Western Göktürks: Map & History
The Göktürks, also known as Türks, Celestial Turks or Blue Turks, were a Turkic people in medieval Inner Asia.
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The Göktürks, also known as Türks, Celestial Turks or Blue Turks, were a Turkic people in medieval Inner Asia. The Göktürks, under the leadership of Bumin Qaghan and his sons, succeeded the Rouran Khaganate as the main power in the region and established the First Turkic Khaganate, one of several nomadic dynasties that would shape the future geolocation, culture, and dominant beliefs of Turkic peoples.
Modern Countries Once Part of Western Göktürks
At its mapped extent, Western Göktürks covered territory in 11 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Uzbekistan587–660 CE · nearly all
- Kyrgyzstan587–660 CE · nearly all
- Tajikistan587–660 CE · nearly all
- Azerbaijan627–629 CE · most
- Kazakhstan587–660 CE · most
- Armenia629 CE · a large part
- Turkmenistan587–643 CE · a large part
- Afghanistan587–591 CE · a large part
- Georgia628–629 CE · a large part
- China587–660 CE · a small part
- Russia627–629 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
- Xinjiang Uygur, China
- Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Qaraghandy, Kazakhstan
- East Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
- Qyzylorda, Kazakhstan
- Zhambyl, Kazakhstan
- Aqtöbe, Kazakhstan
- Atyrau, Kazakhstan
- Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan
- South Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan
- Leninabad, Tajikistan
- Qostanay, Kazakhstan
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Western Göktürks's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Western Göktürks in Depth
History
The Göktürk rulers originated from the Ashina clan, who were first attested to in 439. The Book of Sui reports that on 18 October 439, the Tuoba ruler Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei overthrew Juqu Mujian of the Northern Liang in eastern Gansu, whence 500 Ashina families fled northwest to the Rouran Khaganate in the vicinity of Gaochang.
According to the Book of Zhou and History of the Northern Dynasties, the Ashina clan was a component of the Xiongnu confederation, specifically, the northern Xiongnu tribes or southern Xiongnu "who settled along the northern Chinese frontier", according to Edwin G. Pulleyblank. However, this view is contested.
Legacy
Members of the Turk-led Ashina dynasty also ruled the Basmyls, and the Karluk Yabghu State; and possibly also the Khazars and Karakhanids (if the first Karakhanid ruler Bilge Kul Qadir Khan indeed descended from the Karluk Yabghus). According to some researchers, the Second Bulgarian Empire's Asen dynasty might be descendants of Ashina. The Kyrgyz subgroup of Türkatalar claim to be direct descendants of the Göktürks and to have inherited their name.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Göktürks (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Western Göktürks: Key Facts
| Capital | Ordu-Baliq |
|---|---|
| Founded | 552 CE |
| Dissolved | 657 CE |
Facts from Wikidata Q205466 (CC0).
Western Göktürks Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Western Göktürks appears, with the other states of the time.
Western Göktürks Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 4,205,976 km² in 629 CE.
Western Göktürks: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Western Göktürks exist?
Western Göktürks is dated to 587 CE – 660 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Western Göktürks?
The capital of Western Göktürks was Ordu-Baliq.
How large was Western Göktürks at its peak?
At its peak in 629 AD Western Göktürks covered about 4,205,976 km².