Military affairs in the Emirate of Bukhara

Having seen the fate of the Ashtarkhanids, the amirs grasped the need for a regular army, but until the end of the 18th century the army stayed a qora cherik: assembled from the peaceful population in wartime and sent home when peace came. Amir Haydar began forming a regular army, and Amir Nasrullah completed the work with the military reform of 1837: sarboz (infantry), navkar (cavalry) and gunner soldiers were organised, at first 800 sarbozes and 250 gunners. Soldiers received special uniforms, and a barracks of 800 houses, the Sarbozkhana, was built on the edge of Bukhara; regular troops were paid and given some relief from taxes. The amir was supreme commander, followed by a war minister (to‘pchiboshi); ranks included pansadboshi, yuzboshi, ellikboshi, onboshi, the garrison commander to‘qsoba, the camp chief naqib, and also qazi-askar, mufti-askar and muhtasibs. In the first half of the 19th century weapons were of low quality: matchlock guns, pistols, spears and curved swords were used; cannon were cast in Samarkand and gunpowder was made in Karshi.