Imam Quli Khan of Bukhara

For other people named Imam Quli Khan, see Imam Quli Khan (disambiguation).

Imam Quli Khan (1582–1644, Chagatai and Persian: امام قلی خان) was the son of Din Muhammad Khan and the third ruler of the Bukhara Khanate, who reigned from 1611 to 1642.

Imam Quli Khan
Imam Quli Khan, the ruler of the Bukharan Khanate from 1611 to 1642. Painted during his stay in Safavid Iran by Muhammad Musawwir
Khan of the Bukhara Khanate
Reign	1611, 1611 – 1644
Predecessor	Vali Muhammad Khan
Successor	Vali Muhammad Khan (1 year) Nadr Muhammad Khan
Born	1582
Died	1644 Mecca
House	Borjigin
Dynasty	Janids
Father	Din Muhammad Khan
Religion	Sunni Islam

Reign

Imam Quli Khan belonged to Ashtarkhanid dynasty of Uzbeks. During the reign of Imam Quli Khan, the Bukhara khanate achieved the most significant power for the entire period of its existence. Despite a successful foreign policy, Imam Quli Khan was unable to completely overcome the internal contradictions in the state associated with the separatism of certain Uzbek tribes. In 1615, Imam Quli Khan sent ambassadors to the descendant of Babur, Emperor Jahangir of India. The letter from Imam Quli Khan was accompanied by an additional letter from the descendant of the famous theologian Khoja Hashim Dahbedi. The ambassadors were greeted friendly and Jahangir sent gifts and a poem to Imam Quli Khan, which he composed himself.^[1]

In 1618, the Safavid Shah Abbas I sent ambassadors to Imam Quli Khan with an offer of friendship. In April 1619, the ambassador of Imam Quli Khan was solemnly received by the Safavid shah.^[2]

During the reign of Imam Quli Khan, a number of famous architectural masterpieces were built, such as the cathedral mosque and Tilya-Kori madrasah, Sher-Dor madrasah in Samarkand, Nodir-Divan-Begi madrasah in Bukhara and Samarkand, etc...

The Registan and its three madrasahs. From left to right: the Ulugh Beg Madrasa (1417–1421), and Tilya Kori Madrasa and Sher-Dor Madrasa, built in the 17th-century by the Khanate of Bukhara.^[3]

In the last years of his life, Imam Quli Khan began to see poorly and in 1642 he renounced the throne in favor of his brother Nadir Muhammad (1642–1645) and went on the Hajj. Imam Quli Khan visited the Safavid Shah, where the local artist Mo'en Mosavver painted his portrait.

Imam Quli Khan died in 1644 in Mecca and was buried in Medina.^[4]