Oghuz Yabgu State
Encyclopedia
Oguz Yabgu State was a Turkic state, founded by Oguz Turks
in 766 CE, located geographically in an area between the east coasts of Hazar
(Caspian) Sea and Aral Sea
. The Oguz
tribes occupied a vast territory in Kazakhstan
along the Irgiz
, Yaik, Emba, and Uil
rivers, Aral Sea
area, Syrdarya valley , the foothills of the Karatau Mountains
in Tien-Shan, and Chui River valley. Most compactly Oguzes lived near the Aral Sea, in the northern Caspian Sea
area, and along the lower course of the Syrdarya. In the 9th-10th centuries. in the basin of the middle and lower course of the Syrdarya and adjoining modern western Kazakhstan steppes developed the Oguz political association.
, the beginning of the early Oguz group formation is linked to the Western Zhetysu.
, who called Oguzes "kings". In Zhetysu the old Oguz capital was Guziya. The Chinese sources that ascend to the 7th and 8th centuries state that the Oguz confederation Tokuz Oguz (Chinese Gu-su, Кut for Oguz) is consistently shown in the vicinity of Issyk Kul - Talas, from the Issyk Kul area the center of the Oguz confederation shifted to the lower course of the Syr-darya under a pressure of the refugees of the Sary Turgesh tribe. "In the 8th century. Oguzes were already on Syr-darya outside of the ten arrows Türkic Kaganate (Western Turkic Kaganate)"
In 766, after Karluks overran the Turgesh Kaganate
in Zhetysu, Karluk tribes formed a Khanate centered there under the rule of a Yabgu
, occupied Suyab
and transferred there their capital. By that time the bulk of the Uch-Karluk (Three Karluks) confederation had left the Altai
, and the supremacy in Zhetysu passed to the Karluk tribes. After Oguz confederation lost a struggle with Karluks for leadership in the Turgesh Kaganate, a significant part of Zhetysu Oguzes left to the Karatau Mountains
foothills and the valley of the Chu River
in the Issyk Kul
basin.
At the beginning of 9th century the Oguz confederation, in alliance with Karluks and Kimaks
destroyed the Kangar Union
, and captured the lower course of the Syrdarya river and the Aral steppes, displacing the Kangars and Pechenegs. The nomadic tribes of the Syrdarya Kangars were forced to join the Oguzes, a part of them migrated to the west, to the northern Black Sea region. Oguzes moved their capital to Yangikent
and became known as Oguz Yabgu State.
The state was founded in Eni-Kent which was an Oguz yayla
(summer village). Oguz Il extended from "Issyk Kul
and Almalyk
, in the south to Sairam, in the west the city of Yangikent, which stands at the mouth of the river Syr (Syr-darya), and to the Kara-Kum (desert)" The capital of the Oguz Il was variously spelled Eni-Kent, Yangikent, Djanikand, Yenikent, Yanikand, all meaning New City, and also in Arabic literature al-Kariya al-Hadisa and in Persian literature Deh-i Hay, presently it is a Central Asian ghost town Jankent
.
The state was ruled by the leader of the Oguz Turks with the title Yabgu
, which is similar with other Turkic ruling titles such as Khan and Kagan/Hakan, but initially with a status below Kagan/Hakan. The army was commanded by Subaşı
. "Sü" (su) means "Army" in Turkish and "başı" (bashi) is for "the head of" or "the ruler of".
In 965 the Oguz State allied with the Kievan Rus in a war against the
Khazar Kaganate. In 985 the alliance with Kievan Rus inflicted a defeat on the Volga Bulgaria
, which increased the political power of the Oguz State.
At the turn of the 10th-11th centuries in the state rose popular uprisings against excessive taxation. The revolts became especially strong in the second half of the 10th century, during a rule of Ali Yabgu. The split between the ruling Oguzes and Seljuk
branch of Oguzes turned out to be detrimental to the state. The upheaval was used by the Seljuk branch, who led the uprising and took Jent, but soon they were forced to leave the Jent area.
During the reign of the last Oguz Yabgu Shahmalik the state rebound. In 1041 Shahmalik Yabgu conquered Khorezm form the Ghaznavids, but two years later he was captured by the Seljuk forces and executed. Shahmalik Yabgu was the last ruler of the Oguz State.
The internal turmoils and fights with Seljuk Oguz branch weakened the Oguz State. The weakened state fell under onslaught of the Kipchak tribes from the Kimak Kaganate
. Under the pressure of the Kipchaks, the two branches of the Oguz people split, a significant part of the Oguzes went to the Eastern Europe
, and Seljuk Oguzes left toward the Asia Minor
. Another part of Oguzes fell under the rule of Karahanids and Seljuk rulers of Khorasan
. The remnants of the defeated by the Kipchaks local Oguzes subsequently dissolved among the Turkic-speaking tribes of Dasht-e-Kipchak. The Oguz tribes contributed to the formation of many of today's Turkic
people.
In the 11th century started Oguz migration to the Persia and Near East
. The movement was headed by the head of the Kanyk tribe Togrul bek and Chagry bek, the Selcuk's grandchildren, after whom were named the Oguz tribes involved in the migration. In 1025 a part of the Seljuks settled in the territory of the modern Turkmenistan
centered on the city of Nysa
. In 1034 - 1035 they were joined by Togrul bek subjects. In 1038-1040 Seljuks fought against Ghaznavids and captured Nishapur
. Subsequently, they were able to create a huge state, which consisted of Asia Minor
, Persia, and parts of the Caucasus and Central Asia.
The Oguz Il state existed for 3 centuries. Another Turkic budun (people, tribe, laymen) Kipchaks
and Kimeks of the Kimek Kaganate
ended the state by the 12th century. By that time, Selçuk Bey
and his Kınık
tribe (boy
) headed to Persia to found their own Muslim state, which in the future would become the Great Seljuq Empire
, and a part of the state population moved eastward to the N.Pontic areas.
The title of the elected ruler was Yabgu
. The power was hereditary within a ruling clan. The heir to the throne was called Inal, they were brought up by an Atabek tutor. Elections of Yabgu were conducted at the tribal assemblies. The rulers were chosen by the codex of unwritten rules of customary law - "tore", from the most powerful clans. The power of the supreme ruler was limited by the council of largest military-tribal aristocracy. The wives of the rulers bore a title "Khatun" and played a significant role in the court life. Yabgu was assisted by regional rules titled Kul-Eerkins. An important place was occupied by warlords. A head of the army was called Subashi, from su - army and bash - head. The Subashi was supported by a military council, and actively interfered in political events.
The Oguz States was subdivided into uruks and aimaks. The term uruk designated tribal divisions, aimak was an administrative district. The clans and tribes united into larger tribal alliances were known as il (country). By the end of the tenth century formed a formal administrative apparatus and a system of regular taxes.
The main religion was the traditional Tenriism, and later Islam
.
, Uigurs, Djagra, Charuk, Karluk, Imura, Bayandur
, Kai, and the remaining tribes and sedentary population of the Kangar Union that submitted to the Oguz Yabgu. The Oguz State was heterogeneous in ethnic terms. In urban and rural areas lived Turkic and Horezmian-speaking population. The reformation of the Oguz ethnic community was a complex and lengthy process.
According to the Mahmud Kashgari
(11th century) testimony, Oguz confederation consisted of 24 tribes, of which 12 tribes were Buzuks (Bazouk), and 12 tribes were Uchuks. The Buzuk wing had a privileged status. Later authors, notably Marvazi
, describe only about 12 tribes. The discrepancy between the sources probably resulted from the Oguz division into two exogamous parts, Buzuks and Uchuks belonging respectively to the right and the left wing of their army. Oguz States share in the Uruk and aimags. The term "Uruk" designated tribal divisions. Clans and tribes, united into larger tribal alliances known as "il" (the country).
Oghuz Turks
The Turkomen also known as Oghuz Turks were a historical Turkic tribal confederation in Central Asia during the early medieval Turkic expansion....
in 766 CE, located geographically in an area between the east coasts of Hazar
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
(Caspian) Sea and Aral Sea
Aral Sea
The Aral Sea was a lake that lay between Kazakhstan in the north and Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region of Uzbekistan, in the south...
. The Oguz
Oghuz Turks
The Turkomen also known as Oghuz Turks were a historical Turkic tribal confederation in Central Asia during the early medieval Turkic expansion....
tribes occupied a vast territory in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
along the Irgiz
Irgiz River (Kazakhstan)
Irgiz is a 593 km-long river in Aktobe and Kostanay provinces of Kazakhstan, right tributary of Turgai River....
, Yaik, Emba, and Uil
UIL
UIL may mean:* UIL Holdings Corporation* Unione Italiana del Lavoro, the Italian Labour Union* United International Airlines, ICAO designator of a cargo airline based in Serbia...
rivers, Aral Sea
Aral Sea
The Aral Sea was a lake that lay between Kazakhstan in the north and Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region of Uzbekistan, in the south...
area, Syrdarya valley , the foothills of the Karatau Mountains
Karatau Mountains
The Karatau Mountains are located in southern Kazakhstan just north of the Syrdaria River, and they display a unique geomorphology. The name Karatau means Black Mountain in the Kazakh language...
in Tien-Shan, and Chui River valley. Most compactly Oguzes lived near the Aral Sea, in the northern Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
area, and along the lower course of the Syrdarya. In the 9th-10th centuries. in the basin of the middle and lower course of the Syrdarya and adjoining modern western Kazakhstan steppes developed the Oguz political association.
Etymology
Etymology of the name "Oguz" is unclear, it was discussed many times in historical and philological literature. The term probably means "tribes", the "tribal union", and then could turn into a collective ethnic name. The original Oguz areas were the south-eastern regions of Central AsiaCentral Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, the beginning of the early Oguz group formation is linked to the Western Zhetysu.
Early history
The first reference of the Oguz State is by the Arab geographer YaqubiYa'qubi
Ahmad ibn Abu Ya'qub ibn Ja'far ibn Wahb Ibn Wadih al-Ya'qubi , known as Ahmad al-Ya'qubi, or Ya'qubi, was a Berber Muslim geographer.-Biography:He was a great-grandson of Wadih, the freedman of the caliph Mansur...
, who called Oguzes "kings". In Zhetysu the old Oguz capital was Guziya. The Chinese sources that ascend to the 7th and 8th centuries state that the Oguz confederation Tokuz Oguz (Chinese Gu-su, Кut for Oguz) is consistently shown in the vicinity of Issyk Kul - Talas, from the Issyk Kul area the center of the Oguz confederation shifted to the lower course of the Syr-darya under a pressure of the refugees of the Sary Turgesh tribe. "In the 8th century. Oguzes were already on Syr-darya outside of the ten arrows Türkic Kaganate (Western Turkic Kaganate)"
In 766, after Karluks overran the Turgesh Kaganate
Turgesh
The Türgesh, Turgish or Türgish were a Turkic tribal confederation who emerged from the ruins of the Western Turkic Kaganate...
in Zhetysu, Karluk tribes formed a Khanate centered there under the rule of a Yabgu
Yabgu
Yabgu was a state office in the early Turkic states, roughly equivalent to viceroy...
, occupied Suyab
Suyab
Suyab was an ancient Silk Road city located some 50 km east from Bishkek, and 8 km west southwest from Tokmok, in the Chui River valley, present-day Kyrgyzstan.- History :...
and transferred there their capital. By that time the bulk of the Uch-Karluk (Three Karluks) confederation had left the Altai
Altay people
The Altay or Altai are an ethnic group of Turkic people living in the Siberian Altai Republic and Altai Krai and surrounding areas of Tuva and Mongolia. For alternative ethnonyms see also Teleut, Tele, Telengit, Mountain Kalmuck, White Kalmuck, Black Tatar, Oirat/Oirot.The Uriankhai people were...
, and the supremacy in Zhetysu passed to the Karluk tribes. After Oguz confederation lost a struggle with Karluks for leadership in the Turgesh Kaganate, a significant part of Zhetysu Oguzes left to the Karatau Mountains
Karatau Mountains
The Karatau Mountains are located in southern Kazakhstan just north of the Syrdaria River, and they display a unique geomorphology. The name Karatau means Black Mountain in the Kazakh language...
foothills and the valley of the Chu River
Chu River
"Chui River" redirects here. For the South American Chuí or Chuy River, on the Brazil-Uruguay border and Brazil's southernmost point, see Chuí River. For the Nam Sam River or Chu River, on the Lao-Vietnam border, see Nam Sam River....
in the Issyk Kul
Issyk Kul
Issyk Kul is an endorheic lake in the northern Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan. It is the tenth largest lake in the world by volume and the second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. Although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, it never freezes; hence its name, which means "hot...
basin.
At the beginning of 9th century the Oguz confederation, in alliance with Karluks and Kimaks
Kimek tribe
The Kimek or Kimak were one of the Turkic tribes known from Arab and Persian medieval geographers as one of the seven tribes in the Kimek Khanate in the period of 743-1050 AD. The other six constituent tribes, according to Abu Said Gardizi The Kimek or Kimak (Yemek, Yamak, Djamuk) were one of the...
destroyed the Kangar Union
Kangar union
Kangar union, was a Turkic state in the territory of the entire modern Kazakhstan without Zhetysu. The ethnic name Kangar is a medieval name for the Kangly people, who are now part of the Kazakh, Uzbek, and Karakalpak nations...
, and captured the lower course of the Syrdarya river and the Aral steppes, displacing the Kangars and Pechenegs. The nomadic tribes of the Syrdarya Kangars were forced to join the Oguzes, a part of them migrated to the west, to the northern Black Sea region. Oguzes moved their capital to Yangikent
Jankent
Jankent was a large trading center on the caravan route from Central Kazakhstan to Horezm and Itil regions...
and became known as Oguz Yabgu State.
The state was founded in Eni-Kent which was an Oguz yayla
Yayla
Yayla is Crimean Tatar and Turkish for alpine meadow or mountain plateau. Cognate words with identical meaning exist in other Turkic languages...
(summer village). Oguz Il extended from "Issyk Kul
Issyk Kul
Issyk Kul is an endorheic lake in the northern Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan. It is the tenth largest lake in the world by volume and the second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. Although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, it never freezes; hence its name, which means "hot...
and Almalyk
Olmaliq
Olmaliq also spelled as Almalyk is a city in the Tashkent Province of central Uzbekistan, approximately 65 km east of Tashkent...
, in the south to Sairam, in the west the city of Yangikent, which stands at the mouth of the river Syr (Syr-darya), and to the Kara-Kum (desert)" The capital of the Oguz Il was variously spelled Eni-Kent, Yangikent, Djanikand, Yenikent, Yanikand, all meaning New City, and also in Arabic literature al-Kariya al-Hadisa and in Persian literature Deh-i Hay, presently it is a Central Asian ghost town Jankent
Jankent
Jankent was a large trading center on the caravan route from Central Kazakhstan to Horezm and Itil regions...
.
The state was ruled by the leader of the Oguz Turks with the title Yabgu
Yabgu
Yabgu was a state office in the early Turkic states, roughly equivalent to viceroy...
, which is similar with other Turkic ruling titles such as Khan and Kagan/Hakan, but initially with a status below Kagan/Hakan. The army was commanded by Subaşı
Subaşi
Subaşi was an Ottoman gubernatorial title used to describe different positions within Ottoman hierarchy, depending on the context.This title was given to sanjak-beys of Ottoman sanjaks which generated more than 15,000 aspers per annum or to the assistants of the sanjabey...
. "Sü" (su) means "Army" in Turkish and "başı" (bashi) is for "the head of" or "the ruler of".
Political history
The Oguz State played an important role in the military and political history of Eurasia.In 965 the Oguz State allied with the Kievan Rus in a war against the
Khazar Kaganate. In 985 the alliance with Kievan Rus inflicted a defeat on the Volga Bulgaria
Volga Bulgaria
Volga Bulgaria, or Volga–Kama Bolghar, is a historic Bulgar state that existed between the seventh and thirteenth centuries around the confluence of the Volga and Kama rivers in what is now Russia.-Origin:...
, which increased the political power of the Oguz State.
At the turn of the 10th-11th centuries in the state rose popular uprisings against excessive taxation. The revolts became especially strong in the second half of the 10th century, during a rule of Ali Yabgu. The split between the ruling Oguzes and Seljuk
Seljuq dynasty
The Seljuq ; were a Turco-Persian Sunni Muslim dynasty that ruled parts of Central Asia and the Middle East from the 11th to 14th centuries...
branch of Oguzes turned out to be detrimental to the state. The upheaval was used by the Seljuk branch, who led the uprising and took Jent, but soon they were forced to leave the Jent area.
During the reign of the last Oguz Yabgu Shahmalik the state rebound. In 1041 Shahmalik Yabgu conquered Khorezm form the Ghaznavids, but two years later he was captured by the Seljuk forces and executed. Shahmalik Yabgu was the last ruler of the Oguz State.
The internal turmoils and fights with Seljuk Oguz branch weakened the Oguz State. The weakened state fell under onslaught of the Kipchak tribes from the Kimak Kaganate
Kimek Khanate
The Kimek Khanate, also spelled Kimäk Khanate and Kimak Kaganate was a prominent medieval Turkic state formed by the Kimek and Kipchak people in the area between the Ob-Irtysh....
. Under the pressure of the Kipchaks, the two branches of the Oguz people split, a significant part of the Oguzes went to the Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
, and Seljuk Oguzes left toward the Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
. Another part of Oguzes fell under the rule of Karahanids and Seljuk rulers of Khorasan
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
. The remnants of the defeated by the Kipchaks local Oguzes subsequently dissolved among the Turkic-speaking tribes of Dasht-e-Kipchak. The Oguz tribes contributed to the formation of many of today's Turkic
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
people.
In the 11th century started Oguz migration to the Persia and Near East
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
. The movement was headed by the head of the Kanyk tribe Togrul bek and Chagry bek, the Selcuk's grandchildren, after whom were named the Oguz tribes involved in the migration. In 1025 a part of the Seljuks settled in the territory of the modern Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
centered on the city of Nysa
Nisa, Turkmenistan
Nisa was an ancient city, located near modern-day Bagir village, 18 km northwest of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.Nisa is described by some as one of the first capitals of the Parthians. It was traditionally founded by Arsaces I Nisa (also Parthaunisa) was an ancient city, located near modern-day...
. In 1034 - 1035 they were joined by Togrul bek subjects. In 1038-1040 Seljuks fought against Ghaznavids and captured Nishapur
Nishapur
Nishapur or Nishabur , is a city in the Razavi Khorasan province in northeastern Iran, situated in a fertile plain at the foot of the Binalud Mountains, near the regional capital of Mashhad...
. Subsequently, they were able to create a huge state, which consisted of Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
, Persia, and parts of the Caucasus and Central Asia.
The Oguz Il state existed for 3 centuries. Another Turkic budun (people, tribe, laymen) Kipchaks
Kipchaks
Kipchaks were a Turkic tribal confederation...
and Kimeks of the Kimek Kaganate
Kimek Khanate
The Kimek Khanate, also spelled Kimäk Khanate and Kimak Kaganate was a prominent medieval Turkic state formed by the Kimek and Kipchak people in the area between the Ob-Irtysh....
ended the state by the 12th century. By that time, Selçuk Bey
Seljuk
Seljuk was the eponymous hero of the Seljuq Turks. He was the son of a certain Duqaq surnamed Timuryaligh and either the chief or an eminent member from the Kınık tribe of the Oghuz Turks...
and his Kınık
Kinik
Kınık is a district of İzmir Province of Turkey....
tribe (boy
Boy
A boy is a young male human , as contrasted to its female counterpart, girl, or an adult male, a man.The term "boy" is primarily used to indicate biological sex distinctions, cultural gender role distinctions or both...
) headed to Persia to found their own Muslim state, which in the future would become the Great Seljuq Empire
Great Seljuq Empire
The Great Seljuq Empire was a medieval Persianate, Turko-Persian Sunni Muslim empire, originating from the Qynyq branch of Oghuz Turks. The Seljuq Empire controlled a vast area stretching from the Hindu Kush to eastern Anatolia and from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf...
, and a part of the state population moved eastward to the N.Pontic areas.
Political system
The economic base of society was private ownership of livestock. Little is known about the old farming communities in the oases, river valleys, and wetlands. The cities continued to be populated by traders and artizans.The title of the elected ruler was Yabgu
Yabgu
Yabgu was a state office in the early Turkic states, roughly equivalent to viceroy...
. The power was hereditary within a ruling clan. The heir to the throne was called Inal, they were brought up by an Atabek tutor. Elections of Yabgu were conducted at the tribal assemblies. The rulers were chosen by the codex of unwritten rules of customary law - "tore", from the most powerful clans. The power of the supreme ruler was limited by the council of largest military-tribal aristocracy. The wives of the rulers bore a title "Khatun" and played a significant role in the court life. Yabgu was assisted by regional rules titled Kul-Eerkins. An important place was occupied by warlords. A head of the army was called Subashi, from su - army and bash - head. The Subashi was supported by a military council, and actively interfered in political events.
The Oguz States was subdivided into uruks and aimaks. The term uruk designated tribal divisions, aimak was an administrative district. The clans and tribes united into larger tribal alliances were known as il (country). By the end of the tenth century formed a formal administrative apparatus and a system of regular taxes.
The main religion was the traditional Tenriism, and later Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
Ethnic composition
The powerbase of the Oguz State were semi-nomadic and nomadic tribes of Zhetysu and Siberia: KhalajKhalaj people
The Khalaj people are a Turkic people that speak the Khalaj language which is thought to be one of the closest languages to old Turkic language.- External links :* * *...
, Uigurs, Djagra, Charuk, Karluk, Imura, Bayandur
Bayandur
Bayandur is one of Turkic tribes known from Arab and Persian Middle Age geographers and writers as being one of the seven tribes in the Kimak Kaganate in the period of 743-1050 AD. The other six constituent tribes per Abu Said Gardizi were Kimaks, Yamaks, Kipchaks, Tatars, Lanikaz, and Ajlad...
, Kai, and the remaining tribes and sedentary population of the Kangar Union that submitted to the Oguz Yabgu. The Oguz State was heterogeneous in ethnic terms. In urban and rural areas lived Turkic and Horezmian-speaking population. The reformation of the Oguz ethnic community was a complex and lengthy process.
According to the Mahmud Kashgari
Mahmud Kashgari
Mahmud ibn Hussayn ibn Muhammad al-Kashgari was an 11th century Turkic scholar and lexicographer of Turkic languages from Kashgar.His father, Hussayn, was the mayor of Barsgan and related to the Qara-Khanid ruling dynasty...
(11th century) testimony, Oguz confederation consisted of 24 tribes, of which 12 tribes were Buzuks (Bazouk), and 12 tribes were Uchuks. The Buzuk wing had a privileged status. Later authors, notably Marvazi
Kisai Marvazi
Abul Hasan Abu Ishaq Kisa'i Marvazi was a 10th century poet of Persia.Born in 953 CE and originating from Merv, he paid flattery first and foremost to the courts of the Samanids, but also to the Abbasids and Ghaznavids, particularly Mahmud of Ghazni....
, describe only about 12 tribes. The discrepancy between the sources probably resulted from the Oguz division into two exogamous parts, Buzuks and Uchuks belonging respectively to the right and the left wing of their army. Oguz States share in the Uruk and aimags. The term "Uruk" designated tribal divisions. Clans and tribes, united into larger tribal alliances known as "il" (the country).