Western Turkic Khaganate

{{Short description|581–742 CE monarchical state}} {{Infobox country | native_name = {{lang|otk|𐰆𐰣:𐰸:𐰉𐰆𐰑𐰣}} ''On oq budun'' | conventional_long_name = Western Turkic Khaganate | common_name = Western Turkic Khaganate | era = Early Middle Ages | status = [[Khaganate]] {{small|([[Nomadic empire]])}}{{blist | [[Administrative region]] of the [[First Turkic Khaganate]] (581–603) | Independent [[empire]] (603–657) | [[Vassal state|Vassal]] of the [[Tang dynasty]] (657–742) }} | life_span = 581–742 | stat_year1 = 630<ref name="Taagepera129">{{Cite journal |year=1979 |title=Size and Duration of Empires: Growth-Decline Curves, 600 B.C. to 600 A.D. |journal=Social Science History |volume=3 |issue=3/4 |page=129 |doi=10.2307/1170959 |last1=Taagepera |first1=Rein |jstor=1170959}}</ref> | stat_area1 = 3500000 | event_pre = First Turkic Khaganate founded | date_pre = 552 | event_start = [[Göktürk civil war]], Western Turkic Khaganate founded | event_end = Conquest by the Tang dynasty | p1 = Hephthalites | p2 = First Turkic Khaganate | s1 = Protectorate General to Pacify the West | s2 = Turgesh | s3 = Oghuz Yabgu State | s4 = Khazar Khaganate | s5 = Kangar union | s6 = Tokhara Yabghus | s7 = Second Turkic Khaganate | image_flag = | image_coat = | image_map = {{Continental Asia in 625 CE|center|||Map_of_the_Western_Turkic_Khaganate.png|none}} | image_map_caption = {{center|Greatest extent of the Western Turkic Khaganate {{circa|625}}, after the [[Battle of Bukhara]] (light brown), and their southern expansion as the [[Tokhara Yabghus]] and [[Turk Shahis]] (lighter brown)}} | capital = [[Navekat]] (summer capital) [[Suyab]] (principal capital) | common_languages = [[Sogdian language|Sogdian]] (coinage, official)<ref>''[http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/turko-sogdian-coinage TURKO-SOGDIAN COINAGE]'', Larissa Baratova, "Encyclopedia Iranica", (20 July 2005).</ref>{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|p=181}} [[Old Turkic language|Old Turkic]]<ref>Peter Roudik, (2007), ''The History of the Central Asian Republics'', p. 24</ref><ref>Peter B. Golden (2011), ''Central Asia in World History'', p. 37</ref> | religion = [[Tengrism]] [[Buddhism]]<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Baumer |first1=Christoph |title=History of Central Asia, 4-volume set |date=18 April 2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-83860-868-2 |pages=203-204 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DhiWDwAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PA203 |language=en |quote=After the destruction wrought by the Sassanid campaigns of the third and fourth centuries and the Hephthalite invasion, Buddhism in Tocharistan experienced a veritable renaissance under Western Turkic rule. Xuanzang's account of Tocharistan's many monasteries but also the archaeological evidence, indicates that Buddhism flourished again under the Turks, who were tolerant in matters of belief and unconcerned to impose a state religion. Among the outstanding examples of seventh century Buddhist temple architecture and wall-paintings discovered in the Tajik part of Tocharistan are the monasteries of [[Kala-i Kafirnigan]], [[Kafyr Kala]], Khisht Tepe and especially [[Ajina Tepe]], whose Turkic royal family, nobility and population were all followers of Hinayana Buddhism in the eighth century.}}</ref> [[Zurvanism]]<ref>''The Cambridge History of Iran'', Vol. 3, part 1, ed. William Bayne Fisher and E. Yarshater, (Cambridge University Press, 2003), 621.</ref> Fire worship<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Baumer |first1=Christoph |title=History of Central Asia, 4-volume set |date=18 April 2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-83860-868-2 |page=203 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DhiWDwAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PA203 |language=en |quote=Although fire worship was practised among the Western Turks, Tong Yabghu himself was sympathetic towards Buddhism, as Xuanzang reveals.}}</ref> | currency = | deputy1 = [[Istämi]] | year_deputy1 = 553–576 | deputy2 = [[Tardu]] | year_deputy2 = 576–603 | title_deputy = [[Yabgu]] of the Western Khaganate | leader1 = [[Niri Qaghan]] | year_leader1 = 587–604 | title_leader = [[Khagan]] of the Western Khaganate | demonym = | area_km2 = | area_rank = | GDP_PPP = | GDP_PPP_year = | HDI = | HDI_year = | today = }}

The '''Western Turkic Khaganate''' ({{lang-zh|c=西突厥 |p=Xī Tūjué}}) or '''Onoq Khaganate''' ({{langx|otk| 𐰆𐰣:𐰸:𐰉𐰆𐰑𐰣|On oq budun|Ten arrow people}})<ref>V. Thomsen, Turcica, p. 4-17</ref><ref name="Archived copy">{{Cite web |url=http://bitig.org/?lang=e&mod=1&tid=1&oid=16&m=1 |title=Turk Bitig |access-date=2020-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203230249/http://www.bitig.org/?lang=e |archive-date=2015-02-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref> was a [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] khaganate in [[Eurasia]], which formed as a result of the wars during the beginning of the 7th century (593–603) after the [[First Turkic Khaganate]], which was founded in the 6th century on the [[Mongolian Plateau]] by the [[Ashina tribe|Ashina clan]], split into a western and [[Eastern Turkic Khaganate|eastern khaganate]].

The confederation as a whole was called ''Onoq'', meaning "ten arrows". According to a Chinese source, the Western Turks were organised into ten divisions.<ref>Christopher I. Beckwith, (1993), ''The Tibetan Empire in Central Asia: A History of the Struggle for Great Power Among Tibetans, Turks, Arabs and Chinese During the Early Middle Ages'', p. 209</ref>

The khaganate's capitals were [[Navekat]], the summer capital and [[Suyab]], which was the principal capital, both situated in the [[Chui River]] valley in [[Kyrgyzstan]], to the east of [[Bishkek]]. [[Tong Yabghu Qaghan|Tong Yabgu]]'s summer capital was near [[Tashkent]] and his winter capital [[Suyab]].

The Eastern Turkic Khaganate was subjugated by the [[Tang dynasty]] in 657 and continued as its vassal, before finally collapsing in 742. In the west, the breakup of the Western Turkic Khaganate led to the rise of the Turkic [[Khazar Khaganate]] ({{circa|650}}–969).

== History == {{Main|Timeline of the Göktürks}}

The [[First Turkic Khaganate]] was founded by [[Bumin Qaghan|Bumin]] in 552 on the Mongolian Plateau and quickly spread west toward the [[Caspian Sea]]. Within 35 years the Western Turkic Khaganate and the [[Eastern Turkic Khaganate]] were independent polities. The Western Khaganate reached its peak under [[Tong Yabghu Qaghan]] (618–630). After Tong's murder, there were conflicts between the Dulu and Nushibi factions and many short-lived Khagans, and some territory was lost. From 642 onward, the expanding [[Tang dynasty]] began to interfere. The Tang destroyed the khaganate in 657–659.

=== Western expansion (552–575) === {{Main|Early Turkic Khaganates}} [[File:Afrasiab._Western_Turk_officer,_7th_century_CE.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Western Turk officers, one of them labeled as coming from Argi ([[Karashahr]] in modern [[Xinjiang]]), attending the reception of ambassadors by king [[Varkhuman]] of [[Samarkand]]. [[Afrasiab murals]], 7th century CE.<ref name="SW"/> The Turks had a mainly East Eurasian appearance.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Millward |first1=James A. |title=Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang |year=2007 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-13924-3 |page=31 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8FVsWq31MtMC&pg=PA31 |language=en}}</ref>]]

The [[Göktürks]] and [[Mongol Empire|Mongols]] were the only two empires to rule both the eastern and central [[steppe]]. The Göktürks were the first steppe empire to be in contact with the [[Byzantine Empire]], [[Persia]] and China. Their expansion west from modern-day [[Mongolia]] is poorly documented. [[Lev Gumilyov]]<ref>Ch. III, IV.</ref> gives the following. [[Bumin Qaghan|Bumin]] gave the west to his younger brother [[Istämi]] (553–575). The campaign probably began in the spring of 554 and apparently met little resistance. They took [[Semirechye Oblast|Semirechye]] and by 555 had reached the [[Aral Sea]], probably on a line from the lower [[Amu Darya|Oxus]], across the [[Syr Darya|Jaxartes]], north of Tashkent to the western tip of the [[Tian Shan]]. They drove before them various peoples: [[Xionites]], [[Uar (tribe)|Uar]], [[Oghur (tribe)|Oghur]]s and others.<ref>Baumer has defeated Rouran and Ephthalites</ref> These seem to have merged into the [[Pannonian Avars|Avars]] whom the Göktürks drove across the [[Volga River]] in 558, and who crossed the western steppe and reached Hungary by 567. The Turks then turned southeast.

At this time the [[Hephthalites]] held the [[Tarim Basin]], [[Fergana]], [[Sogdia]], [[Bactria]] and [[Merv]], with the Persians at approximately their present border. [[Khosrow I]] made peace with the Byzantines and turned on the Hephthalites. Fighting started in 560.<ref>The war is variously dated. 560–565 (Gumilyov, 1967); 555 (Stark, 2008, Altturkenzeit, 210); 557 (Iranica, Khosrow II); 558–561 (Iranica.hephthalites); 557–563 (Baumer, Hist.Cent.Asia, 2, 174); 557–561 (Sinor, 1990, Hist Inner Asia, 301; 560–563 (UNESCO, Hist. civs. c.a., iii, 143); 562–565 (Christian, hist. russia, mongolia, c.a., 252); ca 565 (Grousset, Empire Steppes, 1970, p. 82); 567 (Chavannes,1903, Documents, 236+229)</ref> The Persians won a victory in 562, and the Turks took [[Tashkent]]. In 565, the Hephthalites were defeated at [[Qarshi]] and withdrew to Bactria, where fragments of their people remained until the [[Early Muslim conquests|Arab conquest]]. The Turks demanded the tribute formerly paid to the Hephthalites and when this was refused, they crossed the Oxus, but thought better of it and withdrew. In 571 a border was drawn along the Oxus,<ref>All sources have Oxus border; 571 Treaty is Gumulyov only.</ref> the Persians expanding east to Afghanistan, and the Turks gaining the Sogdian merchant cities and their control of the [[Silk Road]].

Around 567–576, the Turks took the area between the Caspian and Black Seas. In 568 they took part of Bactria.

=== Late period (575–630) === [[File:Western Turk coin with Turk Kagan legend, 580-610.jpg|thumb|Coin with legend "Türk-Kagan" ([[Sogdian script]] ''twrk x'γ'n''), [[Tashkent]], Western Turk period, 580-610.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Urbanus |first1=Jason |title=News - Bronze Coin May Contain Earliest Known Usage of the Word "Turk" |journal=Archaeology Magazine |date=22 May 2025 |url=https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/22/bronze-coin-may-contain-earliest-known-usage-of-the-word-turk/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Altuntas |first1=Leman |title=The 6th-Century "Türk-Kagan" Coin Discovery in Uzbekistan Could Rewrite History as the Oldest Known Record of the Name "Türk" |url=https://arkeonews.net/the-6th-century-turk-kagan-coin-discovery-in-uzbekistan-could-rewrite-history-as-the-oldest-known-record-of-the-name-turk/ |website=Arkeonews |publisher=Arkeonews |language=en |date=15 May 2025}}</ref>]]

Istämi was followed by his son [[Tardu]] (575–603). Around 581 he intervened in the eastern [[Göktürk civil war]]. In 588–589 the Turks were defeated by Persians near [[Herat]] in the first [[Perso-Turkic war of 588–589|Perso-Turkic War]]. In 599–603 he gained the eastern half of the Khaganate, but after his death the two halves were split again. [[Heshana Qaghan]] (603–611) was driven out of Dzungaria and then defeated by [[Shikui Khagan]] (610–617), Tardu's grandson.

Shikui Khagan conquered the Altai, reconquered Tashkent and vanquished the [[Sasanids]] and the [[Hephthalites]] {{Circa|616–617}}, raiding Iran as far as [[Ray, Iran|Ray]] and [[Isfahan]].<ref name="SK13">{{Cite journal |last1=Kamoliddin |first1=Shamsiddin |title=On the Religion of the Samanids Ancestors, in: Transoxiana, Journal Libre de Estudios Orientales (ISSN 1666-7050) / Ed. Paola Raffetta, Julio 11 (2006) |journal=Transoxiana |date=2006 |volume=11 |pages=13–14 |url=https://www.academia.edu/37507313/On_the_Religion_of_the_Samanids_Ancestors_in_Transoxiana_Journal_Libre_de_Estudios_Orientales_ISSN_1666_7050_Ed_Paola_Raffetta_Julio_11_2006_http_www_transoxiana_org_11_kamoliddin_samanids_html_}}</ref>

==== Tokhara Yabghus and Turk Shahis ==== {{Main|Tokhara Yabghus|Turk Shahis}} [[File:Turk Shahi portrait. King Sri Ranasrikari. Late 7th to early 8th century CE.jpg|thumb|An early [[Turk Shahi]] ruler named Sri Ranasrikari "The Lord who brings excellence through war" ([[Brahmi script]]). In this realistic portrait, he wears the Turkic double-lapel [[caftan]]. Late 7th to early 8th century.<ref>Göbl 1967, 254; Vondrovec tyre 254</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pro.geo.univie.ac.at/projects/khm/coins/coin101?language=en |title=The Countenance of the other |last1=Alram |first1=Michael |last2=Filigenzi |first2=Anna |last3=Kinberger |first3=Michaela |last4=Nell |first4=Daniel |last5=Pfisterer |first5=Matthias |last6=Vondrovec |first6=Klaus |newspaper=Pro.geo.univie.ac.at |publisher=Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna |access-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref><ref name="KHM13">{{Cite web |url=http://pro.geo.univie.ac.at/projects/khm/showcases/showcase13?language=en |title=The Countenance of the other (The Coins of the Huns and Western Turks in Central Asia and India) 2012–2013 exhibit: 13. THE TURK SHAHIS IN KABULISTAN |last1=Alram |first1=Michael |last2=Filigenzi |first2=Anna |last3=Kinberger |first3=Michaela |last4=Nell |first4=Daniel |last5=Pfisterer |first5=Matthias |last6=Vondrovec |first6=Klaus |newspaper=Pro.geo.univie.ac.at |publisher=Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna |access-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref>]]

Shikui Khagan's brother [[Tong Yabghu Qaghan]] (618–630) ruled from the Tarim basin to the Caspian Sea, and met [[Xuanzang]].{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} He sent men to fight the Persians south of the Caucasus, and also sent his son [[Tardush Shad]] to fight in Afghanistan, where he established the [[Tokhara Yabghus]], who themselves projected the [[Turk Shahis]] as far east as India.

In the year of Tong's death the Tang dynasty defeated and annexed the Eastern Khaganate. He was murdered by his uncle [[Külüg Sibir]] (630) with [[Duolu]] support. The [[Nushibi]] put Tong's son [[Irbis Bolun Cabgu|Sy Yabgu]] (631–633) on the throne. However, Nushibi quickly rebelled against Sy and enthroned Ashina Nishu as [[Duolu Qaghan]] (633–634), followed by his brother [[Ishbara Tolis]] (634–638). There was a Dulu-Nushibi conflict and [[Yukuk Shad]] (638–642), son of the final eastern khagan, was brought in.

The factions quarreled and the Nushibi and [[Emperor Taizong of Tang]] enthroned [[Irbis Seguy]] (642–651). The Tang dynasty demanded part of the Tarim Basin and then seized part of it until the war ended with Taizong's death. Irbis was overthrown by [[Ashina Helu]] (651–658) who, after about six years of war, was defeated at [[Battle of Irtysh River]] and captured by the Tang. After this there were several puppet khagans. From 679 to 719 the old [[Göktürks|Göktürk]] capital of [[Suyab]] was one of the [[Four Garrisons of Anxi]]. The Tang dynasty exercised control over the area until the time of [[An Lushan]]'s rebellion in 756.

=== Tang campaigns against the Western Turks (640–657) === {{Main|Tang campaigns against the Western Turks}} {{Annotated image|image=Map of the Tang Empire and Central Asia Protectorates circa 660 CE.png|width=300 |image-width=300 |image-left=0 |image-top=0 |float=right |caption=Map of the Tang Empire and Central Asian Protectorates circa 660.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ven |first1=Hans van de |title=Warfare in Chinese History |date=26 July 2021 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-48294-4 |page=119 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nSk7EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA119 |language=en}}</ref> It was through the conquest of the Western Turks that the Tang dynasty was able to reach its maximum extent, although for just a few years.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Millward |first1=James A. |title=Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang |date=2007 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-13924-3 |page=33 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8FVsWq31MtMC&pg=PA33 |language=en}}</ref>|annotations={{Annotation|272|162|[[Template:Continental Asia in 625 CE| ◁ ]] [[Template:Continental Asia in 720 CE| ▷ ]]|text-align=center|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=12|color=#000000}}{{Annotation|270|05|[[Template:Eurasia 660 CE|660]]|text-align=center|font-weight=bold|font-style=normal|font-size=10|color=#000000}}}}

The Tang carried out a series of military campaigns against the Western Turkic Khaganate in the 7th century CE. Early military conflicts were a result of the Tang interventions in the rivalry between the Western and [[Eastern Turkic Khaganate|Eastern Turks]] to weaken both. Under [[Emperor Taizong of Tang|Emperor Taizong]], campaigns were dispatched in the [[Western Regions]] against [[Gaochang]] in 640, [[Karasahr]] in 644 and 648, and [[Kucha]] in 648.

The wars against the Western Turks continued under [[Emperor Gaozong of Tang|Emperor Gaozong]], and the khaganate was annexed after General [[Su Dingfang]]'s defeat of Khagan Ashina Helu in 657.

=== Tang protectorate (657–742) === The Western Turks attempted to capture the [[Tarim Basin]] in 670 and 677 but were repelled by the Tang. In 679, the Tang general [[Pei Xingjian]] led an army as far as [[Tokharistan]], as he was also escorting the last Sasanian pretender to the throne, [[Narsieh]], back to Persia. Pei Xingjian fought successfully against an invasion of [[Protectorate General to Pacify the West|Anxi]] led by Western Turkic khagan [[Ashina Duzhi]], and numerous minor Turkic chieftains in the region then pledged their loyalty to the [[Tang dynasty]]. Meanwhile, general Pei Xingjian lost interest in reinstalling the Persian king and left Narsieh in the Anxi Protectorate alone, although Narsieh was able to maintain his many servants and a high quality of life, and continued to fight against the Muslim Arabs for twenty years. Upon returning to Tang, Pei was appointed the minister of rituals and Great general of the right flank guards.<ref name="XZ">{{Cite journal |last1=Zhou |first1=Xiuqin (University of Pennsylvania) |title=Zhaoling: The Mausoleum of Emperor Tang Taizong |date=2009 |journal=Sino-Platonic Papers |issue=187 |pages=155-156 |url=http://www.sino-platonic.org/complete/spp187_taizong_emperor.pdf}}</ref>

{{multiple image | perrow = 2 | total_width = 300 | caption_align = center | align = right | direction = horizontal | header = Statue of a Western Turk Khagan at the Chinese court | image1 = Qianling Mausoleum, dignitary with braids.jpg | caption1 = Front, with double-parked tunic | image2 = Dignitary with braids (back view) Qianling Mausoleum.jpg | caption2 = Back, with long braids | footer_align = center | footer = Statue of a Western Turk Khagan among the statues of "61 foreign officials" at the [[Qianling Mausoleum]], circa 705.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stark |first1=Sören |title=Some Remarks on the Headgear of the Royal Türks |journal=Journal of Inner Asian Art and Archaeology |date=2009 |volume=4 |page=133 |doi=10.1484/J.JIAA.3.25 |url=https://www.academia.edu/6939696 |language=en |issn=1783-9025}}</ref> }}

In 679, the Turkic chieftain Ashide Wenfu rebelled. Protectorate general Xiao Siye, a noble from Lanling Commandery, was defeated by Ashide. Pei then took over the command from Xiao and decisively won a battle against the Turks in an ambush. Ashide fled. Not long after the first defeat, Ashide Wenfu gathered his troops and united them with the troops of another chieftain [[Ashina Funian]]. Pei saw the distrust and suspicions between the two chieftains and exploited this weakness by driving a wedge between them. Eventually, Ashina Funian murdered Ashide Wenfu out of fear of Tang's revenge against him. When Funian was brought to the Tang court, he was executed regardless of the fact that he had surrendered his troops. Pei had promised Ashina that he would not be put to death; however, the court did not respect Pei's promise. Due to this incident, Pei retired.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E6%96%B0%E5%94%90%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7108 |title=New Book of Tang, Vol. 108 |website=wikisource.org}}</ref> Ashina's death, according to ''[[New Book of Tang]]'', was a scheme against Pei Xingjian by his clansman [[Pei Yan]] who was jealous about his victories in the west.

In 682, Pei was again put in charge of pacifying yet another Turkic rebellion against the Tang dynasty. However, he died of old age before the troops were sent out. The imperial court awarded him the posthumous name Xian (獻) which means "Dedication", as well as the supreme military honorary title Taiwei (太尉).

The areas controlled by the Tang dynasty came under the dynasty's cultural influences and the Turkic influence of the [[Turks in the Tang military|ethnically Turkic Tang soldiers stationed in the region]]. Indo-European prevalence in Central Asia declined as the expeditions accelerated Turkic migration into what is now [[Xinjiang]]. By the end of the 657 campaigns, the Tang had reached its largest extent. The Turks, Tibetans, [[Muslim conquest of Transoxiana|Muslim Arabs]] and the Tang competed for control over Central Asia until the collapse of the Tang in the 10th century.

The [[Second Turkic Khaganate|Second Turkic Empire]] defeated the fragmented Western Turks in 712 and absorbed the tribes into the new empire.

== Relations with the Persians and Byzantines == [[File:Turkish officers during a audience with king Varkhuman of Samarkand. 648-651 CE, Afrasiyab, Samarkand.jpg|thumb|Turkic officers during an audience with king [[Varkhuman]] of [[Samarkand]]. 648-651, [[Afrasiyab (Samarkand)|Afrasiyab murals]], Samarkand.<ref name="Bloomsbury Publishing"/>]] [[File:Chach. Tekin. Circa AD 605-630.jpg|thumb|A Turkic nobleman with long plaited hair, from [[Tashkent]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yatsenko |first1=Sergey |title=Some Observations on Depictions of Early Turkic Costume (The Silk Road, 11, 2013) |journal=The Silk Road |date=2013 |volume=11 |page=72, image 5.7 |url=https://www.academia.edu/5909902 |language=en}}</ref> Coin of the Turkic dynasties of [[Tashkent|Chach]]. Circa 605–630.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fedorov |first1=Michael |title=Early Medieval Chachian Coins with Lyre and Ram Horns Tamghas |journal=American Journal of Numismatics |date=2011 |volume=23 |pages=189-208 |jstor=43619979 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/43619979.pdf |issn=1053-8356}}</ref>]] [[File:Öden Ata.png|thumb|left|Ruler holding sword, in long fitted kaftan with wide right-hand opening. On the left, a flying [[Nike (goddess)|Nike]]. Wolves at the bottom. [[Tamgha]] on the reverse: [[File:Öden Ata coin tamgha.png|20px]]. [[Tashkent]], 7-8th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Shagalov |first1=V. D. |last2=Kuznetsov |first2=A. V. |title=Catalogue of coins of Chach |date=2006 |publisher=Edition FAN Academy of science of the Republic of Uzbekistan |location=Tashkent |isbn=978-9943-09-016-3}}</ref>]]

During the late 6th century, the Turks consolidated their geopolitical position in Central Asia as the linchpin in trade between East Asia and Western Asia, in which Persia and the Byzantine Empire were the dominant powers.<ref>This section from Baumer, Hist. Central Asia, vol. 2, 175-181; Christian, History of Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia, 248-257; Sinor, Hist Early Inner Asia, 301-305</ref> For much of this period, [[Istämi]] ruled the khaganate from a winter camp near [[Karashar]]. A timeline of the westward expansion of the Turks under Istämi might be reconstructed as follows:{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}} * ''552'' Mongolia; * ''555'' Aral Sea (probably); * ''558'' Volga River (by defeating the [[Pannonian Avars|Avars]]); * ''557–565'' in alliance with the Persians, the Turks crushed the [[Hephthalites]], after which a Turco-Persian border along the [[Oxus]] lasted several decades; * ''564'' Tashkent; ''567–571'' the [[North Caucasus]]; * ''569–571'' Turks at war with Persia; * ''576'' major incursion into the Black Sea area, including [[Crimea]].

The first Turk legation (or embassy) to reach [[Constantinople]] visited [[Justin II]] in 563. A Sogdian merchant named {{ill|vertical-align=sup|Maniakh|de}} led a Turco-Sogdian legation to Constantinople in 568, pursuing trade and an alliance against the Avars and Persians. A Byzantine official named [[Zemarchus]] accompanied Maniakh on his return journey, and later left an account of the Turks. Maniakh now proposed to bypass the Persians and re-open a direct route north of the [[Caspian Sea]]. If trade on this route later increased (uncertain), it would have benefited [[Khorezm]] and the Black Sea cities and might have had something to do with the later rise of the [[Khazars]] and [[Rus' people]].

The Turks' control of the Sogdian merchant cities along the Oxus from the late 6th century on gave the Western Turks substantive control of the central part of the [[Silk Road]]. A Chinese general complained that the: {{blockquote|"Turks themselves are simple-minded and short-sighted and dissention can easily be roused among them. Unfortunately, many Sogdians live among them who are cunning and insidious; they teach and instruct the Turks."}}

[[Denis Sinor]] saw the Byzantine alliance as a Sogdian scheme to benefit themselves at the expense of the Turks. A related fact is that the [[Eastern Turkic Khaganate|Eastern Turks]] extracted a large amount of silk as booty from the Chinese, which had to be marketed westward. Before 568, Maniakh, a leading merchant, visited the [[Khosrow I|Sassanian Persian court]], in a bid to open up trade; this proposal was refused, apparently because the Persians wanted to restrict trade by and with the Byzantines. The members of a second Turk legation to Persia were reportedly{{who|date=June 2021}} poisoned. From 569, the Turks and Persia were at war until the Turks were defeated near [[Merv]]; hostilities ceased in 571.

In 576, Valentinus led a Byzantine mission to a [[Tamgan|Turxanthos]] whose camp was west of the Caspian. Valentinus wanted action against the Persians and Turxanthos complained that Byzantium was harboring the Avars. Valentinus then went east to meet [[Tardu]]. What caused this hostility is not clear. In 576–577, a Turkic general called Bokhan and an [[Utigur]] called Anagai captured the Crimean Byzantine town of [[Panticapaeum]] and failed at a siege of [[Chersonesus]]. This marks the westernmost extent of Turkic power.

A [[Perso-Turkic war of 588–589|major incursion into Bactria]] by the Turks, in 588 and 589, was defeated by the [[Sasanians]]. The Turk-Byzantine alliance was revived in the 620s during the [[Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628|last great Byzantine-Persian war]] before the Arab conquests. In 627 [[Tong Yabghu Qaghan]] sent out his nephew [[Böri Shad]]. The Turks stormed the great fortress of [[Derbent]] on the Caspian coast, entered Azerbaijan and Georgia, did a good bit of looting and met [[Heraclius]] who was besieging [[Tbilisi|Tiflis]]. When the siege dragged on, the Turks left, and Heraclius went south and won a great victory over the Persians. The Turks returned, captured Tiflis and massacred the garrison. On behalf of the Byzantines, a Turkic general named [[Chorpan Tarkhan]] then [[Perso-Turkic war of 627–629|conquered most of Armenia]].

== Onoq or ten tribes == [[File:Conquest of Western Turks.png|thumb|Tang dynasty military campaigns against the Western Turks]] [[File:Federal symbol of the Western Turks circa 650 CE.jpg|thumb|Federal symbol of the Western Turks circa 650. Eleven poles symbolizing the five [[Duolu|Dulu tribes]], the five [[Nushibi|Nushibi tribes]], with the central pole symbolizing the rulership of a [[Tong Yabghu Qaghan|Yabghu-Qaghan]]. [[Afrasiyab (Samarkand)|Afrasiab murals]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mode |first1=Markus |title=Reading the Afrasiab Murals: Some Comments on Reconstructions and Details |journal=Rivista degli studi orientali |year=2006 |volume=78 |pages=107-128 |jstor=41913392 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/41913392.pdf |issn=0392-4866}}</ref>]]

There are two contradicting accounts of the origin of the Onoq:<ref>Xue, "A History of Turks", p. 271, 300.</ref><ref>Wang, "Political Relationship Between the Chinese, Tibetan and Arab", p. 28.</ref>

{{blockquote|In the beginning [after 552], Shidianmi [Istämi] followed the Shanyu [Qaghan] and commanded the ten great chiefs. Together with their 100,000 soldiers, he marched to the Western Regions and subdued the barbarian statelets. There he declared himself as qaghan, under the title of ten tribes, and ruled them [the western barbarians] for generations.|Tongdian, 193 and Jiu Tangshu, 194}}

{{blockquote|Soon [after 635], [[Ishbara Tolis|Dielishi Kehan]] [of the Western Göktürks] divided his state into ten parts, and each was headed by one man; together they made up the ten shads (設 she). Every shad is given an arrow by him; they were known as the ten arrows. He also divided the ten arrows into two factions, each consisted of five arrows. The left (east) faction consisted of five [[Duolu]] tribes, headed by five churs (啜 chuo) separately. The right [west] faction consisted of five [[Nushibi]] tribes, headed by five {{transliteration|otk|irkins}} (俟斤 {{transliteration|zh|sijin}}) separately. Each took command of one arrow and called themselves the ten arrows. Thereafter, each arrow was also known as one tribe, and the great arrow head as the great chief. The five Duolu tribes inhabited the east of Suiye [water] ([[Chu River]]), and the five Nushibi tribes to the west of it. Since then, they called themselves the ten tribes.|Tongdian, 193 and Jiu Tangshu, 194}}

The first statement dates their origin back to the beginning of the [[First Turkic Khaganate]] with Istämi, younger brother of [[Bumin Qaghan]], who had brought with him the ten tribes, probably from the Eastern Qaghanate in Mongolia and travelled west to expand the Khaganate. The exact date for the event was not recorded, and the shanyu here referred to might be [[Muqan Qaghan]].

The second statement attributes it to Dielishi, who took over the throne in 635 and began to strengthen the state by further affirming the initial ten tribes and two tribal wings, in contrast with the rotation of rule between the Bumin (through Apa) and Istämi (through Tardu) lineages in the Western Khaganate. Thereafter, the name "ten tribes" (十姓) became a shortened address for the Western Turks in Chinese records. Those divisions did not include the five<ref>1. Chuyue (處月, later as [[Shatuo]] 沙陀) 2. Chumi (處蜜) 3. Gusu (姑蘇) 4. [[Karluks|Geluolu]] (葛邏祿) 5. Beishi (卑失)</ref><ref>In [[Zizhi Tongjian]] 199, Gusu (姑蘇) is mistakenly rendered as Shisu (始蘇) in section [https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E8%B3%87%E6%B2%BB%E9%80%9A%E9%91%91/%E5%8D%B7199#%E5%A4%AA%E5%AE%97%E6%96%87%E6%AD%A6%E5%A4%A7%E8%81%96%E5%A4%A7%E5%BB%A3%E5%AD%9D%E7%9A%87%E5%B8%9D%E4%B8%8B%E4%B9%8B%E4%B8%8B%E8%B2%9E%E8%A7%80%E4%BA%8C%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%8C%E5%B9%B4%EF%BC%88%E6%88%8A%E7%94%B3%EF%BC%8C%E5%85%AC%E5%85%83%E5%85%AD%E5%9B%9B%E5%85%AB%E5%B9%B4%EF%BC%89 Wu-Shen 648 CE]</ref><ref>According to Erkoç (2019), Beishi (卑失) in [[Jiu Tangshu]] [https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E6%96%B0%E5%94%90%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7110#%E5%A5%91%E8%8B%BE%E4%BD%95%E5%8A%9B 110 Qibi Heli] is possibly clerical error for Nushibi (弩失畢) txt: "永徽中，西突厥阿史那賀魯以處月、處蜜、姑蘇、歌邏祿、'''卑失五姓'''叛", tr. "In the middle of the [[Emperor Gaozong of Tang|Yonghui era]] (653 CE), Ashina Helu of the Western Turks took Chuyue, Chumi, Gusu, Karluks, and '''Beishi -five clans-''' and rebelled"; a similar list is included in Jiu Tangshu [https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E6%96%B0%E5%94%90%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7215%E4%B8%8B 215b Helu] txt. "統處月、處蜜、姑蘇、歌邏祿、'''弩失畢五姓'''之眾" tr. "[Helu] governed the mass, [consisting] of the Chuyue, Chumi, Gusu, Geluolu, and '''Nushibi -five clans-'''"</ref><ref>Erkoç, H. I. (2019) [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338711753_Gokturk_Boylarinin_Tespit_Edilmesinde_Cin_ve_Tibet_Kaynaklarinin_Onemi "The Importance of Chinese and Tibetan Resources in Determining the Göktürk Tribes"] in ''General Turkish History Sources: Ordu Workshop Proceedings'' Ordu. p. 107-109 (in Turkish)</ref> major tribes, who were active further east of the ten tribes.<ref>Xue, "A History of Turks", p. 271, 273, 275, 300-301.</ref><ref>Wang, "Political Relationship Between the Chinese, Tibetan and Arab", p. 29.</ref>

The earlier tribes consisted of eight primary tribes ruled by eight chiefs-in-command: the five<ref>1. Chumukun (处木昆) 2. Huluju (胡禄居) 3. Shesheti (摄舍提) 4. [[Türgesh|Tuqishi]]-[Heluoshi] (突骑施-[贺罗施]) 5. Shunishi (鼠尼施).</ref> Duolu (咄陆) tribes, and the three<ref>1. A-Xijie (阿悉结) 2. Geshu (哥舒) 3. Basegan (拔塞干).</ref> [[Nushibi]] tribes. Syriac and Greek sources ([[John of Ephesus]], [[Menander Protector]]) also confirmed that initially, the Western Turkic Khaganate were divided into eight tribes during [[Istämi]]'s lifetime and at his death.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dobrovits |first=Mihály |title=On the Titulature of Western Turkic Chieftains |url=https://www.academia.edu/38067945 |date=2014–2015 |journal=Archivum Eurasiae Archivi Aevii |volume=21 |publisher=Otto-Harassowitz Verlag |location=Wiesbaden |pages=79-80 |archive-date=2022-12-21 |access-date=2020-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221131034/https://www.academia.edu/38067945 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The ruling elites were divided into two groups and the relationship between the two groups was tense: the more aristocratic Duolu shads held the title ''churs'',<ref>likely of Iranian origin, from ''čyaura-'' "to go out, hunt". See Bailey, H.W. "Khotanese Texts, VII" in Golden, Peter B. (1992). "An Introduction to the History of the Turkic People". Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden.</ref> and the lower-ranking Nushibi in west were probably initially made up of [[Tiele people|Tiele]] conscripts and their shads held the title {{transliteration|otk|irkins}}.<ref>collected together in one place" from root ''irk-'' "to collect or assemble (things Acc.)"; compare [[Old Anatolian Turkish|Anatolian]] {{transliteration|otk|irkin}} ~ {{transliteration|otk|irkim}} "a hoard, a buried treasure". See Clauson, Gerard (1972); ''An Etymological Dictionary of Pre-13th Century Turkish''. Oxford University Press. In English. p. 221, 225</ref><ref>Xue, "A History of Turks", p. 272, 314.</ref><ref>Wang, "Political Relationship Between the Chinese, Tibetan and Arab", p. 30-31.</ref> During the reformation the more powerful Nushibi tribes such as A-Xijie and Geshu were sub-divided into two tribal groups with a greater and lesser title under a fixed tribal name, resulting in the attested ''On Oq'' & 十箭 ''shíjiàn'' "ten arrows").

== Primary sources == === Afrasiab murals (7th century) === {{Main|Afrasiab murals}} [[File:Western Turk attendants on the Afrasiab murals, recognizable by their long plaits.jpg|thumb|Western Turk attendants and officers, all recognizable by their long plaits, at the court of [[Samarkand]]. [[Afrasiyab (Samarkand)|Afrasiab murals]], 7th century.<ref name="SW"/><ref name="transoxiana.com.ar"/>]] [[File:Afrasiab. Seated Turkish attendants. 7th century CE.jpg|thumb|Seated Turkic attendants, at the court of [[Samarkand]]. [[Afrasiab murals]], 7th century.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Arzhantseva |first1=Irina |last2=Inevatkina |first2=Olga |title=Afrasiab Wall-Paintings Revisited: New Discoveries Twenty-Five Years Old |journal=Rivista degli studi orientali |year=2006 |volume=78 |page=197 |jstor=41913397 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41913397 |issn=0392-4866}}</ref>]]

Turkic delegates appear together with Chinese envoys in the 7th century murals of [[Afrasiyab (Samarkand)|Afrasiab]] in Samarkand. The Chinese delegates (left in the mural) form an embassy to the king of Samarkand, carrying [[silk]] and a string of [[silkworm]] cocoons. The Turkic delegates (right in the mural) are recognisable by their long plaits.<ref name="SW">{{Cite book |last1=Whitfield |first1=Susan |author-link=Susan Whitfield |title=The Silk Road: Trade, Travel, War and Faith |year=2004 |publisher=[[Michael Aris|Serindia Publications]] |isbn=978-1-932476-13-2 |page=110 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ArWLD4Qop38C&pg=PA110 |language=en}}</ref> They do not carry presents, as they are only escorting the Chinese envoys.<ref name="SW" />

The scenes depicted in the Afrasiyab murals may have been painted in 648–651, as the Western Turkic Khaganate was in its last days, before its fall in 657, and the [[Tang dynasty]] was increasing its territory in Central Asia.<ref name="Bloomsbury Publishing">{{Cite book |last1=Baumer |first1=Christoph |title=History of Central Asia, 4-volume set |date=18 April 2018 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-83860-868-2 |page=243 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DhiWDwAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PA243 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Grenet |first1=Frantz |title=Maracanda/Samarkand, une métropole pré-mongole |journal=Annales - Histoire - Sciences Sociales |year=2004 |volume=5/6 |page=Fig. B |url=https://www.cairn.info/journal-annales-2004-5-page-1043.htm}}</ref> They are recognisable by their long [[Queue (hairstyle)|plaits]].<ref name="SW" /><ref name="transoxiana.com.ar">{{Cite journal |last1=Yatsenko |first1=Sergey A. |title=Early Turks: Male Costume in the Chinese Art Second half of the 6th – first half of the 8th cc. (Images of "Others") |page=Fig. 25 |journal=Transoxiana |year=2009 |volume=14 |url=http://www.transoxiana.com.ar/14/yatsenko_turk_costume_chinese_art.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Whitfield |first1=Susan |title=The Silk Road: Trade, Travel, War and Faith |year=2004 |publisher=[[Michael Aris|Serindia Publications]] |isbn=978-1-932476-13-2 |page=112 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ArWLD4Qop38C&pg=PA110 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mode |first1=Markus |title=Reading the Afrasiab Murals - Some Comments on Reconstructions and Details |journal=Rivista degli studi orientali |date=2006 |volume=78 |page=112 |jstor=41913392 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/41913392.pdf |issn=0392-4866}}</ref>

==== Ethnic and sartorial characteristics ==== In the mural, the Western Turks are ethnic Turks, ''[[Nushibi]]s'', rather than [[Turkicized]] Sogdians, as suggested by the marked East Asian features and faces without beards.<ref name="CFE">{{Cite journal |last1=Yatsenko |first1=Sergey A. |title=The Costume of Foreign Embassies and Inhabitants of Samarkand on Wall Painting of the 7th c. in the "Hall of Ambassadors" from Afrasiab as a Historical Source |journal=Transoxiana |date=2004 |volume=8 |url=http://www.transoxiana.org/0108/yatsenko-afrasiab_costume.html}}</ref> They are the most numerous ethnic group in the mural, and are not ambassadors, but rather military attendants.<ref name="CFE"/> Their depiction offers a unique glimpse into the clothing of the Turks of the 6–7th century.<ref name="CFE"/> They typically wear three or five long [[Braid (hairstyle)|plaits]], often gathered together into a one single long plait.<ref name="CFE"/> They have ankle-length monochromic sleeved coats with two lapels.<ref name="CFE"/> This fashion for the collar is first seen in [[Khotan]] near [[Turfan]], a traditional Turkic land, in the 2nd–4th century CE.<ref name="CFE"/> They have low black sharp-nosed boots. They wear gold bracelets with [[lapis lazuli]] or pearls.<ref name="CFE"/> On Western Turkic coins, "the faces of the governor and governess are clearly mongoloid (a roundish face, narrow eyes), and the portrait have definite old Türk features (long hair, absence of headdress of the governor, a tricorn headdress of the governess)".<ref name="Babayar2013">{{Cite journal |last=Babayar |first=Gaybulla |title=The Imperial Titles on the Coins of the Western Turkic Qaghanate |journal=History of Central Asia in Modern Medieval Studies |page=331 |year=2013 |publisher=Yangi Nashr |url=https://www.academia.edu/8860030}}</ref>

=== Orkhon Inscriptions === {{Main|Orkhon inscriptions}}

Bilge Khagan inscription, main side, 16: {{blockquote|powerful enemies kneel and proud ones bow. The Turgesh kagan (and his people) was our Turk. Because of their unawareness and foolishness, for their being traitorous, their kagan had died; his buyruqs and lords had died too. The On-Oq people suffered a great deal. In order the land (lit.: "earth and water"), which was ruled by our ancestors, not be left without a ruler, we organised the Az people and put them into order... was Barys bek.<ref name="Archived copy"/>}}

Bilge Khagan inscription, 1st side, 1: {{blockquote|I, Tengri- llike and Tengri born Bilge kagan Turkic. Hear my words. When my father, Bilge Kagan Turkic, ruled, you, supreme Turk beks, lower Tardush beks, Shadapyt beks led by Kul Chur, the rest Tyules beks, Apa Tarkhan. Led by Shadapyt Beks, Bairuks, Tamgan Tarkhan, Tonyukuk, Boila Baga Tarkhan, Buyruqs..., Inner Buyruqs, led by Sebek Kul Erkin, all Buyruq beks! My father.}}

Bilge Khagan inscription, 2nd side: 15: {{blockquote|From sons of Ten Arrows to wives, see this. Erected stone inscriptions...<ref name="Archived copy"/>}}

=== Tonyukuk inscription === {{Main|Bain Tsokto inscriptions}} [[File:Maya Cave 224, mourners of the Buddha.jpg|thumb|A Turk (center) mourning the [[Buddha]], ''[[:Commons:Category:Maya Cave, Kizil|Maya Cave (Cave 224)]]'', [[Kizil Caves]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yatsenko |first1=Sergey A. |title=Early Turks: Male Costume in the Chinese Art Second half of the 6th – first half of the 8th cc. (Images of "Others") |journal=Transoxiana |date=2009 |volume=14 |page=Fig. 16 |url=http://www.transoxiana.com.ar/14/yatsenko_turk_costume_chinese_art.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Grünwedel |first1=Albert |title=Altbuddhistische Kultstätten Chinesisch Turkistan |date=1912 |page=180 |url=https://archive.org/details/AltbuddhistischeKultstattenChinesischTurkistan1912/page/n92/mode/1up}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yatsenko |first1=Sergey |title=Some Observations on Depictions of Early Turkic Costume (The Silk Road, 11, 2013) |journal=The Silk Road |date=2013 |volume=11 |page=72, image 7.3 |url=https://www.academia.edu/5909902 |language=en}}</ref> He is cutting his forehead with a knife, a practice of self-mutilation also known among the [[Scythians]].<ref name="AVLC80">{{Cite book |last1=Le Coq |first1=Albert von |last2=Waldschmidt |first2=Ernst |title=Die buddhistische spätantike in Mittelasien, VI |date=1922 |publisher=Berlin, D. Reimer [etc.] |pages=80-81 |url=https://archive.org/details/diebuddhistische00leco_0/page/80/mode/2up}}</ref>]]

[[Tonyukuk]] inscription, main side, 19:<ref name="denison">Denison Ross, E. (1930). The Tonyukuk Inscription. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 6(1), 37–43.</ref> {{blockquote|I reached my army to [[Shandong|Shantung]] towns and the seas. Twenty-three towns were destroyed. All of them had left on Usyn-bundatu land.(?). The Tabgaches' kagan (China) was our enemy. The kagan of "Ten Arrows" was our enemy.}}

Tonyukuk inscription, main side, 30:<ref name=denison /> {{blockquote|... he might kill us". "So the Turkic kagan started out" – he said. "All Ten Arrows people started out" – he said. – "(among them) there is also [[Tuoba|Tabgaches]]' (China) army". Having heard these words, my kagan said: "I will be a kagan ..."}} Tonyukuk inscription, main side, 33:<ref name="denison" />

{{blockquote|Three messengers came, their words were similar: "One kagan with his army went on campaign. The army of Ten Arrows people went on campaign too. They told that they would gather in the step of Yarysh". Having heard these words, I told them the kagan. What to do?! With the reply (from Khan)}}

Tonyukuk inscription, main side, 42–43:<ref name="denison" /> {{blockquote|Killed there. We took to prison about fifty persons. That night, we sent (messengers) to every nation. Having heard these words, the Beks and people of Ten Arrows all came and subdued. When I was settling down and gathering the coming beks and people, a few people ran away. I led to campaign the army of Ten Arrows people.}}

== Rulers of the Western Turkic Khaganate == === Yabgus during the united empire (553–603) === {| class="sortable wikitable" !width="225" |Yabgu !width="225" |reign !width="225" |father, grandfather !width="225" |Regnal name (Chinese reading) !width="225" |Personal name (Chinese reading) |- |[[Istämi]] |553–576 |[[Ashina Tuwu]], Ashina |Shìdiǎn mì Kèhán |室點密 Shìdiǎnmì |- |[[Tardu]] |576–603 |[[Istämi]], [[Ashina Tuwu]] |Dátóu Kèhán |玷厥 Dianjue |}

=== Khagans during the independent Western Khaganate (603–658) === {| class="sortable wikitable" !width="225" |Kaghan !width="225" |reign !width="225" |father, grandfather !width="225" |Regnal name (Chinese reading) !width="225" |Personal name (Chinese reading) |- |[[Niri Qaghan]] |– |[[Yangsu Tegin]], [[Muqan Qaghan]] |Nílì Kèhán |向氏 Xiàngshì |- |[[Heshana Qaghan]] |604–611 |[[Niri Qaghan]] Yansu Tegin |Chùluó Kèhán |達曼 Daman |- |[[Shikui Khagan]] |611–618 |Tulu Tegin, [[Tardu]] |Shèguì Kèhán |射匮 Shèguì |- |[[Tong Yabghu Qaghan]] |618–628 |Tulu Tegin, [[Tardu]] |Tǒng yèhù Kèhán |統葉 Tǒng yèhù |- |[[Külüg Sibir]] |628–630 |[[Tardu]], [[Istämi]] |Qūlìqí pí Kèhán |莫贺咄 Mòhèduō |- |[[Sy Yabghu Qaghan]] |631–632 |[[Tong Yabghu Qaghan]], Tulu Tegin |Yǐpí (shā)bōluō sìyèhù Kèhán |阿史那咥力 Āshǐnà xilì |- |[[Duolu Qaghan]] |633–634 |[[Bagha Shad]], Yangsu Tegin |Duōlù Kèhán |阿史那泥孰 Āshǐnà Níshú |- |[[Ishbara Tolis]] |634–639 |[[Bagha Shad]], Yangsu Tegin (son of [[Muqan Qaghan|Mukan Qaghan]]) |Shābōluō Kèhán |阿史那咥力 Āshǐnà Tóng |- |[[Yukuk Shad]] |639–642 |[[Illig Qaghan]], [[Yami Qaghan]] |Yǐpí duōlù Kèhán |阿史那欲谷 Āshǐnà Yùgǔ |- |[[Irbis Seguy]] |642–650 |[[El Kulug Shad]], [[Ishbara Tolis]] |Yǐpí shèkuì Kèhán |阿史那莫賀咄 Āshǐnà Mòhèduō |- |[[Ashina Helu]] |651–658 |[[Böri Shad]], [[Bagha Shad]] |Shābōluō Kèhán |阿史那賀魯 Āshǐnà Hèlǔ |} ;Claimants {{multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=350|caption_align=center | align = right | direction = horizontal | image2 = Pierre tombale MNAT 476 (Western Turks).jpg | caption2 = Western Turk ''[[Kurgan stelae|balbal]]'' tombstone. Djirgatai, [[Tajikistan]], 6-7th century.<ref>({{Cite book |title=Tadjikistan - au pays des fleuves d'or |date=2021 |publisher=Édition Snoeck ; Musée national des arts asiatiques-Guimet |isbn=9791090262638 |page=228 |url=https://institute-history.tj/sites/default/files/book-19.pdf |quote=Cat. 163 - Pierre tombale anthropomorphe (balbal) des sépultures des nomades turcs occidentaux.}}</ref> | image1 = Turkic head, 5-7th century, Afrasiyab, Samarkand.jpg | caption1 = Turkic head, Afrasiyab, Samarkand, 5-7th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Rante |first1=Rocco |last2=Lintz |first2=Yannick |last3=Burési |first3=Monique |title=Splendeurs des oasis d'Ouzbékistan - Sur les routes caravanières d'Asie centrale |date=2022 |publisher=Louvre éditions El Viso |isbn=978-8412527858 |page=128 |quote=En divers endroits l'on remarque des Turcs, reconnaissables à leurs longues nattes (fig. 94).}}</ref> | footer = }} * [[El Kulug Shad]] 639–640 ([[Nushibi]]-chief) * [[Irbis Ishbara Yabgu Qaghan]] 640–641 ([[Nushibi]]-chief)

;Later claimants * [[Ashina Duzhi]] 676–679 (allied with [[Tibetan Empire]]) * [[Ashina Tuizi]] 693–700 (allied with [[Tibetan Empire]])

=== Khagans under Tang suzerainty (657–742) === ;Kunling Protectorate (657–736) * [[Ashina Mishe]] (657–662) * [[Ashina Yuanqing]] (685–692) * [[Ashina Xian]] (708–717) * [[Ashina Zhen]] (735–736)

;Mengchi Protectorate (657–742) * [[Ashina Buzhen]] (657–667) * [[Ashina Huseluo]] (693–704) * [[Ashina Huaidao]] (704–708) * Ashina Xin (740–742)

== See also == {{History of the Turks pre-14th century}} {{History of Central Asia}} {{History of Xinjiang}} {{Main|Jimi system|Beiting Protectorate|Protectorate General to Pacify the West}} * [[Gao Changgong]] * [[History of the central steppe]] * [[List of khagans of the Göktürks]] * [[Oghuz Turks]] * [[Turks in the Tang military]] * [[Turkic peoples]] * [[Timeline of the Turkic peoples (500–1300)]]

== Sources == * {{Cite web |last1=Alram |first1=Michael |last2=Filigenzi |first2=Anna |last3=Kinberger |first3=Michaela |last4=Nell |first4=Daniel |last5=Pfisterer |first5=Matthias |last6=Vondrovec |first6=Klaus |year=2012–2013 |access-date=1 November 2020 |title=The Countenance of the other (The Coins of the Huns and Western Turks in Central Asia and India) 2012–2013 exhibit |publisher=Kunsthistorisches Museum, Coin Cabinet |location=Vienna, Austria |url=https://data1.geo.univie.ac.at/projects/dasantlitzdesfremden/node/18%3Flanguage=en.html |archive-date=17 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217071007/http://pro.geo.univie.ac.at/projects/khm/?language=en |url-status=dead}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Bibliography == * [[Christoph Baumer]], History of Central Asia, volume 2, p. 174-206 * [[Lev Gumilyov]], The Ancient Turks, 1967 (long account in Russian at: [http://gumilevica.kulichki.net/OT/index.html "Древние тюрки"]) * {{Cite book |title=ReOrienting the Sasanians: East Iran in Late Antiquity |year=2017 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |last=Rezakhani |first=Khodadad |pages=1-256 |isbn=9781474400305 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bjRWDwAAQBAJ&q=false}}

[[Category:Ashina tribe]] [[Category:Western Turkic Khaganate| ]] [[Category:Nomadic groups in Eurasia]] [[Category:Khanates]] [[Category:581 establishments]] [[Category:Former countries in Chinese history]] [[Category:Former transcontinental empires]] [[Category:Former empires]] [[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 8th century]]