Lessons 7 · 1 lessons · S. Tillaboyev, A. Zamonov. O‘zbekiston tarixi (History of Uzbekistan, second half of the 19th – early 20th century), Grade 9, 3rd edition. “Sharq” Publishing House, Tashkent, 2019
7
The founding of the Turkestan Governor-Generalship
Textbook: pp. 26–29
GoalExplain how the Turkestan Governor-Generalship was founded, how it was organised and what powers its governor-general had.
New words
large region ruled by a governor-general · general-gubernatorlikmilitary district · harbiy okrugprovince (oblast) · viloyatAmu Darya Division (1873) · Amudaryo bo‘limi
Explanation
The Turkestan Province formed in 1865 served as a centre for military operations, but Central Asia was far from the Orenburg Governor-Generalship and the lands still to be taken also had to be brought together. So in 1867, by imperial decree, the Turkestan Governor-Generalship and the Turkestan Military District were created, with Tashkent as the centre; the district had around 40 thousand military personnel. The first governor-general was Adjutant General K. P. von Kaufman (1867–1882): he commanded the troops and the Semirechye Cossacks and was also chief judge, so he had very wide powers and was nicknamed the “half-tsar” among the people. At first the governor-generalship had two provinces, Syr Darya (centre Tashkent) and Semirechye (centre Verny). Later, on newly taken lands, the Zarafshan District (1868, centre Samarkand), the Amu Darya Division (1873), the Fergana Province (1876) were formed; the Transcaspian Province, created in 1881, was added to the governor-generalship at the end of the 19th century. Some provinces were larger than certain Russian gubernias.
Worked examples
Chain of command: emperor → governor-general of Turkestan (Tashkent) → military governors of provinces → lower territorial divisions. Power ran from the top down and was held by the military.
“Chain”: pupils line up the administrative units by year of founding, taking turns; whoever errs starts again.
Practice
1
In which year, and with which city as centre, was the Turkestan Governor-Generalship founded?
In 1867; the centre was Tashkent.
2
Who was the first governor-general and in which years did he serve?
K. P. von Kaufman, 1867–1882.
3
Put in order of founding: Fergana Province, Zarafshan District, Transcaspian Province.
Zarafshan District (1868), Fergana Province (1876), Transcaspian Province (1881).
4
Why was the governor-general given such wide powers? Give your reasoning.
The centre was far away and resistance continued in the newly taken region, so quick decisions on the spot were needed; military and civil power were therefore combined in one person.