The weakening of central power in the Bukhara Khanate

Ubaydullah Khan II (1702–1711) wanted to end political fragmentation, but in Balkh Mahmud Biy proclaimed himself khan in 1706 and his independence had to be accepted. The wars needed money, so taxes were raised fourfold; in 1708 the silver content of coins was cut roughly four times while the new coin was declared equal to the old. This upset trade and crafts, the people rose in revolt, and the revolt was put down. When the Juybari shaykhs and big landowners lost their tax privileges they plotted against the khan; in 1709 the Fergana Valley broke away from the khanate, and in 1711 the khan was murdered. His brother Abulfayz Khan (1711–1747) became a puppet in the hands of the amirs: the Manghit Muhammad Hakim Biy, an ataliq, gained great power, while Ibrahim Biy, the governor of Shahrisabz, took Samarkand and called himself “amir ul-umara”; in their rivalry help was sought from the nomadic Kazakhs, and plunder spread.