The harem of the Khivan Khan under the protectorate of the Russian Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

The aim of this research is to identify the influence of the protectorate of the Russian Empire on the history of the harem of the Khivan Khan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the attraction of new sources and a previously unused approach – the study of the history of the harem from the perspective of Russian legislation. The article reveals the features of the organization of life in the harem of the Khivan Khan in accordance with the general changes that occurred with the establishment of the Russian protectorate in 1873 until the deposition of the Khan's authority in 1920. The results of the research showed that the functioning of the harem took place within the framework of Sharia law and traditions that existed in Khorezm, and partially – in accordance with Russian legislation. This testified to the gradual inclusion of the Khiva Khanate into Russian law and to the perception of the region in administrative circles as an integral part of the Russian Empire.