mulla Alimqul, the divisions between the Qipchaq and Sart factions inside the city, and the controversial decision to massacre the garrison after surrender. We also touch on the longer-term consequences: the creation of Russian Turkestan, the exile of Khan Khudayar, and the rise of the Jadid reform movement. Drawing on accounts from Russian officers and local chroniclers, this is a story of imperial ambition, betrayal, and the violent birth of modern Tashkent.

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