Khiva

Khiva (alternative names include Khorasam, Khoresm, Khwarezm, Khwarizm, Khwarazm, Chiwa and Chorezm) is a city in present day Uzbekistan, in the Province of Khorezm. It is the former capital of Khwarezmia.

History

Khiva area is one of the old pillars of Iranian cultural activities and Iranian architecture. For most of history, inhabitants of the area were from Iranian stock, belonging to the Khwarazmian branch. They spoke an eastern Iranian language called Khwarezmian. As a consequence of the constant Turkic attack and migration, the Khiva area now has a mixed population and has lost its Iranian language. Later in history Khiva became a Turkoman Khanate, laying on a strategic overland route to India from Europe. The discovery of gold on the banks of the Oxus during the reign of Peter the Great of Russia prompted an armed trade expedition to the region, led by Prince Alexander Bekovich, and consisting of 4,000 men.

Upon receiving the men the Khan set up camp under the pretense of goodwill, then ambushed and slaughtered the envoys, leaving ten alive to send back. Peter the Great, indebted after wars with the Ottoman Empire and Sweden, did nothing.

Tsar Paul I also attempted to conquer the city, but his expedition was woefully undermanned and undersupplied, and was recalled en route due to his assassination. Tsar Alexander I had no such ambitions, and it is under Tsars Alexander II and Alexander III that serious efforts to annex the city started.

True annexation did not happen until after the Bolsheviks took power after the revolution.

de:Chiwa eo:Ĥiva pl:Chiwa