| Date
|
People
|
Event
|
Geopolitical Context
|
| 546
|
Bumin
|
Pre-emptively strikes a planned Töle revolt
|
Attempt of the vassal Turks to gain ascendancy over the vassal Gaoqu people
|
| 560
|
Muqan
|
Annexes Töle tribes under a federal system
|
Muqan demonstrates his qut by the submission of the Töle (i.e. the right of taxation over their livestock); resolves internal power struggle
|
| 565
|
Wu Chen-Di
|
Civil war divides the Wei Kingdom
|
Muqan demonstrates his qut by the submission of the Töle (i.e. the right of taxation over their livestock); resolves internal power struggle
|
| 572
|
Istämi
|
Divides Muqan's realm between his rival successors: Taspar-Qağan rules in the central region, Istämi-Yabgu in the far-west, Shetu in the east and Jotan in the west
|
Traditional power transfer from elder to younger brother, subsequently from youngest uncle to eldest nephew
|
| 575
|
Tardu
|
Takes power in far-west region
|
His father dies in Taraz
|
| 575
|
You-Zhou
|
Qi dynasty collapses
|
Qi = Eastern Wei, Rouran allies; Zhou = Western Wei, Turk allies
|
| 578
|
Taspar
|
Repeatedly raids the Zhou Kingdom
|
Under the influence of the Qi exiles
|
| 578
|
Wu-Di
|
Gives Taspar 100,000 bales of silk and the Princess Zhou Tsienkien
|
Marriage alliance prevents raids
|
| 578
|
Wu-Di
|
Kidnaps Prince Kaozhou as he is hunting
|
To eliminate rival to power
|
| 578
|
Taspar
|
Takes no action against the Zhou Kingdom's violation of his power. Instead, he places 10,000 Turks as 'guests' in Zhou
|
He has a secret agreement to trade the Prince Kaozhou for Princess Tsienkien. The lack of honor to a guest outrages the common people. This period shows the beginning of class separation and the movement of Turkic nobility into the Chinese cultural sphere.
|
| 580
|
Shang Sun
|
Arrives with Zhou Tsienkien and befriends Shetu
|
To collect information about the Turks for Zhou
|
| 581
|
Wen-Di
|
At the death of Emperor Jing-Di, he seizes power as regent for the new Emperor who is still a child
|
His dynastic claim is based on his daughter, the Emperor's Mother
|
| 581
|
Taspar
|
???Muqan
|
Maybe as part of an agreement between Muqan and Taspar
|
| 581
|
Ishbara Qaghan
|
Swearing he will attack Talopien to uphold tradition, he is the voice of conservative factions
|
If tradition is followed, he will be the next Qağan
|
| 581
|
Änlo
|
Taspar dies and the toy appoints Änlo
|
To avoid conflict between the three conflicting claims of Tardu, Shetu and Talopien
|
| 581
|
Talopien
|
Threatens Änlo
|
He views himself as the legal Qağan because he has been given the title by the previous one
|
| 581
|
Änlo
|
Cedes title to Shetu at Ötükän and takes title of second Qağan
|
In exchange for protection, the empty title and to control the Tola Valley (Uyğur tribes)
|
| 582
|
Wen-Di
|
Deposes Zhou Emperor and expels the 10,000 Turks from Changan
|
To show his independence and to end the drain on the treasury
|
| 582
|
Shetu
|
Forms a coalition force with Tardu, Jotan and Talopien
|
To reinforce his position as Qağan and to avenge his wife's family
|
| 582
|
Wen-Di
|
Sends ambassador Yuan Huei to recognize him as Qağan by presenting him with the symbolic wolf flag at Hami
|
Tardu is upset that he was not made Qağan by the toy, so Wen-Di gives him diplomatic recognition which legitimizes his claim. He thereby acquires qut
|
| 582
|
Tardu
|
Declares the far-west region as sovereign and separate with himself as Qağan
|
The far-west region has de facto independence since the Istämi-Muqan era
|
| 583
|
Shetu
|
Blames Talopien for the failures of the campaign
|
Rivalry and the influence of Shang Sun
|
| 583
|
Talopien
|
Joins Jotan and Boru in the west region.
|
They are all opposed to Shetu's paranoia, assassination and tyranny
west
|
| 583
|
Shetu
|
Kills Talopien's family and burns his yurt in revenge
|
Altay mountains
|
| 583
|
Tardu and Wen-Di
|
Attack simultaneously with Khitan (Shetu's own vassals in the east)
|
To block Shetu's power. The attack by his nominal vassals and allies erodes the credibility of Shetu, meaning he has lost qut
|
| 583
|
Shetu
|
As he only controls the central region, it is hit by famine; he asks for Sui Imperial protection
|
This act officially marks the end of his sovereignty, he is now a Chinese vassal
|
| 584
|
Talopien
|
Takes control of east, central and west regions
|
Talopien proves himself as the true Qağan by his qut
|
| 585
|
Wen-Di
|
Renames Zhou Tsienkien as Sui Dai
|
To make Shetu his vassal (son-in-law) because he now fears the growing power of Tardu and Talopien
|
| 585
|
Shetu
|
Sends his son Kohoden as a hostage to Changan
|
To seal the peace agreement
|
| 585
|
Talopien
|
Defeats Tardu and takes over far-west region, now controlling all four regions
|
Tardu no longer enjoys Sui Imperial support and is a rival to power that has to be eliminated as a threat
|
| 585
|
Tardu
|
Flee to Sui protection
|
Tardu no longer enjoys Sui Imperial support and is a rival to power that has to be eliminated as a threat
|
| 585
|
Tiele tribes
|
Submit to Talopien
|
He is strong enough to threaten them, therefore he has consolidated power/qut.
|
| 587
|
Shetu
|
Dies while hunting
|
Possible accident or an assassination
|
| 588
|
Chulo
|
Captures Talopien
|
Family vendetta, his older brother Shetu had been humiliated by this man. The Sui Empire supports this move to balance the growing power of Talopien
|
| 588
|
Nili
|
Replaces Talopien as Qağan; Töle tribes revolt
|
Try to regain lost independence in the chaos of the dynastic struggle
|
| 588
|
Chulo
|
Dies fighting the Töle
|
To reassert control over the tribes that had been vassal to Talopien
|
| 588
|
Tülan
|
Takes power and returns to Mongolian Steppe
|
All the rivals to power in the struggle for succession have been neutralized, so power reverts to the House of Shetu
|
| 589
|
Wen-Di
|
Conquers Chen Kingdom, thus reunifying China
|
???
|
| 590
|
Tardu
|
Attacks Nili to regain the far-west region
|
He is supported by Tülan who wants to see his last rival Nili eliminated. In effect, he recognizes the sovereignty of the far-west region
|
| 593
|
Tülan
|
Stops paying taxes
|
???
|
| 593
|
Sui Dai
|
Plots with Nili to attack Sui Empire
|
Revenge against Sui dynasty for overthrowing her family, the Zhou dynasty
|
| 593
|
Shang Sun
|
Requests Tülan to kill Sui Dai, but he refuses
|
To demonstrate he no longer is a vassal to the Sui
|
| 593
|
Shang Sun
|
Offers Princess Anyi to Zhangar Khan if he will kill Sui Dai
|
To create a rival to Tülan's power and thus restore a balance of power by creating another civil war
|
| 593
|
Tülan
|
Suspects Zhangar of treason
|
Zhangar has received so many gifts and visits from Chinese, this is tantamount to diplomatic recognition
|
| 594
|
Tülan
|
Makes peace with Tardu
|
Tardu has eliminated his rival; this act formally recognizes the independence of the far-west region from the Khanate
|
| 594
|
Shang sun
|
Bribes an official of the toy and exposes Sui Dai plotting with Chinese (Chen government in exile) and Sogdians (with one of whom she is having an affair)
|
To make the Tülan lose face in front of the toy to weaken his power, also to provide a pretext for killing the troublesome Sui Dai
|
| 594
|
Tülan
|
Executes Sui Dai
|
Under Turkic custom, adultery is punished by the death penalty
|
| 597
|
Zhangar
|
Marries Sui Anyi and rebels against Tülan
|
By marrying the Princess, he has a claim to sovereignty
|
| 597
|
Tülan
|
Kills Zhangar's family and drives him to the Ordos Loop under Sui Imperial protection
|
Asserts his authority
|
| 598
|
Tardu
|
Defeats Nili, Chulo takes his place
|
Asserts his authority
|
| 599
|
Tülan
|
Killed in Töle revolt
|
Töle tribes take advantage of the chaos to gain independence
|
| 600
|
Tardu
|
Defeats Chulo and declares himself supreme Qağan
|
A vacuum of power has been created by the loss of Zhangar, Chulo and Tülan
|
| 600
|
Chulo
|
Takes Sui Imperial protection
|
The Sui Empire needs him to balance the power of Tardu
|
| 600
|
Erkin Tegin
|
Initiates diplomatic contacts with China
|
This is the first official account of the Uyghur tribe, which at this time lived in the Tola valley with 10,000 yurts
|
| 601
|
Chang Sunsheng
|
Creates an alliance with the Töle Beys including Erkin Tegin of the Uyghur tribe
|
This is the first official account of the Uyghur tribe, which at this time lived in the Tola valley with 10,000 yurts
|
| 601
|
Tardu
|
Attacks Changan
|
As a warning to the Sui Empire not to interfere in the Turk's internal power struggles
|
| 601
|
Shang sun
|
Poisons all the wells in the Gobi Desert
|
Tardu's army is superior and cannot be defeated by conventional warfare
|
| 603
|
Erkin Tegin
|
Töle tribes revolt against Tardu
|
The Chinese are afraid of Tardu and must eliminate his base of power
|
| 603
|
Tardu
|
Abdicates to Tibet
|
???
|
| 603
|
Erkin Tegin
|
Töle alliance dissolves in the aftermath of the revolt; three tribes come under Uyghur control (Bugut, Tongra and Bayirqu)
|
The Uyghurs gained enough qut to pull in other tribes to the alliance
|
| 603
|
Zhangar
|
Marries Sui Yicheng and assumes the title Qağan, but as a vassal to china
|
Zhangar is the last of the vassal khans to China. He is particularly devoted and loyal
|
| 603
|
Chulo
|
Assumes title Qağan in the far-west region, but as a vassal to China; rules from Tashkent and Kucha
|
Since Tardu has been eliminated, power reverts to the House of Muqan
|
| 605
|
Sui Yang-Di
|
Ascends the Dragon Throne
|
???
|
| 609
|
Shipi
|
Takes power after Zhangar
|
???
|
| 609
|
Chang Sunsheng
|
Replaced by Peichu
|
???
|
| 609
|
Peichu
|
Offers to support Shipi's brother Qağan and a Chinese Princess, but he refuses
|
The traditional tactic of dividing power counter Shipi's growing strength
|
| 611
|
Chulo
|
Attempts to extend his authority over the Töle
|
By taxing their livestock
|
| 611
|
Töle
|
Töle tribes revolt under Syr-Tardush drives out Chulo
|
Uyghurs occupy second position in the alliance
|
| 611
|
Shekuei
|
Takes power and restores House of Tardu
|
???
|
| 615
|
Shipi
|
Subjugates the Töle
|
???
|
| 615
|
Shipi
|
Stops paying taxes to the Sui Empire
|
Asserts sovereignty
|
| 615
|
Peichu
|
Lures Sogdian vizers to the city of Mai and kills them in a trap
|
To keep them from exposing the Chinese plots to the Qağan
|
| 615
|
Shipi
|
Attacks Sui Yang-Di
|
Revenge for his treachery at Mai
|
| 615
|
Sui Yiching
|
Lies to her husband that the Töle tribes are in revolt
|
So he will leave, saving Sui Yang-Di from capture
|
| 615
|
Yang-Di
|
Sui Empire begins civil war
|
The humiliation of his defeat damages his prestige
|
| 616
|
Tang Taizong
|
Captures Changan with support of Turks; he gains 20,000 horses and 5,000 cavalry in return for giving the rights to plunder all the gold and women in Changan
|
???
|
| 618
|
Tang Taizong
|
Places his father as Emperor of the Tang dynasty
|
???
|
| 626
|
Tang Taizong
|
Kills his brothers and becomes Emperor
|
The Wu-men Gate incident
|
| 627
|
Khile Qagan
|
Tries to tax the Töle to replace his horses that were killed during a summer snow
|
???
|
| 627
|
Aynan Khan
|
Initiates a Syr-Tardush lead revolt of Töle tribes against Khile-Qağan
|
The Uyghurs again occupy second position under Pusa Ilteber
|
| 627
|
Aynan Khan
|
Declares a Khanate at Otuken
|
???
|
| 630
|
Taizong
|
Attacks in coordination with Khitan and Töle, utterly defeating the Turks and taking Khile-Qaghan prisoner
|
Tang-Töle alliance replaces Sui-Töle against the Turks
|
| 632
|
Tang Taizong
|
Annexes all Tokharian city states as vassals
|
Indirect Chinese rule of Tarim city states
|
| 640
|
Tang Taizong
|
Kucha (Kutsi) rebels in alliance with Onoq
|
???
|
| 640
|
Songtsen Gampo
|
Unifies Tibet with Buddhism as the state religion
|
???
|
| 645
|
Jubi Qağan
|
Unifies Onoq
|
???
|
| 646
|
Pusa (菩萨), son of Tejian (特健)
|
Allies with Syr-Tardush to defeat Eastern Qaġanate
|
He is granted with a Chinese title of prefect creating a legal precedent for leadership
|
| 646
|
Tumitu Ilteber (吐迷度)
|
Assassinates Pusa and defeats the Syr-Tardush; declares a state at Otuken
|
First Uyghur state; this becomes the precedent for all later claims for the right to rule. Moreover, he is a Chinese vassal paying a tax of furs
|
| 648
|
Tang Taizong
|
Replaces all vassal Tokharian kings with Chinese officials under the governor-general in Kaochang; the Tarim Basin is now the western protectorate
|
The Chinese are now directly rule the Tarim city states
|
| 648
|
Tumitu Ilteber
|
Assassinated by nephew Wuhe, who is in turn assassinated by Chinese spies
|
Wuhe is a Gokturk sympathizer and therefore an enemy of Chinese interests
|
| 648
|
Pojuan Ilteber (婆闰)
|
Installed as new Khan; he becomes a loyal vassal of China
|
Uyghurs now carry Chinese titles and work as mercenaries in the 'pacifed west'
|
| 650
|
???
|
China captures Kashgar and Khotan
|
???
|
| 650
|
Tang Taizong
|
Dies, his son Kaozong creating a scandal by marrying Taizong's former concubine Zhou Wu-Mei
|
By custom, Wu-Mei should have retired to a convent after her husband's death. This unusual marriage indicates she had an extramarital affair with Kaozong prior to Taizong's death
|
| 651
|
Holu Khan
|
Unifies the Onoq and threatens China
|
???
|
| 651
|
Pojuan Ilteber
|
Defeats Korean rebellion
|
The Uyghurs view the Chinese as both allies and kingmakers
|
| 651
|
???
|
Arabs advance to Herat
|
???
|
| 652
|
???
|
Arabs sack Balkh, then return to Khorosan
|
???
|
| 657
|
Pojuan Khan
|
Leads Uyğur army and defeats Holu in the name of the Tang Empire
|
Onoq power is broken, the Uyghurs ally with China to defeat the last remnants of their ancestral enemy, the Turks Chu valley
|
| 657
|
Pojuan Khan
|
Killed during the battle of Goguryeo (高句丽)
|
The Chinese break off diplomatic ties with Uyghur
|
| 659
|
Kaozong
|
Creates 10 tribal states in Onoq territory of which each one is governed by a vassal khan
|
The far-western region of the Turks is now subdued by China
|
| 659
|
Xuanzong
|
China annexes Suyab and Tashkent, marking the maximum extent of Chinese power
|
???
|
| 660
|
Gaozong
|
Suffers stroke and delegates power to his wife Wu Zetian
|
???
|
| 661
|
???
|
Onoq and Tibet drive the Tang out of Tarim
|
???
|
| 660
|
Tiele
|
Revolt against China
|
Tribute has not been paid
|
| 661
|
Pilatu
|
Succeeds her brother as Ilteber
|
???
|
| 621
|
Wu Zetian
|
Suppresses revolt at Khangai
|
???
|
| 663
|
Pilatu
|
Uyghur power declines
|
???
|
| 663
|
???
|
Arabs invade Bactria
|
???
|
| 663
|
???
|
Tibet takes Vakhan, Gilit and Kashgar
|
???
|
| 665
|
???
|
Onoq enters revolt
|
???
|
| 670
|
???
|
Tibet seizes four garrisons with the Chinese army retreating to Turpan
|
The Chinese divert their trade route north from Turpan to Beshbaliq, Suyab and Tashkent
|
| 679
|
???
|
Tibet controls four garrisons
|
???
|
| 680
|
Kutlug
|
Declares Orkhon Khanate
|
End of Tang Imperial control of Mongolian Steppe
|
| 681
|
Pro-China Tiele
|
Escapes to Liangzhou
|
They have lost qut and must flee to the steppe
|
| 682
|
Kutlug
|
Reunites the 16 tribes
|
Rise of Turk power
|
| 682
|
Tuchiachi
|
Is defeated by Kutluk; the Uyghurs move to the Selenga valley
|
The Uyghur lose sovereignty but not autonomy
|
| 683
|
Wu Zetian
|
Takes the Dragon Throne
|
This is a coup d'état
|
| 688
|
Kutlug
|
Defeats Uyğurs
|
???
|
| 690
|
Wu Zetian
|
Seizes absolute power by appealing to Buddhist millennialism
|
???
|
| 691
|
Kutlug
|
Defeats Toquz-Oghuz
|
???
|
| 692
|
Wu Zetian
|
Recovers Karashahr and Kucha
|
???
|
| 692
|
Kapğan
|
Succeeds his brother as the new Qağan
|
Traditional succession from older to younger brother
|
| 692
|
???
|
Tang Imperial army retakes the four garrisons
|
???
|
| 693
|
Kapğan
|
Defeats Tang Imperial army
|
???
|
| 694
|
Wu Zetian
|
Recovers Khotan and Kashgar
|
???
|
| 698
|
Kapğan
|
Defeats Türğish at the battle of Bolchu near Lake Urungu
|
This rendered the western steppe region vassal to the Orkhon Khanate
|
| 700
|
Bilgä shad
|
Attacks Tangut Kingdom
|
???
|
| 701
|
Tonyukuk-Ayguchy
|
Captures Sogdiana
|
This was a vassal of the Onoq to achieve total victory over his enemies
|
| 702
|
Kapğan
|
Attacks Xia Kingdom
|
???
|
| 703
|
???
|
Turko-Tibetan alliance is formed, but fails to defeat Tang army
|
???
|
| 703
|
???
|
Onoq retakes Suyab
|
???
|
| 705
|
Wu Zetian
|
Abdicates to Zhongzong
|
???
|
| 705
|
???
|
Tibetan-Gandharan alliance is formed and drives the Arabs from Bactria
|
???
|
| 705
|
Qutayba
|
Appointed governor of Khorosan
|
???
|
| 706
|
Qutayba
|
Captures Bukhara
|
???
|
| 707
|
Bukharan leader
|
Asks Khapgan for military support against the Arabs
|
???
|
| 708
|
Xuanzong
|
Offers reward to three vassal tribes for the head of Kapğan
|
???
|
| 710
|
Zhongzong
|
Poisoned by his wife Empress Wei who has an affair with Wu Sansi
|
???
|
| 710
|
Xuanzong
|
Takes power with his aunt Princess Taiping (daughter of Empress Wu)
|
???
|
| 710
|
Kyrgyz tribes
|
Revolt and are defeated
|
???
|
| 710
|
Qutayba
|
Places Tugshada on the throne of Bukhara and Ghurek on the throne of Samarkand
|
???
|
| 711
|
Turgish Khan
|
Revolt begins
|
???
|
| 711
|
Qarluk
|
Revolt and are defeated in 714
|
???
|
| 712
|
Xuanzong
|
Begins reign and kills Princess Taiping
|
???
|
| 712
|
Qutayba
|
Invades Bactria
|
???
|
| 712
|
Samarkand leader
|
Asks Khapgan for military support against the Arabs
|
???
|
| 712
|
???
|
Turks control Sogd
|
???
|
| 712
|
King of Fargana
|
Flees to Kucha under Chinese protection
|
???
|
| 714
|
Izgil tribe
|
Revolt and are defeated in 715
|
???
|
| 715
|
Toquz-Oguz tribe
|
Revolt and are defeated in 716 (this revolt includes the Uyghur tribe)
|
???
|
| 715
|
Qutayba
|
Assassinated by his troops in the Fargana valley
|
because he wishes to continue the campaign against the orders of the Caliph
|
| 715
|
King of Faragana
|
Returns as a Chinese vassal
|
???
|
| 715
|
King of Faragana
|
Returns as a Chinese vassal
|
???
|
| 716
|
Bayirqu tribe
|
Revolt and are defeated, but a rouge warrior ambushes Kapğan and kills him and sends his head to Changan with envoy Ho Lingchüan (July 22, Tola river)
|
???
|
| 716
|
Uyğur tribe
|
Revolt with Qarluk and Toquz-oguz
|
Although defeated they become autonomous vassals in the Selenga valley
|
| 716
|
Bilgä
|
Kills Inel, Kapğan's whole family and all his officials
|
Inel is not fit to rule, moreover, by Turk law the throne should pass to Bilgä
|
| 718
|
Bilgä
|
Restores peace and ends all revolts
|
???
|
| 720
|
Xuanzong
|
Tries to attack Bilgä in coordination with Basmyl and Khitans, but fails, therefore accepting the terms of Bilgä's peace
|
???
|
| 721
|
Xuanzong
|
China controls Suyab, Kucha, Kashgar, Tashkent and Fargana
|
???
|
| 721
|
Xuanzong
|
Arabo-Turgish-Tibetan alliance defeats Chinese army; the Arabs take Faragana and the Turgish take Suyab
|
???
|
| 721
|
???
|
Tashkent becomes independent
|
???
|
| 721
|
???
|
Sogdo-Turgish alliance attacks Arabs
|
???
|
| 725
|
Tonyukuk
|
Dies
|
???
|
| 727
|
Bilgä
|
Refuses an anti-Tang alliance with the Tibetans
|
???
|
| 728
|
???
|
Sogdo-Turgish alliance liberates Sogd
|
???
|
| 729
|
???
|
Arabs control Bactria and Samarkand
|
Turgish control of Sogd, Fargana and Suyab; China control of North Tarim and Tibet control South Tarim
|
| 731
|
Köl Tegin
|
Dies
|
???
|
| 734
|
Bilgä
|
Poisoned by Buyruk Chor as part of a Chinese conspiracy
|
???
|
| 736
|
???
|
Sino-Arabian alliance is formed and defeats the Turgish at Suyab
|
China annexes Suyab, while Arabs occupy Sogd
|
| 739
|
???
|
Tibet allies with Gandhara
|
China annexes Suyab, while Arabs occupy Sogd
|
| 739
|
Ghurek
|
Reign ends
|
???
|
| 742
|
Xuanzong
|
Begins affair with Yang Gueifei and leaves power in the hands of An Rokhan
|
???
|
| 744
|
Ozmish Khan
|
Killed by Uyghur, Basmyl, Qarluk rebellion
|
???
|
| 745
|
???
|
Qarluk and Uyghur overthrow Basmyl Khan
|
???
|
| 745
|
???
|
Uyghur defeat Qarluk and declare a new Khanate at Otuken; the Qarluk move to the far-west region
|
???
|
| 745
|
Abu Muslim
|
Begins a Jihad in Sogd
|
???
|
| 747
|
Bayan Chor
|
Begins reign
|
???
|
| 748
|
???
|
Abbasid Caliphate begins
|
???
|
| 750
|
Chabish of Tashkent and Ilkhshid of Fargana
|
Begin a dispute; Chinese ally Ilkhshid and Turkish ally the Chabish send for help
|
???
|
| 750
|
General Kao Hsienchih
|
Sacks Tashkent after it surrenders, taking the Chabish and the Khan to be executed in Changan
|
???
|
| 750
|
Son of Chabish
|
Petitions governor Ziyad ibn Salih in Samarkand for revenge
|
???
|
| 751
|
Abu Muslim
|
Sends army at the request of Governor Salih, meeting the Kao Hsienchih at Talas
|
???
|
| 755
|
Abu Muslim
|
Assassinated
|
???
|
| 755
|
An Rokhan
|
Rebels against Xuanzong
|
???
|
| 755
|
An Rokhan
|
Captures Changan
|
???
|
| 756
|
Xuanzong
|
Abdicates and Yang Guifei is killed
|
???
|
| 759
|
Bogu Khan
|
Begins reign
|
???
|
| 763
|
Bogu Khan
|
Ends Ungluk Suyluk Topilingi (An Lushan) rebellion
|
???
|
