Andijan is a city in eastern Uzbekistan. It is the administrative, economic, and cultural center of the Fergana Valley, which is divided among Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The city is located on the Syr Darya River. Andijan is one of the oldest cities in the Fergana Valley. It was founded in the 8th century as a small settlement on the northern bank of the Syr Darya River. The city rose to prominence in the late 16th century as a center of the khanate of Andijan. In the 18th century, it became the capital of the khanate of Kokand. Andijan was one of the most important cities in the Russian Empire's Central Asian provinces. It was the site of a number of military engagements during the Russian Civil War.