The Effects of Russian Influence in 19th Century Bukhara in Augustus Le Messurier’s Notes

Authors : Furkan Külünk

Pages : 551-568

Doi:10.32449/egetdid.1747439

View : 56 | Download : 329

Publication Date : 2025-12-25

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Augustus Le Messurier was one of the British officers sent to Turkestan for reconnaissance in the 19th century. In his 1887 account of his expedition, From London to Bokhara and Ride Through Persia, the British colonel revealed the effects of the Russian presence in Turkestan and provided information on many strategically important issues such as railway networks, communication, trade and water resources in the region. The fact that this trip took place at a time when Tsarist Russia was dominating the Turkestan khanates is important in terms of understanding the limits of Russian influence in Turkestan and the Emirate of Bukhara. Indeed, the British colonel’s observations show how transportation and communication conditions in Bukhara were transformed by Russian influence. The fact that Le Messurier was also an engineer and examined the Russian railway works in the region from a technical point of view led to a detailed evaluation and report. In the second half of the 19th century, this journey and Le Messurier’s work, which took place as a product of England’s exploration policy towards Turkestan, are also important in terms of showing the dimensions of Russian-British rivalry in the region. This study examines the effects of Russian influence on the Emirate of Bukhara in the late 19th century, based on Le Messurier’s narratives and British archival documents, with additional references to both domestic and foreign literature.
Keywords : Augustus Le Messurier, Türkistan, Buhara, İngiltere, Rusya

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