What country is Khujand located in? History of Khujand

Khujand- is a large city in Tajikistan and is considered the administrative center of the Sughd region of the country, located in the northern part of Tajikistan with a population of 255 thousand in 2016. Previously called the city Leninabad.

In Russian, the city is also known under the name “Khojent”. The city is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia and also the second largest city in the Republic of Tajikistan and an important transport hub, political, economic, cultural and scientific center of the country. Khujand agglomeration with a population of half a million people.

Khojent is one of the windiest cities in Tajikistan and the climate in relation to Dushanbe is significantly colder. In 2019, enterprises in Khujand produced products worth about $115 million. USA where almost 60 enterprises operate.

Video of the city of Khojent:

The geographical location and climatic conditions of Khujand are truly favorable. That is why the Fergana Valley, where it is located, is considered the pearl of Central Asia: the mountain landscape, the ever-flowing waters of the Syr Darya, clean air, green attire, an abundance of grapes, fruits and other gifts of nature make Khujand an eternally young city - a garden.

History of Khujand:

Khojent is not only the second largest city in Tajikistan, but also one of the most ancient cities in the world, which was founded during the time of Alexander the Great. Around 329 BC His warriors founded a fortress here, in which a significant garrison of Greek troops and a number of “barbarians” who became related to them, that is, local residents, were left. Of course, that fortress could not yet lay claim to the title of city.

But subsequently, thanks to the ideally selected strategic position and favorable climate, the settlement began to grow rapidly and soon became known as “Extreme Alexandria”.

For many centuries, scientists could not believe that that city and present-day Khojent were one and the same place. But after this fact was established, assumptions began to be made that the troops were unlikely to be able to create a city from scratch in such a short period of time: most likely, some earlier settlement that existed here long before the arrival of Alexander himself was taken as the basis.

Thanks to its excellent location and mild climate, in just a couple of centuries Khojent turned into a thriving trade center, which at that time had global significance, until it was almost completely destroyed by the troops of Tamerlane. However, it was soon rebuilt again.

Like all cities of that time, Khojent was divided into the city itself, the fortress and the suburbs, where numerous artisans lived. Restored by Timur himself, the city quickly began to play an even more significant role in trade, since at that time the Great Silk Road was actively beginning to develop. Until the end of the 15th century, the city was part of Tamerlane's empire.

By the end of the 19th century, the city had grown so much that it was no longer different in size from Bukhara, and even the bek, the ruler, had its own.

However, despite its size, the city was a typical representative of that time: incredibly narrow streets and adobe houses were cobbled together so closely that passers-by could get lost in this labyrinth for more than one day, never finding again the place from which they entered the city. The only way to reliably navigate it was to find out which quarter you were in.

Over the centuries, the city suffered huge losses and attacks from enemies due to disagreements between Bukhara and the Kokand people, who could not divide it. However, after joining Russia, the fighting stopped.

Contacts of the most important authorities of the city of Khojent ( city ​​code 3422):

Khojent weather forecast:

Photo of the city of Khujand.

Khujand city market

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Enterprises of Khujand

KHOJENT MAP

Additional Information

City `s history goes back to ancient times. Modern historical science believes that archaic Khujand existed during the Achaemenid dynasty, that is, before the troops of Alexander the Great arrived on the banks of the Syr Darya. Having captured the city, they fortified it, naming it after their commander Alexandria Eskhata (Extreme)

In subsequent periods, Khujand more than once had to find itself at the center of historical events. In the 8th century. it was captured by the Arabs in the 13th century. the city offered fierce resistance to the Mongol invaders, temporarily delaying the advance of Genghis Khan's hordes to the west.

Since ancient times, Khujand, being at the crossroads of trade routes of the East, was one of the most important economic, military-strategic and cultural centers of Transoxiana. The Great Silk Road passed through it, connecting ancient Greece, Rome, Asia Minor, Egypt, Iran with India, China and Japan.

Khujand was the birthplace of famous astronomers, mathematicians, doctors, historians, poets, and musicians. One of them is Abdumakhmud Khujandi, the founder of the local astronomical school, an outstanding authority in world science. “The Nightingale of Khujand” was called in the 14th century. Kamoli Khujandi - author of famous ghazals. Equally popular in the Middle Ages was the outstanding poetess, musician and dancer Mahasti. In the 19th century In Khujand, such cultural figures as Toshkhoja Asiri, Sodirkhon Hafiz, and Khoja Yusuf carried out active educational work.

In 1866 the city was conquered by the Russian army. The entry into the Russian Empire of Khujand, the center of a densely populated area with rich economic resources, the most important road junction between the Fergana Valley, the Tashkent oasis and the Zeravshan Valley, a large trading point, opened up new opportunities for the development of the population of the city and its environs. In 1916, Khujand was the first among the cities of Central Asia to openly oppose the colonial policy of tsarism, which tried to attract Tajiks, along with other peoples of the region, to participate in the First World War. In 1917, Soviet power was established in the city.

During the years of Soviet construction, enormous changes occurred in the city in all areas of economic, social and cultural life. During the Great Patriotic War (1941-45), the people of Khujand, like all the sons of our Motherland, stood up to defend Soviet land. Thousands of city residents fought in the ranks of the Red Army against the Nazis.

In the post-war period, Khujand became the largest industrial and cultural center of Tajikistan after Dushanbe. The city's industry has become diversified, equipped with advanced domestic and foreign technology. The pride of the people of Khujand was one of the largest enterprises in the republic, the silk factory. In 1991, dozens of enterprises in Khujand produced the same amount of industrial products per day as in the entire pre-revolutionary Tajikistan in a year. The industrial products of Khujand people were known far beyond the borders of our homeland. Only silk factory fabrics were sent to 450 cities of the USSR and to foreign countries.

Since the 60s, Khujand has been actively expanding its borders. The city stepped onto the first bank of the Syr Darya, throwing two bridges across it.

During the years of Soviet power, radical changes took place in the field of healthcare. By 1991, there were 40 medical and preventive institutions in Khujand, employing about 2.5 thousand doctors and specialists with higher and secondary medical degrees. education.

Major changes have occurred in the field of public education. In 1991, there were 30 schools in Khujand, attended by about 30 thousand students.

In 1932, the Pedagogical Institute was opened in Khujand, where there were only 26 students. Today, more than 10 thousand students study at 13 faculties of this university, which was transformed into Khujand State University in 1991.

During the post-war decades, literature and art reached a new peak in Khujand, a whole galaxy of poets and writers, artists and composers, and folk craftsmen grew up.

Khujand became more and more beautiful, acquiring the appearance of a large, industrially developed city. In 1986, it celebrated its 2500th anniversary since its founding. In connection with this Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the city was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples.

The role and weight of ancient Khujand increased even more during the period of sovereign development of Tajikistan. It was here that the most important step was taken towards ending the fratricidal war and achieving national harmony on Tajik soil: the 16th session of the Supreme Council, held in Khujand in November 1992, restored the constitutional order in the republic and promoted a new leader to the political arena - E.Sh. Rakhmonov. The Khujand people, faithful to the traditions of their fathers, through their daily work and active participation in social and political life, make a significant contribution to strengthening the economic power and territorial integrity of the country. They are confident in the speedy revival and prosperity of their beloved Tajikistan.

The main scientific editorial office of the Tajik Encyclopedias has begun preparing a number of encyclopedias about the cities of Tajikistan. Currently, the volume “Khujand” has been prepared, which contains over 2500 articles. The first version of the encyclopedia vocabulary was prepared and discussed back in 1983. Then it was repeatedly discussed and revised, reviewed in Khujand. As a result, the encyclopedia has become capacious and compact.

It includes articles on geography, history, economics, science and culture, literature and art, topography, religious and architectural monuments, sports facilities, industrial and commercial enterprises, scientific and pedagogical institutions, libraries, and ancient quarters of the city. A large place in the encyclopedia is occupied by pre-revolutionary history and representatives of various areas of the material and spiritual culture of the city.

In the process of preparing the dictionary, we had to overcome many difficulties and solve scientific and methodological problems. The main problem was the selection of personalities for this encyclopedia. The following principles were developed: those who were born, studied, worked or work in the city; scientists whose research is devoted to the city and its suburbs. In accordance with these principles, it included articles about prominent government, party and public figures, famous scientists, writers and poets, artists and composers, Heroes of the Soviet Union and Socialist Labor, holders of honorary titles, holders of the Order of Glory of three degrees, two military orders, received at the front, the first teachers, notable people in production, doctors and candidates of science, veterans of public education.

In addition, the encyclopedia includes party and Soviet workers, chairmen of the city executive committee and regional executive committee, who in different years made a great contribution to the development of the city. Some of the articles were included in accordance with letters and recommendations of the regional Hukumat, city authorities, and the city Majlis of People's Deputies.

The encyclopedia contains this article at the beginning, and then the materials are arranged in alphabetical order. The authors sought to unify the titles of articles, avoiding such “uniformity” as “Marasa..”, “Street...”, etc.

The book is equipped with illustrations and photographic documents. It is intended for a wide range of readers. The publication is a kind of experiment for further work on encyclopedias of other cities of Tajikistan and we are far from thinking that we managed to avoid omissions and shortcomings. All critical comments from readers will be received with gratitude.

The encyclopedia materials reflect the situation in 1998. The editorial board and the team of authors, realizing the need to make a number of adjustments in connection with the rapid changes of our time, at the same time did not have the opportunity to do this. In the names of institutions, organizations, honorary titles, etc. their officially valid names have been preserved.

Nature of Khujand

General information. Khujand is the administrative center of the Leninabad region of the Republic of Tajikistan, the second city in the republic in terms of the number of inhabitants and the volume of industrial production. It is located in the intermountain passage leading to the Fergana Valley, on the most important caravan trade route of antiquity. The Syrdarya River flows within the city boundaries. From the city center to the railway Leninabad station – 11 km, to Dushanbe – 341 km. Khujand is connected by railways, air and highways. Pl. – about 0.3 thousand km, population 258 thousand people. (2019).

Relief. The Khujand oasis occupies a wide strip on the left bank terraces of the Syrdarya and the alluvial cones of its tributaries - Khojabakyrgan, Isfana, Oksu. From the north, the rocky Mevagul (Mogoltau) mountains, separated by the bed of the Syrdarya, approach it almost closely, and from the south - the foothills of the Turkestan ridge. Situated in an intermountain depression at an altitude of about 350-400 m, the oasis serves as a natural access from the vast Turanian plains to the densely populated Fergana Valley. In the west, the oasis adjoins the Hungry Steppe (Mirzachul), and in the east, a narrow bridge between the Kairakkum reservoir and the Belesynik mountain range connects with the Kanibadam oasis. The flat terrain, only varied here and there by low ridges and hills, is favorable for irrigated agriculture and convenient for communications. The right bank part of Khujand until recently was a lifeless desert, the left bank, the largest in area, has been inhabited since ancient times. M. Hasanova.

Geological structure. The city is located on the southwestern tip of the Middle Tien Shan, composed of Paleozoic sedimentary metamorphic strata, intrusive rocks breaking through it and above the thick cover of the Fergana depression. The right bank part of the city is being built along the southern wing of Mevagul. The geological structure consists of rocks of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic periods. The Lower Paleozoic consists of a sequence of metamorphosed sandy-shale deposits of the Ordovician-Silurian, with a total thickness of about 4 thousand m. Within Mount Mevagul, the Ordovician-Silurian deposits in the section include: spotted hornfels, fine-grained quartz sandstones with shale interlayers. The total thickness of the section is about 1300 m. Middle Paleozoic deposits are represented by the formation of carbonate strata in Mevagul. In the area of ​​the ore fault, the thickness of conglomerates and arkosic sandstones has been cut off. It lies with large sandy-shale deposits of the Ordovician-Silurian. The thickness of the layer is 400-450 m. Sedimentary-volcanogenic formations in most cases create difficulties during research.

Based on the stratigraphic division of the Upper Paleozoic, many researchers use the general scheme of N.N. Vasilkovsky, which generally covers the wider Karamazar region in Northern Tajikistan. Intrusive formations are mainly represented by rocks of the Hercynian tectonomagmatic cycle. The rocks on the right bank of the Syrdarya River mainly consist of granitoids of the Kurama botalite (Muzbek massif). Granitoids are multiphase intrusions. The Muzbek massif is located in the central part of Mevagul and is represented by rocks of four phases: gabbro and quartz diorites, biotites, porphyritic biotites, leucogranites and its vein-magmatic formations. The area of ​​the intrusion is more than 200 sq. km. Gabbro-diorites and quartz diorites of the Andigon stock are developed in the northeastern part of Khujand. From east to west they are replaced by granodiorites of the second intrusive phase (area 110 km2). From the Chashma area to the Uchteppa tract it is composed of rocks of biotite and horny granites (area 66 sq. km.).

The Mevagul Mountains are rich in minerals. On an area of ​​more than 350 sq. km. There are on average up to 50 points of mineralization zones, ore occurrences and deposits of lead-zinc, skarn, iron ore and non-metallic types. The most typical are the tungsten deposits of Chorukh-Darona, copper-molybdenum Yangikon, skarn-hyellite Khanrabata and Tomchi, polymetallic, iron ore Khanrabata and Tomchi, polymetallic, iron ore, skarn-gyellite, quartzfluorite, etc. Building materials are also widespread - sand, crushed stone, gravel , skarn rocks, gabbro and granodiorites, quartz, etc.

Quartz sand is used in the glass industry. Main minerals: quartz, fluorite, borite, calcium, as well as limonium, malachite, tungsten, bismuth and other polymetallic ores.

Geography and climate

Quote from the St. Petersburg Gazette, 1868 (No. 215, 219):

“...Khojent is located on the banks of the excellent, high-water Syrdarya and is surrounded on all sides by mountains, along the slopes of which there are green luxurious gardens, and all this together - water, mountains and vegetation in the summer, with the local heat and droughts, gives the air favorable freshness and purity, in the winter moderation. ...Khojent is completely surrounded by magnificent gardens, of which there are more here than in other areas of the region. All these orchards are fruit, the fruits grow here in amazing abundance and the surrounding cities are supplied with them...”

The formation of the climate of Tajikistan, including Khujand, is greatly influenced by the same air masses that invade the territory of Central Asia and determine the nature and changes of weather. Precipitation in the Khujand region and throughout the Fergana Valley is mainly associated with cyclonic activity and the nature of the underlying surface.

The main role in precipitation is played by the South Caspian, Murghab and Upper Amudarya cyclones, as well as cold air masses moving from the west, northwest and north. Reaching the frontal surface of the mountains, the arriving air masses rise along this surface, cool and receive an additional effect for the formation of clouds and precipitation. All these air masses invade the Fergana Valley from the west and southwest, but on their way they collide with the western and southwestern slopes of the mountain ranges of Northern Tajikistan and they receive more precipitation than the leeward slopes, intermountain valleys and basins. Thus, on the windward slopes of the Zeravshan, Turkestan and Kuramin ranges, the amount of precipitation per year is more than 400-800 mm. This is confirmed by the fact that in winter a deep snow cover forms in these mountainous areas, which is associated with avalanches in spring period As they move deeper into the mountainous country, these air masses reach inland areas that are greatly depleted in moisture, as a result of which intermountain valleys and deep basins receive very little precipitation. For example, in Khujand the annual amount of precipitation falls: in the cold season of the year 87 mm, and the greatest amount is in March and April (25-27 mm); the smallest in the summer months (9-11 mm, Aug.).

As a rule, precipitation in the form of snow falls only at sub-zero temperatures. In the Khujand region, stable snow cover is absent in 20% of the winter, and in 3-10% of the winter it does not form at all. Here, the depth of snow cover only in February reaches an average of 1-3 cm, and is absent during the rest of the year. The highest ten-day depth of snow cover was observed in the third ten days of February - 47 cm. The average date of appearance of snow cover is December 15, and the earliest is October 31. The number of days with snow cover is exactly 21.

Calendar of low prices for air tickets

Story

The history of the city goes back to ancient times. Modern historical science believes that archaic Khujand existed during the Achaemenid dynasty, that is, before the troops of Alexander the Great arrived on the banks of the Syr Darya. Having captured the city, they fortified it, calling it Alexandria Eskhata (Extreme).

In subsequent periods, Khujand more than once had to find itself at the center of historical events. In the 8th century it was captured by the Arabs in the 13th century. the city offered fierce resistance to the Mongol invaders, temporarily delaying the advance of Genghis Khan's hordes to the west.

Since ancient times, Khujand, being at the crossroads of trade routes of the East, was one of the most important economic, military-strategic and cultural centers of Transoxiana. The Great Silk Road passed through it, connecting ancient Greece, Rome, Asia Minor, Egypt, Iran with India, China and Japan. Khujand was the birthplace of famous astronomers, mathematicians, doctors, historians, poets, and musicians. One of them is Abumakhmud Khujandi, the founder of the local astronomical school, an outstanding authority in world science. In the 14th century, Kamoli Khujandi, the author of the famous gazelles, was called the “Nightingale of Khujand”. Equally popular in the Middle Ages was the outstanding poetess, musician and dancer Mahasti. In the 19th century, cultural figures such as Toshkhoja Asiri, Sodirkhon Hafiz, and Khoja Yusuf carried out active educational work in Khujand.

On May 24, 1866, the city was occupied by the Russian army and became part of the Russian Empire. The entry into the empire of the center of a densely populated district with rich economic resources, the most important road junction between the Fergana Valley, the Tashkent oasis and the Zeravshan Valley, a large trading point, opened up new opportunities for the development of Khujand. In July 1916, Khujand was the first among the cities of Central Asia to openly oppose the colonial policy of tsarism, which tried to attract Tajiks, along with other peoples of the region, to participate in the First World War (Central Asian uprising of 1916).

At the beginning of 1918, Soviet power was established in the city; on October 2, 1929, it was included in the Tajik SSR. During the years of Soviet construction, the city, which now bore the name Leninabad, experienced enormous changes in all areas of economic, social and cultural life. In the post-war period, Khujand became the largest industrial and cultural center of Tajikistan after Dushanbe. The city's industry has become diversified, equipped with advanced domestic and foreign technology. The pride of Khujand residents is one of the largest enterprises in the republic - the silk factory. In 1991, dozens of enterprises in Khujand produced the same amount of industrial products per day as in the entire pre-revolutionary Tajikistan in a year. The industrial products of Khujand people were known far beyond the borders of our homeland. Only silk factory fabrics were sent to 450 cities of the USSR and to foreign countries. Since the 60s, Khujand has been actively expanding its borders. The city stepped onto the right bank of the Syr Darya, throwing two bridges across it. During the years of Soviet power, radical changes took place in the field of healthcare. By 1991, there were 40 medical and preventive institutions in Khujand, employing about 2.5 thousand doctors and specialists with higher and secondary medical degrees. education. Major changes have occurred in the field of public education. In 1991, there were 30 schools in Khujand, attended by about 30 thousand students.

In 1932, the Pedagogical Institute was opened in Khujand, where there were only 26 students. Today, more than 10 thousand students study at 13 faculties of this university, which was transformed into Khujand State University in 1991. During the post-war decades, literature and art reached a new peak in Khujand, a whole galaxy of poets and writers, artists and composers, and folk craftsmen grew up. Khujand became more and more beautiful, acquiring the appearance of a large, industrially developed city. In 1986, it celebrated its anniversary - the 2500th anniversary of its foundation. In connection with this Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the city was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples.

The role and weight of ancient Khujand increased even more during the period of sovereign development of Tajikistan. It was here that the most important step was taken towards ending the fratricidal war and achieving national harmony on Tajik soil: the XVI session of the Supreme Council, held in Khujand in November 1992, restored the constitutional order in the republic and promoted a new leader to the political arena - E. Sh. Rakhmonov .

Modern Khujand

Khujand lies majestically in the picturesque floodplain of the Syrdarya River at an altitude of more than three hundred meters above sea level. Today Khujand is the largest industrial and cultural center of Northern Tajikistan and the second most important city in the republic. The geographical location and climatic conditions of Khujand are truly beneficial. That is why the Fergana Valley, where it is located, is known as the pearl of Central Asia: the mountain landscape, the ever-flowing waters of the Syr Darya, clean air, green attire, an abundance of grapes, fruits and other gifts of nature make Khujand an eternally young garden city. Khujand is the administrative center of the Sughd region of the Republic of Tajikistan, the second city in the republic in terms of the number of inhabitants and the volume of industrial production. Located in the intermountain passage leading to the Fergana Valley, on the most important caravan trade route of Antiquity. The Syrdarya River flows within the city. From the city center to the railway station - 11 km, to Dushanbe - 341 km. Khujand is connected by railways, air and highways.

Monument to Kamol Khujandi

Installed in 1996 in honor of the 675th anniversary of the poet’s birth. Located on the Stars of Khujand square. The main idea is to convey his image as a thinker, philosopher and show his inner world. The background depicts wings, personifying the holiness of man and at the same time denoting the wings of inspiration of poetry. The poet's face is turned towards the place of his birth and towards the sunset. The height of the seated figure is 3.5 m, the wings are 5.5 m. The area occupied by the monument is 1000 square meters. m. In order to create the image of a strong man, spiritually rich, who has made many trips, the sculpture was deliberately created barefoot, since there are canons of sculpture about the beauty of the human body. Author: artist, sculptor K. N. Nadyrov. A similar monument by the same author was erected in 1997 in Tabriz at the poet’s burial site.

Khujand fortress

An integral part of the city's fortification system. Founded in the VI-V centuries. BC e. According to data obtained by the North Tajik Archaeological Complex Expedition (STAKE), the Khujand fortress was first surrounded by a rampart, and later by a wall of considerable thickness made of adobe. The city and the citadel - components of ancient Khujand, had separate fortress walls, surrounded by a wide and deep ditch filled with water. The remains of these fortifications were discovered under the central part of the left bank of Khujand and surround the territory of the ancient city with an area of ​​20 hectares.

With the development of the economy, trade, government system and population, the city grows. In the VI-VII centuries a new fortress was built. Medieval Khujand consisted of three main parts: the citadel, Shakhristan and Rabad. The citadel was located on the banks of the Syr Daryapreno by the Khujands at the gates of Rabad. The medieval Khujand fortress was considered one of the most fortified in Central Asia.

During the invasion of Genghis Khan (1219-1220), a 25,000-strong army with 50,000 Central Asian captives was sent to besiege the city. The heroic defense of the Khujand fortress and the island located near it on the Syr Darya under the leadership of Timurmalik constitutes one of the brightest pages in the history of the liberation struggle of the Tajik people. As a result of the Mongol invasion, the Khujand fortress was destroyed. According to historian Khofiz Abru, at the beginning of the 15th century the fortress lay in ruins. According to Zakhiriddin Babur, already at the end of the 15th century the fortress was restored and became the residence of the local ruler.

Masjidi Jami Mosque

Complex of Sheikh Muslihiddin, a monument of folk architecture of the 20th century. Located on the western side of Panjshanbe Square. The facade of the building faces the street. Shark. The mosque was built in 1512-1513. The multi-columned (30 columns) iwan adjoins the eastern wall of the winter hall, also multi-columned (20 columns), and enters the courtyard of the mosque. The long southern wall of the mosque without any openings faces Sharq Street. Just to the right, on the edge of the wall, there is a darvoza-khona entrance device with a deep peshtak - a portal. The arrangement of columns in the mosque is subject to a modular grid: six rows of four columns (30 modular squares) are repeated on the ivan, and five rows of four columns are repeated in the winter room. The two middle columns on the northern facade of the ivan are decorated with carvings to the full height and carry an elevated part of the architrave with massive inlaid stalactites that preserve the remains of painting. At the entrance and above the mihrab, three plank squares of the ceiling are painted, but the paints have darkened greatly and some have crumbled. The walls are covered with good carved decoration, mostly geometric motifs. Both doors of the winter hall are distinguished by fine, elegant carvings. Structurally, the building is frame with adobe filling and subsequent plastering with ganch mortar. The spaces between the frame were used to create niches for the entrance and mihrab both in the winter hall and on the ivan. The roof of the mosque is flat earthen with clay and adobe coating. The foundation on which the walls of the building stand is made of burnt brick. The courtyard of the mosque from the east and partly to the north is limited by one-story hudjras. In the north-eastern part of the courtyard there is a minaret with a traditional lantern, decorated with arched openings, from where a beautiful panorama of the city opens up. Entrance portal facing the street. Shark is distinguished by tiled cladding and carved ganch panels on the façade. The high portal represents only a front decorative wall made of baked brick, complemented on the north side by two-story adobe buildings with a wooden ivan on top. The carved gates of the portal were made in 1513-1514. Mullah Mansur (painting), Usto Shamsidtsin (ganch carving) and others took part in the decorative decoration of the mosque. The mosque, in general, has a surprisingly harmonious image and is an excellent example of the synthesis of decorative art and construction culture of Khujand.

Khujandi

Khujand(Taj. Khukhand, from Sogd. kwc "nth, pers. خجند ‎, also known as Khojent, Leninabad, other Greek Ἀλεξάνδρεια Ἐσχάτη , Alexandria Eskhata) is a city in northern Tajikistan, the administrative center of the Sughd region.

Name

The modern Russian name of the city is Khujand, sometimes transliterated as Khojent or Khujand.

By Decree of the Supreme Council of the Tajik SSR No. 246 of February 26, 1991, the city returned its historical name.

Transport

Population

Khujand is the second most populous city in Tajikistan after Dushanbe. As of January 1, 2016, 175,400 people lived in it. .

According to the 1897 census, 28,431 residents of the city indicated Tajik as their native language, 595 - Uzbek, 305 - Sart, 458 - Russian. Khujand agglomeration with a population of 884,900 people.

Geography and climate

Khujand is located on the banks of the Syrdarya, below the Kairakkum reservoir, 35 km above the Uzbek Bekabad, on the territory of the Fergana Valley, between the spurs of the Turkestan ridge in the south and the Mogoltau mountains in the north.

The city is located 200 km northeast of Dushanbe (300 km by road).

Climate

Quote from the St. Petersburg Gazette, 1868 (No. 215, 219):

«… Khojent is located on the banks of the excellent, high-water Syrdarya and is surrounded on all sides by mountains, along the slopes of which there are green luxurious gardens, and all this together - water, mountains and vegetation in the summer, with the local heat and drought, gives the air favorable freshness and purity, and in winter it is moderate. ...Khojent is completely surrounded by magnificent gardens, of which there are more here than in other areas of the region. All these orchards are fruit, the fruits grow here in amazing abundance and the surrounding cities are supplied with them...»

Khujand was the birthplace of famous astronomers, mathematicians, doctors, historians, poets, and musicians. One of them is Abumakhmud Khujandi, the founder of the local astronomical school. In the 14th century, Kamol Khujandi, the author of the famous gazelles, was called the “Nightingale of Khujand”. Equally popular in the Middle Ages was the outstanding poetess, musician and dancer Mahasti. In the 19th century, cultural figures such as Toshkhoja Asiri, Sodirkhon Hafiz, and Khoja Yusuf carried out active educational work in Khujand.

In the Russian Empire

On May 24, 1866, the city was occupied by the Russian army and became part of the Russian Empire (see Central Asian possessions of the Russian Empire). The entry into the empire of the center of a densely populated district with rich economic resources, the most important road junction between the Fergana Valley, the Tashkent oasis and the Zeravshan Valley, a large trading point, opened up new opportunities for the development of Khujand.

The city was the administrative center of the Khojent district of the Samarkand region.

In July 1916, the Central Asian Uprising began in the city.

IN THE USSR

At the beginning of 1918, Soviet power was established in the city, on October 2, 1929 it was included in the Tajik SSR, and on January 10, 1936 the city was renamed Leninabad(in honor of V.I. Lenin). In 1941, it was located in Leninabad, which was a university of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture of the USSR and had a postal address: Leninabad city, Krasnaya street, house No. 25.

In the post-war period, Leninabad became the largest industrial and cultural center of Tajikistan after Dushanbe. The city's industry became diversified, equipped with advanced domestic and foreign technology; a silk factory, one of the largest enterprises in the republic, operated in the city. In 1991, dozens of city enterprises produced the same amount of industrial products per day as in the entire pre-revolutionary Tajikistan in a year. The silk factory's fabrics were sent to 450 cities of the USSR and to foreign countries.

Since the 60s, Leninabad has been actively expanding its borders. The city stepped onto the right bank of the Syr Darya, throwing two bridges across it.

In 1970, trolleybus service was launched in Leninabad.

During the years of Soviet power, radical changes took place in the field of healthcare. By 1991, the city had 40 medical and preventive institutions, which employed about 2.5 thousand doctors and specialists with higher and secondary medical degrees. education.

Major changes have occurred in the field of public education. In 1991, there were 30 schools in the city, attended by about 30 thousand students.

In 1986, the city celebrated its anniversary - the 2500th anniversary of its founding. In connection with this Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the city of Leninabad was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples.

Modern Tajikistan

The XVI session of the Supreme Council, held in the Arbob Palace 10 km from Khujand in November 1992, restored the constitutional order in the republic and elected E. Sh. Rakhmonov as chairman of the Supreme Council.

Culture, education

Theater. Historical, local history, archaeological museum, park in honor of the poet Kamol Khujandi, which includes the mausoleum and house-museum of the poet.

In 1932, the Pedagogical Institute was opened, where only 26 people studied. Today, more than 10 thousand students study at 16 faculties of this university, transformed into Khujand State University in 1991. Opened in 2010.

Attractions

The medieval citadel, the mosque-mausoleum of Sheikh Muslihiddin (XVII-XVIII centuries), the Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene - the oldest Orthodox church in Tajikistan, built in 1884 at the expense of the Moscow merchant Khludov. Monument to the poet Kamol Khujandi, a native of the city.

Warlord's Fortress Museum Temurmalika, who put up fierce resistance to Genghis Khan.

Twin Cities

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Notes

2. Agency for Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.(Russian) (01/01/2015). Retrieved July 3, 2015.
3. Tajikistan // World Atlas / comp. and preparation to ed. PKO "Cartography" in 2009; Ch. ed. G. V. Pozdnyak. - M. : PKO "Cartography": Onyx, 2010. - P. 116. - ISBN 978-5-85120-295-7 (Cartography). - ISBN 978-5-488-02609-4 (Onyx).
4. Dictionary of Geographical Names of the USSR / GUGK,. - 2nd ed., revised. and additional - M. : Nedra, 1983. - P. 141.
5. Sovetabad // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: [in 30 volumes] / ch. ed. A. M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M. : Soviet encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
7. About location Alexandria Eskhata see also the article Antioch of Transaxartes.

Links

• TSB:
• // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.

Excerpt characterizing Khujand

On May 29, Napoleon left Dresden, where he stayed for three weeks, surrounded by a court composed of princes, dukes, kings and even one emperor. Before leaving, Napoleon treated the princes, kings and emperor who deserved it, scolded the kings and princes with whom he was not entirely pleased, presented the Empress of Austria with his own, that is, pearls and diamonds taken from other kings, and, tenderly hugging Empress Maria Louise, as his historian says, he left her saddened by the separation, which she - this Marie Louise, who was considered his wife, despite the fact that another wife remained in Paris - seemed unable to bear. Despite the fact that diplomats still firmly believed in the possibility of peace and worked diligently for this purpose, despite the fact that Emperor Napoleon himself wrote a letter to Emperor Alexander, calling him Monsieur mon frere [Sovereign my brother] and sincerely assuring that he did not want war and that he would always be loved and respected - he went to the army and gave new orders at each station, with the goal of hastening the movement of the army from west to east. He rode in a road carriage drawn by six, surrounded by pages, adjutants and an escort, along the highway to Posen, Thorn, Danzig and Konigsberg. In each of these cities, thousands of people greeted him with awe and delight.
The army moved from west to east, and the variable gears carried him there. On June 10, he caught up with the army and spent the night in the Vilkovysy forest, in an apartment prepared for him, on the estate of a Polish count.
The next day, Napoleon, having overtaken the army, drove up to the Neman in a carriage and, in order to inspect the area of ​​the crossing, changed into a Polish uniform and went ashore.
Seeing on the other side the Cossacks (les Cosaques) and the spreading steppes (les Steppes), in the middle of which was Moscou la ville sainte, [Moscow, the holy city,] the capital of that similar Scythian state, where Alexander the Great went, - Napoleon, unexpectedly for everyone and contrary to both strategic and diplomatic considerations, he ordered an offensive, and the next day his troops began to cross the Neman.
On the 12th, early in the morning, he left the tent, pitched that day on the steep left bank of the Neman, and looked through the telescope at the streams of his troops emerging from the Vilkovyssky forest, spilling over three bridges built on the Neman. The troops knew about the presence of the emperor, looked for him with their eyes, and when they found a figure in a frock coat and hat separated from his retinue on the mountain in front of the tent, they threw their caps up and shouted: “Vive l" Empereur! [Long live the emperor!] - and alone others, without being exhausted, flowed out, everything flowed out of the huge forest that had hidden them hitherto and, upset, crossed three bridges to the other side.
– On fera du chemin cette fois ci. Oh! quand il s"en mele lui meme ca chauffe... Nom de Dieu... Le voila!.. Vive l"Empereur! Les voila donc les Steppes de l"Asie! Vilain pays tout de meme. Au revoir, Beauche; je te reserve le plus beau palais de Moscow. Au revoir! Bonne chance... L"as tu vu, l"Empereur? Vive l" Empereur!.. preur! Si on me fait gouverneur aux Indes, Gerard, je te fais ministre du Cachemire, c"est arrete. Vive l"Empereur! Vive! vive! vive! Les gredins de Cosaques, comme ils filent. Vive l"Empereur! Le voila! Le vois tu? Je l"ai vu deux fois comme jete vois. Le petit caporal... Je l"ai vu donner la croix a l"un des vieux... Vive l"Empereur!.. [Now let's go! Oh! as soon as he takes charge, things will boil. By God... Here he is... Hurray, Emperor! So here they are, the Asian steppes... However, a bad country. Goodbye, Bose. I will leave you the best palace in Moscow. Goodbye, I wish you success. Have you seen the emperor? Hurray! If I am made governor in India, I will make you minister of Kashmir... Hurray! Emperor Here he is! Do you see him? I saw him twice like you. Little corporal... I saw how he hung a cross on one of the old men... Hurray, emperor!] - said the voices of old and young people, of the most diverse characters and positions in society. All the faces of these people had one common expression of joy at the beginning of the long-awaited campaign and delight and devotion to the man in a gray frock coat standing on the mountain.
On June 13, Napoleon was given a small purebred Arabian horse, and he sat down and galloped to one of the bridges over the Neman, constantly deafened by enthusiastic cries, which he obviously endured only because it was impossible to forbid them to express their love for him with these cries; but these screams, accompanying him everywhere, weighed on him and distracted him from the military worries that had gripped him since the time he joined the army. He drove across one of the bridges swinging on boats to the other side, turned sharply to the left and galloped towards Kovno, preceded by enthusiastic Guards horse rangers who were transfixed with happiness, clearing the way for the troops galloping ahead of him. Arriving at the wide Viliya River, he stopped next to a Polish Uhlan regiment stationed on the bank.
- Vivat! – the Poles also shouted enthusiastically, disrupting the front and pushing each other in order to see him. Napoleon examined the river, got off his horse and sat down on a log lying on the bank. At a wordless sign, a pipe was handed to him, he placed it on the back of a happy page who ran up and began to look at the other side. Then he went deep into examining a sheet of map laid out between the logs. Without raising his head, he said something, and two of his adjutants galloped towards the Polish lancers.
- What? What did he say? - was heard in the ranks of the Polish lancers when one adjutant galloped up to them.
It was ordered to find a ford and cross to the other side. The Polish Lancer colonel, a handsome old man, flushed and confused in his words with excitement, asked the adjutant if he would be allowed to swim across the river with his Lancers without looking for a ford. He, with obvious fear of refusal, like a boy who asks permission to mount a horse, asked to be allowed to swim across the river in the eyes of the emperor. The adjutant said that the emperor would probably not be dissatisfied with this excessive zeal.
As soon as the adjutant said this, an old mustachioed officer with a happy face and sparkling eyes, raising his saber, shouted: “Vivat! - and, commanding the lancers to follow him, he gave spurs to his horse and galloped up to the river. He angrily pushed the horse that had hesitated beneath him and fell into the water, heading deeper into the rapids of the current. Hundreds of lancers galloped after him. It was cold and terrible in the middle and at the rapids of the current. The lancers clung to each other, fell off their horses, some horses drowned, people drowned too, the rest tried to swim, some on the saddle, some holding the mane. They tried to swim forward to the other side and, despite the fact that there was a crossing half a mile away, they were proud that they were swimming and drowning in this river under the gaze of a man sitting on a log and not even looking at what they were doing. When the returning adjutant, having chosen a convenient moment, allowed himself to draw the emperor’s attention to the devotion of the Poles to his person, a small man in a gray frock coat stood up and, calling Berthier to him, began to walk with him back and forth along the shore, giving him orders and occasionally looking displeasedly at the drowning lancers who entertained his attention.
It was not new for him to believe that his presence at all ends of the world, from Africa to the steppes of Muscovy, equally amazes and plunges people into the madness of self-forgetfulness. He ordered a horse to be brought to him and rode to his camp.
About forty lancers drowned in the river, despite the boats sent to help. Most washed back to this shore. The colonel and several people swam across the river and with difficulty climbed out to the other bank. But as soon as they got out with their wet dress flopping around them and dripping in streams, they shouted: “Vivat!”, looking enthusiastically at the place where Napoleon stood, but where he was no longer there, and at that moment they considered themselves happy.
In the evening, Napoleon, between two orders - one about delivering the prepared counterfeit Russian banknotes for import into Russia as soon as possible, and the other about shooting the Saxon, in whose intercepted letter information about orders for the French army was found - made a third order - about the inclusion of the Polish colonel, who unnecessarily threw himself into the river, into the cohort of honor (Legion d'honneur), of which Napoleon was the head.
Qnos vult perdere – dementat. [Whoever he wants to destroy, he will deprive him of his mind (lat.)]

Meanwhile, the Russian emperor had already lived in Vilna for more than a month, making reviews and maneuvers. Nothing was ready for the war that everyone expected and for which the emperor came from St. Petersburg to prepare. There was no general plan of action. Hesitation about which plan, out of all those that were proposed, should be adopted, only intensified even more after the emperor's month-long stay in the main apartment. The three armies each had a separate commander-in-chief, but there was no common commander over all the armies, and the emperor did not assume this title.
The longer the emperor lived in Vilna, the less and less they prepared for war, tired of waiting for it. All the aspirations of the people surrounding the sovereign seemed to be aimed only at making the sovereign, while having a pleasant time, forget about the upcoming war.
After many balls and holidays among the Polish magnates, among the courtiers and the sovereign himself, in June one of the Polish general adjutants of the sovereign came up with the idea of ​​giving a dinner and ball to the sovereign on behalf of his general adjutants. This idea was joyfully accepted by everyone. The Emperor agreed. The general's adjutants collected money by subscription. The person who could be most pleasing to the sovereign was invited to be the hostess of the ball. Count Bennigsen, a landowner of the Vilna province, offered his country house for this holiday, and on June 13 a dinner, ball, boat ride and fireworks display were scheduled at Zakret, Count Bennigsen's country house.
On the very day on which Napoleon gave the order to cross the Neman and his advanced troops, pushing back the Cossacks, crossed the Russian border, Alexander spent the evening at Bennigsen’s dacha - at a ball given by the general’s adjutants.
It was a cheerful, brilliant holiday; experts in the business said that rarely so many beauties gathered in one place. Countess Bezukhova, along with other Russian ladies who came for the sovereign from St. Petersburg to Vilna, was at this ball, darkening the sophisticated Polish ladies with her heavy, so-called Russian beauty. She was noticed, and the sovereign honored her with a dance.
Boris Drubetskoy, en garcon (a bachelor), as he said, having left his wife in Moscow, was also at this ball and, although not an adjutant general, was a participant for a large sum in the subscription for the ball. Boris was now a rich man, far advanced in honor, no longer seeking patronage, but standing on an even footing with the highest of his peers.
At twelve o'clock at night they were still dancing. Helen, who did not have a worthy gentleman, herself offered the mazurka to Boris. They sat in the third pair. Boris, coolly looking at Helen's shiny bare shoulders protruding from her dark gauze and gold dress, talked about old acquaintances and at the same time, unnoticed by himself and others, never for a second stopped watching the sovereign, who was in the same room. The Emperor did not dance; he stood in the doorway and stopped first one or the other with those gentle words that he alone knew how to speak.

Sights of the city of Khujand.

Here he is - Khujand! The second largest city (after the capital) in Tajikistan, which, over its multi-thousand-year history (about 2500 years), can “boast” that

• it was here in the 5th century BC. Alexander the Great himself built the legendary city of Alexander Eskhata;
• later the city was one of the most important centers through which the Great Silk Road passed;
• after the Russians arrived, a railway was built here, and the city was renamed until 1990 to Leninabad, after which industry began to develop sharply.

As we understand, this is all in the past. What is Khujand like at the present time? This is what we have to find out today.

There were a few kilometers left to the city, we decided that we would overcome them in the same way - by hitchhiking. As it turned out, the decision was made correctly, because a few minutes later a car with a Tajik couple stopped. The guys were cheerful and talkative, I don’t even remember how we ended up on Panjshanbe Square.

This is because in the western part of the square there is a monument of folk architecture of the 16th century - Sheikh Muslihiddin complex. The architectural ensemble consists of:

- Masjidi Jami Cathedral Mosque,

- minaret about 20 m high,

- and ancient burials.

For me personally, that Sunday was remembered by a large number of people and... gypsies. That's where it is, but here I didn't expect to see these beggars. I have already developed an immunity to this kind of “comrades”, but once again communication with them proved to me that I should not follow their lead. Imagine a picture, with an outstretched hand and a voice pressing on pity, a young woman with gold earrings in her ears and a child in her arms, dressed in diapers, approaches. There is no other way to call it “impudence”.

To correct our mood, Mila and I turned 180 degrees and headed towards the pavilion with the inscription “Panchshanbe”, which means “Thursday” in Tajik.

For those who haven’t guessed yet, this is one of the largest indoor markets in Central Asia. And Thursday because it was on this day every week that the biggest trade was here. There are also plenty of people on Sunday, I must admit.

After jostling between the shops and smelling all sorts of oriental aromas, we took a walk around the center. Looking for "Star of Khujand" square We came across this house, decorated in the style of Tajik traditions. As it turned out, when approaching the front door, it was just a restaurant. However, it attracts attention.

We came to a square with fountains and a monument to the great local poet Kamol Khujandi We saw it too, although we didn’t take a photo of it. Who knew that it was on the list of must-see attractions in the city? 😉

By the way, Khujand is the only Tajik city that is located on a large river, whose name is Syr Darya. Do you also want to divide the word into two parts? 🙂

The river is easy to see as it flows right through the center of the city. True, it doesn’t cause any special impressions, so we move on to the next attraction, or rather to an integral part of the city’s fortification system - Khujand fortress.

The first mention of the fortress appeared in the 6th-7th centuries. In those days, Khujand consisted of three parts: the citadel (on the banks of the Syr Darya), Shakhristan and Rabad. The medieval Khujand fortress was considered one of the most fortified in Central Asia.

Historians say that after the Mongol invasion, the fortress was razed to the ground, and only at the beginning of the 15th century they began to gradually restore it. Now in front of us is an ordinary restored wall, through the main entrance of which we enter the museum.

By the way, next to the fortress there is a green park alley, where we went immediately after the inspection in order to hide from the hot sun in the shade. We were also lucky in that just at that time a whole crowd of children was passing by, it looked like a “children’s wedding” (the celebration of “circumcision” in our opinion).

Currently, the city is the industrial and cultural center of Tajikistan with hospitable residents. Quite quiet and in general it is enough to spend a day or even half a day to get acquainted with the historical places. That's probably all that the city of Khujand can boast of.

On one of the main streets Mila and I found a bus stop. Here it must be said that Tajikistan has completely abandoned “large” public transport such as buses, trolleybuses, etc. Instead, on the roads we see only route “gazelles” or even a passenger car-bus. Like this? An ordinary car, only the route number is attached to the windshield, you climb into it and drive away, just like on a bus. The only problem is with the number of free seats :).

The stop was not useful to us, because a Tajik suddenly offered us a ride in a passenger car. True, only outside the city, but that was already enough. Where do you think we're heading? That's right, in! And to get to the capital of Tajikistan we will have to overcome the most interesting and at the same time dangerous section of the road, 380 km long - . As always, I will talk about this in the next article, and I advise you to subscribe to our blog news so as not to miss this event :). Happily!

Historical monuments of Khujand.

“Who knows that the first law of history is to be afraid of any lie, and then not to be afraid of any truth?”

Cicero.

Photo tours in Khujand.

According to Greek historians, in 329 BC, Alexander the Great founded a fortified fortress on the Syr Darya River, named after him. Subsequently, thanks to its advantageous geographical and strategic position, the fortress began to be intensively populated, turning into a large city in terms of its then size, which is known in history as Alexandria Extreme (Eskhata).
The question of the exact location of this ancient city worried scientists from around the world for several hundred years, and only in the middle of the 20th century was the identity of Khujand of the 4th century BC and Alexandria Extreme (Eskhata) of 329 BC confirmed.
Occupying an advantageous geographical position in the Fergana Valley, Khujand prospered for a long time, grew rich, and built palaces, mosques, and citadels. In the 13th century, Khujand was captured and destroyed by the troops of Genghis Khan.
At the end of the 14th - beginning of the 15th centuries, Khujand, together with the region, was part of the state of Timur (Tamerlane). In the 18th-19th centuries, Khujand expanded greatly, becoming one of the largest cities in Central Asia, with a territory not inferior to Kokand and Bukhara.
Khujand of the late 19th - early 20th centuries was a typical Central Asian city with crooked and narrow streets, along which adobe houses were huddled one against the other, with noisy bazaars and rows of all kinds of handicraft workshops.
Khavakanta (City of the Sun), Alexandria Eskhata (“Extreme”, which belonged to the Macedonian), Khojent (surviving Genghis Khan and Tamerlane) - all these are the names of one city, which is already more than 2500 years old.
He wakes up earlier than the capital: even before dawn, people are rushing about on business in the streets. Farmers bring goods to the famous Panchshanbe market. In the evening, when it gets dark, the parks have attractions and a lot of people walking with their families.
One version says that the name of the city comes from “khub jan” - “good people”. I am a native Dushanbe resident, and I will not say that Khujand is better in everything; but in many things it is superior to the capital.
A little cleaner, more cultured, friendlier, more careful and smarter. There is a very strange place in the city center. Next to the dilapidated mosque (I was told that it is about 350 years old) there is a powerful ancient tree.
It smells like time. According to legend, Tamerlane planted it. Be that as it may, this place is so unusual that it is worth visiting there and feeling the spirit of history. The city has an ancient history. According to many historians and archaeologists, the legendary city of Alexander-Eskhata (Extreme Alexandria) was built by Alexander the Great on the site of present-day Khujand (5th century BC).
Since ancient times, Khujand, being at the crossroads of trade routes of the East, was one of the most important economic, military-strategic and cultural centers of Transoxiana.
The Great Silk Road passed through it, connecting ancient Greece, Rome, Asia Minor, Egypt, Iran with India, China and Japan. Khojent is the second largest city in the country, located in the north of the republic, one of the most ancient cities of Tajikistan, founded during the time of Alexander the Great, about 2500 years ago.
According to Greek historians, in 329 BC, Alexander the Great founded a fortified fortress named after him on a river called Tanais, or Yaxartes (the modern Syr Darya River), which was to become the natural border of his empire, populated it with Greek warriors and the surrounding “barbarians” (that is, the local population) which, initially, of course, could not be a city in the full sense of the word.
But subsequently, thanks to its advantageous geographical and strategic position, it began to be intensively populated, turning into a large city in terms of its then size, which is known in history as Alexandria Extreme (Eskhata).
The question of the exact location of this ancient city worried scientists from different countries of the world for several hundred years, and only in the middle of the 20th century was the identity of Khojent of the 4th century BC and Alexandria Extreme (Eskhata) of 329 BC confirmed. T
There was also an assumption that Extreme Alexandria arose not out of nowhere, but on the territory of the urban center, called Archaic Khojent, which already existed on the left bank of the Syr Darya when the troops of Alexander the Great arrived there.

Occupying an advantageous geographical position in the Fergana Valley, Khojent prospered for a long time, grew rich, and built palaces, mosques, and citadels. In the 13th century it was captured and destroyed by the troops of Genghis Khan.
In the 9th - 12th centuries, Khojent consisted of the city itself (shahristan), an old fortress (kuhendiz) and a craft and trading suburb (rabad). All these parts of the city were fortified with defensive walls.
Subsequently, the city was restored and began to play an important role as a trade transit hub on the Great Silk Road. At the end of the 14th - beginning of the 15th centuries, Khojent, together with the region, was part of the state of Timur (Tamerlane).
In the 18th-19th centuries, Khojent expanded greatly, becoming one of the largest cities in Central Asia, with a territory not inferior to Kokand and Bukhara. The city had its own ruler - the bek.
Khojent of the late 19th - early 20th centuries was a typical Central Asian city with crooked and narrow streets, along which adobe houses were huddled one against the other, with noisy bazaars and rows of all kinds of handicraft workshops.
The city was divided into numerous small quarters (makhalla) with a mosque, a teahouse and a pond (hauz) required in each of them. Quarter mosques and teahouses were places where various gatherings of local residents took place and issues affecting their common interests were resolved. In each quarter, a certain type of craft predominated.
Khojent was located on the border of the possessions of the Bukhara Emirate and the Kokand Khanate and for decades was the object of contention between them. In 1866, it was annexed to Russia, after which the internecine destructive wars of Bukhara and Kokand over it ceased.
After the conquest by the Russians in the 19th century, the city became the center of the county, where industry began to develop rapidly. The railroad was built here. In Soviet times, Khujand (in 1936 - 1990 - Leninabad) was the center of the Leninabad region. Many famous representatives of the Tajik intelligentsia and republican leadership were from here.
Its former name - Khojent - remained until 1936 and, according to written sources, existed back in the 7th century. The Arab historian al-Belazuri, who lived in the 9th century, mentions Khojent when describing one of the Arab campaigns of the second half of the 7th century. However, modern historical science believes that the city existed during the Achamenid dynasty, that is, before the troops of Alexander the Great arrived on the banks of the Syr Darya.
Having captured the city, they fortified it, naming it in honor of their commander - Alexandria Eskhata. Later, Khojent more than once had to find himself at the center of historical events. In the 8th century it was captured and destroyed by the Arabs.
Five centuries later, the city offered fierce resistance to Genghis Khan, temporarily delaying the Horde's advance to the West. Since ancient times, being located at the crossroads of famous trade routes of the East, Khojent was one of the most important economic, military-strategic and cultural centers of Central Asia.
The so-called “Great Silk Road” passed through it, connecting Ancient Greece, Rome, Asia Minor and Egypt with China, Persia and India. Silk products and jewelry made by Khujand craftsmen were known even outside the countries of the East. About their former significance These crafts today are reminiscent of the old names of city districts: Pillakashon (silk reelers), Zargaron (jewelers), Sangburron (stonemasons) and others.
A medieval author who did not leave his name called Khojent “the abode of the stars of astronomical science,” but this characteristic reflected only part of the historical and cultural significance of the ancient city.
Khojent was the birthplace or place of activity not only of famous astronomers, but also mathematicians, doctors, historians, poets, and musicians. One of them is Abumakhmud Khujandi, the founder of the local astronomical school, an outstanding authority in the world of medieval science.
His invention was an astronomical sextant, widely used in the largest observatories of the East - in Maraga (XIII century), in Samarkand (XV century) and Jaipur (XVII century). In the 14th century, the author of famous gazelles, the poet Kamol Khujandi, was called the “Nightingale of Khujand.”
Equally popular in the Middle Ages was the outstanding poetess, musician and dancer Mahasti, whose work reflected issues of social inequality of the people. In the 19th century, well-known cultural figures in Central Asia, including Toshkhoja Asiri, Sodirkhon Khofiz, and Khoja Yusuf, carried out active educational work in Khojent.
After the annexation of Central Asia to Russia (1866), Khojent became one of the centers of the revolutionary movement in Tajikistan. Social-democratic organizations began to emerge here, and the labor and national liberation movements began to actively develop.
In 1916, Khojent was the first among the cities of Central Asia to openly oppose the colonial policy of tsarism, which tried to attract Tajiks, among other peoples of the region, to participate in the First World War.
The uprising quickly spread to neighboring cities and provinces and soon spread throughout Central Asia. Khojent was the first among the cities of Tajikistan to respond to the victory of the Great October Socialist Revolution.
Following St. Petersburg and Tashkent, Soviet power was established here in November 1917. In this struggle for people's power, led by the Russian Bolsheviks led by E.A. Ivanitsky, the best representatives of the Tajik workers received revolutionary training: D. Zakirov, A. Rakhimbaev, K. Nazhmiddinov, D. Shokarimov, R. Egamberdyev, A. Shermatov , K. Rakhmatbaev, Kh. Usmanov, Mavlyanbekov brothers and others.
During the years of building socialism, enormous changes took place in the city in all areas of the economic, social and cultural life of the city. The Khojent residents associated all their successes in building a new life with the name of the great Lenin. Taking into account the will of the Tajik people, the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, by its Resolution of January 9, 1936, renamed the city of Khojent to the city of Leninabad.
During the Great Patriotic War (1941 - 1945), the people of Leninabad, like all the sons of our Motherland, stood up to defend the sacred Soviet land. Thousands of city natives fought in the ranks of the Red Army against the Nazis.
Three of them - Fatkhullo Akhmedov (posthumously), Rakhimbay Rakhmatov and Saidnafe Saidvaliev became Heroes of the Soviet Union, many returned home with military orders and medals, including Pulat Ataev - a holder of three Orders of Glory.
Today Khujand is the largest industrial and cultural center of Tajikistan after Dushanbe. The city's industry has become diversified, equipped with advanced domestic technology.
The pride of the city is one of the largest enterprises in the republic - a silk factory. Industrial products are known far beyond the borders of Khujand - in Mongolia, Romania, Bulgaria, India, Guinea, etc.
Only silk factory fabrics are sent to 450 cities of the former USSR and foreign countries. In the 60s, Leninabad actively expanded its borders. The city stepped onto the right bank of the Syr Darya, throwing two bridges across it.
The right bank part included a vast park area with beaches and sports facilities. A satellite city grew, in which more than a third of the population of Leninabad lived. During the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Tajik SSR and the Communist Party of Tajikistan in 1974, a monument to V.I. Lenin was unveiled on the right bank of the Syrdarya.