AJI-BIY'S RELATIONS WITH THE KOKAND KHANATE AND THE QING DYNASTY IN THE MID-18th CENTURY – ON THE EXAMPLE OF IRDANA BEK'S CAPTURE OF OSH

Abstract

In the mid-18th century, as the Qing Empire was subjugating the Zunghar Khanate and East Turkestan, the domains of Kokand, led by Irdana Bek, and the Adygine Kyrgyz, led by Ajibiy, situated in a mixed manner in the Fergana Valley and the Alay Mountains in the west of East Turkestan, represented two major and powerful forces in the region. These two polities were economically and politically interdependent, complemented each other, maintaining the political and economic equilibrium in the region. When necessary, they jointly united forces against external enemies and maintained good relations. In the absence of an external threat, both sought to use third parties against each other, vying for dominance in the Fergana Valley. In other words, both sides cooperated when necessary and competed in internal affairs in the absence of an external threat. After the Qing Empire's conquest of the Zunghar Khanate and East Turkestan, it began to establish contacts with Kokand and the Adygine Kyrgyz, which led to a sharp change in the nature of relations between Kokand and the Adygine Kyrgyz. Both sides sought to gain the support of the Qing Empire. The leader of the Adygine Kyrgyz, Ajibiy, sought to unite all Kyrgyz tribes living in the territories from Bukhara to Kashgar by using the influence of the Qing Empire. Irdana Bek of Kokand, in turn, wishing to increase the influence of his power, expressed his willingness to mediate in the "submission" of Bukhara to the Qing Empire and also sought, with the support of the Qing Empire, to weaken the power of the Kyrgyz and achieve dominance in the Fergana Valley. During that period, the Qing authorities pursued a policy based on their own interests. Utilizing the rivalry between Irdana and Ajibiy, and employing the strategy of "using barbarians to destroy barbarians," they initially weakened the power of the Adygine Kyrgyz through the forces of Kokand, specifically supporting Irdana's intention to "pacify the Kyrgyz" and his attack on the Adygine Kyrgyz. As a result, Irdana made attempts to seize Osh and other Kyrgyz territories, while the Qing authorities hindered Ajibiy's efforts to unite all Kyrgyz tribes against this aggression by Irdana. Consequently, the Adygine Kyrgyz, led by Ajibiy, found themselves in a weak position and were driven from the plains of the Fergana Valley into the surrounding mountainous regions. When the Adygine Kyrgyz were unable to resist the aggression of Kokand, the Qing authorities changed their policy and, seeking to prevent the strengthening of Irdana's power, decided to use the Kyrgyz against him. Therefore, they supported the Kyrgyz and attempted to prevent the spread of Irdana's influence as far as East Turkestan.