2.2. The Great Game on Turkestan: The Early Relations among Russian
Empire, Ottoman Empire, British Empire and Bukharan Emirate
After the British armies completed the invasion of India and turned towards
Afghanistan, the first official links were established between Britain and Bukhara in
1838. At first, Britain guaranteed Bukhara not to intervene and emphasized his aim
of friendship. However, Bukharan emir Nasrallah gave hostile reactions to British
officials and rejected hand of friendship. Emir consolidated his rejection by blaming
the British as infidels.
71
On the other hand, Emir was very close to Russians who
were also infidels. The main reason behind this policy was Bukhara’s commercial
links with Russia. However, Emir Nasrallah’s anti-British policies caused Bukhara to
pay a very heavy burden at the beginning of the 20
th
century. When Emir Alim, the
last ruler of Bukhara, applied to British officials in India to ask for help against
Bolsheviks, Britain rejected his application because of early policies of Bukhara
against Britain. In short, Bukhara damaged its reliance for British Empire.
72
Bukhara’s hostile acts against the other khanates and cooperation with Russia
69
Ibid,9.
70
Becker, Seymour,
Russia’s Protectorates in Central Asia: Bukhara and Khiva, 1865–1924
,
(London &New York: Routledge Curzon, 2005), 10.
71
Hatunoglu, Nurettin,
Turkistan’da Son Turk Devleti Buhara Emirligi ve Alim Khan
, (Istanbul:
Otuken Nesriyat A.S., 2011), 46.
72
Ibid, 46.
32
threatened the future of Turkestan. Both British and their ally, Ottomans attempted to
change Bukhara’s pro-Russian and hostile policy. Although Ottoman Empire was not
as powerful as to have strategic and economic interests and gains in Turkestan, the
Sublime Porte pursued a pro-British policy because of being an enemy of Tsarist
Russia and cooperating with England against Russia. Especially, after the Crimean
War, the Ottoman and British policies were relatively common against Russia.
73
Since Ottomans had cultural and religious links because of owning the Caliphate, the
Sublime Port tried to direct these states against Russian Empire. Russian policies
were harmful and threatening for both the Sublime Port because of attempting to
reach the high seas over Turkey’s straits, and for England because of threatening
British existence in India by annexing Turkestan. The main policy developed by the
British and supported by the Port was to enable the khanates, especially Bukhara, to
merge and defend them against Russian expansion.
74
For example, the Sublime Port sent a message to Bukharan emir to express his disturbance about Bukhara’s hostility
against Khiva and Kokand Khanates. In the message, it is written that:
For a time, as you are aware that, there have been conflicts and wars in the region and these bloody struggles among
Muslims gave harms to the patriotism and clemency of the Caliphate. It is hoped by us that you will not approve this evil
situation due to your responsibility of being a good believer and this evil situation will change into a unity and auspices among
you.
75
But, the warnings and suggestions to the emirate did not make any impact.
The skirmishes among the three khanates maintained and benefited Russians in terms
of intervening and controlling the region. On the other side, the Emirate was the
fewer payers of the internal conflicts among the Muslim khanates. It was put into the
protectorate after Russian invasion but secured more advantages and rights than the
Khanate of Khiva, which was limited to protectorate with very few rights. The
73
Hatunoglu, Nurettin,
Turkistan’da Son Turk Devleti Buhara Emirligi ve Alim Khan
, (Istanbul:
Otuken Nesriyat A.S., 2011), 48.
74
Ibid, 48-49.
75
Ibid, 48.
33
biggest payer was Kokand, because it was destroyed and took his place in pages of
history as a result of Russian total occupation.
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