Rouran

The **Rouran** () ruled northern China during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. They were either proto-Mongols or Turkic. They spoke the Ruanruan language, an Altaic or Sino–Tibetan language.

They descended from the Xianbei. The Rouran are the first to use the words "khan" or "khagan". The **Rouran Khaganate** existed between the 4-6 centuries. They were then overthrown by the Gokturks. This led to the rise of the Turkic peoples.

The Rouran may have fled west after that and become part of the Pannonian Avars. The Göktürks chased after these "Avars" into the Byzantine Empire.

## Origin

The Rouran were nomads. They lived in the eastern Eurasian Steppe (Mongolia and northeast China). They overthrew the Xianbei. Most Xianbei moved south and lived in Northern China. Kwok Kin Poon argues the Rouran descended from the Donghu Xianbei.

## History

The founder of the Rouran Khaganate was Yujiulu Shelun. He descended from slaves of the Xianbei. The Xianbei used the word rouran to mean "wriggling worms".

After the Xianbei moved south in the 3rd century, the Rouran took over and conquered a lot of land.

In 402 Shelun unified all of the Rouran. They defeated the neighboring Tiele and expanded to the Silk Roads. They then conquered and vassalized the Hephthalites (of Central Asia) until 5th century.

The Hepthalites then moved towards India and replaced the Yuezhi in Bactria. The Hephtalites borrowed much culture and language from the Rouran: including the word "Khan".

In 429, Northern Wei (where the Xianbei settled) attacked the Rouran and killed many.

In 434, the Rouran made a heqin with Northern Wei.

Between 440-460, the Northern Wei attacked and defeated the Rouran several times.

The Rouran made a heqin with the Han-Chinese ruler Gao Huan of Eastern Wei.

In 508, the Tiele defeated the Rouran.

In 516, the Rouran defeated the Tiele.

## Overthrow by Gokturks

In 551, Bumin of the Ashina Göktürks () defeated the Tiele revolt for the Rouran. In return Bumin asked for a Rouran princess (heqin). Rouran refused, so Bumin declared independence.

Bumin made a heqin with the Western Wei (descend from Northern Wei). Bumin then attacked the Rouran in 552, killing Yujiulü Anagui. Bumin then conquered Otuken.

He declared himself Illig Khagan and started the Turkic Khaganate. He died soon Bumin but his son Issik Qaghan succeeded him. Issik continued attacking the Rouran but died a year later in 553. His brother Muqan Qaghan finished the job and annihilated the Rouran in 555.

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Rouran Khaganate
- **common name**: Rouran
- **status**: Khanate
- **year start**: 330
- **year end**: 555
- **p1**: Xianbei state
- **s1**: Turkic Khaganate
- **flag s1**: Flag of the Göktürks Khaganate.svg
- **s2**: Northern Qi
- **s3**: Northern Zhou
- **image map**: Rouran500.png
- **image map caption**: Rouran Khaganate in Central Asia
- **capital**: Mumo city, Orkhon River, Mongolia
- **common languages**: Ruanruan language, Ruanruan
Mongolian language, Mongolian
Chinese language, Chinese
- **religion**: Tengrism
Shamanism
Buddhism
- **legislature**: Kurultai
- **leader1**: Yùjiǔlǘ Mùgǔlǘ
- **leader2**: Yujiulü Dengshuzi
- **year leader1**: 330
- **year leader2**: 555
- **title leader**: Khagan
- **stat area1**: 2800000
- **stat year1**: 405
- **today**: China
Kazakhstan
Mongolia
Russia


## Infobox (chinese)

- **title**: Rouran
- **c**: 柔然
- **p**: Róurán
- **w**: Jou<sup>2</sup>-jan<sup>2</sup>
- **altname**: Ruru
- **t2**: 蠕蠕
- **s2**: 茹茹
- **p2**: Rúrú
- **w2**: Ju<sup>2</sup>-ju<sup>2</sup>
- **altname3**: Tantan
- **c3**: 檀檀
- **p3**: Tántán
- **w3**: T'an<sup>2</sup>-t'an<sup>2</sup>