Khanate of Khiva

Quick Facts: Who was Khanate of Khiva?

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Khanate of Khiva

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Uzbek monarchy in Central Asia, controlling the region from 1511 until its incorporation into Soviet structures.

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Origins & Early Life

The Khanate of Khiva (Chagatay: خیوه خانلیگی, romanized: Khivâ Khânligi, Persian: خانات خیوه, romanized: Khânât-e Khiveh, Uzbek: Xiva xonligi, Хива хонлиги, Turkmen: Hywa hanlygy, Russian: Хивинское ханство, romanized: Khivinskoye khanstvo) was an Uzbek monarchy that existed in the historical region of Khorezm from 1511 to 1920, except for a period of Afsharid occupation by Nader Shah between 1740 and 1746. Centred in the irrigated plains of the lower Amu Darya, south of the Aral Sea, with the capital in the city of Khiva, its territories covered present-day western Uzbekistan, southwestern Kazakhstan and much of Turkmenistan before the Russian conquest at the second half of the 19th century. In 1873, the Khanate of Khiva was greatly reduced in size and became a Russian protectorate. The other regional protectorate that lasted until the Revolution was the Emirate of Bukhara. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Khiva had a revolution too, and in 1920 the Khanate was replaced by the Khorezm People's Soviet Republic.

Career & Major Achievements

In 1924, the area was formally incorporated into the Soviet Union and today it is largely a part of Karakalpakstan, Xorazm Region in Uzbekistan, and Daşoguz Region of Turkmenistan. The terms "Khanate of Khiva" and "Khivan Khanate", by which the polity is commonly known in Western scholarship, are a calque that derive from the Russian exonym: Хивинское ханство, romanized: Khivinskoe khanstvo. The term was first used by the Russians in the second half of the 17th century, or in the 18th century. Locals of the polity did not use this term, and instead referred to it as the vilayet Khwārazm ("country of Khwārazm"). Prior to the 17th/18th centuries, the polity was often called "Urgench" (or "Iurgench" in Russian sources).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

This name was also sometimes used in Iran and Bukhara, with the designation "Urganji" often being used as the collective name for its inhabitants. After the capital was moved to Khiva, Khorezm came to be called the Khanate of Khiva (the state had always referred to itself as Khorezm, the Khanate of Khiva as a name was popularized by Russian historians in honor of its capital, Khiva). Some time around 1600, the Daryaliq or west branch of the Oxus dried up causing the capital to be moved south to Khiva from Konye-Urgench. Although based in the Oxus delta, the Khanate usually controlled most of what is now Turkmenistan. The population consisted of agriculturalists along the river, the Turkic Sarts, and nomads or semi-nomads away from the river.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1511: 1511 Milestone — The Khanate of Khiva (Chagatay: خیوه خانلیگی, romanized: Khivâ Khânligi, Persian: خانات خیوه, romanized: Khânât-e Khiveh, Uzbek: Xiva xonligi, Хива хонлиги, Turkmen: Hywa hanlygy, Russian: Хивинское ханство, romanized: Khivinskoye khanstvo) was an Uzbek monarchy that existed in the historical region of Khorezm from 1511 to 1920, except for a period of Afsharid occupation by Nader Shah between 1740 and 1746.
2. 1600: 1600 Milestone — Some time around 1600, the Daryaliq or west branch of the Oxus dried up causing the capital to be moved south to Khiva from Konye-Urgench.
3. 1873: 1873 Milestone — In 1873, the Khanate of Khiva was greatly reduced in size and became a Russian protectorate.
4. 1917: 1917 Milestone — Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Khiva had a revolution too, and in 1920 the Khanate was replaced by the Khorezm People's Soviet Republic.
5. 1924: 1924 Milestone — In 1924, the area was formally incorporated into the Soviet Union and today it is largely a part of Karakalpakstan, Xorazm Region in Uzbekistan, and Daşoguz Region of Turkmenistan.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Khanate of Khiva

True or False: “The term 'Khanate of Khiva' was originally used by local inhabitants to refer to their polity.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The term was a calque derived from the Russian exonym ('Khivinskoe khanstvo'), not a name used by the locals themselves.

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