The Emirate of Bukhara: government, taxes and economy

The treaty of 1868 turned the Emirate of Bukhara into a Russian protectorate: the emir lost political independence but kept broad power over his subjects. To oversee his political activity, the “Political Agency of the Russian Emperor” (1886–1917) was set up under a decree of 1885. At the end of the 19th century the emirate had about 2 million people. The state was run by the qushbegi: he led tax collection, the officials and correspondence with the beks; the devonbegi managed the treasury and zakat, and the chief qozi religious-judicial matters. The emirate was divided into begliks, and the beks were appointed by the emir. According to the textbook, the emir’s army consisted of backward, poorly trained peasants. Taxes were paid mostly by peasants, about 90% of the population; kharaj reached 40–50% of the harvest in some provinces, and extra levies (kafsan, dorugayi muzd, tanobona) were also taken. In 1885 peasants rose in Baljuvon beglik under Vose: they objected to being asked for kharaj for past poor-harvest years as well; at the end of July there was a battle with the emir’s army, the rebels were defeated and Vose was executed. In 1888 an uprising occurred in Kulob and in May 1889 in Kalif. In crafts, Bukharan carpets, felt, gold embroidery and jewellery were famous. Trade linked the emirate with Russia, Afghanistan, India and Iran; according to the textbook in 1887 (construction across the emirate took place in 1886–1888) a railway was built through the emirate and the New Bukhara (Kagan) station was built, and from 1888 Russian villages appeared.