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Turkic Khaganate (Göktürk Khaganate) |
Turkic Khaganate (Göktürk Khaganat)
Turkic Khaganate (Göktürk Khaganate) (W)
The Göktürk Khaganate at its greatest extent, in 576
@ It was the first Turkic state to use the name Türk politically |
Status Khaganate
Capital Ötüken
Common languages Sogdian(official, Old Turkic
Religion Tengrism, Shamanism, Buddhism
Qaghan
• 551–552 Bumin Khagan
• 553–572 Muqan Qaghan
• 682–691 Ilterish Qaghan
• 742–744 Ozmış Khagan
Legislature Kurultai (Qurultay)
Historical era
• Bumin Qaghan revolts against Rouran Khaganate 542
• Established 552
• Göktürk civil war c. 582
• Defeat of Eastern Turkic Khaganate 630
• Defeat of Western Turkic Khaganate 659
• Ilterish Qaghan establishes Second Turkic Khaganate 682
• Uyghurs defeat Özmiş Khagan 744
Area 557 6,000,000 km2 |
The Turkic Khaganate (Old Turkic: 𐰜𐰇𐰛:𐱅𐰇𐰼𐰰 Kök Türük; Chinese: 突厥汗国; pinyin: Tūjué hánguó) or Göktürk Khaganate was a khaganate established by the Ashina clan of the Göktürks in medieval Inner Asia. Under the leadership of Bumin Qaghan (d. 552) and his sons, the Ashina succeeded the Rouran Khaganate as the hegemonic power of the Mongolian Plateau and rapidly expanded their territories in Central Asia. Initially the Khaganate would use Sogdian in official and numismatic functions. It was the first Turkic state to use the name Türk politically and is known for the first written record of any Turkic language in history.
The origins of the Turkic Khanate trace back to 546, when Bumin Qaghan made a preemptive strike against the Uyghur and Tiele groups planning a revolt against their overlords, the Rouran Khanate. For this service he expected to be rewarded with a Rouran princess, thus marrying into the royal family. However, the Rouran khagan, Yujiulü Anagui, sent an emissary to Bumin to rebuke him, saying, “You are my blacksmith slave. How dare you utter these words?” As Anagui's "blacksmith slave" (Chinese: 鍛奴; pinyin: duànnú) comment was recorded in Chinese chronicles, some claim that the Göktürks were indeed blacksmith servants for the Rouran elite, and that "blacksmith slavery" may have indicated a form of vassalage within Rouran society. According to Denis Sinor, this reference indicates that the Türks specialized in metallurgy, although it is unclear if they were miners or, indeed, blacksmiths. Whatever the case, that the Turks were "slaves" need not be taken literally, but probably represented a form of vassalage, or even unequal alliance
The first Turkic Khaganate collapsed in 581, after which followed a series of conflicts and civil wars which separated the polity into the Eastern Turkic Khaganate and Western Turkic Khaganate. The Eastern Turkic Khaganate was subjugated by the Tang dynasty in 630 and the Western Turkic Khaganate disintegrated around the same time. The Second Turkic Khaganate emerged in 682 and lasted until 744 when it was overthrown by the Uyghurs, a different Turkic group. |
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Ötüken
Ötüken (W)
Ötüken (Old Turkic: 𐰇𐱅𐰚𐰤: 𐰘𐰃𐰽 Ötüken yïš,(1) “Ötüken forest,” 𐰇𐱅𐰚𐰤:𐰘𐰼, Ötüken jer, "Land of Ötüken") is a legendary capital city in Turkic mythology and Tengrism. Otukan (Ötüken) is also one of the names given to Mother Earth.
Otukan and nature
According to this ancient belief, the mood of the Yer-sub and Ötüken could be seen in the trees' condition. If the trees are healthy and strong and are bearing a lot of fruit, it is believed that Ötüken is satisfied with humans. A prayer dedicated to Ötüken was once directed to a grand tree.
Otugan existed in the middle of the Universe and her residence was in Central Asia on Khangan Plateau. This place was called “The Otuken (Ötüken) Homeland.”
Mountain
The word was used to describe the sacred mountain of the ancient Turks. It was mentioned by Bilge Khagan in the Orkhon inscriptions as "the place from where the tribes can be controlled". A force called qut was believed to emanate from this mountain, granting the local potentate the divine right to rule all the Turkic tribes.(3)
Although never identified precisely, Ötüken probably stretched "from the Khangai Range of Central Mongolia to the Sayan Mountains of Tuva, at the centre of which is the Orkhon Valley,”(4) which for centuries was regarded as the seat of the imperial power of the steppes.
Old records
Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk
Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk, by Mahmud al-Kashgari; "Ötüken (اتوكان) is a name of a place in the deserts of land of Tatars. It's close to land of Uyghurs.”(5)
- Orkhon Inscriptions
The inscriptions clearly show the sacred importance of the region, as evidenced by the statement of Tonyukuk: "If you stay in the land of the Ötüken, and send caravans from there, you will have no trouble. If you stay at the Ötüken Mountains, you will live forever dominating the tribes!"(6)
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References
1 Bilge kagan’s Memorial Complex, TÜRIK BITIG
2 Kızıl ElmaZiya Gökalp
3 Franke, Herbert. The Cambridge History of China. Cambridge University Press, 1994. ISBN 0-521-21447-5. Page 347.
4 Jarich G. Oosten, Henri J. M. Claessen. Ideology and the Formation of Early States. Brill Academic Publishers, 1996. ISBN 90-04-10470-4. Pages 124-125.
5 TDK Divanü Lugati't-Türk Veri Tabanı
6 "Breaking the Orkhon Tradition: Kirghiz Adherence to the Yenisei Region after A. D. 840". American Oriental Society. JSTOR 605932
1
The word yïš means green, thus the word 'forest' derives from the word yïš.(3) |
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Turpan (Turfan); Ashina Tribe
Turpan (Turfan) (W); Ashina Tribe (W)
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Situation of Interior Asia in Late 6th Century with Eastern and Western Tujue, both ruled by Ashina clan |
Ashina tribe (W)
The Ashina (Chinese: 阿史那; pinyin: Āshǐnà; Wade–Giles: A-shih-na;Middle Chinese: (Guangyun) [ʔɑʃi̯ə˥nɑ˩]), also known as Asen, Asena, or Açina, was a tribe and the ruling dynasty of the ancient Turkic peoples. It rose to prominence in the mid-6th century when the leader, Bumin Qaghan, revolted against the Rouran Khaganate. The two main branches of the family, one descended from Bumin and the other from his brother Istämi, ruled over the eastern and western parts of the Göktürkconfederation, respectively.
Researchers such as H.W. Haussig, S.G. Klyashtorny, A.N. Bernstamm, C. V. Findley, B.A. Muratov, R.R. Suyunov, D.G. Savinov, S.P. Guschin, Rona-Tas and R.N. Frye have pointed out that the origin of the Ashina is from the Iranian Saka-Wusun.
Findley assumes that the name "Ashina" comes from one of the Saka languages of central Asia and means "blue" (gök in Turkic). The color is identified with the east, so that Göktürk, another name for the Turkic empire, meant the "Turks of the East". This idea is seconded by the Hungarian researcher András Róna-Tas, who finds it plausible "that we are dealing with a royal family and clan of Saka origin". "The term bori, used to identify the ruler's retinue as 'wolves', probably also derived from one of the Iranian languages", Carter Vaughin Findley has observed. |
Ashina tribe (W)
Turpan, also known as Turfan or Tulufan, is a prefecture-level city located in the east of Xinjiang, People's Republic of China. It has an area of 70,049 square kilometres (27,046 sq mi) and a population of 632,000 (2015). |
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Ashina tribe
Ashina tribe (W)
The Ashina (Chinese: 阿史那; pinyin: Āshǐnà; Wade–Giles: A-shih-na; Middle Chinese: (Guangyun) [ʔɑʃi̯ə˥nɑ˩]), also known as Asen, Asena, or Açina, was a tribe and the ruling dynasty of the ancient Turkic peoples. It rose to prominence in the mid-6th century when the leader, Bumin Qaghan, revolted against the Rouran Khaganate. The two main branches of the family, one descended from Bumin and the other from his brother Istämi, ruled over the eastern and western parts of the Göktürk confederation, respectively.
Origin
Researchers such as H.W. Haussig, S.G. Klyashtorny, A.N. Bernstamm, C. V. Findley, B.A. Muratov, R.R. Suyunov, D.G. Savinov, S.P. Guschin, Rona-Tas and R.N. Frye have pointed out that the origin of the Ashina is from the Iranian Saka-Wusun. They have put forward this version of the following arguments:
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Migration route of Wusun in Western Han Dynasty
Based on the similarities between the ancestor myth of the Wusun and later Turkic peoples, Denis Sinor has suggested that the Wusun and/or Sogdians could represent an Indo-European Iranian influence, or even origin of the royal Ashina Türks.
Some scholars historically suggested that the Wusun spoke a Proto-Turkic language. Chinese scholar Han Rulin, as well as G. Vambery, A. Scherbak, P. Budberg, L. Bazin and V.P. Yudin, noted that the Wusun king's name Fu-li, as reported in Chinese sources and translated as 'wolf', resembles Proto-Turkic *börü 'wolf' (cf. Uyghur böri). This suggestion however is rejected by Classical Chinese Literature expert Francis K. H. So, Professor at National Sun Yat-sen University. Other words listed by these scholars include the title bag, beg ‘lord.’ The above-mentioned theories have been criticized by modern Turkologists, including Peter B. Golden and Carter V. Findley, who explain that none of the mentioned words are actually Turkic in origin. Carter V. Findley notes that the term böri is probably derived from one of the Indo-European Iranian languages of Central Asia (cf. Khotanesebirgga-), while the title beg is certainly derived from the Sogdian baga ‘lord,’ a cognate of Middle Persian baγ (as used by the rulers of the Sassanid Empire), as well as Sanskrit bhaga and Russian bog. |
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Turkic Khaganate (Göktürk Khaganate)
Bilge Khagan
Bilge Khagan
Bilge Khagan (Old Turkic: 𐰋𐰃𐰠𐰏𐰀 𐰴𐰍𐰣, Bilge qaγan) (683 – 25 November 734) was the khagan of the Second Turkic Khaganate. His accomplishments were described in the Orkhon inscriptions.
Early years
He was born in 683, just in early years of Second Khaganate. He campaigned alongside his father from early years as a child. He was created as Tardush shad and given command over western wing of empire in 697 by Qapaghan. He managed to annihalate Wei Yuanzhong's army in 701 with his brother. He also reconquered Basmyl tribes in 703. He also subdued Yenisei Kyrgyz forces in 709, after their disobedience had to reconquer and kill their khagan in 710. He killed Sakal in his invasion of Turgesh in 711 and had submission from Beshbaliq in 713.
In later years of Qapaghan, he had to fight 4 battles in a year starting from 714, resubduing tribes and nearly was killed in an ambush from Huige forces in 715.
Reign
In 716, Qapaghan Qaghan, the second khagan, was killed in his campaign against the Toquz Oghuz alliance and his severed head was sent to Chang'an. Although his son Inel Khagan succeeded him, Bilge's brother Kul Tigin and Tonyukuk carried out a coup d'étatagainst Inel Khaghan. They killed him and made him Bilge khagan. His name literally means "wise king".
He appointed his brother Kul Tigin to be Left Wise Prince, which made second most powerful person in realm. He resubdued Huige in 716. Also appointed his father-in-law Tonyukuk to be Master Strategist.
New reforms and stabilization of regime caused tribes that fled Tujue to come back. Tang chancellor Wang Jun, believing that the Göktürks who surrendered would try to flee back to the Göktürk state, suggested that they be forcibly moved into the heart of the empire to prevent them from doing so. Before Wang's suggestion could be acted upon, however, there was an uprising by the Göktürks who surrendered, under the leadership of Xiedie Sitai (𨁂跌思泰) and Axilan (阿悉爛). Xue and Wang tried to intercept them and dealt them defeats, but they were able to flee back to the Göktürk state anyway. This defeat led to Xue Ne's retirement.
Religious policy
At some point in his life, he wanted to convert to Buddhism, settle in cities. However, Tonyukuk discouraged him from this, citing Tujue's small numbers and vulnerability to Chinese attack. While Turks' power rested on their mobility, conversion to Buddhism would bring pacifism among population. Therefore sticking to Tengriism was necessary to survive.
Later reign
In 720, Wang believed that the Pugu (僕固) and Xiedie tribes of the region were planning to defect to Eastern Tujue and attack with Eastern Tujue troops. He thus held a feast and invited the chieftains, and, at the feast, massacred them. He then attacked the Pugu and Xiedie tribes in the area, nearly wiping them out. He then proposed a plan to attack khagan along with the Baximi, Xi, and Khitan. Emperor Xuanzong also recruited Qapaghan Khagan's sons Bilge Tigin and Mo Tigin, Yenisei Kyrgyz khagan Kutluk Bilge Khagan and Huoba Guiren to fight against Tujue. Tonyukuk cunningly launched first attack on Baximi in 721 autumn, completely crushing them. Meanwhile Bilge raided Gansu, taking much of the livestock. Later that year Khitans, next year Xi were also crushed.
In 726, his father-in-law and chancellor Tonyukuk died.
In 727, he sent Buyruk Chor (Chinese: 梅錄啜/梅录啜; pinyin: Méilù Chuò) as en emissary to Xuanzong to send 30 horses as gift. He also alarmed him of Me Agtsom's proposal of anti-Tang alliance. This alarm proved to be true when Tibetan general We Tadra Khonglo invaded Tang China in 727, sank Guazhou (瓜州, in mordern Gansu), Changle (常樂, in south of mordern Guazhou County), Changmenjun (長門軍, in north of mordern Yumen) and Anxi (安西, mordern Lintan).
On 27 February 731, Kul Tigin died, for which khagan mourned and ordered a great funeral ceremony.
In 733, he defeated rebellious Khitan tribes.
Death
Just after sending an emissary to Xuanzong to gain heqin alliance, he was poisoned by Buyruk Chor. He didn't die immediately and he had time to punish the family of Buyruk Chor with death. He died on 25 November734, his burial ceremony took place on 22 June 735.
Family
He was married to El Etmish Bilge Khatun, Tonyukuk's daughter. He had several issues:
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GÖKTÜRK MAP 1
GÖKTÜRK MAP 1 (W)
This map shows the kingdom of Kökturks after the division of the kingdom in 552. The grey area shows the area of On-Ok or the western Kökturks. The white area shows the area of the eastern Kökturk. This area was still in the sixth Century a Chinese protectorate. 745 the Kökturks were part of the Uyghur empire. After 840 Kökturks and the Uyghurs were conquered by the Kyrgyz. The source of this map: "Der große Atlas Weltgeschichte", Orbis Verlag 1990, ISBN 3-572-04755-2, P. 47 & 51 |
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