Background

In the middle of the 18th century, a troubled period occurred in the history of Tashkent, when the city was at the crossroads of the interests of the Kalmyk Khanate, Kazakh Khanate, Kokand Khanate, and, to a lesser extent, Emirate of Bukhara. The city repeatedly passed from one ruler to another. In addition, there was an internecine war between four parts of the city, called dakhas: Kukcha, Sibzar, Sheykhantaur and Beshagach.^[1] The head of each of them (hakim)^[2] sought to subdue other regions.

By the 1780s, lengthy and bloody strife became intolerable. At the same time, the Sheykhantaur hakim died, transferring the power to his son, Yunus Khoja.^[1]

Yunus Khoja's reign

In 1784, the rivalry of the four parts of Tashkent resulted in an armed clash. The battle took place near a city bazaar, in a ravine, along which flows the Bozsu channel. This section of the channel became known as Djangob, literally "stream of battle". The conflict was won by Yunus Khoja, and his authority was recognized over the whole city. As a residence, the ruler chose a fortress that stood on the banks of the Chorsu aryk^{[clarification needed]}. Later on, this area has been named Karatash. The institution of the four hakims (charkhakim) was abolished, although the division into the dakhas was preserved.^[1]