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History of Kyrgyzstan

Rise of Central Asian Empires in Kyrgyzstan

© HistoryMaps

History of Kyrgyzstan

Rise of Central Asian Empires in Kyrgyzstan

539 Jan 1 - 900
Kyrgyzstan
Rise of Central Asian Empires in Kyrgyzstan
Steppe Nomad in Central Asia. © HistoryMaps

Early Dominance and Subjugation

The Kyrgyz initially lived in the Borohoro Mountains and the Manasi River Valley, with early Chinese records referring to them as "Jiankun" or "Gekun." Their history of interaction with powerful empires began in 201 BCE, when they were subjugated by the Xiongnu, one of the earliest and most powerful nomadic confederations in Central Asia.


The Era of the Kidarites and White Huns

By the 4th century CE, the Kidarites, a Hunnic tribe, emerged as a dominant power in Central Asia, controlling parts of Transoxiana and Gandhara. Their influence over the region marked a key transitional period for Central Asian nomads. However, their dominance was short-lived. The White Huns, or Hephthalites, rose to prominence around the 5th century CE, becoming a formidable force that challenged the Kidarites.


In 467 CE, the Hephthalites, in alliance with the Sassanian king Peroz I, decisively defeated the Kidarites. This victory ended Kidarite rule in Transoxiana, forcing them to retreat to Gandhara. The Hephthalites consolidated their power, creating a significant but short-lived empire that reshaped Central Asia’s political landscape. These events indirectly influenced the Kyrgyz by altering the power dynamics of the region, paving the way for the rise of later Turkic empires.


The Göktürks and Kyrgyz Subjugation

By the mid-6th century, the Göktürks (Kök-Türks) emerged as the first Turkic people to establish a state in Central Asia. Known in Chinese sources as the Tujue, they rose to power in 551 CE under Bumin (Tuman) Khan of the Ashina tribe. Building on the legacy of earlier nomadic powers like the Xiongnu and Hephthalites, the Göktürks expanded their influence across vast territories, including parts of present-day Kyrgyzstan.


In 710 CE, after a decisive defeat in the Sayan Mountains, the Göktürks subjugated the Kyrgyz while allowing them a degree of local governance. However, the Göktürk Khaganate eventually fractured into the Eastern and Western Göktürk Khanates. The Western Göktürk Khanate, which included lands near Kyrgyzstan, disintegrated by 744 CE, leading to the rise of other Turkic powers in the region.


Rebellion and Conquest

Following the collapse of the Göktürk Khaganate, the Uyghur Empire emerged as the dominant force in Central Asia in 744 CE. By 758 CE, the Uyghurs had killed the Kyrgyz Khan and brought the Yenisei Kyrgyz under their rule. Despite this subjugation, the Kyrgyz repeatedly rebelled against their overlords. In 840 CE, with assistance from the Tang Dynasty, the Kyrgyz successfully sacked the Uyghur capital, Ordu-Baliq, in the Orkhon Valley, effectively dismantling the Uyghur Khaganate and driving the Uyghurs out of Mongolia.


However, the Kyrgyz did not establish lasting control over Mongolia. Instead, they turned their attention southward, expanding into the Tian Shan Mountains, where they maintained dominance for approximately two centuries. Meanwhile, displaced Uyghurs settled in the Tarim Basin and Gansu, forming decentralized Buddhist states like Kara-Khoja, which preserved Uyghur cultural traditions.


Tang Dynasty Relations

During the 9th century, the Kyrgyz established close ties with China's Tang Dynasty. They claimed descent from Han General Li Ling, a figure linked to the Tang imperial lineage. This claimed kinship fostered alliances and justified Kyrgyz military campaigns against the Uyghurs. Tang recognition of Kyrgyz leaders with honorific titles further solidified their status as regional allies.


Decline

After their peak in the 9th century, the Kyrgyz influence waned. By 924 CE, the Khitan Liao dynasty expanded onto the Mongolian Plateau, limiting Kyrgyz influence in the region. The Kyrgyz Khaganate persisted in its Yenisei homeland until 1207 CE, when it was absorbed into the Mongol Empire, marking the end of their political independence.

Page Last Updated: 12/29/2024

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