Alimqul

`Alimqul (also spelt Alimkul, Alim quli, Alim kuli) (ca. 1833 - 1865) was the warlord in Kokand Khanate, and its de facto ruler in 1863-65.

Alimqul was born at Buchun Bitkan near Kokand ca. 1833, into a family of a Kyrgyz-Kipchak "biy (beg)". He studied in madrasahs in Andijan and Kokand, earning the title of "mulla", and for a while he served as the "biy" of Qurghan Tepa, near Andijan, himself.

In 1858, Alimqul helped Malla Beg (Malla Bek) overthrow his brother Khudayar Khan by bringing the Kyrgyz over to the Malla Beg's side. Malla Beg, upon seizing the Kokandian khan's throne in November 1858, rewarded Alimqul by several successive promotions. In 1860, already as a governor of Marghilan, Alimqul was in charge of a large Kokandian force that defeated Bukharan invaders.

Alimqul actively participated in the struggle for power that ensued after the death of Malla Beg in a February, 1862, coup. He soon succeeded in thwarting Bukhara's attempt to bring Khudayar Khan back to power. Not being of the royal blood himself, Alimqul elevated Malla Beg's minor son, Sultan Sayyid Khan as a titulary khan, and ruled the country himself as the commander in chief of the military ("Amir-i Lashkar").

In late 1864, Alimqul was instrumental in sending Buzurg Khan and Yaqub Beg to Kashgar. Once established as Kashgar's ruler, Buzurg and Yaqub sent to Alimqul an ambassador, Mir Baba, with rich gifts. Although Mir Baba met with Alimqul, he did not have a chance to deliver the presents: Alimqul was wounded and died when defending Tashkent against the Russians in May 1865.

Literature

* Timur Beisembiev. "The Life of Alimqul: A Native Chronicle of Nineteenth Century Central Asia". Published 2003, Routledge (UK). 280 pages. ISBN 0700711147