äSubject: tigin prince as military governor
Culture: Turkic
Setting: Turkic khaganates, Central Asia 6-8thc
Context (Event Photos, Primary Sources, Secondary Sources, Field Notes)
* Barfield 1989 p132-133
"[T]he Turkish empire ... reached from Manchuria to the Caspian Sea.
"The empire was organized as an imperial confederacy. Like that of the Hsiung-nu, it had three basic levels: an imperial government and court bureaucracy, imperial appointees governing tribes throughout the empire, and indigenous tribal leaders running the local affairs of their own people.
"The highest imperial rank was that of khagan, but unlike the Hsiung-nu rank of Shan-yü, it was not always exclusive. The senior khagan sometimes appointed lesser khagans to rule over parts of the empire. The heir apparent to the khagan held the title of yabghu. Before the establishment of the Turkish empire this title appears to have been the highest, for the T'u-chieh first became powerful under the leadership of the 'Great Yabghu' when still part of the Jou-jan empire. The imperial governors of the empire held the title of shad. They and the yabghu ruled over the component tribes of the empire. Those holding these titles were the sons, brothers, and uncles of the khagan, called tigin (princes). All were members of the ruling A-shih-na clan
"The tribes making up the empire all had their own native rulers, bäg. Leaders of powerful tribes held the title of iltäbär, those from less powerful tribes were called irkin. They were all under the authority of one of the imperial governors. Collectively these local groups were divided into eastern and western wings: the Tölis and Tardush. Tribes not directly ruled by the Turks were watched over by tudun, agents appointed by the khagan to extract tribute and maintain the loyalty of more distant tribes. According to Chinese records there were 28 ranks, all hereditary, in the whole system.
"From what information is available it appears that the Turkish empire was not as centralized as that of the Hsiung-nu. The khagan's willingness to appoint lesser khagans who were often autonomous created fractures in the state structure and reduced the senior khagan's ability to command. The Turks lacked the decimal system of military organization (commanders of 10,000, 1,000, etc.) and the khagan had less power over his subordinates than did the Hsiung-nu Shan-yü.
"The rise of the Turks, like that of the Hsiung-nu, was due to their military might. As soon as they had established themselves, the Turks began to extort subsidies from the two rival courts in north China, Chou and Ch'i. The Turks did not need to invade China to impress them. Both courts had been terrified by the earlier destruction of the Jou-jan and the conquests on the steppe. The Turks received lavish gifts from each court. On occasion they acted as mercenaries, aiding Chou in attacks on Ch'i. Trade flourished, with the Turks exchanging horses for silk. "
* Gorelik 1995
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* Nicolle/McBride 1990 p
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Archery
* Nicolle/McBride 1990 p
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Saber
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Costume
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