Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate
The Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate (Kyrgyz: Улуу Кыргыз Дөөлөтү, Uulu Qırğız Döölötü; Chinese: 黠戛斯汗國) was a Turkic empire that existed for about a century between the early 9th and 10th centuries. It ruled over the Yenisei Kyrgyz people, who had been located in southern Siberia and Central Asia since the 6th century. By the 9th century, the Kyrgyz had asserted dominance over the Uyghurs who had previously ruled the Kyrgyz. The empire was established as a khaganate from 840–1207.[2] The khaganate's territory at its height would briefly include parts of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, China and Mongolia. After the 10th century, there was little information on the Yenisei Kyrgyz. It is believed the khaganate had survived in its traditional homeland until 1207.
Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 840–925[1] or 1207[2] | |||||||||
.PNG.webp) The greatest extend of territory in the 9th century | |||||||||
| Common languages | Old Turkic language | ||||||||
| Religion | Tengrism, Manicheism | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
• Khagan | Bars Bek | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 840 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 925[1] or 1207[2] | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
| 3,100,000 km2 (1,200,000 sq mi) | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | Kyrgyzstan Mongolia China Kazakhstan Russia | ||||||||
History
The earliest records of Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate were written during the Tang dynasty. The Kyrgyz did not keep reliable written records during this period.
In 50 BC, Xiongnu leader Zhizhi Chanyu defeated the Dinglings in the north of China. He also conquered the Gyangun country located 7,000 li (4,000 km) west of Ordos – the center of his country. During those times, Kyrgyz people lived in the Borohoro Mountains and the Manas River valley on east Tengir-Too. As a result, in Chinese historiography, Kyrgyz Khaganate is assigned the misnomer "Gyegyesy".
They were largely subordinate to the Göktürks from 560s to 700s.[2] Kyrgyz khagan Bars Bek was a brother-in-law to Bilge Khagan. His son ruled Kyrgyzs after Bars Bek's defeated in hands of Qapaghan in 710.[3] After Turkic downfall, they submitted to Uyghurs.[4] Their leader Bayanchur killed the Kyrgyz leader and appointed a new Kyrgyz khagan named Bilge Tong Erkin (毗伽頓頡斤).
Relations with China
First embassy to Yenisei Kyrgyz was sent during reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, in 632.[5] He received Kyrgyz ambassador named Shiboqu Azhan (失鉢屈阿棧) who was later appointed to the Yanran (燕然) Commandery.
The Kyrgyz khagans claimed descent from the Chinese general Li Ling, grandson of the famous Han dynasty general Li Guang.[6][7][8] Li Ling was captured by the Xiongnu and defected in the first century BCE.[9][10] And since the Tang royal Li family also claimed descent from Li Guang, the Kirghiz Khagan was therefore recognized as a member of the Tang Imperial family. This relationship soothed the relationship when Kyrgyz khagan Are (阿熱) invaded Uyghur Khaganate and put Qasar Qaghan to the sword. The news brought to Chang'an by Kyrgyz ambassador Zhuwu Hesu (註吾合素).
The Khitan ruler Abaoji did extend his influence onto the Mongolian Plateau in 924, but there is no indication whatsoever of any conflict with the Kyrgyz. The only information we have from Khitan (Liao) sources regarding the Kyrgyz indicates that the two powers maintained diplomatic relations. Scholars who write of a Kyrgyz "empire" from about 840 to about 924 are describing a fantasy. All available evidence suggests that despite some brief extensions of their power onto the Mongolian Plateau, the Kyrgyz did not maintain a significant political or military presence there after their victories in the 840s.[2]
— Michael Drompp
In 845, Are khagan was created Zong Yingxiong Wu Chengming Khagan (Chinese: 宗英雄武誠明可汗; lit. 'Fathering Heroes, Martial and Sincere, Brilliant Khagan') by Emperor Wuzong. But Wuzong died before his ambassadors departing Chang'an. The new emperor Xuanzong did not rush to create him khagan. At a general council of senior officials, they decided that the titles were given to the Uyghurs when they were strong, and if the Yenisei Kyrgyz were awarded as well, they would become proud and become dangerous. The emperor revoked the letter.[2]
After Are's murder by one of his officials in 847, new Kyrgyz khagan was created Yingwu Chengming Khagan (英武诚明可汗) by Xuanzong,[2] who sent Li Ye (李業) to award him the title.
After the tenth century, there is little additional in-formation regarding the Kyrgyz until their absorption into the Mongol Empire in the thirteenth century. There was a conflict between the Kyrgyz and the Kara Ki-tay around 1130; the Kyrgyz were not defeated, but there is some speculation that at some point they came under the sway of the Ka-ra Kitay. Almost 80 years later, in 1207/1208, the Kyrgyz submitted to the rising power of the Mongols under Chinggis Khan.[2]
— Michael Drompp
References
- "History of Central Asia". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- Drompp, Michael. "The Yenisei Kyrgyz from Early Times to the Mongol Conquest". Cite journal requires
|journal=(help) - Butanaev, V. I︠A︡.; Бутанаев, В. Я. (2000). Istorii︠a︡ eniseĭskikh kyrgyzov. Khudi︠a︡kov, I︠U︡. S. (I︠U︡liĭ Sergeevich), Худяков, Ю. С. (Юлий Сергеевич), Khakasskiĭ gosudarstvennyĭ universitet imeni N.F. Katanova. Institut istorii i prava., Хакасский государственный университет имени Н.Ф. Катанова. Институт истории и права. Abakan: Izd-vo Khakasskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta im. N.F. Katanova. p. 69. ISBN 5-7810-0119-0. OCLC 47206450.
- Barfield, Thomas J. (Thomas Jefferson), 1950- (1989). The perilous frontier : nomadic empires and China. Cambridge, Mass.: B. Blackwell. p. 152. ISBN 1-55786-043-2. OCLC 18629749.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Theobald, Ulrich. "Xiajiasi 黠戛斯 or Jilijisi 吉利吉思, Qirqiz (www.chinaknowledge.de)". www.chinaknowledge.de. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- Veronika Veit, ed. (2007). The role of women in the Altaic world: Permanent International Altaistic Conference, 44th meeting, Walberberg, 26-31 August 2001. Volume 152 of Asiatische Forschungen (illustrated ed.). Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 61. ISBN 978-3447055376. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- Michael Robert Drompp (2005). Tang China and the collapse of the Uighur Empire: a documentary history. Volume 13 of Brill's Inner Asian library (illustrated ed.). BRILL. p. 126. ISBN 9004141294. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- Kyzlasov, Leonid R. (2010). The Urban Civilization of Northern and Innermost Asia Historical and Archaeological Research (PDF). Curatores seriei VICTOR SPINEI et IONEL CANDEÂ VII. The Urban Civilization of Northern and Innermost Asia Historical and Archaeological Research. ROMANIAN ACADEMY INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY OF IAȘI Editura Academiei Romane - Editura Istros. p. 245. ISBN 978-973-27-1962-6. Florilegium magistrorum historiae archaeologiaeque Antiqutatis et Medii Aevi.
- The role of women in the Altaic world : Permanent International Altaistic Conference, 44th meeting, Walberberg, 26-31 August 2001. Veit, Veronika, 1944-. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. 2007. p. 61. ISBN 978-3-447-05537-6. OCLC 182731462.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Drompp, Michael R. (1999). "Breaking the Orkhon Tradition: Kirghiz Adherence to the Yenisei Region after A. D. 840". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 119 (3): 394–395. doi:10.2307/605932. JSTOR 605932.