Khujand (Tajik Хуҷанд or خجند, also transliterated as Khudzhand, Russian: Худжанд, formerly Khodjend or Khodzhent until 1939 and Leninabad until 1992), is the second-largest city of Tajikistan. It is situated on the Syr Darya River at the mouth of the Fergana Valley. The population of the city is 149,000 (2000 census), down from 160,000 in 1989. It is also the capital of the northernmost province of Tajikistan, now called Sughd.
History
The classical authors state Alexander of Macedon founded a Greek settlement near the site of today's Khujand in 329 BC called the city of Alexandria Eschate or 'Alexandria The Furthest' - modern Khujand. However, there have been no archaeological finds which have been discovered so far which can be dated to the Greek period. It would have formed a bastion for the Greek settlers against the Scythian tribes to the north of the Syr Darya, which the Greeks called the Jaxartes River. It became a major staging point on the northern Silk Route.
During much of its history Khujand like the rest of Central Asia was a part of the Persian Empire and its history is a part of the Persian history. Some of the famous Persian poets and scientists come from this city.
Khujand was ruined by the Arabs in the eighth century and strongly resisted the Mongol hordes five centuries later. In the year of 1866 Central Asia was occupied by Russia pushing back the borders of Persia and the local Khanates.
The city was renamed Leninabad on October 27, 1939, and re-established on December 23, 1970. It reverted to its original name in 1992 after the breakup of the Soviet Union, and is now in the state of Tajikistan.
References
- Hill, John E. 2004. The Peoples of the West from the Weilue 魏略 by Yu Huan 魚豢: A Third Century Chinese Account Composed between 239 and 265. Draft annotated English translation. [1] (See under the heading for 'Northern Wuyi').
