Battle of Shymkent | |||||||
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Part of Russian conquest of Central Asia | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Russian Empire Supported by: Qing Dynasty |
Khanate of Kokand Kyrgyzs | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Mikhail Chernyayev | Alimqul | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1,298[1] |
Initial: 25,000[2] Eventual: 10,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
6 killed, 41 wounded |
First campaign: 3,000 killed Second campaign: 10,000 killed or captured |
The Battle of Chymkent took place in 1864 between the Kyrgyz, Khanate of Kokand against the Russian Empire. General Chernyaev besieged Shymkent for ten days, during which there were daily battles; he eventually withdrew without taking the city. Mullah Alimkul then strengthened the city's defenses by gathering a garrison of Uzbeks and Kyrgyz. After finishing this task, he put Mirza-Ahmet in charge of Tashkent and went to Kokand with the Kokand army.[3][page needed][4]In this battle, Qing Dynasty, which was also at war with Kyrgyz, supported Russians.
During the second campaign, Chernyaev acted much more successfully, and was able to take the city, continuing the Russian expansion further to Tashkent.