Suluk, Sul-lu or Sulu (?-738) was a

Türgesh The Türgesh or Türgish ( otk, 𐱅𐰇𐰼𐰏𐰾:𐰉𐰆𐰑, Türügeš budun, Türgesh people; ; Old Tibetan: ''Du-rgyas'') were a Turkic tribal confederation. Once belonging to the Duolu wing of the Western Turkic ''On Oq'' elites, Tür ...

tribal leader and a Qaghan who defended

Transoxiana Transoxiana or Transoxania (Land beyond the Oxus) is the Latin name for a region and civilization located in lower Central Asia roughly corresponding to modern-day eastern Uzbekistan, western Tajikistan, parts of southern Kazakhstan, parts of Tu ...

against

Umayyad The Umayyad Caliphate (661–750 CE; , ; ar, ٱلْخِلَافَة ٱلْأُمَوِيَّة, al-Khilāfah al-ʾUmawīyah) was the second of the four major caliphates established after the death of Muhammad. The caliphate was ruled by the ...

conquest in the early 8th century.

Background

Türgesh was a park of confederation known as On-Oq Turks, (a group of tribes) around

. Initially, their territory was a part of the

First Turkic Khaganate The First Turkic Khaganate, also referred to as the First Turkic Empire, the Turkic Khaganate or the Göktürk Khaganate, was a Turkic khaganate established by the Ashina clan of the Göktürks in medieval Inner Asia under the leadership of Bumin ...

, then part of Western Turkic Qaghante. After defeat of the

Western Turkic Khaganate The Western Turkic Khaganate () or Onoq Khaganate ( otk, 𐰆𐰣:𐰸:𐰉𐰆𐰑𐰣, On oq budun, Ten arrow people) was a Turkic khaganate in Eurasia, formed as a result of the wars in the beginning of the 7th century (593–603 CE) after t ...

by the

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...

in 658 resulted in the creation of puppet khaganates under the

Jimi system The Jimi system () or Jimifuzhou () was an autonomous administrative and political organization system used in China between the 7th century and 10th century. It should not to be confused with the tributary system. The term "Jimi" was first seen ...

. The Türgesh chieftains

Wuzhile Wuzhile () (reconstructed Old Turkic *Üç EligS.G. Klyashtorny's reconstruction cited in or *Oçırlıq, ultimately from Pali Vajira) was the first Turgesh Qaghan, from the Sary (Yellow) Türgesh faction. Early life He was titled Bagha Tarkh ...

and his son Suoge were able to declare independence after the rebellion of

Ashina Tuizi Ashina Tuizi (693-700) — was a claimant Qaghan of Western Turkic Khaganate following invasion of Tang dynasty. Life He escaped Tang dynasty, Tang after execution of his father at the hand of Lai Junchen. After arriving in Tibetan Empire in 693 ...

. However, after Ilterish Khagan re-established the

Turkic Khaganate The Göktürks founded two major khanates known as the Turkic Khaganate: * First Turkic Khaganate, which then fractured into ** Western Turkic Khaganate ** Eastern Turkic Khaganate * Second Turkic Khaganate See also * Turkic khanate * List of Turk ...

in 681, competition to control the

Silk Road The Silk Road () was a network of Eurasian trade routes active from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century. Spanning over 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles), it played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and reli ...

caused tension between the Khaganate and Türgesh khaghans. At the beginning of the 8th century, the Türgesh were subjugated by the Turkic Khaganate, but this was not long lasting.

Early Reign

Suluk was a Chor serving under Suoge before the

Battle of Bolchu The Battle of Bolchu was a critical battle in the Turkic Khaganate history in 711. Background In the 7th century, the First Turkic Khaganate was divided into two rival states. Both states were subsequently defeated and annexed by the Tang dynast ...

. After Suoge's defeat, Türgesh migrated to south of Zhetysu valley. During

Qapaghan Qaghan Qapaghan or Qapghan Qaghan ( otk, 𐰴𐰯𐰍𐰣:𐰴𐰍𐰣, Qapaγan qaγan, meaning "the conqueror", , Xiao'erjing: ٿِيًا شًا, Dungan: Чяншан, , also called Bögü Qaghan ( otk, 𐰋𐰇𐰏:𐰴𐰍𐰣, Bögü qaγan) in Bai ...

's death and

Kul Tegin , native_name_lang = otk , image = Turkic Head of Koltegin Statue (35324303410).jpg , caption = Bust of Kul Tigin found at the Khoshoo Tsaidam burial site, in Khashaat, Arkhangai Province, Orkhon River valley. Located in the Na ...

's coup, they used the opportunity to reassert independence and chose Suluk, a ''Black Türgesh'' chieftain to be their supreme leader in 715 or 716. However as in Suoge's case, he was not acknowledged as a Khagan by

Tang Tang or TANG most often refers to: * Tang dynasty * Tang (drink mix) Tang or TANG may also refer to: Chinese states and dynasties * Jin (Chinese state) (11th century – 376 BC), a state during the Spring and Autumn period, called Tang (唐) b ...

Ashina Xian Ashina Xian was a Western Turk khagan, also a general of Protectorate General to Pacify the West from 708 to 717, appointed by the Tang dynasty. Life When his father was executed by Lai Junchen in 692, he was exiled to Yazhou. However, he was r ...

was appointed "''Shixing Qaghan''" and Suluk was assigned as his subordinate general with titles "Great General of the Left Wing of the Forestial Army" (左羽林軍大將軍) and "Grand Military Commissioner of Jinfang" (經略大使金方) by Xuanzong. However, this ended up causing a rift between the two, as Suluk defeated Xian on June or July of 717, besieging Aksu and Uch Turfan along the way. He declared himself as khagan during August or September. Xuanzong had to accept Suluk's independence and titled him as the Duke of Shunguo (順国公) in 718 and Zhongshun Khagan () in 719.

Struggle against Umayyads

With his eastern flank secured, beginning by 721, Suluk fought against the Arab armies for ten years. Backed by other local powers (including the

Sogdia Sogdia (Sogdian language, Sogdian: ) or Sogdiana was an ancient Iranian peoples, Iranian civilization between the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, and in present-day Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Sogdiana was also ...

ns) against the invading Umayyads, his operations were generally

hit and run In traffic laws, a hit and run or a hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic collision and not stopping afterwards. It is considered a supplemental crime in most jurisdictions. Additional obligation In many jurisdictions, there may be an ...

operations and his maneuvers were aimed at the depriving the invading army of water. Although his army was much smaller than that of the Arabs, Suluk found success through his familiarity with the local area. Throughout the conflicts, the Arab army had to withdraw to find fresh water, such as in the

Day of Thirst The "Day of Thirst" ( ar, ﻳﻮﻢ ﺍلعطش, Yawm al-aṭash) is the name traditionally given in Arabic historiography to a battle fought in 724 between the Turkic Türgesh Khaganate and the Umayyad Caliphate on the banks of the Syr Darya ri ...

in 724 and the

Battle of the Defile The Battle of the Defile or Battle of the Pass ( ar, وقعة الشعب, Waqʿat al-Shʿib) was fought in the Takhtakaracha Pass (in modern Uzbekistan) between a large army of the Umayyad Caliphate and the Turkic Türgesh khaganate over three ...

in 731. He was known by Arabs as ''Abū Muzāhim'' ("Father of the Competition").

Later reign

Suluk had a conflict with Du Xian in 726. When Princess Jiaohe, one of Suluk's wives, sent messengers and 1,000 horses to Du's headquarters to sell horses, the messengers read of an order from her, which Du responded by angrily stating, "How dare an Ashina woman issue me an order?". Du had the messengers caned and the horses detained. In late 726, after Du left his office, Suluk attacked

Tarim Basin The Tarim Basin is an endorheic basin in Northwest China occupying an area of about and one of the largest basins in Northwest China.Chen, Yaning, et al. "Regional climate change and its effects on river runoff in the Tarim Basin, China." Hydr ...

, causing much damage. Suluk only withdrew from the attack when he heard that Du had been made chancellor. On 27 October 735, Suluk attacked Beshbaliq, however his forces was crushed by Tang's armies. He was then forced to send his envoy Ulu Tarkhan (胡禄达干) to make peace. Another defeat at

Battle of Kharistan The Battle of Kharistan was fought between the forces of the Umayyad Caliphate and the Turkic Türgesh in December 737 near the town of Kharistan in Juzjan, eastern Khurasan (modern northern Afghanistan). The Umayyads, under the governor of Khu ...

in 737 sealed Suluk's fate. He was killed in 737 or 738 by Baga Tarkhan, one of his relatives.Melek Tekin: ''Türk Tarihi'', Milliyet yayınları, 1991, İstanbul

Aftermath

The death of Suluk caused a civil war, which divided the Türgesh into two rival factions: the ''Yellow Türgesh'', who supported Baga Tarkhan and the ''Black Türgesh'', who supported

Kut Chor Kut Chor (; full title: ) was a son of Suluk (Turgesh khagan), Suluk and briefly served as Türgesh khagan. Reign He was set up on throne by Tumodu in Suyab, having support of the ''Black Turgesh'' and his brother Ton Apa Yabgu. His main contende ...

Bilge Khagan Bilge Qaghan ( otk, 𐰋𐰃𐰠𐰏𐰀:𐰴𐰍𐰣, Bilgä Qaγan; ; 683 – 25 November 734) was the fourth Qaghan of the Second Turkic Khaganate. His accomplishments were described in the Orkhon inscriptions. Names As was the custom, his ...

, the last of the able Turkic khagans, was already dead and with the death of Suluk, Transoxiana was opened to Arabic conquest. Around this time there was a power shift in the

Caliphate A caliphate or khilāfah ( ar, خِلَافَة, ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph (; ar, خَلِيفَة , ), a person considered a political-religious successor to th ...

, as the

dynasty was supplanted by the

Abbasid The Abbasid Caliphate ( or ; ar, الْخِلَافَةُ الْعَبَّاسِيَّة, ') was the third caliphate to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib ...

dynasty. The policy of the Abbasid Caliphs was more peaceful than that of the Umayyads and Arab control of Transoxiana was limited to the occupation of a few forts.

Family

He had three wives:L.M.Gumiliev:Eski Türkler (Translation:D.Ahsen Batur), Selenge Yayınları, İstanbul, 2003, pp.429-431 * Princess Jiaohe (交河公主) - m. 722,

Ashina Huaidao Ashina Huaidao (704–708) was a puppet Turkic khagan under Tang dynasty. Life He was a son of Ashina Huseluo. He was sent to Turgesh leader Sakal by Tang to negotiate submission in 706. After achieving this, he was appointed as Shixing Khagan ...

's daughter *

Bilge Qaghan Bilge Qaghan ( otk, 𐰋𐰃𐰠𐰏𐰀:𐰴𐰍𐰣, Bilgä Qaγan; ; 683 – 25 November 734) was the fourth Qaghan of the Second Turkic Khaganate. His accomplishments were described in the Orkhon inscriptions. Names As was the custom, his ...

's daughter - m. 733 * Drönmalon - m. 734,

Tridu Songtsen Tridu Songtsen (), Tridu Songtsen or Dusong Mangban, (b.668 – 704d.; r. 676–704 CE) was an emperor of the Tibetan Empire from 676 to 704. Ascent to throne 'Dus-rong ascended the Tibetan throne after the death of his father, Mangsong Mangtsen ...

's daughter Issues: *

(738-739) * Ton Apa Yabghu

References

External links

Sapèques des Türgish
{{in lang, fr History of Uzbekistan Türgesh rulers 8th-century rulers in Asia 738 deaths Year of birth unknown Muslim conquest of Transoxiana 8th-century Turkic people