The transformation of Mu?ammad Shayb?n? Kh?n’s political legitimacy as a key to understanding the spelling of the Shib?n?n?ma and Fut???t-e Kh?ni

Ban?'i Heravi's Shib?n?n?ma and Futuh?t-e Kh?ni are seminal sources for understanding the history of Central Asia in the 15th and 16th centuries. However, the chronological order of these texts remains a subject of scholarly debate. To address this question, the present study focuses on the expression of political legitimacy within each work. Through a discourse analysis of B?n???’s portrayal of Mu?ammad Shayb?n? Kh?n (1451-1510), it investigates how shifting notions of sovereignty reflect the evolving needs and aspirations of the early Shaybanid state. The analysis suggests that the Shib?n?n?ma reflects an initial phase of Shaybanid rule, characterized by a reliance on charismatic leadership and tribal alliances. Conversely, the Futuh?t-e Kh?ni portrays a maturing regime seeking centralized governance, legitimized through the incorporation of established Perso-Islamic norms and traditions. This ideological divergence lends support to the suggestion of a relative chronology: namely, that the Shib?n?n?ma's foundational redaction likely predates the Futuh?t-e Kh?ni. Ultimately, this research highlights the intrinsic connection between textual production and the articulation of state ideology during the critical period of Shaybanid consolidation. It further emphasizes the value of political-theological discourse as a framework for understanding these significant historical texts.

Persian Historiography, Khanate of Bukhara, Shaybanids, Uzbek Khanate, Mu?ammad Shayb?n? Kh?n, Ban?i Heravi