Khivan slave uprising

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Khivan slave uprising

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Major Central Asian hub for the slave trade from the 17th century until Russian conquest in 1873.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Khanate of Khiva was a major center of slave trade in Central Asia from the 17th century until the Russian conquest in 1873. The slave market in Khiva mainly trafficked slaves from Russia and Persia to the Islamic khanates in Central Asia, but also to India and the Middle East. Khiva was one of the main slave markets in Central Asia. In Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, Karakul, Karshi, and Charju, slaves from northern Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and northeastern Iran were traded. From the 17th to 19th centuries, Khiva was a notorious slave market for captured Persian and Russian slaves.

Career & Major Achievements

The slave trade in Khiva and Bukhara was described by the English traveler Anthony Jenkinson in the 16th century, at a time when they were major global slave trade centers and the "slave capitals of the world". About 100,000 slaves were sold in the slave market of Khiva and Bukhara every year, most of them either Persians or Russians. The slave market in the Khanate of Khiva was supplied with slaves from Russia, Persia, northern Central Asia and Siberia by slave raids performed by the Kazakh Khanate against Tsarist Russia and the Turkmens against Qajar Persia. In the 19th century, the Khivan slave trade became bigger than the Bukhara slave trade, but both maintained many similarities. Turkmen tribal groups performed regular slave raids, referred to as alaman, toward two sources of slaves; Russian and German settlers along the Ural, and Persian pilgrims to Mashad, two categories who as Christians and Shia-Muslims respectively were seen as religiously legitimate to target for enslavement.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1755, Nepliuev tried to enlist Kazakh support by ending the reprisal raids and promising that the Kazakhs could keep the Bashkir women and children living among them (a long-standing point of contention between Nepliuev and Khan Nurali of the Junior Jüz). Thousands of Bashkirs would be massacred or taken captive by Kazakhs over the course of the uprising, whether in an effort to demonstrate loyalty to the Tsarist state, or as a purely opportunistic maneuver. In 1736, urged on by Kirilov, the Kazakhs of the Lesser and Middle Hordes launched raids into Bashkir lands, killing or capturing many Bashkirs in the Siberian and Nogay districts. Persians, Kurds, and Arabs bought Kazakh slaves who were falsely masqueraded as Kalmyks by slave dealers from Khiva and Bukhara. A major source for slaves to the Khiva and Bukhara slave trade were Persians; while Islam banned Muslims from enslaving other Muslims, the Persians were Shia Muslims while Khiva and Bukhara were Sunni Muslims, and were therefore seen as legitimate targets for slavery.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1736: 1736 Milestone — In 1736, urged on by Kirilov, the Kazakhs of the Lesser and Middle Hordes launched raids into Bashkir lands, killing or capturing many Bashkirs in the Siberian and Nogay districts.
2. 1755: 1755 Milestone — In 1755, Nepliuev tried to enlist Kazakh support by ending the reprisal raids and promising that the Kazakhs could keep the Bashkir women and children living among them (a long-standing point of contention between Nepliuev and Khan Nurali of the Junior Jüz).
3. 1873: 1873 Milestone — The Khanate of Khiva was a major center of slave trade in Central Asia from the 17th century until the Russian conquest in 1873.

Notable Quotes by Khivan slave uprising

“About 100,000 slaves were sold in the slave market of Khiva and Bukhara every year.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Khivan slave uprising

True or False: “The primary source of enslaved people traded through Khiva was exclusively captured from neighboring nomadic tribes.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While raids occurred, major sources included Persian pilgrims, Russian settlers, and captives taken during conflicts with the Tsarist state.

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