Uyghur Khaganate ← 742 – 848 → Capital Ordu Baliq Government Monarchy Uyghur Khans  - 744–747 Qutlugh bilge köl  - 841–847 Öge Khan History  - Established 742  - Disestablished 848

The Uyghur Empire (Chinese: 回纥) is a Turkic empire that existed for about a century between the mid 8th and 9th centuries. Göktürks ( Turkish: Gök Türkler) were a Turkic people of ancient Central Asia. This article refers to the Turkic state Kara-Khanid Khanate (also designated as Qarakhanids Throughout the world there are many cities that were once national Capitals but no longer have that status because the country ceased to exist the capital was moved or the capital Ordu-Baliq (also spelled Ordu Balykh Ordu Balik Ordu-Baliq Ordu Balig Ordu Baligh, meaning "city of the court" also known as Mubalik For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A monarchy is a Form of government in which supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in an individual who is the Head of state, often for life or The Turkic peoples are Eurasian peoples residing in northern central and western Eurasia who speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family They were a tribal confederation under the Uyghur nobility, referred to by the Chinese as Chiu Hsing ("Nine Clans").

The Rise of Uyghurs in Mongolia

A rebellion in 742 against the ruling Göktürk Khaganate by the Uyghur, Karluk, and Basmyl tribes left an immense power vacuum in Mongolia and Central Asia. Göktürks ( Turkish: Gök Türkler) were a Turkic people of ancient Central Asia. The Uyghur (also spelled Uygur, Uighur, Uigur, Uyghur: ئۇيغۇر) are a Turkic people of Central Asia. The Karluks (obs Qarluqs, Qarluks, Karluqs, Arab/Persian Halluh,, customary phonetic Gelolu, Gelu, Khololo Basmyls ( Basmyl; Basmals, Basmils, Chinese Basimi Baximi) were a Türkic nomadic tribe mostly known in Dzungaria (present Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south The Basmyls captured the Göktürk capital Ötügen and their king Özmish Khan in 744, effectively taking charge of the region. Ötüken is one of the names given to Mother Earth in Tengriism. However a Uyghur-Karluk alliance against the Basmyls was formed later the same year. The coalition defeated the Basmyls and beheaded their king. The Basmyl tribes were effectively destroyed; their people sold to the Chinese or distributed amongst the victors. The Uyghurs took control of Mongolia, with the Karluk tribes given lands further West. Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East The Uyghur chief Kutluk bilge köl (Glorious, wise, mighty) had himself crowned as the supreme ruler (khagan) of all Altaic tribes and built his capital at Ordu Baliq. Ordu-Baliq (also spelled Ordu Balykh Ordu Balik Ordu-Baliq Ordu Balig Ordu Baligh, meaning "city of the court" also known as Mubalik

In 747, Kutluk bilge köl died, leaving his youngest son, Bayanchur Khan to reign as Khagan El etmish bilge ("State settled, wise"). Bayanchur Khan (known also as Moyanchur Khan) ( was an Uyghur Khagan from 747 to 759 AD After building a number of trading outposts with the Chinese, Bayanchur Khan used the profits to build the capital, Ordu Baliq ("City of Court"), and another city, Bai Baliq ("Rich City"), further up the Selenga River. Han Chinese ( are an Ethnic group native to China and by most modern definitions the largest single Ethnic group in the world. Ordu-Baliq (also spelled Ordu Balykh Ordu Balik Ordu-Baliq Ordu Balig Ordu Baligh, meaning "city of the court" also known as Mubalik The Selenga (Селенга or Selenge (Сэлэнгэ гол Сэлэнгэ мөрөн is a river in Mongolia and Russia. The new khagan then embarked on a series of campaigns to bring all the steppe peoples under his banner. During this time the Empire vastly expanded, with Sekiz Oghuz, Qïrghïz, Qarluqs, Türgish, Toquz Tatars, Chiks and the remnants of the Basmïls coming under Uyghur rule. It was also during this time that Tang China started a process of withdrawal from Central Asia. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south Bayanchur Khan acted quickly and took over the fertile Tarim Basin. The Tarim Basin ( is a large Endorheic basin occupying an area of more than 400000 km²

The Chinese defeat at the Battle of Talas combined with a series of rebellions, the largest being of An Lushan, forced the Chinese emperor to turn to Bayanchur Khan for assistance. The Battle of Talas in 751 CE was a conflict between the Arab Abbasid Caliphate and the Chinese Tang Dynasty for control Background and Name An Lushan's mother was of Tujue ethnicity from the Ashide clan and served as a sorceress Seeing this as an ideal opportunity to meddle in Chinese affairs, the khagan agreed, quelling several rebellions and defeating an invading Tibetan army from the south. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European As a result, the Uyghurs received tribute from the Chinese and Bayanchur Khan was given the daughter of the Chinese Emperor to marry (princess Ningo).

In 756, the Uyghurs turned their attentions to a rival steppe tribe, the Kyrgyz to the north. The Kyrgyz (also spelled Kirgiz, Kirghiz) are a Turkic Ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan. Bayanchur Khan destroyed several of their trading outposts before slaughtering a Kyrgyz army and executing their Khan.

Finally, in 759, after drinking heavily at a celebration, Bayanchur Khan died. His son Tengri Bögü succeeded him as Khagan Kutluk tarkhan sengün.

Golden Age

Asia in 800 AD, showing the Uyghur Khanate and its neighbors.

In 762, in alliance with the Tang, Tengri Bögü launched a campaign against the Tibetans. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by The Tibetan people are indigenous to Tibet and surrounding areas stretching from Central Asia in the North and West to Myanmar and China Proper He recaptured for the Tang Emperor the western capital Luoyang. Luoyang ( is a Prefecture-level city in western Henan province, People's Republic of China. Khagan Tengri Bögü met with Manichaean priests from Iran while on campaign, and was converted to Manicheism, adopting it as the official religion of the Uyghur Empire. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Manichaeism (in Modern Persian fa-Arab آیین مانی Āyin e Māni; Chinese zh 摩尼教 was one of the major Gnostic Religions originating

In 779 Tengri Bögü, incited by sogdian traders, living in Ordu Baliq, planned an invasion of China to take advantage of the accession of a new emperor. Tengri Bögü's uncle, Tun Bagha Tarkhan opposed this plan, fearing it would result in Uyghur assimilation into Chinese culture. Bagha Tarkhan led a rebellion against his ruler, beheading him and his closest followers (about 2,000 nobles). Tun Bagha Tarkhan ascended the throne as Alp kutluk bilge ("Victorious, glorious, wise") and enforced a new set of laws, which he designed to secure the unity of the khaganate, relations with China were designated as relations between "nephew" and "uncle". He also moved against the Kyrgyz once more, finally bringing them under the Uyghur Khaganate's control. The Kyrgyz (also spelled Kirgiz, Kirghiz) are a Turkic Ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan.

Decline

In 795 the khagan, bearing title Kutluk bilge, died and the Yaghlakar (Chinese: Yao-lo-ko) dynasty came to an end. A dynasty is a succession of rulers who belong to the same family for generations The Uyghur Empire started to fragment before a new ruler, a general named Kutluk, declared himself as the new khagan under the title Ai tengride ülüg bulmïsh alp kutluk ulugh bilge ("Greatly born in moon heaven, victorious, glorious, great and wise"), founding a new dynasty, the Ediz (Chinese: A-tieh). Kuchlug (also spelled Küchlüg was a member of the Naiman tribe of western Mongolia. With solid leadership once more, the Khaganate averted collapse. Kutluk became renowed for his leadership and management of the Empire. Although, he consolidated the empire, he failed to restore it to its previous power. On his death in 808, the empire began to fragment once again. He was succeeded by his son, who went on to improve trade in inner Asia. The last great khagan of the Empire was a khagan with unknown name, bearing the title Kün tengride ülüg bulmïsh alp küchlüg bilge ("Greatly born in sun heaven, victorious, strong and wise"), whose achievements included improved trade, uptill the region of Sogdiana, and on the battlefield he repulsed a force of invading Tibetans. History Hellenistic period The Sogdian Rock or Rock of Ariamazes a fortress in Sogdiana was captured in 327 BC by the forces of Alexander the Great The Tibetan people are indigenous to Tibet and surrounding areas stretching from Central Asia in the North and West to Myanmar and China Proper This khagan died in 824 and was succeeded by a brother, Qasar, who was murdered in 832, inaugurating a period of anarchy. In 839 the legitimate khagan was forced to commit suicide, and a usurping minister named Kürebir seized the throne. In the same year there was a famine that killed much of the livestock the Uyghur economy was based on.

Collapse

The following spring, in 840, the Kyrgyz tribe invaded from the north with a force of around 80,000 horsemen. The Kyrgyz (also spelled Kirgiz, Kirghiz) are a Turkic Ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan. They sacked the Uyghur capital at Ordu Baliq, razing it to the ground. Ordu-Baliq (also spelled Ordu Balykh Ordu Balik Ordu-Baliq Ordu Balig Ordu Baligh, meaning "city of the court" also known as Mubalik The Kyrgyz captured the Uyghur Khagan, Kürebir (Hesa) and promptly beheaded him. The Kyrgyz (also spelled Kirgiz, Kirghiz) are a Turkic Ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz went on to destroy other Uyghur cities throughout their empire, burning them to the ground. The Kyrgyz (also spelled Kirgiz, Kirghiz) are a Turkic Ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan. The last legitimate khagan, Öge, was assassinated in 847, having spent his 6-year reign in fighting the Kyrgyz and the supporters of his rival Ormïzt, a brother of Kürebir. The Kyrgyz (also spelled Kirgiz, Kirghiz) are a Turkic Ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz invasion destroyed the Uyghur Empire, causing a diaspora of Uyghur people across Central Asia. The Kyrgyz (also spelled Kirgiz, Kirghiz) are a Turkic Ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan. The Uyghur (also spelled Uygur, Uighur, Uigur, Uyghur: ئۇيغۇر) are a Turkic people of Central Asia. Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south

After the Empire

The three kingdoms of Gansu (848-1036), Turfan (856-1369) and Karakhanids (850-1212) were formed by the Uyghurs who fled (southwest, west and further west respectively) from the Yenisei Kyrgyz, several years after the fall of the empire. ( is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China. Turfan or Tulufan (تۇرپان|Turpan|Turpan Modern Chinese: 吐魯番, Pinyin: Tǔlǔfān is an Oasis city in the This article refers to the Turkic state Kara-Khanid Khanate (also designated as Qarakhanids The Yenisei Kirghiz or Xiajiasi ( were an ancient people that dwelled at the headwaters of the Yenisei River and Minusinsk Depression between the 3rd century None of these states became as powerful as the Uyghur Empire but did hold artistic, scientific and commercial achievements to their name. The Uyghurs became important civil servants in the later Mongol Empire, which adopted the Uyghur script as its official script. The Mongol Empire ( Mongolyn Ezent Güren or mn Их Mонгол улс Ikh Mongol Uls; 1206–1368 was the largest contiguous Empire

List of Uyghur Khagans

The following list is based on Dennis Sinor, "The Uighur Empire of Mongolia," Studies in Medieval Inner Asia, Variorum, 1997, V: 1-25. Because of the complex and inconsistent Uyghur and Chinese titulatures, references to the rulers now typically include their number in the sequence, something further complicated by the non-inclusion of an unnamed ephemeral son of 4 between 5 and 6 in 790, and the inclusion of a spurious reign between 7 and 9.

1. 744–747 Qutlugh bilge köl (K'u-li p'ei-lo)
2. 747–759 El-etmish bilge (Bayan Chur, Mo yen ch'o), son of 1
3. 759–779 Qutlugh tarqan sengün (Tengri Bögü, Teng-li Mou-yü), son of 2
4. 779–789 Alp qutlugh bilge (Tun bagha tarkhan), son of 1
5. 789–790 Ai tengride bulmïsh külüg bilge (To-lo-ssu), son of 4
6. 790–795 Qutlugh bilge (A-ch'o), son of 5
7. 795–808 Ai tengride ülüg bulmïsh alp qutlugh ulugh bilge (Qutlugh, Ku-tu-lu)
8. 805–808 Ai tengride qut bulmïsh külüg bilge (spurious reign: tenure belongs to 7, name to 9)
9. 808–821 Ai tengride qut bulmïsh külüg bilge (Pao-i), son of 7
10. 821–824 Kün tengride ülüg bulmïsh alp küchlüg bilge (Ch'ung-te), son of 9
11. 824–832 Ai tengride qut bulmïsh alp bilge (Qasar, Ko-sa), son of 9
12. 832–839 Ai tengride qut bulmïsh alp külüg bilge (Hu), son of 10
13. 839–840 Kürebir (Ho-sa), usurper
14. 841–847 Öge, son of 9