The political situation in the Kokand Khanate, second half of the 18th to first half of the 19th century

Alim Khan (1798–1810) carried out a military reform, formed a regular army, annexed the Tashkent region, Chimkent, Sayram and Turkestan, nearly doubled the khanate’s territory, called himself khan from 1805 and had coins struck in his name; during a winter campaign in 1810 a plot proclaimed his brother Umar Khan in his place and Alim Khan was killed on his way back. Umar Khan (1810–1822) took Turkestan in the 1810s, from 1817 minted gold and silver coins in his own name, took the title “Amir al-Muslimin”, and the Ottoman sultan recognised Kokand’s independence. His son Muhammad Ali Khan (Madali Khan, 1822–1841) annexed Karategin, Darvaz and Kulab, but persecution of nobles and clergy deepened discontent, and he abdicated in 1841; in 1842 the Bukhara amir Nasrullah occupied Kokand and executed him and his relatives. Because of the heavy taxes imposed by Bukharan deputies, an uprising in 1842 restored independence, Sher Ali Khan (1842–1845) took the throne, and in practice power passed to the Kipchak leader Musulmanqul; on 9 October 1852 Khudayar Khan carried out a massacre of the Kipchaks, but internal strife continued.