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Qajar Principality of Merv

April 28, 2023

The Qajar Principality of Merv was an independent principality[1] that existed in Central Asia from c.1747 to 1788. It was ruled by the 'Izz al-Dinlu clan of the Qajars of Merv, who had been governors of the oasis since Safavid times.[2][3] It gained its independence after the death of Nader Shah in 1747 and had good relations with the ruler of Bukhara, Daniyal Biy. When his son, Shah Murad took over in 1785, he launched a campaign that killed the ruler of the principality, Bayram 'Ali Khan Qajar. By 1788 the entire oasis was conquered and annexed to Bukhara. The last ruler, Mohammad Husayn Khan, fled to Iran.[3]

Background

In the 16th century, the region of Merv was disputed between the Khiva Khanate, Bukhara Khanate and the Safavid Empire.[2] Although Isma'il I had conquered it with the Battle of Merv, it soon was lost and became a dependency of Khiva.[1] Under 'Abdallah Khan Bukhara gained control of Merv in 1593. However, a few years later Shah 'Abbas the Great's campaigns against the Uzbeks resulted in a Safavid governor (Biktash Khan Ustajlu) being appointed to Merv in 1600.[2] In 1608, he was succeeded as governor by Mihrab Khan Qajar, the first of a long series of Qajar governors of Merv.[2] A large portion of Merv's population consisted of tribesmen that Shah 'Abbas had resettled in the region.

During the late 17th and early 18th centuries Merv began to decline as an economic and political center.[2] The Qajars of Merv began to assert their independence from the declining power of the Safavid state. From 1715 the Qajar chieftain Mohammad 'Ali Beg expelled three consecutive governors of Merv, assuming complete sovereignty after the fall of Isfahan in 1722.[2] Malek Mahmoud Sistani also unsuccessfully tried to assert his authority over Merv. In 1723–24, coinciding with detrimental conditions in the oasis, Nader Shah Afshar began to intervene in the politics of Merv on behalf of the Qajar rulers.[2] He tried to prop up Mohammad 'Ali Beg's successor Fulad Beg as governor but he was killed by the Tatars, who then began to ravage the oasis. Within a decade Nader destroyed the Tatar and Turkmen power around Merv. Kalb 'Ali Khan Afshar, the governor of Merv from 1738 onwards, revived the irrigation system which had been devastated by raids, and discouraged Turkmen raiding activities to the point where they only entered the oasis for commerce.[2]

During the 1740 campaign against Bukhara, Nader ordered the chiefs of Merv to provide supplies to the army. However, despite all of these measures many of his soldiers died during the march through the desert, which encouraged Nader to launch a purge of the provincial government.[2] Most of the local administrators were killed, and Nader Shah installed Shah Qoli Beg Qajar bin Mohammad 'Ali Beg as the local governor of Merv and revived the hereditary Qajar rule over the city. During the last years of Nader Shah's rule Shah Qoli Beg Qajar revolted against demands for high taxes, but he was arrested and blinded.[2]

History

With the death of Nader Shah in 1747, Merv was able to become an independent principality.[3][2][1] The beglerbegi 'Ali Naqi Khan Qajar briefly occupied Mashhad in 1751, intervening in the affairs of Khorasan (which had by this time dissolved into anarchy as Shahrokh Shah was unable to assert his authority over the local tribal chiefs).[2] The isolation of Merv and the fertile agricultural resources of the oasis allowed the Qajar chieftains to assert their independence, especially considering the turmoil its neighbors (Iran, Khiva, and Bukhara) were going through at the time.[3] One 18th century visitor put the population of the oasis at around 15,000 people.[3] The city was sustained by a dam on the Murghab, and the Qajar chiefs maintained a fort there in order to protect the area.[3] The most prominent and last ruler of the principality was Bayram 'Ali Khan Qajar,[4] who maintained good relations with Daniyal Biy of Bukhara.[3][2] They had a paternal friendship, and Daniyal Biy would address Bayram 'Ali Khan Qajar as his son (farzand).[2]

Bukharan Conquest

Upon the death of Daniyal Biy in 1785, Bayram 'Ali Khan Qajar sent gifts to his son and successor, Shah Murad.[3] However, Shah Murad would assume a hostile tone towards the Qajars as he wanted to use Merv as a base of operations against Iran. In 1785–86, Shah Murad launched his first campaign towards Merv. Bayram 'Ali Khan Qajar was killed and his head was sent to Bukhara and nailed on the gallows.[5][2] After the withdraw of Bukharan forces, the people of Merv brought Bayram 'Ali Khan's son, Hajji Mohammad Husayn, back from Mashhad to become the next ruler. In 1788 Shah Murad led his second campaign towards Merv, conquering the city and destroying the irrigation system. The principality was brought to an end as Hajji Mohammad Husayn was forced to flee to Iran for his safety.[3]

Sources

  • Karimi, Christine Noelle (2014). The Pearl in Its Midst: Herat and the Mapping of Khurasan (15th-19th Centuries). Austrian Academy of Sciences. pp. 267–72. ISBN 978-3-7001-7202-4.
  • Bregel, Yuri (27 June 2003). An Historical Atlas of Central Asia. Brill Publishers. pp. 52–61. doi:10.1163/9789047401216. ISBN 978-90-04-12321-2.
  • Wood, William Arthur (1998). The Sariq Turkmens of Merv and the Khanate of Khiva in the early nineteenth century (Thesis). OCLC 41449146. ProQuest 304448359.

References

  1. ^ a b c Bregel, Yuri (2003-06-27). An Historical Atlas of Central Asia. Brill. pp. 60–61. doi:10.1163/9789047401216. ISBN 978-90-474-0121-6.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Noelle-Karimi, Christine (2014). The Pearl in Its Midst: Herat and the Mapping of Khurasan (15th-19th Centuries). Austrian Academy of Sciences Press. pp. 267–272. ISBN 978-3-7001-7202-4.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wood, William Arthur (1998). The Sariq Turkmens of Merv and the Khanate of Khiva in the early nineteenth century (Thesis). pp. 46–60. OCLC 41449146. ProQuest 304448359.
  4. ^ Full name Bayram 'Ali Qajar 'Izz al-Dinlu bin Shah Qoli Beg. The length of his reign is disputed. Mir 'Abd al-Karim Bukhari states he reigned from 1782 to 1785. However, William Wood considers that to be a typo; Bayram 'Ali Khan's son, Hajji Mohammad Husayn, states he either reigned for 31 years or 50 years. Mohammad Sadeq Mervezi states that Bayram 'Ali Khan was chosen by the local leaders to lead after the collapse of the Afsharids (sometime after 1747). Christine Noelle-Karimi doesn't give a specific date, but mentions that Bayram 'Ali Khan's father Shah Qoli Beg Qajar was appointed governor in c.1741, and that by 1751 'Ali Naqi Khan Qajar was ruler of Merv before it switched to Bayram 'Ali Khan.
  5. ^ Wilde, Andreas (2016). What is Beyond the River?: Power, Authority, and Social Order in Transoxania 18th-19th Centuries. Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. pp. 690–92. ISBN 978-3-7001-7866-8.

April 28, 2023
qajar, principality, merv, independent, principality, that, existed, central, asia, from, 1747, 1788, ruled, dinlu, clan, qajars, merv, been, governors, oasis, since, safavid, times, gained, independence, after, death, nader, shah, 1747, good, relations, with,. The Qajar Principality of Merv was an independent principality 1 that existed in Central Asia from c 1747 to 1788 It was ruled by the Izz al Dinlu clan of the Qajars of Merv who had been governors of the oasis since Safavid times 2 3 It gained its independence after the death of Nader Shah in 1747 and had good relations with the ruler of Bukhara Daniyal Biy When his son Shah Murad took over in 1785 he launched a campaign that killed the ruler of the principality Bayram Ali Khan Qajar By 1788 the entire oasis was conquered and annexed to Bukhara The last ruler Mohammad Husayn Khan fled to Iran 3 Contents 1 Background 2 History 3 Bukharan Conquest 4 Sources 5 ReferencesBackground EditIn the 16th century the region of Merv was disputed between the Khiva Khanate Bukhara Khanate and the Safavid Empire 2 Although Isma il I had conquered it with the Battle of Merv it soon was lost and became a dependency of Khiva 1 Under Abdallah Khan Bukhara gained control of Merv in 1593 However a few years later Shah Abbas the Great s campaigns against the Uzbeks resulted in a Safavid governor Biktash Khan Ustajlu being appointed to Merv in 1600 2 In 1608 he was succeeded as governor by Mihrab Khan Qajar the first of a long series of Qajar governors of Merv 2 A large portion of Merv s population consisted of tribesmen that Shah Abbas had resettled in the region During the late 17th and early 18th centuries Merv began to decline as an economic and political center 2 The Qajars of Merv began to assert their independence from the declining power of the Safavid state From 1715 the Qajar chieftain Mohammad Ali Beg expelled three consecutive governors of Merv assuming complete sovereignty after the fall of Isfahan in 1722 2 Malek Mahmoud Sistani also unsuccessfully tried to assert his authority over Merv In 1723 24 coinciding with detrimental conditions in the oasis Nader Shah Afshar began to intervene in the politics of Merv on behalf of the Qajar rulers 2 He tried to prop up Mohammad Ali Beg s successor Fulad Beg as governor but he was killed by the Tatars who then began to ravage the oasis Within a decade Nader destroyed the Tatar and Turkmen power around Merv Kalb Ali Khan Afshar the governor of Merv from 1738 onwards revived the irrigation system which had been devastated by raids and discouraged Turkmen raiding activities to the point where they only entered the oasis for commerce 2 During the 1740 campaign against Bukhara Nader ordered the chiefs of Merv to provide supplies to the army However despite all of these measures many of his soldiers died during the march through the desert which encouraged Nader to launch a purge of the provincial government 2 Most of the local administrators were killed and Nader Shah installed Shah Qoli Beg Qajar bin Mohammad Ali Beg as the local governor of Merv and revived the hereditary Qajar rule over the city During the last years of Nader Shah s rule Shah Qoli Beg Qajar revolted against demands for high taxes but he was arrested and blinded 2 History EditWith the death of Nader Shah in 1747 Merv was able to become an independent principality 3 2 1 The beglerbegi Ali Naqi Khan Qajar briefly occupied Mashhad in 1751 intervening in the affairs of Khorasan which had by this time dissolved into anarchy as Shahrokh Shah was unable to assert his authority over the local tribal chiefs 2 The isolation of Merv and the fertile agricultural resources of the oasis allowed the Qajar chieftains to assert their independence especially considering the turmoil its neighbors Iran Khiva and Bukhara were going through at the time 3 One 18th century visitor put the population of the oasis at around 15 000 people 3 The city was sustained by a dam on the Murghab and the Qajar chiefs maintained a fort there in order to protect the area 3 The most prominent and last ruler of the principality was Bayram Ali Khan Qajar 4 who maintained good relations with Daniyal Biy of Bukhara 3 2 They had a paternal friendship and Daniyal Biy would address Bayram Ali Khan Qajar as his son farzand 2 Bukharan Conquest EditUpon the death of Daniyal Biy in 1785 Bayram Ali Khan Qajar sent gifts to his son and successor Shah Murad 3 However Shah Murad would assume a hostile tone towards the Qajars as he wanted to use Merv as a base of operations against Iran In 1785 86 Shah Murad launched his first campaign towards Merv Bayram Ali Khan Qajar was killed and his head was sent to Bukhara and nailed on the gallows 5 2 After the withdraw of Bukharan forces the people of Merv brought Bayram Ali Khan s son Hajji Mohammad Husayn back from Mashhad to become the next ruler In 1788 Shah Murad led his second campaign towards Merv conquering the city and destroying the irrigation system The principality was brought to an end as Hajji Mohammad Husayn was forced to flee to Iran for his safety 3 Sources EditKarimi Christine Noelle 2014 The Pearl in Its Midst Herat and the Mapping of Khurasan 15th 19th Centuries Austrian Academy of Sciences pp 267 72 ISBN 978 3 7001 7202 4 Bregel Yuri 27 June 2003 An Historical Atlas of Central Asia Brill Publishers pp 52 61 doi 10 1163 9789047401216 ISBN 978 90 04 12321 2 Wood William Arthur 1998 The Sariq Turkmens of Merv and the Khanate of Khiva in the early nineteenth century Thesis OCLC 41449146 ProQuest 304448359 References Edit a b c Bregel Yuri 2003 06 27 An Historical Atlas of Central Asia Brill pp 60 61 doi 10 1163 9789047401216 ISBN 978 90 474 0121 6 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Noelle Karimi Christine 2014 The Pearl in Its Midst Herat and the Mapping of Khurasan 15th 19th Centuries Austrian Academy of Sciences Press pp 267 272 ISBN 978 3 7001 7202 4 a b c d e f g h i Wood William Arthur 1998 The Sariq Turkmens of Merv and the Khanate of Khiva in the early nineteenth century Thesis pp 46 60 OCLC 41449146 ProQuest 304448359 Full name Bayram Ali Qajar Izz al Dinlu bin Shah Qoli Beg The length of his reign is disputed Mir Abd al Karim Bukhari states he reigned from 1782 to 1785 However William Wood considers that to be a typo Bayram Ali Khan s son Hajji Mohammad Husayn states he either reigned for 31 years or 50 years Mohammad Sadeq Mervezi states that Bayram Ali Khan was chosen by the local leaders to lead after the collapse of the Afsharids sometime after 1747 Christine Noelle Karimi doesn t give a specific date but mentions that Bayram Ali Khan s father Shah Qoli Beg Qajar was appointed governor in c 1741 and that by 1751 Ali Naqi Khan Qajar was ruler of Merv before it switched to Bayram Ali Khan Wilde Andreas 2016 What is Beyond the River Power Authority and Social Order in Transoxania 18th 19th Centuries Verlag der Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften pp 690 92 ISBN 978 3 7001 7866 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Qajar Principality of Merv amp oldid 1122423193, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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