Campaigns of Abdullah Khan II
The Khanate of Bukhara was at its greatest territorial extent in 1595.
Date 1557-1598 (31 year) Location Khorasan,Dasht-i Kipchak,Sistan,Central Asia,Transoxiana Result Uzbek victory[1][2][3] Territorial changes Abdullah Khan II defeated the Shaybanid rebel forces and the Khanate of Khiva, reunified Transoxiana, made the Kazakh Khanate a vassal, and successfully conquered the territory from Khorasan in the west to Kashgar in the east, and from Dashti-Kipchak in the north to Sistan in the south.[3][1]
Belligerents
Khanate of Bukhara Vassals: Kazakh Khanate[1] (from 1582 to 1583)	Safavid Empire Kazakh Khanate (after 1583) Shaybanid rebel forces Nogai Horde (1582-years temporary) Badakhshan Principality Khiva Khanate Yarkent Khanate Supported by: Tsardom of Russia[2] Mughal Empire[1]
Commanders and leaders
Abdullah Khan II Abd al-Mu’min Khan Kulbaba Kukaldash Amir Bekoybiy Uzbek Sultan Abdulbakibi Pir Muhammad Khan Din Muhammad Khan Boqi Muhammad Khan Vassals: Shygai Khan Tauakkal Khan (from 1582 to 1583)	Mohammad Khodabanda Abbas The Great Ali Quli Khan Shamlu Murshid Quli Khan Kildi Mozaffar-Hosayn Mirza Ummat Khan Ustajlu Prince of Jal al-Din Malik Mu'azzam Shah Beg Khan Sarban Sultan Buzakhur Sultan Taukkal Khan Esim Sultan Jan Ali Sultan Baba Sultan Latif Sultan Takhir Sultan Abd-Ghaffar Sultan Suleiman Mirza Shahrukh Mirza Haji Muhammad Khan Ibrahim Sultan Ali Sultan Said Sultan Muhammad Iso Sultan Arab Muhammad Sultan Muhammad Sultan Abdurashid Khan Abu Said Sultan Shah Khaidar Sultan Mirza Shah Supported by: Feodor I of Russia Akbar The Great

Tashkent Rebellion (1587)
Date 1587 Location Tashkent, Shahrukhiya, Khujand, Sighnaq, Turkistan, and Sauran 41°18′N 69°16′E / 41.300°N 69.267°E / 41.300; 69.267 Result Abdullah Khan II's victory Rebellion suppressed; Shaybanids recaptured all the areas where the uprising had taken place.
Belligerents
Khanate of Bukhara (Shaybanid forces)	Tashkent local nobility Kazakh Khanate allies
Commanders and leaders
Abdullah Khan II Uzbek Sultan	Jan-Ali Sultan Mungatay Sultan Din-Muhammad Sultan
Strength
Unknown	Approximately 30,000 rebels
Casualties and losses
Light	Heavy casualties among the rebels

The Tashkent Rebellion (1587) was a major armed uprising against the rule of the Shaybanid ruler Abdullah Khan II. The revolt was led by the local aristocracy of Tashkent in alliance with various Kazakh sultans.^[1]

The primary causes of the rebellion were the heavy-handed centralization policies of Abdullah Khan II and the unpopularity of his cousin, Uzbek Sultan, who had been appointed as the governor of Tashkent. The local nobility (notables and wealthy merchants) sought to restore their previous autonomy and privileges, which had been curtailed by the Bukhara administration.^[4]

The rebellion broke out in early 1588 and quickly gained momentum, lasting for about three months. It wasn't confined to Tashkent alone; the unrest spread to neighboring cities along the Syr Darya, including Sighnaq, Sauran, Turkistan, Shahrukhiya, and Khujand.

A key feature of the rebellion was the involvement of Kazakh royalty. Mungatay Sultan and Din-Muhammad Sultan, the sons of Haqnazar Khan, joined the insurgents with their military forces. The total number of rebels is estimated to have been around 30,000.^[5]

The insurgents proclaimed Jan-Ali Sultan as their leader and Khan. Historical chronicles, such as the Sharaf-nama-yi-shahi, note that Jan-Ali was strategically chosen partly due to his striking resemblance to Baba Sultan, a late charismatic rebel leader who had fought Abdullah Khan II years earlier.

Abdullah Khan II reacted swiftly to the threat. While the rebels managed to briefly seize control of major parts of Tashkent, the Shaybanid governor Uzbek Sultan received significant reinforcements from Bukhara. In a decisive confrontation, the professional Shaybanid army managed to break the rebel lines. Jan-Ali Sultan was killed during the suppression, and the Kazakh allies were forced to retreat back to the steppes.^[6][1]

• History of Tashkent
• Shaybanids
• Abdullah Khan II

Uzbek Campaigns in Sistan
Unidentified Bukharan amir. 16th century Bukhara
Date 1596–1598 Location Sistan,Zaranj and Baluchistan 31°00′00″N 62°00′00″E / 31.0000°N 62.0000°E / 31.0000; 62.0000{{#coordinates:}}: cannot have more than one primary tag per page Result Uzbek victory[1] Systematic capture of Sistani fortresses.
Belligerents
Template:Country data Khanate of Bukhara Bukhara Khanate	Safavid empire
Commanders and leaders
Template:Country data Khanate of Bukhara Abdullah Khan II Din Muhammad Sultan Baqi Muhammad	Prince Jalal al-Din Malik Mu'azzam
Strength
Large numbers of soldiers	Limited local forces
BBotirk (Afghanistan)

The Uzbek campaigns in Sistan were two major military expeditions conducted by the Bukharan Khanate between 1596 and 1598. These campaigns aimed to consolidate Uzbek control over the southern frontiers of Khorasan and suppress the autonomy of the Sistani princes.^[2][3]

By the late 16th century, the Khanate of Bukhara under the leadership of Abdullah Khan II had significantly expanded its influence into Khurasan, bringing the Uzbeks into direct contact with the frontiers of the Safavid Empire and the Mughal Empire^[4].Sistan, a strategic border region, was governed by a local dynasty of princes who traditionally recognized the Safavid Shah as their suzerain but sought to maintain autonomy.^[1] The Sistani rulers, such as Malik Mu'azzam and Jalal al-Din, operated in a complex geopolitical environment. While they had agreed to pay tribute to the Bukharan general Qul Baba, they continued to secretely recognize Shah Abbas I as their rightful sovereign as late as 1594. The Bukharan expansion, coupled with the Mughal occupation of neighboring Zamindawar and Garmsir, placed Sistan under immense pressure. Abdullah Khan II eventually decided to transition from indirect influence to direct military control over the region to secure his southern flank and prevent the Sistani princes from aligning with his rivals.^[5][6]

In June 1596, Abdullah Khan II ordered a full-scale invasion of Sistan to impose absolute authority. The Princes of Sistan, who had been paying tribute to Qul Baba but recognizing Shah Abbas I as their suzerain, refused to grant full allegiance to the Uzbeks.^[1] The expedition was led by Din Muhammad, who was dispatched from Qa'in with a large army. Terrified by the Uzbek advance, the Sistani princes sought external aid:

• Appeal to Akbar: The princes appealed to the Mughal Emperor Akbar, hoping for intervention. However, Akbar declined, as he did not wish to jeopardize his relations with Abdullah Khan at a time when his own troops were busy in other sectors.^[6]
• Appeal to Shah Abbas: Prince Jalal al-Din traveled to the Safavid court. While Shah Abbas welcomed them, he provided no military assistance, secretly waiting for the death of the elderly Abdullah Khan before launching a counter-offensive.^[4][5][3]

The second campaign occurred during the reign of Abd al-Mumin. Despite the internal power struggles within the Khanate, the Uzbeks launched a more systematic assault on the region.^[7] At the time of Abdullah Khan's death, Din Muhammad and his brother Baqi Muhammad were already in Sistan. This phase was characterized by:

• A major campaign to reduce remaining pockets of resistance.
• The systematic storming of all fortresses in the region.
• The Sistani prince, Malik Mu'azzam, was forced to flee to India to seek refuge at the Mughal court.^[6][1]

While the campaigns were militarily successful, the internal instability of the Bukharan Khanate following the death of Abd al-Mumin in 1598 prevented long-term occupation. The rivalry between Abd al-Mumin and his generals (particularly Din Muhammad) weakened the Uzbek hold, eventually allowing the Safavids to regain influence in the region.^[3][6][1][5]

Uzbek conquests and invasions
The Khanate of Bukhara was at its greatest territorial extent in 1595.
Date 1557-1598 (31 year) Location Khorasan,Dasht-i Kipchak,Sistan,Central Asia,Transoxiana Result Uzbek victory[1][2][3] Territorial changes Abdullah Khan II defeated the Shaybanid rebel forces and the Khanate of Khiva, reunified Transoxiana, made the Kazakh Khanate a vassal, and successfully conquered the territory from Khorasan in the west to Kashgar in the east, and from Dashti-Kipchak in the north to Sistan in the south.[3][1]

Siege of Kandahar (1594–1595)
Part of Uzbek campaigns in Sistan
Abdullah Khan II hawking
Date 1594–1595 Location Kandahar, modern-day Afghanistan 31°37′44″N 65°44′14″E / 31.6289°N 65.7372°E / 31.6289; 65.7372{{#coordinates:}}: cannot have more than one primary tag per page Result The siege was lifted. Territorial changes Kandahar was captured by the Mughals without a fight.
Belligerents
Template:Country data Khanate of Bukhara Bukhara Khanate	Safavid Empire	Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Template:Country data Khanate of Bukhara Abdullah Khan II Din Muhammad Boqi Muhammad	Abbas I Mozaffar-Hosayn Mirza	Akbar Shah Beg Khan
Strength
approx. 20,000–30,000	Unknown	Unknown
BBotirk (Afghanistan)

The Siege of Kandahar was a siege by the Uzbeks between 1597 and 1598, which later led to the Mughal Empire capturing Kandahar without a fight.^[4][1][5]

By the early 1590s, the Bukhara Khanate under Abdullah Khan II had reached the zenith of its power, having successfully annexed major parts of Khorasan, including Herat (1588) and Mashhad (1589). However, the southern frontier, specifically the strategic city of Kandahar, remained a contentious zone.

Kandahar was at that time a peripheral province of the Safavid Empire, governed by the Safavid prince Mozaffar-Hosayn Mirza.^[2] The city was geographically isolated from the Safavid capital in western Iran, making it vulnerable to the expanding Uzbek and Mughal interests. For the Shaybanids, Kandahar was the final key to securing Khorasan; for the Mughals, it was the "Gateway to India" and a vital bulwark for the defense of Kabul.^[1] Realizing that his position was untenable, Muzaffar Husayn Mirza chose to surrender the city to the Mughals rather than face another Uzbek siege or execution by the Safavids for incompetence. He entered into secret negotiations with Akbar's court.^[5]

In April 1595, a Mughal expeditionary force led by Shah Beg Khan arrived at Kandahar. True to the agreement, Mozaffar-Hosayn Mirza peacefully opened the gates and surrendered the keys of the citadel. There was no bloodshed; the transition of power was purely administrative. Mozaffar-Hosayn Mirza subsequently relocated to the Mughal court in Agra, where Akbar granted him a high-ranking mansab of 5,000 and the lucrative jagir (estate) of Sambhal.^[1][3]

Although the peaceful capture of Kandahar by the Mughal Empire was unexpected for the Khanate of Bukhara, it did, to some extent, lead to a revision of the peace treaty between the two states.^[4]

• The Hindu Kush Boundary: Following the annexation, Abdullah Khan II and Akbar formalized their boundary along the Hindu Kush. This "gentleman's agreement" stabilized Central-South Asian relations for several years.
• The Safavid Loss: For the Safavids, the loss of Kandahar without a fight was a humiliation that Shah Abbas I would not forget. It set the stage for the future Mughal–Safavid War (1622–1623).^[1]
• Shaybanid-Mughal Relations: Abdullah Khan II attempted to turn the loss into a diplomatic opportunity by proposing a joint Shaybanid-Mughal partition of Iran. However, Akbar, having already secured Kandahar, saw little reason to assist the Uzbeks in becoming even more powerful.^[4]

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Uzbek raid on Yazd
Part of the Persian–Uzbek wars
An Uzbek warrior in the mid-16th century, depicted in a Safavid miniature. He is equipped with a mace, daggers, a composite bow, and a shamshir.
Date Spring 1596 Location Yazd 31°53′51″N 54°22′04″E / 31.8974°N 54.3678°E / 31.8974; 54.3678{{#coordinates:}}: cannot have more than one primary tag per page Result Uzbek victory The raid was successful, with large booty captured[1][2]
Belligerents
Template:Country data Khanate of Bukhara Khanate of Bukhara	Safavid Empire
Commanders and leaders
Template:Country data Khanate of Bukhara Abdullah Khan II It is unknown who led the march.	Abbas I Governor of Yazd (unnamed) Kildi (Governor of Tabas)
Strength
4,000 cavalry[1]	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Substantial during retreat	Significant loot lost; countryside ravaged
BBotirk (Iran)

The Uzbek raid on Yazd took place in the spring of 1596. It was a daring long-range military expedition launched by the forces of the Khanate of Bukhara against the Safavid Empire, reaching deep into central Iran.^[1]

By early 1596, the relationship between Abdullah Khan II and Shah Abbas I had deteriorated. Despite a diplomatic mission sent by Qul Baba Kukeltash to discuss the passage of pilgrims to Mecca, Shah Abbas intended to exploit the internal tensions between Abdullah Khan and his rebellious son, Abd al-Mu'min Khan. In response to Safavid ambitions in Khorasan, Abdullah Khan ordered a swift strike into the heart of the Persian plateau.^[3]

A specialized force of 4,000 Bukharan (Uzbek) troops managed to bypass the main Safavid defenses in Khorasan and struck the city of Yazd.

• Operations: The Bukharan forces ravaged the villages and districts surrounding Yazd, collecting a vast amount of booty and "prisoners of war."
• Engagement: While the raid itself was successful, the return journey proved difficult. The Governor of Yazd organized an unexpected sortie (attack from the city) as the Bukharans were departing.^[4][5]

As the Bukharan force moved back towards Transoxiana, they were intercepted by Safavid provincial forces:

1. Battle near Yazd: The initial counter-attack by the local governor caused some losses to the raiding party.
2. Encounter at Tabas: On their way back, the Bukharans faced another confrontation with Kildi, the governor of Tabas. According to the Persian chronicler Iskandar Beg Munshi, the Bukharans lost "many of their number" during these skirmishes, although they successfully carried off much of the captured wealth.^[6][1]

The raid on Yazd was part of a broader Bukharan offensive strategy in 1596:

• Northern Front: 'Abd al-Mu'min Khan captured the fort of Rughad and reached Astarabad.
• Southern Front: Din Muhammad and Baqi Muhammad initiated the conquest of Sistan.^[1]

The ability of the Bukharan army to strike as far as Yazd demonstrated the tactical mobility of the Uzbek cavalry and forced the Safavids to remain on the defensive throughout the year.^[3][7]