Early life: Yakub Beg was born in the town of Pskente, in the Khanate of Kokand (now in Uzbekistan).[5] He rose rapidly through the ranks in the service of the Khanate of Kokand. By the year 1847 he was commander of the fort at Ak-Mechet until its capture by the Russians in 1853. He seems to have left the fort before its fall.