The Manchu Empire

 

The Qing Empire, established by the Manchus in China, gained control over eastern Xinjiang after defeating the Dzungars in 1697. In 1755, the Manchu Empire attacked Gulja and captured the khan of the Dzungars.

Over the next two years, the Manchus destroyed the little that was left of the Dzungars khanate. In 1759, the Manchus suppressed a rebellion south of the Tian Shan mountains, which cemented the Manchu rule over Xinjiang. This area was placed under the control of a General of Ili, who was headquartered at Gulja.

 

Qian Long, Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Photo courtesy of China Page.

 

By the mid-19th century, the Russian Empire began encroaching the northern frontier of China. In 1864, most of the northwestern region of Xinjiang up to the area of Lake Balkhash was ceded to the Russian Empire in the Treaty of Tacheng. This area now constitutes parts of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

In 1864, rebellions broke out all over Xinjiang, including the areas of Kucha, Khotan, Kashgar, and Turpan.

In the spring of 1865, a lord of the neighboring Khanate of Kokand named Yaqub Beg entered Xinjiang and successfully conquered nearly all of the region in the span of six years.

In 1871, Russia seized the Ili River valley and Gulja. By this time, the Qing empire held onto few strongholds.