Shah Murad

Shah Murad was born in 1749 in Kermine into the family of a representative of the Uzbek aristocracy, Danial-Biy (1758-1785). He was the eldest of his eleven siblings. His mother was from the Uzbek Qongirat tribe. Shah Murad was the beloved son of his father, who affectionately called him Beg-i Jan. His political activity began during the life of Daniyal Biy. At first, he was the governor of Kermine but later was appointed as governor in Qarshi. From his youth, Shah Murad was inclined towards Sufism and spent his days in khanaqahs and mosques praying. He declined the wealth inherited from his father and wanted it distributed among the common folk. He introduced Islamic laws into the Bukharan administration. == Urban development ==

In 1780-1781, he was appointed the ruler of Samarkand and made a lot of efforts to restore the city. Amir Shah Murad drew the history of reconstruction of Samarkand. He built 24 districts in the city and moved many families here from the eastern regions of the country. As a result, the city became more crowded, and the economic and cultural situation was much improved. Currently, one of the streets of Samarkand is named after Shah Murad. For his modest lifestyle, the people called him Amir Ma'sum, which meant a sinless emir. Amir Shahmurad built the city of Islamabad near Marv. == Political life ==

In 1785, he launched a campaign against the Qajar Principality of Merv, intending to use it as a base for raids against Iran. He killed the governor, Bayram 'Ali Khan Qajar, and fully conquered the region in 1788. Historian Ahmad Donish (1827-1897) suggested periodizing the history of Central Asia on the basis of the rule of the most prominent rulers, the so-called renovators of the century, among whom he included Amir Ma'sum, that is, Shah Murad. At the same time, along with these renovators, there were also the most knowledgeable scientists who advanced in the states of Maverannahr. Shah Murad maintained diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire. Shah Murad died in December 1799 and was succeeded by Haydar bin Shah Murad. == References ==

• Akhmad Donish, Puteshestviye iz Bukhary Peterburg. Dushanbe, 1960. • Holzwarth, Wolfgang. "Community Elders and State Agents: Īlbēgīs in the Emirate of Bukhara around 1900." Eurasian Studies (2011). • Holzwarth, Wolfgang. "The Uzbek State as reflected in eighteenth-century Bukharan sources." Asiatische Studien 60, no. 2 (2006): 321–353.