HOKAND HANLIĞI DEVLET YÖNETİMİNE İLİŞKİN BİR KAYNAK: “FERGANA HANLARI TARİHİ”

Abstract

Working as a clerk in Hokand Khanate and general secretary of khans and being one of the most esteemed and honourable individuals of that era, Ziyabiddin Magzumi was a statesman who lived in nineteenth century. Magzumi, whose exact birth and death dates are unknown, completed a manuscript work called – “History of the Fergana Khans”- which consisted of 833 leaves or 1666 pages. Written in the Old Chagatai language, this work was written from 1865-1888 upon the order of Kudayar Khan. The only known copy of this manuscript as the most comprehensive work about the Hokand Khanates is available in İstanbul. This manuscript was translated into the Kyrgyz language in 2007 and was issued in Bishkek. The work written by Magzumi, who was referred to as Magzuni in the manuscript, is based on political events during the Kudayar Khan period as well as information about Kudayar Khan’s life and personality. In addition, it includes actions of Sherali Khan to gain the throne in 1842, other plots against the throne in the Khanate, public opinion, and events such as enthronement of İshak Khan (Polat Khan). In the work written up in the style of –“Şahname”- there is information about personal qualities required to be a governor. Almost no information is given about failures of Kudayar Khan in the work. However, the manuscript glosses over Kudayar Khan’s failures, which points to the main objective of the work: not to give an unbiased chronological account of the era, but to praise the works of Hokand Khans and Sultan’s sons. Nevertheless, the work contains such valuable information as interrelations of the Khans and Sultan’s sons, wars in which they took part and how the wars were guided, clear descriptions of some names used in Hokand State, diplomacy of the Khanate, relations of the Khanate with other states, rituals for giving presents to each other, order in Hokand Palace, change of thrones, hospitality customs, victory celebrations, and daily life and trips of Khans.