Second Turkic Khaganate

Long ago, a group of people lived in the grass lands.

A leader named Ilterish helped them stay together. His people lived in soft tents. They moved to find water and grass for their animals.

Horses were very important to them. Horses could find food even under the snow. This helped the people stay strong. They were a great group of people.

The Second Turkic Khaganate was a large empire. It lived in Central and Eastern Asia from 682 to 744. A man named Ilterish started this group. He was from the Ashina clan.

Most people in this empire were nomads. This means they moved from place to place. They lived in felt tents. They moved to find water and grass for their animals. Horses were very important. Horses could eat grass even under light snow. People also kept sheep, goats, and camels.

The people followed a religion called Tengrism. They believed their leaders were chosen by Tengri. Leaders were called khagans. One famous leader was Bilge Qaghan. He had a smart adviser named Tonyukuk. Tonyukuk helped the empire stay strong.

Over time, the empire faced many hard years. Leaders died, and tribes began to fight. In 744, the empire ended. A group called the Uyghurs took control of the lands. Many Turkic people moved to live with the Tang dynasty instead.

The Second Turkic Khaganate was a powerful empire in Central and Eastern Asia. It lasted from the year 682 until 744. This group was made of many related tribes. They were led by the Ashina clan.

The empire was a large union of people. They shared the same beliefs and laws. This helped them stay organized as a single group. They called their political structure the el. The people themselves were called the bodun.

Life in the empire was based on moving around. Most people were nomads who raised animals. They lived in tents made of felt. These families moved to find fresh water and green grass. Horses were the most important animals they owned. Horses could find grass even under light snow. Sheep and goats followed the horses to eat grass. People also kept yaks, bulls, and camels for their needs.

A leader named Ilterish Qaghan started the empire in 682. He and his brother Qapaghan Qaghan worked hard to win support. They won many battles to take back their lands. The center of their world was near the Orkhon River.

Later, Bilge Qaghan ruled from 717 to 734. He had a very wise adviser named Tonyukuk. Tonyukuk helped the empire stay strong during hard times. He even advised the leader against changing their way of life.

The people practiced a religion called Tengrism. They believed the heavens helped the Ashina family rule. This gave the khagans, or leaders, great authority. The empire also had many rich items. Archaeologists have found beautiful gold and silver objects in royal graves.

These items show how skilled their makers were. Even during wars, they kept their unique culture and traditions.

Eventually, the empire began to fall apart. Many tribes started to rebel against the central leaders. Important advisers like Tonyukuk and Kul Tigin died. Without them, the leaders could not keep control. In 744, a group called the Uyghurs took over the lands. They started their own empire called the Uyghur Khaganate. Some Turkic people fled to live with the Tang dynasty to stay safe.

The Second Turkic Khaganate was a major empire in Central and Eastern Asia. It lasted from 682 to 744. This state was a territorial union of many related tribes. These groups were organized into a hierarchy. They were linked by common beliefs and shared family histories. The empire used a single military and administrative system called the el. This political structure worked alongside the bodun, which was the name for the tribal organization. Together, these systems created strong social ties that held the empire together.

The empire was built on a nomadic economy. Most people were cattle-rearers who moved across the steppes. They lived in felt tents and traveled to find water and grass. Horses were the most vital animals for the Turkic people. Horses could graze all year because they could find grass under light snow. Sheep and goats followed the horses to eat the grass the horses cleared. People also raised bulls, yaks, and camels. Hunting in the mountains and steppes was also important. These hunts served as military training to coordinate different groups of warriors.

The history of the Second Khaganate began with a period of struggle. Before 682, the region was under the control of the Tang dynasty. Some leaders, like Ashina Nishufu and Ashina Funian, tried to revolt earlier. However, they were defeated by Tang forces. In 681, Qutlugh, a grandson of Illig Qaghan, began a new rebellion. He withdrew into the Gobi Desert in 682. He later became known as Ilterish Qaghan. Along with his brother Qapaghan Qaghan and the advisor Tonyukuk, he won the support of most Türks. They conducted successful military operations against imperial forces in Shanxi between 682 and 687.

After Ilterish Qaghan died in 691, his brother Qapaghan Qaghan took the throne. Qapaghan expanded the empire's reach significantly. He subjugated the Khitans and formed an alliance with the Kumo Xi. This secured the eastern frontier against the Tang armies. Between 698 and 701, the empire's borders were defined by the Tannu Ola, Altai, and Tarbagatai mountains. Turkic forces also defeated the Yenisei Kyrgyz and the Türgesh army. However, during a pursuit near the Syr Darya, the army was cut off from its rear services by Arab forces. This resulted in considerable losses for the Turkic troops.

In 716, a political crisis occurred when Inel Qaghan took the throne against custom. He was killed by Kul Tigin, a son of Ilterish Qaghan. Kul Tigin then gave the throne to his elder brother, Bilge Qaghan. Bilge ruled from 716 to 734 during a time when the empire faced collapse. The western lands had seceded, and many tribes were rebelling. Bilge relied heavily on his brother Kul Tigin and his wise adviser, Tonyukuk. Tonyukuk was a very influential figure among the tribes. He famously advised Bilge against converting to Buddhism. Tonyukuk believed that staying nomadic was necessary for military strength.

The empire began to decline after the deaths of its key leaders. Tonyukuk died in 726, and Kul Tigin died in 731. Bilge Qaghan also died, reportedly from slow-acting poison. After Bilge, several leaders like Yollıg Khagan and Tengri Qaghan ruled. But the Ashina tribe could no longer control the central power. Internal fighting broke out, including the killing of Tengri Qaghan by his uncle. By 744, the empire was disintegrating. A leader named Kutlug seized the center at Ötüken and killed the last Göktürk qaghan, Ozmish Qaghan.

The end of the Second Turkic Khaganate led to a new era in Inner Asia. The Uyghurs gained mastery of the region and established the Uyghur Khaganate. This happened as the Turkic tribes were defeated or scattered. Some groups, like the Basmyls, became new homes for fleeing Türks. Others, including the widow of Bilge Khagan, sought refuge with the Tang dynasty. The Tang emperor even recognized her as a princess to lead her people. This transition marked the shift from Turkic dominance to Uyghur rule in the region.