Uyghur Khaganate

The Uyghur Khaganate was a Turkic empire in Central Asia that lasted from 744 to 840 CE. It was founded after the fall of the Göktürk Khaganate, when the Uyghurs, together with the Basmyls and Karluks, defeated the Göktürks. The Uyghurs then became the strongest power in the Mongolian steppe.Michael C. Brose, "Medieval Uyghurs of the 8th through 14th Centuries," *Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Asian History*, Oxford University Press, 2017.   

The first khagan was Qutlugh Bilge Köl, who established the capital at Ötüken. Later, the Uyghurs built a new capital called Ordu-Baliq (also known as Khar Balgas) in the Orkhon Valley. The empire covered much of modern Mongolia and parts of northern China. The Uyghurs were originally part of the Tiele tribes, but rose to power by allying with the Tang dynasty of China.Peter B. Golden, Central Asia in World History, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 67–70.  

The Uyghur Khaganate was known for its religious diversity. In 762, the khagan officially adopted Manichaeism as the state religion, making the Uyghurs unique among Turkic peoples. Other religions such as Tengrism, Buddhism, and Nestorian Christianity were also practiced. The Uyghurs developed their own script, based on the Sogdian alphabet, which later influenced Mongolian writing.Christopher I. Beckwith, Empires of the Silk Road, Princeton University Press, 2009, pp. 152–155.  

The Uyghurs played an important role in the Silk Road trade. They acted as middlemen between China, Persia, and the Islamic world, carrying silk, horses, and other goods. They also helped the Tang dynasty suppress the An Lushan Rebellion in the 750s, which gave them great influence in Chinese politics.Richard N. Frye, The Heritage of Central Asia, Princeton University Press, 1996, pp. 115–118.  

The Khaganate lasted for almost a century. In 840, it was destroyed by the Yenisei Kyrgyz, who invaded Mongolia and burned Ordu-Baliq. After this defeat, many Uyghurs migrated south. Some settled in the Tarim Basin, where they founded new states in cities like Turfan and Qocho. Others moved to Gansu, where they lived under Chinese influence.Colin Mackerras, The Uighur Empire according to the T’ang Dynastic Histories, Australian National University Press, 1972, pp. 33–36. Internet Archive  

The Uyghur Khaganate is remembered as one of the most important Turkic empires of the early Middle Ages. It influenced religion, writing, and trade in Central Asia, and its legacy continued in the Uyghur states of the Tarim Basin and in the culture of modern Uyghur people.Michael Hope, Power, Politics, and Tradition in the Mongol Empire and the Ilkhanate of Iran, Oxford University Press, 2016, pp. 12–15.  

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Category:Central Asia
Category:Former countries in Asia
Category:History of Mongolia
Category:8th-century establishments in Asia