Uyghur Khaganate facts for kids

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Uyghur Khaganate

𐱃𐰆𐰴𐰕:𐰆𐰍𐰕:𐰉𐰆𐰑𐰣
Toquz Oγuz budun

744–840

Status

Khaganate (Nomadic empire)

Capital

Ötüken
Ordu-Baliq (later)

Common languages

Old Uyghur
Middle Chinese

Religion

Manichaeism (official)
Tengrism
Buddhism

Government

Monarchy

Khagan

• 744–747

Qutlugh Bilge Köl (first)

• 841–847

Enian Qaghan (last)

History

• Established

744

• Disestablished

840

Area

800

3,100,000 km² (1,200,000 sq mi)

Preceded by

Succeeded by

Second Turkic Khaganate

Kara-Khanid Khanate
Gansu Uyghur Kingdom
Kingdom of Qocho
Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate

The Uyghur Khaganate (also known as the Uyghur Empire) was a powerful Turkic empire. It lasted for about 100 years, from the mid-700s to the mid-800s. The Uyghurs were a group of tribes led by the Orkhon Uyghur nobility. The Chinese called them the "Nine Clans," which was a way of saying Toquz Oghuz. This empire played a big role in the history of Central Asia.

History of the Uyghur Empire
Uyghur Capital: Karabalghasun
Relationship with the Sogdians
Images for kids
See also

History of the Uyghur Empire

How the Uyghur Empire Began

In the mid-600s, the Uyghurs were a tribe under the Turkic Khaganate. In 657, the Tang dynasty of China defeated the Western Turkic Khaganate. After this, the Uyghurs decided to join forces with the Tang dynasty. They had already shown they liked working with the Tang. For example, in 627, they fought alongside the Tang against the Tibetan Empire and other Turkic groups.

In 742, the Uyghurs, Karluks, and Basmyls rebelled against the Second Turkic Khaganate. This was a big step towards their own independence.

By 744, the Basmyls took over the Turkic capital city, Ötüken. They also killed the ruler, Özmiş Khagan. But later that year, the Uyghurs and Karluks teamed up against the Basmyls. They defeated them, and the Basmyls disappeared as a major group. Then, the Uyghurs and Karluks started fighting each other. This led the Karluks to move west. They eventually conquered the Türgesh people in 766.

The first Uyghur ruler was named Qullığ Boyla. He took the title Kutlug Bilge Kol Khagan. This meant "Glorious, wise, mighty khagan." He claimed to be the top leader of all the tribes. He built his capital city at Ordu-Baliq. Chinese records say the Uyghur Empire was very large. It stretched from the Shiwei people in the east to the Altai Mountains in the west. To the south, it controlled the Gobi Desert. It covered the entire area of the ancient Xiongnu people.

In 745, the Uyghurs killed the last ruler of the Göktürks. They sent his head to the Tang dynasty, showing their power.

The Golden Age of the Uyghurs

Mural of an Uyghur Khagan, from the 8th century CE

In 747, the first khagan, Qutlugh Bilge Köl Kaghan, died. His youngest son, Bayanchur Khan, became the new ruler. He took the title El etmish bilge, meaning "State settled, wise." He built several trading posts with the Tang dynasty. He used the money from trade to build the capital city, Ordu-Baliq. He also built another city called Bai Baliq.

The new khagan then started campaigns to bring other steppe peoples under his control. The empire grew quickly during this time. It brought many groups like the Sekiz Oghuz, Kyrgyz, Karluks, and others under Uyghur rule.

In 751, the Tang Empire lost a big battle against the Arabs. This battle was called the Battle of Talas. After this, the Tang pulled back from Central Asia. This allowed the Uyghurs to become the main power in the region.

In 755, a general named An Lushan started a rebellion against the Tang dynasty. The Tang emperor asked Bayanchur Khan for help in 756. The khagan agreed and sent his oldest son to help the Tang army. About 4,000 Uyghur horsemen helped the Tang armies. They helped retake the cities of Chang'an and Luoyang in 757. After the battle at Luoyang, the Uyghurs took many valuable things from the city. They only stopped after receiving a lot of silk.

For their help, the Tang gave them 20,000 rolls of silk. They also gave them special titles. The price for horses in trade was set at 40 rolls of silk per horse. Uyghurs were also given "guest" status when they visited Tang China. The Tang and Uyghurs also arranged marriages between their royal families. Bayanchur Khan married Princess Ninguo from the Tang dynasty. A Uyghur princess married a Tang prince. These marriages helped strengthen their alliance against the rebels.

Uyghur princes wearing Chinese-style clothes. This image is from Bezeklik, Cave 9, dating from the 9th to 12th century CE.

In 758, the Uyghurs turned their attention to the northern Yenisei Kyrgyz. Bayanchur Khan destroyed some of their trading posts. He then defeated a Kyrgyz army and executed their ruler.

In 759, the Uyghurs tried to help the Tang stop the rebels again, but they failed. Bayanchur Khan died, and his son Tengri Bögü became the new khagan.

In 762, Tengri Bögü planned to invade the Tang with 4,000 soldiers. But after talking, he changed his mind. He helped the Tang defeat the rebels at Luoyang instead. After the battle, the Uyghurs again took many things from the city. When people hid in Buddhist temples, the Uyghurs burned them down. More than 10,000 people died. For their help, the Tang had to pay 100,000 pieces of silk to make them leave. During this time, the khagan met Manichaean priests. He converted to Manichaeism. From then on, Manichaeism became the official religion of the Uyghur Khaganate.

The Decline of the Uyghur Empire

Uyghur Khaganate "Durvuljin" tombs, near the Uyghur capital of Khara Balgas, 7th–9th century CE. These are located in the Orkhon Valley.

In 779, Tengri Bögü planned to invade the Tang dynasty. He was advised by his Sogdian friends. However, Tengri Bögü's uncle, Tun Baga Tarkhan, disagreed. He killed Tengri Bögü and about 2,000 people from the khagan's family and friends. Tun Bagha Tarkhan became the new ruler. He took the title Alp Qutlugh Bilge, meaning "Victorious, glorious, wise." He made new laws to keep the empire united. During his rule, Manichaeism was not supported, but later rulers brought it back as the official religion.

In 780, some Uyghurs and Sogdians were killed while leaving Chang'an. They were carrying tribute. Tun demanded a large payment, and the Tang agreed to pay in gold and silk. In 789, Tun Bagha Tarkhan died. His son became the new ruler. The Karluks took this chance to take over some Uyghur land. In 790, the Uyghurs and Tang forces were defeated by the Tibetan Empire. The Uyghur ruler died, and his son became the new khagan.

In 791, the Tibetans attacked a city called Lingzhou. But the Uyghurs drove them away. The Uyghurs then gave captured prisoners and cattle to the Tang emperor. The Tibetans and Karluks lost another battle to the Uyghurs. In 792, the Uyghurs, led by Baoyi Qaghan, defeated the Tibetans and Karluks. They took over Gaochang. Soon after, the Tibetans attacked another town. The Uyghurs surrounded them and defeated them. In 795, the khagan died, and the first ruling family ended. A general, Qutluq II, became the new khagan. He started a new ruling family.

In 803, the Uyghurs captured Qocho. In 808, Qutluq II died, and his son, Baoyi, became the ruler. That same year, the Uyghurs took Liang Province from the Tibetans. In 816, a Tibetan attack came very close to the Uyghur capital, Ordu-Baliq. In 821, Baoyi Qaghan died, and his son, Chongde, became the ruler. Chongde was seen as the last great khagan of the Uyghur Khaganate. He had the title Kün tengride ülüg bulmïsh alp küchlüg bilge, meaning "Greatly born in sun heaven, victorious, strong and wise." He improved trade with the Sogdian region. He also pushed back an invading force of Tibetans in 821. After defeating the Tibetans and Karluks, the Uyghurs entered another region and took valuable goods.

In 822, the Uyghurs offered to send troops to help the Tang stop rebels. The Tang refused but had to pay them 70,000 pieces of silk to go home. In 823, the Tibetan Empire fought against the Uyghurs. In 824, Chongde died. His brother became the new ruler. In 832, this ruler was killed. Chongde's son became the new ruler. That same year, the Tibetan Empire failed to make war on the Uyghurs.

The Fall of the Uyghur Empire

Painted silk fragments of men in armor, from a Manichaean Temple near Qocho. Turkic, 8th or 9th century CE. Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Berlin.

In 840, there was a severe winter. This caused a famine and an epidemic. Much of the livestock, which the Uyghur economy relied on, died.

Also in 840, one of the Uyghur ministers, Kulug Bagha, went to the Yenisei Kyrgyz. He asked them to invade from the north. With about 80,000 horsemen, the Kyrgyz attacked the Uyghur capital, Ordu-Baliq. They destroyed the city completely. The Kyrgyz captured the Uyghur Khagan and quickly killed him. They continued to destroy other cities in the Uyghur empire.

The Uyghurs fled in two main groups. One group of 30,000 people, led by Ormïzt, sought safety in Tang territory. But the Tang emperor ordered the borders to be closed. The other group, with 100,000 people, was led by Öge. He was the son of Baoyi and the new khagan of the defeated Uyghur Khaganate. This group also fled towards Tang territory. However, Öge demanded a Tang city to live in. He also asked for protection for Manichaeans and food. The Tang emperor found these demands unacceptable and refused. He gave Ormïzt safety in return for his troops to fight Öge. Two years later, the emperor also ordered the suppression of other religions, including Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and especially Buddhism.

Soldiers from Karasahr, 8th century CE

The Yenisei Kyrgyz and the Tang dynasty worked together. They fought a successful war against the Uyghur Khaganate between 840 and 848. They used their family ties as a reason for their alliance.

In 841, Öge led the Uyghurs in an invasion of what is now Shaanxi.

In 843, a Tang army attacked the Uyghurs led by Öge. They defeated 10,000 Uyghurs. Öge was wounded. After Öge's defeat, the Tang emperor ordered Ormïzt's troops to be split up. Ormïzt refused to obey. His troops were then defeated by a Tang general. With the defeat of the two main Uyghur groups, the emperor saw his chance to get rid of the Manichaeans. He ordered Manichaean temples to be destroyed. Their properties were taken, and their religious leaders were executed.

In 846, the second to last Uyghur khagan, Öge, was killed. He had spent his six-year rule fighting the Kyrgyz, his rivals, and Tang dynasty troops. His brother, Enian Qaghan, was decisively defeated by Tang forces in 847.

What Happened After the Empire Fell?

Uyghur king from the Turfan region with servants. This image is from Mogao cave 409, dating from the 11th to 13th century.

The Yenisei Kyrgyz who took over from the Uyghur Khaganate were not interested in running a large empire. They controlled the land from Lake Baikal in the east to the Irtysh River in the west. They left Kulug Bagha, the Uyghur who had helped them, in charge of the Orkhon Valley.

After the fall of the Uyghur Khaganate, the Uyghurs moved south. They set up two new kingdoms. One was the Ganzhou Uyghur Kingdom in modern Gansu. The other was the Kingdom of Qocho near modern Turpan. The Uyghurs in Qocho became Buddhists. The Ganzhou Uyghurs were conquered by the Tangut people in the 1030s.

In 1134, Qocho became a vassal state of the new Qara Khitai empire. In 1209, the ruler of Qocho, Barchuk Art Tegin, pledged loyalty to Genghis Khan. The Uyghurs then became important officials in the later Mongol Empire. The Mongols even used the Old Uyghur alphabet as their official writing system.

Another group of Uyghurs went to find safety among the Karluks. The Karluks, along with other tribes, later founded the Kara-Khanid Khanate (940–1212). Some historians believe the Karakhanids were connected to the Uyghurs.

Uyghur Capital: Karabalghasun

Ordu-Baliq, the capital of the Uyghur Khaganate (745–840) in Mongolia.

The Uyghurs built an empire with clear influences from Persia, especially in how they governed. Soon after the empire started, they built a permanent capital city, Karabalghasun. This city was also known as Ordu-Baliq. It was built where the old Göktürk capital used to be. The city was a strong trading center, like many along the Silk Road. It had walls, lookout towers, stables, and buildings for military and trade.

Certain parts of the city were for trade and crafts. In the center were palaces and temples, including a monastery. The palace had strong walls and two main gates. It also had moats filled with water and watchtowers.

The khagan lived there and made decisions for the empire. Before this, nomadic groups like the Xiongnu could only carry a limited amount of Chinese goods. By building a fixed city, the Uyghurs had a safe place to store trade goods from China. They could have a stable court, meet traders, and become a central part of the Silk Road trade. However, having a fixed city also made them vulnerable, which eventually led to their downfall.

Relationship with the Sogdians

Manichean scribes from Qocho, 8th–9th century

To control trade along the Silk Road, the Uyghurs worked with Sogdian merchants. These merchants controlled some important oasis cities in Central Asia. The Uyghurs adopted Manichaeism as their official religion. This choice might have been to show they were independent from Tang China. Not all Uyghurs supported this change. An old inscription says that Manichaeans tried to turn people away from their old shamanistic beliefs.

The decision to convert was partly for political and economic reasons. It was about trade with the Sogdians. This alliance helped both the Sogdians and the Uyghurs a lot. The Sogdians helped the Uyghurs trade in the Western Regions. They exchanged silk from China for other goods. For the Sogdians, the Uyghurs protected their trading communities in China. Many Sogdians moved to China in the 5th and 6th centuries. Sogdians were the main traders along the Silk Roads, and China was always their biggest market. Both nomadic rulers and settled states understood how important merchants like the Sogdians were. They made alliances to help control the Silk Roads.

Uyghur Manichaean Elect depicted on a temple banner from Qocho.
Uyghur Manichaean Electae (Chosen) from Qocho.
Uyghur Manichaean clergymen from Qocho.
Fresco of Palm Sunday from Qocho.

Images for kids

Painted silk fragment from a Manichaean Temple near Koço, Turkish, Sinkiang 8th century or 9th century. Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Berlin (detail).
Painted silk fragment from a Manichaean Temple near Koço, Turkish, Sinkiang 8th century or 9th century. Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Berlin (man in full armour, detail).