Eurasian Avars
The Eurasian Avars - known as Zhuan Zhuan to the
Chinese - were a nomadic people of
Eurasia, of proto-Mongolian stock, who migrated from eastern Asia into central and eastern
Europe in the
6th century. The Avar rule persisted over much of the
Pannonian plain up to the early
9th century. Menander Protector wrote that the language of the Avars is the same as that of the Huns, but they wear long braids with ribbons in it in two braids, a habit which they borrowed from the Turks.
Encyclopedia
- The Caucasian Avars are a modern people of Caucasus, mainly of Dagestan.
The
Eurasian Avars - known as Zhuan Zhuan to the
Chinese - were a nomadic people of
Eurasia, of proto-Mongolian stock, who migrated from eastern Asia into central and eastern
Europe in the
6th century. The Avar rule persisted over much of the
Pannonian plain up to the early
9th century. Menander Protector wrote that the language of the Avars is the same as that of the Huns, but they wear long braids with ribbons in it in two braids, a habit which they borrowed from the Turks.
History
Like the later
Mongols and Qitan, the Avars belonged to the
Syän-bi tribal confederation, and are
"without doubt the first Mongolian tribe to be historically attested"s were driven westward when the
Gokturks defeated the
Hephthalites in the 550s and the 560s. They entered
Europe in the sixth century and, having been bought off by the
Eastern Emperor Justinian I, pushed north into Germany .
Finding the country unsuited to their nomadic lifestyle , they turned their attention to the
Pannonian plain, which was then being contested by two Germanic tribes, the Lombards and the Gepids. Siding with the Lombards, they destroyed the Gepids in 567 and established a state in the
Danube River area. Their harassment soon forced the Lombards into northern
Italy, a migration that marked the last Germanic migration in the
Migrations Period. The Avar leader from c. 565 to c. 600 was called
Bayan. According to Menander, he commanded 10,000 Kutrigur to sack Dalmatia in 568.
Under pressure from the Turks at the close of the 6th century, the new leadership in Byzantium began to distinguish the Pannonian Avars as pseudo-avars whose real designation should be Varchonites. Avars turned against the
Eastern Roman Empire which had employed Avar mercenaries to combat attacks from other
steppe tribes. Avars sought new allies and in 626, the Avars and the
Persians besieged but failed to capture
Constantinople. Following their defeat at Constantinople the Avars retreated to Pannonia.
By the early
9th century, internal discord and the external pressure started to undermine the Avar state. The Avar power was finally liquidated during the 810s by the
Franks under
Charlemagne and the
First Bulgarian Empire under
Krum. Their presence in Pannonia is still certain in 871 but then that name is no longer used by chroniclers. The Avars are also likely to have merged with Slavs, who had formed new states in the region -the principality of
Nitra in the north , and the
Balaton Principality in the central parts of Pannonia- and with the invading Magyars.
Some theorize that Avars were the first tribe to introduce the
stirrup to
Europe.
However, the subject is under debate and other candidates for the importers include the
Huns.
List of Avar Rulers
| 552-562 | Kandik aka Khingila asked the Alan King Sarosios for introduction to Byzantium as refugees from Central Asia. |
| 562-602 | Bayan I settles Pannonia in 568 and established Avar puppet Houdbaad of Onogunduri - Kutigurs & Utigurs in 580s |
| 602-617 | Bayan II of Avars |
| 617-630 | N... |
| 635-660 | Kubrat first bulgarian BaltAvar |
| 660-? | Bayan III Eldest son of Kubrat rules from Crimea to avoid Khazar mercenaries |
| 685-791 | 1st Khazar Avar alliance. |
| 729/730 | Surakat |
| 791-795 | Yugurus during Avar civil war |
| 795-? | Kajd Tudun |
| 803-? | Zodan the puppet of Krum who claimed European Eastern Avaria through relation to Kuber. |
| ?-814 | Theodorus faced opposition by Khazar candidates. |
| 814-? | Abraham supported against Carolingians |
| ?-835 | Isaac Tudun |
| 835-899 | Menumorut led Kavars in Bihor to independence from Khazars and allied with the Magyars |
| 899 | ?Kursan |
Anthropological origins
There are several popular points of origin suggested for the Avar peoples:
Perhaps a suitable synthesis of these ideas may be that they were originally inhabitants of
Khwarezmia, and had thus influence in all three areas.
Literature
- E. Breuer "Chronological Studies to Early-Medieval Findings at the Danube Region. An Introduction to Byzantine Art at Barbaric Cemeteries."
Notes
