Serindia
Serindia (Chinese: 回域大汗国, Turki: Altashahr Qaghanligi) is a landlocked nation in Central Asia, bordering Russia to the north, Turkestan to the west, China to the east, and Tibet to the south.
Etymology
In the Treaty of London (1892), the British and Russians agreed to cease expansion into Central Asia and recognize the new Turkic state. In this treaty, the state in question was referred to with the European term Serindia, which combines the terms Seres (China) and India.
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| Khaganate of Serindia | |
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 Location of Serindia | |
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History
Pre-Modern period
The region of what is now Serindia was originally inhabited by Buddhist Indo-European Tocharians. Islam was introduced in the region after the conversion of the Kara-Khanid Khanate. The region was incorporated into the Chinese Empire when it was conquered by the Mongol leader Genghis Khan in the 13th century. By the 18th century, the Manchu Qing dynasty successfully asserted full control over the region, defeating the Dzungar Oirats and subduing the Taranchi.
Taranchi Revolt (1850-1858)
Qing control over the region was weakened during the Canton War (1850-1858). By 1851, local nobleman Külüg Khan began consolidating his power in the Tarim Basin and in Pekiang. He rebelled against the Qing and established a Turkic-led state in the area with him serving as Khan.
Inception of the State
The Great Game and the Treaty of London (1892)
The Western powers, starting in the 19th century, began to encroach on Qing territory. The Russians advanced from the north and the British extended their influence in Tibet and southern China. Külüg Khan established diplomatic ties with both nations and offered to join the anti-Qing, anti-Dutch coalition. This offer was eventually accepted and resulted in the the Treaty of London (1892), in which Serindia achieved widespread recognition as a sovereign state.