Muhammad Umarxon (Amiriy)

Biography

Muhammad Umarxon (Amiriy) (1787–1822) was a statesman, a soldier-ruler and a major figure of classical Uzbek literature who left an indelible mark on the social, political and cultural life of Central Asia in the early 19th century. He was born in 1787 into the house of the Kokand ruler Norbo'tabiy; from his youth he mastered religious and secular learning and gained experience in warfare and government. During the reign of his elder brother Olimxon he was appointed governor of Marg'ilon. In 1810 soldiers and ulama discontented with Olimxon's harsh rule rose against him; Olimxon was killed and Umarxon took the throne. Unlike his brother, he chose diplomacy and a measured policy. In his twelve-year reign (1810–1822) Umarxon made the Kokand Khanate one of the most powerful and stable states of the region: he brought Turkistan, Chimkent and Avliyoota (Taraz) under the khanate, built the fortress of Oqmachit (Kyzylorda), eased tensions with the Emirate of Bukhara, and established trade and diplomatic ties with Russia and with Qing China. He had the Yangiariq and other canals dug, founded the town of Shahrixon, and built madrasas, congregational mosques, bathhouses and caravanserais in Kokand and other cities. Together with his wife Nodirabegim (Komila) he gathered the famous poets, calligraphers and scholars of the age at court, creating the golden era known as the Kokand literary circle. At his behest Fazliy Namangoniy compiled the celebrated tazkira Majmuai shoiron, collecting the work of more than 70 Kokand poets, and the narrative poem Umarnoma was written to record the history of the khanate. Mushrif, G'oziy, Mahzun, Xo'ja Kiromiy and other men of letters worked at his court. Under the pen name Amiriy, Umarxon wrote in Uzbek (Turkic) and Persian-Tajik and compiled a divan in each. His poetic legacy of more than 10,000 lines comprises ghazals, muhammas, musaddas, musammans, ruba'is, tuyuqs and fards. Earthly love, Sufi symbolism, the responsibilities of a ruler and the wisdom of life lead in his verse; he carried on the traditions of Alisher Navoiy, Hafiz and Fuzuliy. Umarxon died before his time in 1822, at the age of 35, and was buried in the famous Dahmai shohon necropolis in Kokand; his son Muhammad Alixon (Madalixon) succeeded him.

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Works

• O'zbek (turkiy) tilidagi devon
• Fors-tojik tilidagi devon
• G'azal, muxammas, musaddas, musamman, ruboiy, tuyuq va fardlar