# Timeline of the Turkic peoples (500–1300)

History of the Turkic peoples pre–14th century :
Court of Seljuk ruler Tughril III, circa 1200 CE. :
Turkic peoples Onogurs Oghuz Turks Saragurs Utigurs Bulgars Sabir Kutrigurs Karluks Kimek Kipchaks Cherniye Klobuki Uyghurs Tatars Kumyks Yakuts Dolgans Krymchaks Crimean Karaites :
Turkic Languages Turkish Azerbaijani Uzbek Kazakh Uyghur Turkmen Tatar Kyrgyz Bashkir Chuvash Qasgqai Karakalpak Sakha Kumyk Karachay-Balkar Tuvan Gagauz Karaim Krymchak :
Turkic Mythology Belief system: Tengrism and Shamanism Chief gods and goddesses: Kayra and Ülgen Epics and heroes: Ergenekon and Asena Major concepts: Sheka and Grey wolf :
Pre-14th century
Yenisei Kyrgyz People 202 BCE–13th CE
Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate
Dingling 71 BC–?? AD
Tiele (Gaoche)
Göktürks
First Turkic Khaganate 552–581
Western Turkic Khaganate 581–657
(Tokhara Yabghus, Turk Shahis)
Eastern Turkic Khaganate 581–650
Second Turkic Khaganate 682–744
Sabiri People
Khazar Khaganate 618–1048
Xueyantuo 628–646
Kangar Union 659–750
Turk Shahi 665-850
Türgesh Khaganate 699–766
Kimek–Kipchak Confederation 743–1035
Uyghur Khaganate 744–840
Oghuz Yabgu State 750–1055
Karluk Yabgu State 756–940
Kara-Khanid Khanate 840–1212
Western Kara-Khanid
Eastern Kara-Khanid
Ganzhou Uyghur Kingdom 848–1036
Qocho 856–1335
Pecheneg Khanates 860–1091
Ghaznavid Empire 963–1186
Seljuk Empire 1037–1194
Sultanate of Rum
Cuman–Kipchak Confederation 1067–1239
Khwarazmian Empire 1077–1231
Kerait Khanate 11th century–13th century
Atabegs of Azerbaijan 1136–1225
Delhi Sultanate 1206–1526
Mamluk dynasty
Khalji dynasty
Tughlaq dynasty
Qarlughid Kingdom 1224–1266
Golden Horde 1242–1502
Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo) 1250–1517
Bahri dynasty
Ottoman State 1299–1922 :
vte :
Below is the identified timeline of the History of the Turkic peoples between the 6th and 14th centuries.

## 6th century

| Year | Event |
| 545 | A Western Wei envoy to the Altai Mountains. First mention of Bumin, as the leader of the Ashina clan (the leaders of Turks). |
| 551 | Bumin declares independence of the Turks around Altai mountains, conquers Ötüken in Mongolian Plateau and takes the title khagan (qaghan). His empire is known as Turkic Khaganate or more popularly Göktürk (Celestial Turk). |
| 552 | Shortly after sending his brother Istemi to the Western Regions as his yabgu (vassal), Bumin Qaghan dies. His elder son Issık (Keluo) becomes the khagan. |
| 554 | Bumin's second son Muqan Qaghan becomes the khagan. After a series of successful campaigns the Göktürks begin to control the silk road. |
| 568 | An alliance with the Byzantine Empire under Justin II is formed after a delegation of the Turks led by Sogdian Maniah arrive in Constantinople to trade silk with the Byzantines. |
| 572 | Taspar Qaghan, the youngest son of Bumin becomes the khagan after the death of his brother. |
| 576 | The alliance with the Byzantines ceases after the Byzantines (contrary to their agreement) accept a treaty with Avars, enemies of the Göktürks. The Göktürks seize a Byzantine stronghold in the Crimea. |
| 580 | Agathias included within Hunnic circle these tribes: the Vurugunds, Ultizurs, as well as the Turkic tribes Cotrigurs and Utigurs. |
| 581 | Tardush, the second yabgu in the west, lay siege to Tauric Chersonesus in Crimea. |
| 581 | Two rival states in China begin to pay annual tribute to the Turkic Khaganate. |
| 584 | Taspar Qaghan dies, civil war breaks out. (Ishbara Qaghan vs. Apa Qaghan) Tardush interferes. |
| 587 | Tardush de facto ruler of the west. Period of dual khaganates. From now on the west khaganate is also called Onok. |
| 588 | First Perso-Turkic War. An attempt of the Turkic Khaganate to invade Afghanistan. But Bahram Chobin of Persia defeats the Turkic Khaganate. |
| 593 | End of Turkic interregnum. |

## 7th century

| Year | Event |
| 609 | Shibi Khan becomes the khagan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. |
| 615 | Shibi Khan's advisor is executed by Pei Ju at a negotiation in Mayi; the khan retaliates by invading Yanmen Commandery during a visit there by Emperor Yang, besieging him and his court at the commandery seat (present-day Daixian, Shanxi). He lifts the siege following a false report from his wife, the Sui princess Yicheng, that the khaganate is under attack from the north. |
| 618 | Tong Yabghu Qaghan becomes the khagan of the Western Turkic Khaganate. According to some accounts he is also known as Ziebel the founder of Khazar state (or Khazaria) in Caucasus as a part of Onok. |
| 619 | Hephthalites/Gokturk raids of 614-616. Tong Yabghu Qaghan raids as far as to Isfahan; but is repelled. |
| 625 | Alliance with the Byzantine Empire under Heraclius when the emperor requests military aid from the Turks under Tong Yabghu. |
| 626 | Illig Qaghan takes advantage of the Incident at Xuanwu Gate and charges to Wei River. |
| 627 | Perso-Turkic war of 627–629. Böri Shad conquers Derbend in Caucasus and raids Azerbaijan. |
| 628 | Xueyantuo (under the command of Yi'nan) and Toquz Oghuz defeats Yukuk Shad (shad of northern side) and Ashina She'er (shad of western side) of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. |
| 630 | Tang China supports a revolt of vassals of eastern khaganate. Tang army under the command of Li Jing defeats the Eastern Turkic Khaganate at Battle of Yinshan. Emperor Taizong says It's enough for me to compensate my dishonor at Wei River (626). East khaganate becomes vassal of China. |
| 632 | Kubrat unified and ruled Old Great Bulgaria. |
| 638 | The two wings of the Western Turkic Kaganate (Nushibi and Tulo) split, with the Ili river as the boundary. |
| 639 | Ashina Jiesheshuai's unsuccessful raid against Jiucheng Palace. |
| 640 | Yukuk Shad tries to unite the Onok tribes, but soon escapes to Kunduz in Afghanistan. |
| 642 | Western Turkic soldiers retreat from Gaochang and the kingdom is captured by Tang dynasty forces. Military conflicts against the Tang dynasty continue for the next few decades. |
| 644 | Western Turks defeated in a battle against the Tang dynasty in Karasahr. |
| 648 | Western Turks lose a battle against the Tang dynasty in Kucha. |
| 650 | Khazars defeat Abd ar-Rahman ibn Rabiah of Rashidun Arabs in Caucasus. |
| 657 | China dispatches a military campaign that defeats the western khaganate. Western khaganate becomes vassal of China. During power vacuum, Turgesh tribe emerges as the leading power of Onok. |
| 664 | Peace treaty between Caucasian Albania King Javanshir (636-669) and Caucasian Huns Elteber Alp Ilitver with conditions of dynastic marriage union, Huns' takeover of all Albanian fortresses, annual tribute to the Huns, and Huns obligation to defend Albania from Arab aggression. |
| 679 | Ashide Wenfu and Ashide Fengzhi who were Turkic leaders of Danyu Da Douhufu made Ashina Nishu Beg a Turkic qaghan and revolts against Tang dynasty. |
| 680 | Pei Xingjian defeated Ashina Nishu Beg and his army. Ashina Nishu Beg was killed by his men. |
| 680 | Ashide Wenfu made Ashina Funian a qaghan and revolted against Tang dynasty. |
| 681 | Treaty of 681 was concluded between Bulgarian commander and later ruler Asparukh and Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV Pogonatus. The peace treaty recognized Asparukh's control over captured Byzantine territories southern of the Danube river. |
| 681 | Ashide Wenfu and Ashina Funian surrendered to Pei Xingjian. 54 Turks (including Ashide Wenfu, Ashina Funian) were publicly executed in the Eastern Market of Chang'an. |
| 681 | Ashina Kutlug revolts with the remnants of Ashina Funian's men. |
| 682 | Ashina Kutlug becomes Ilterish Qaghan and establishes the Second Eastern Turkic Khaganate. |
| 685 | Ilterish Qaghan defeats the Chinese in Hin Chu. |
| 693 | Barsbek proclaims the creation of the Kyrgyz Khaganate. |
| 694 | Death of Ilterish Qaghan. Qapaghan Qaghan becomes the second khagan. |
| 695 | Qapagan recognises Barsbek as the Khagan of the Kyrgyz. |
| 698 | Qapagan annexes Turkestan (On Oq territory). against Turgesh. |

## 8th century

| Year | Event |
| 704 | Umayyad governor Qutayba ibn Muslim invades Transoxiana. |
| 710 | Second Turkic Khaganate inflicted a crushing defeat on the Kyrgyz Khaganate. Barsbek, Khagan of the Kyrgyz, fell in battle, and his descendants were to remain vassals of the Göktürks for several generations. |
| 711 | in the Battle of Bolchu, Turkic army defeats Turgesh. |
| 713 | Turco-Arab wars in Transoxiana. Arab victory leads to shift of power in Turkestan from Turkic Khaganate to their Turgesh vassals again. |
| 716 | First treaty with known terms between Byzantine Emperor Theodosios III and Danube Bulgaria Khan Tervel delineating borders, fixing the size of Byzantine annual tribute to the Khan at 30 lb. of gold, exchange of prisoners, return of refugees, and unimpeded trade between the two countries |
| 716 | Qapaghan Qaghan was killed in his campaign against Toquz Oghuz and his head was sent to Changan. Kul Tigin carried out a coup d'état. They killed Qapaghan's son and brothers and made Bilge Qaghan a Kaghan. |
| 716 (?) | The first written records in Old Turkic language. Bain Tsokto inscriptions of Tonyukuk. (These monuments have been erected by himself, a few years before his death.) |
| 717 | Inel Qaghan gets overthrown by Kul Tigin. Bilge Kaghan ascends to the throne. |
| 717 | Suluk becomes Turgesh Khaghan. |
| 718 | A short period of stability in Turkic Empire. Bilge and his triumvirate (Kültiğin and Tonyukuk) suppress all revolts. |
| 723 | Governor al-Harashi of Umayyad Arabs massacres Turks and Sogdian refugees for the second time in Khujand |
| 724 | Turgesh Kaghan Suluk defeats superior Umayyad Arab armies by his hit and run tactics so called "The Day of Thirst" (Yawm al-'Atash) |
| 728 | Turgesh Qaghan Suluk defeats Umayyad Arab armies for the second time. |
| 730 | Khazars defeat Umayyad Arab armies in southern Caucasus. But victorious general Barjik dies in the battle. |
| 734 | Death of Bilge Khagan. |
| 735 | Khöshöö Tsaidam Monuments of Bilge Khagan and his brother Kül Tigin. (Bilge has already erected Kül Tigin's monument and Bilge's son erects Bilge's monument.) Together with Bain Tsokto monument of Tonyukuk, these monuments are called Orkhon monuments. (In 2004 the monuments are included in List of World Heritage Sites in Asia and Australasia) |
| 737 | Umayyad Arabs defeat Khazars and capture Khazar capital Balanjar. Khazars soon after drive Arabs back. But the capital is shifted to Atil. |
| 738 | Suluk is assassinated. |
| 740 | Khazar khan Bulan embraces Judaism. But the subjects are free to choose their religion. |
| 744 | Turkic subjects like Basmyl, Uyghur and Karluk who are not the members of Ashina clan stage a coup. End of Ashina clan. (except in Khazaria) |
| 744 | First Uyghur khan Kutluk Bilge. Uyghurs replace Turkic Khaganate in the east and their vassal Karluks begin to conquer the former Onoq territory in the west. |
| 747 | Second Uyghur khan Bayanchur Khan who begins the construction of a big capital city Ordu Baliq |
| 750 | Arab empire Umayyad dynasty ends. Abbasid policy more tolerant to Turks. |
| 751 | Arabs defeat Chinese in the Battle of Talas during which 20,000 Karluk mercenaries switch to the Arab side in the middle of the battle. |
| 753 | Tariat inscriptions of Bayanchor Khan of Uyghurs. (probable date) |
| 755 | After the battle of Talas civil war in China. Bayanchor supports Chinese emperor against rebellious general An Lushan. |
| 756 | Peace treaty between Byzantine Emperor Constantine V and Danube Bulgaria Khan Kormisosh ending long period of military conflict |
| 765 | Third Uyghur khan Bogu embraces Manicheism. |
| 766 | Karluks defeat Turgesh. Most of Turkestan (former Onak territory) under Karluk rule. But in the west of Lake Aral a loose confederation named Oghuz Yabgu State emerges. |
| 789 | Ediz house replaces Yaglakar house in Uyghur Khaganate. |

## 9th century

| Year | Event |
| 815 | Thirty Years’ Peace Treaty of 815 was signed in Constantinople between the Bulgarian khan Omurtag and the Byzantine Emperor Leo V the Armenian about 30-years peace. |
| 820 | Kyrgyz start war with Uyghurs. |
| 821 | Uyghurs repulse Tibetans. |
| 836 | The capital of the caliphate (Arabian empire) is moved from Baghdad to the new city of Samarra by Caliph Al-Mu'tasim because of unrest caused by Turkic slave soldiers (named Mameluk). (Mameluk practice has begun shortly after Battle of Talas) |
| 840 | Kyrgyz (north) defeat Uyghurs. Re-establishment of the Kyrgyz Khaganate. Supported by Uyghur refugees, Karluks establish the state of Karakhanids in Transoxiana. |
| 848 | Some Uyghur refugees establish a small state in Gansu, north China. |
| 856 | A third group of Uyghur refugees establish another state in Turpan, present day Xinjiang, west China. |
| 868 | Ahmad ibn Tulun, a Turkic mameluk general in Arab army founds Tulunid dynasty in Egypt. |
| 881 | Three Khazar tribes collectively named Kabar diverge from the main body and move westwards together with the seven tribes of Magyars. |
| 892 | Khazars force Pechenegs to west who in turn force Magyars to Hungary. |
| 898 | Treaty of 898 between the Bulgarian Tsar Simeon and the Byzantine Emperor Leo Choerosphactus after a devastating unprovoked war on Bulgaria from two sides and final Bulgarian victory resumes Byzantine payment of annual tribute to Danube Bulgaria |

## 10th century

| Year | Event |
| 914 | Treaty of 914 was a peace treaty concluded between Pechenegs and a prince of Rus principality Igor. |
| 924 | Mongols of Khitan drive Kyrgyz out of Mongolia. Some Kyrgyz return to Yenisei region and some flee to present-day Kyrgyzstan. |
| 932 | Saltuk Buğra Khan of Karakhanids convert to Islam. The first Turkic monarch to do so. |
| 940 | Byzantine-Kievan Rus' alliance against Khazars. Khazar Khanate loses Crimea. |
| 941 | Gansu state (Sari Uyghurs) becomes vassal of China. |
| 960 | Khazar Correspondence between Hasdai ibn Shaprut (of Córdoba) and Khagan Joseph of Khazars. |
| 963 | Alp Tigin, a Turkic general, establishes Ghaznavids as a vassal state of Samanids |
| 969 | Rus capture Khazar capital Atil. |
| 977 | Under Sebük Tekin Ghaznavids become a Muslim sultanate (empire). |
| 985 | A big Turkic tribe (Kinik) under the leadership of Seljuk migrates from Khazar (Oguz?) territory to suburbs of the city Jend (which is now in South Kazakhstan). |
| 999 | Dissolution of Oguz confederation by Kipchaks. |

## 11th century

| Year | Event |
| 1016 | Khazar Kaganate dissolves under pressure from Rus and Kipchaks. |
| 1037 | Rus defeat Pechenegs. |
| 1038 | Seljuk's grandsons Tugrul and Chaghri conquer the historical city of Merv in present-day Turkmenistan and declare independence. Beginning of the Great Seljuk Empire. |
| 1040 | Tugrul and Chagri of Seljuk Turks defeat a Ghaznavid army at the battle of Dandanaqan and begin to settle in eastern Persia. |
| 1042 | Civil war in Karakhanid territory. East and west Karakhanids. |
| 1048 | Ibrahim Yinal (Tugrul's uterine brother) of Seljuk Turks defeat a Byzantine-Georgian army at Battle of Pasinler (also called battle of Kapetrou). Turks in East Anatolia. |
| 1050 | Pechenegs raid Byzantine territories. |
| 1055 | After a series of victories Tughrul is declared sultan (of Great Seljuk Sultanate) by the caliph. |
| 1065 | Uzes paid hommage to Byzantine Empire |
| 1071 | Alp Arslan of Seljuk Turks defeat Romanos Diogenes of Byzantine in the battle of Manzikert. |
| 1072 | Death of Alp Arslan. Malik Shah becomes the sultan. |
| 1072 | Danishmend Gazi who is the hero of epic tales Danishmendname founds a principality around Sivas, central Anatolia (i.e., Asiatic side of present Turkey). |
| 1072 | Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk was written by Mahmud al-Kashgari of Karakhanids to be presented to Abbasid Caliphate. |
| 1077 | Süleyman I (a cousin of Melik Shah) founds a state in what is now west Turkey. Although a vassal of Great Seljuk Empire it soon becomes totally independent. (Seljuks of Rum, Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, Sultanate of Rum, Seljuks of Turkey, Seljuks of Anatolia, Sultanate of Iconium are among the many names used for this state) |
| 1077 | Emergence of Khwarezm dynasty as a vassal of Great Seljuk Empire. |
| 1081 | Tzachas of Smyrna founds a beylik (principality) in İzmir, Western Anatolia and emerges as the first sea power in Turkish history. |
| 1085 | Tutush I, Malik Shah's brother founds a short lived principality in Syria. |
| 1089 | Hungarians defeat the Kipchaks. |
| 1091 | Kipchacks defeat the Pechenegs. |
| 1093 | Kipchacks defeat Sviatopolk II of Kievan Rus' in the Battle of the Stugna River, |
| 1096 | Kılıç Arslan I of Seljuks defeats People's Crusade. |
| 1097 | During First Crusade Crusades defeat Seljuks at the Battle of Dorylaeum. Capital İznik captured by Crusades (New capital Konya) |

## 12th century

| Year | Event |
| 1101 | Kılıç Arslan I of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm defeats Stephen of Blois and Hugh of Vermandois, of the second wave of First Crusades. |
| 1104 | Tuğtekin, atabeg of Damascus founds a short lived principality in Syria. First example of a series of Seljukid atabeg dynasties. |
| 1121 | A Seljuq army led by the Artuqid Ilghazi of Mardin is defeated by the Georgians near Tiflis. |
| 1128 | Zangi, atabeg of Mosul and Aleppo founds Zengid dynasty. |
| 1141 | Mongols of Khitan defeat Great Seljuk Sultan Sanjar in the Battle of Qatwan. |
| 1146 | Ildeniz, atabeg of Azerbaijan founds a dynasty, being the first independent Turkic dynasty of Azerbaijan. |
| 1147 | During Second Crusade, Mesud I of Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm defeats Holy Roman Emperor Conrad III in the second battle of Dorylaeum and French king Louis VII at battle of Laodicea. |
| 1153 | Great Seljuk sultan Sanjar is defeated by his Oguz vassals. |
| 1154 | Oghuz Turks destroy Library of Nishapur |
| 1176 | Kılıç Arslan II of Seljuks defeats Manuel I Komnenos of Byzantine Empire in the battle of Myriokephalon. |
| 1178 | End of Danishmends. Their territory is annexed by Kılıç Arslan II. |
| 1190 | German Holy Roman emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and a contingent of the Third Crusade defeat the Turks at the Battle of Konya (Iconium) in Southern Anatolia. He subsequently drowns whilst crossing the Göksu River, near Silifke. |

## 13th century

| Year | Event |
| 1202 | Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm defeat Saltukid principality and annex north eastern Anatolia. |
| 1205 | After the disintegration of Great Seljuk Sultanate, Kharzem shahs declare independence and conquer most of former Seljuk territory. |
| 1206 | Slave dynasty of Delhi established by Qutb ud-Din Aibak in India. |
| 1209 | Turpan Uyghurs become vassals of the Mongols. |
| 1209 | Birth of Nasreddin a satirical Sufi figure in Akşehir, Western Anatolia. His anecdotes and jokes, especially those involving Mongol overlords after 1243, are always very popular in all Turkic-speaking countries. |
| 1211 | Mongolic Khitans end East Karakhanids. |
| 1212 | Khwarezm shahs end West Karakhanids. |
| 1220 | Alaaddin Keykubat I becomes the Seljuk Sultan of Rûm. |
| 1220 | Mongols end Khwarezm Shāh. |
| 1224 | The Qarlughids of Bamyan and Kurraman establish their kingdom. |
| 1230 | Alaaddin Keykubat I of Seljuks defeats Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu in the battle of Yassıçemen |
| 1236 | Razia Sultana of Delhi Sultanate, the first female ruler in Islamic countries. |
| 1239 | Revolt of Baba Ishak. A revolt of Turkmen (Oguz) and Khwarezm refugees who have recently arrived in Anatolia. (The revolt is bloodily suppressed. But the sultanate loses power.) |
| 1241 | Mongols defeat Kipchaks. |
| 1243 | Mongols defeat the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm in the battle of Kösedağ |
| 1250 | Aybek, a member of a cast of Kıpchack soldiers establishes Mamluk dynasty in Egypt |
| 1260 | Mameluk general (later sultan) Baybars defeats Ilkhanate leader Hulagu in Battle of Ayn Jalut. |
| 1277 | Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey a semi independent bey (prince) in Anatolia (also a short term vizier of Seljuks) declares Turkish as the official language in his reign. |
| 1293 | Another Kyrgyz uprising is defeated by the Mongols. Most Kyrgyz tribes migrate to present-day Kyrgyzstan. |
| 1293 | Codex Cumanicus A Kipchak dictionary written for Latins. |
| 1299 | Ottoman beylik was founded by Osman I |