Sulu khan
Encyclopedia
Suluk, Sul-lu or Sulu was a Turkic
tribe leader and a warlord who defended Transoxania against Ummayad Arab armies in the early eight century.(?-738
)
by Tang China in 658
caused a power vacuum in Transoxania and Turgesh khans
(leaders) were able to declare independence. However, after Ilterish Khagan re-established the main khaganette in 681
, competition to control the silk road
caused tension between the khaganate and Turgesh khans. At the beginning of 8th century Turgesh khans were subjugated by the main khaganate. But this was not long lasting. When Ummayad Arabs invaded Transoxania, the main khaganate was not able to defend Transoxania and Turks as well as Sogdians were massacred by the invaders. Further more, after the death of Kapagan Khagan
, the khaganate was engaged in a civil war.
by the tribal chiefs. Backed by other local powers (including Sogdanians) against invading Arabs, he began acting independently of the main khaganate. His army was much smaller than that of Arabs. But unlike Arabs, they were at home in the deserts of the area.
Beginning by 721
Suluk fought against the Arabic armies for ten years. His operations were generally hit and run operations and his manoeuvres were aimed at the deprivation the invading army of water. Many times the invading Arabic army had to withdraw to find fresh water. (so called Thirst event, ) Some of his operations were in 724
, 728
and 731
(see Battle of the Defile
).
Suluk was killed in 737 or 738 by Baga Tarkan, one of his relatives .
It can be said that, Suluk was like Barjik
of Khazars
or, Charles Martel
of Franks
who checked Ummayad northward expansion.
the last of the able Turkic khagans was already dead and with the death of Suluk Transoxinia was open to Arabic conquest. However, by this time there were also problems in Caliphate
. Ummayed dynasty was replaced by Abbasid
dynasty and the policy of the new rulers was more peaceful than that of the Ummayads. So Arabs never controlled Transoxiana with the exception of a few forts.
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...
tribe leader and a warlord who defended Transoxania against Ummayad Arab armies in the early eight century.(?-738
738
Year 738 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 738 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- America :* The powerful Mayan city-state Xukpi is...
)
Turgesh
Turgesh was a Turkic tribe (or a group of tribes) around Transoxania. Although their territory was a part of the Turkic Khaganate, defeat of Western Turkic KhaganateWestern Turkic Khaganate
The Western Turkic Khaganate was formed as a result of the internecine wars in the beginning of the 7th century after the Göktürk Khaganate had splintered into two politiesEastern and Western.The Western Turks initially sought friendly relations with the Byzantine Empire in order to expand their...
by Tang China in 658
658
Year 658 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 658 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* The Union of Slavic Tribes falls apart after...
caused a power vacuum in Transoxania and Turgesh khans
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
(leaders) were able to declare independence. However, after Ilterish Khagan re-established the main khaganette in 681
681
Year 681 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 681 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* The Bulgars under Asparukh win...
, competition to control the silk road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
caused tension between the khaganate and Turgesh khans. At the beginning of 8th century Turgesh khans were subjugated by the main khaganate. But this was not long lasting. When Ummayad Arabs invaded Transoxania, the main khaganate was not able to defend Transoxania and Turks as well as Sogdians were massacred by the invaders. Further more, after the death of Kapagan Khagan
Qapagan Khaghan
Qapaghan Qaghan or Qapghan Qaghan was the second Khaghan of the Second Eastern Turkic Khaganate during Wu Zetian's reign...
, the khaganate was engaged in a civil war.
Suluk
Suluk was elected as the new khan in 717717
Year 717 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 717 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* March 21 – The Battle of Vincy is...
by the tribal chiefs. Backed by other local powers (including Sogdanians) against invading Arabs, he began acting independently of the main khaganate. His army was much smaller than that of Arabs. But unlike Arabs, they were at home in the deserts of the area.
Beginning by 721
721
Year 721 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 721 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Former Byzantine emperor...
Suluk fought against the Arabic armies for ten years. His operations were generally hit and run operations and his manoeuvres were aimed at the deprivation the invading army of water. Many times the invading Arabic army had to withdraw to find fresh water. (so called Thirst event, ) Some of his operations were in 724
724
Year 724 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 724 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Emperor Shōmu succeeds Empress Genshō on the...
, 728
728
Year 728 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 728 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Liutprand, King of the Lombards occupies all...
and 731
731
Year 731 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 731 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Battle of the Defile between the Umayyads and...
(see Battle of the Defile
Battle of the Defile
The Battle of the Defile or Battle of the Pass was fought over three days in the Tashtakaracha Pass between a large Umayyad army and the Turgesh in July 731 CE...
).
Suluk was killed in 737 or 738 by Baga Tarkan, one of his relatives .
It can be said that, Suluk was like Barjik
Barjik
Barjik was a Khazar prince who flourished in the late 720s. He is described by al-Tabari as "the son of the Khagan"; his exact status and position is unknown though he may have been the Bek....
of Khazars
Khazars
The Khazars were semi-nomadic Turkic people who established one of the largest polities of medieval Eurasia, with the capital of Atil and territory comprising much of modern-day European Russia, western Kazakhstan, eastern Ukraine, Azerbaijan, large portions of the northern Caucasus , parts of...
or, Charles Martel
Charles Martel
Charles Martel , also known as Charles the Hammer, was a Frankish military and political leader, who served as Mayor of the Palace under the Merovingian kings and ruled de facto during an interregnum at the end of his life, using the title Duke and Prince of the Franks. In 739 he was offered the...
of Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
who checked Ummayad northward expansion.
Aftermath
Death of Suluk caused a civil war which weakened Turgesh. Meanwhile, Bilge KhaganBilge
The bilge is the lowest compartment on a ship where the two sides meet at the keel. The word was coined in 1513.-Bilge water:The word is sometimes also used to describe the water that collects in this compartment. Water that does not drain off the side of the deck drains down through the ship into...
the last of the able Turkic khagans was already dead and with the death of Suluk Transoxinia was open to Arabic conquest. However, by this time there were also problems in Caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
. Ummayed dynasty was replaced by Abbasid
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
dynasty and the policy of the new rulers was more peaceful than that of the Ummayads. So Arabs never controlled Transoxiana with the exception of a few forts.