Sergey S. Vdovin

The present article based on local chronicles and diplomatic correspondence as well as on the accounts of European and Russian visitors to the khanate focuses on the issue of specific traits and evolution of courtly ceremonial and official titles adopted by the khans of Khiva in the 1st half of the 19th century. This source material supports the idea of the styling of Khivan rulers being deeply rooted into epic Iranian and Quranic traditions. The titles used equally reflect the polyethnic nature of the Qongrat khans’ authority, appealing to Turkic, Mongol, Arabic and Iranic elements.