Turks have a long background dating back to the 3rd millennia BC, when they lived as nomads in the great Chinese steppes and on the Mongolian highlands. But first historical written references to the Turks appear in Chinese records of about 200 BC, when Turks liberated themselves from the Chinese autonomy and moved towards west to establish their own Empires and States mainly within the intersection of 3 continents; Asia, Europe and Africa. Their economy was based on shepherding and stockbreeding, especially sheep and horse, latter having a great importance in the Turkish social and cultural life. With the contact of Arabs around 9th century AD, Turks started to become Muslims in large groups especially in the 10th century AD. Totemism and Shamanism were the main religions of the Turks before Islam.
Latest researches show that there were over 100 Turkic states founded in the last two thousand years, but not all of them had a big impact in the world history. Out of these many states, there were 16 Great Turkish States in the history before the foundation of modern Republic of Turkey.
The rulers of these States were called mainly as Tarkan, Tanhu, Kagan (Kaan), Han (Khan), Yangu, Bey, Shah, Sultan, and so on. Generally the eldest son was appointed as the crown prince. In case the crown princes were at a very young age, than their uncles were enthroned until they grow up. The capital city of the ruler was called as "Ordu".
| Turkish States |
|---|
| Great Hun |
| Western Hun |
| European Hun |
| Ak Hun |
| Gokturk |
| Avar |
| Hazar |
| Uygur |
| Karahanli |
| Gazneli |
| Seljuk |
| Harzemsah |
| Altinordu |
| Timur |
| Babur |
| Ottoman |
| Republic of Turkey |
| Others |
Great Hun Empire 204 BC - 216 AD
Büyük Hun Imparatorlugu
Founder: METE HAN
Territory: Siberia to the North, Tibet and Kashmir to the south, Pacific Ocean to the east, and Caspian Sea to the west. Approximately 18 million sq kilometers.
Emperors:
- Yabgu Teoman - Karahan (Tou-Man Tovman) (? - 209 BC)
- Mete Bagatir (209 - 174 BC)
- Lao - Shang (174 - 161 BC)
- Chun - Chen Yabgu (Kun) (161 - 126 BC)
- I-Chin-Hsien (Icihise) Yabgu (126 - 114 BC)
- Wu-Weri (Uvey) Yabgu (114 - 105 BC)
- Wu-Shih-Lu-Erh (U-Su-Liu-Usilu) Yabgu (105 - 102 BC)
- Chu-Li-Hu (Hiu-Li-Hu-Guylihu) Yabgu (102 - 101 BC)
- Chu-Ti-Hu (Tsie-Ti-Heu-Tsuydiheu) Yabgu (101 - 96 BC)
- Hu-Lu-Ku-(Hu-Lo-Ku = Hulugu) Yabgu (96 - 85 BC)
- Khuandi Yabgu (85 - 68 BC)
- Khuyluy Yabgu (68 - 60 BC)
- Uven-Guydi Yabgu (60 - 58 BC)
- Khukhasie Yabgu (58 - 56 BC)
- Chichi Yabgu (56 - 36 BC)
- Joti Yabgu (31 - 20 BC)
- Seuse - Joti Yabgu (20 - 12 BC)
- Cheya - Joti Yabgu (12 - 8 BC)
- Uchjolu - Joti Yabgu (8 BC - 13 AD)
- Uluyjoti Yabgu (13 - 18 AD)
- Shikao-Joti Yabgu (18 - 46)
- Vutatiho Yabgu (46)
- Panu Yabgu (46 - 83)
- Sanmuldutzu Yabgu (83 - 84)
- Yuliu Yabgu (84 - 89)
- Yuchukien Yabgu (89 - 93)
- Ankuo Yabgu (93 - 94)
- Tingtoshi - Suyheuti Yabgu (94 - 98)
- Vanshichi - Suyti Yabgu (98 - 124)
- Vuchihu - Shihcho Yabgu (124 - 127)
- Tejoshi - Suytsieu Yabgu (127 - 140)
- Chenieu Yabgu (140 - 143)
- Hulanjoshi Suytsieu Yabgu (143 - 147)
- Ilingshi - Suytsieu Yabgu (147 - 172)
- Totejoshi - Suytsieu Yabgu (172 - 177)
- Huching Yabgu (177 - 179)
- Kiangkiu Yabgu (179 - 188)
- Techishi - Suyheu Yabgu (188 - 195)
- Huchutsiuen Yabgu (195 - 216)
Western Hun Empire 48 - 216 AD
Bati Hun Imparatorlugu
Founder: PANU
Territory: Western Turkistan provinces.
Emperors:
- Unknown
European Hun Empire 375 - 469 AD
Avrupa Hun Imparatorlugu
Founder: OKTAR
Territory: Southern Russia, Romania, northern ex-Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, ex-Czechoslovakia, Southern and mid-Germany. Basically stretching from eastern France to Ural mountains, and from northern Hungary to Byzantine lands. Approximately 4 million sq kilometers.
Emperors:
- Balamir (375 - 395)
- Karaton(395 - 415)
- Muncuk (415 - 425)
- Oktar (425 - 430)
- Ruga (430 - 434)
- Bleda (434 - 445)
- Attila (445 - 453)
- Ilek (453 - 454)
Ak (White) Hun Empire 420 - 552 AD
Ak Hun Imparatorlugu
Founder: AKSHUVAR (AKSUNGUR)
Territory: Half of northern India, Afghanistan, a part of Turkistan. Approximately 3.5 million sq kilometers.
Emperors:
- Toraman Akhsunvar (420 - 470)
- Toraman (496 - 502)
- Mihirakula (502 - 530)
- Un-identified between 530 - 567
Gokturk Empire 552 - 745 AD
Göktürk Imparatorlugu
Founder: BUMIN KAGAN
Territory: Altai (Ergenekon) valleys, mainly stretching between Pacific Ocean and Black Sea. Approximately 18 million sq kilometers.
Emperors:
- Bumin Kagan (552 - 553)
- Istemi Kagan (553 - 576)
- Tapar Kagan (576 - 581)
- Baga Ishbara Kagan (581 - 587)
- Chur-Baga Kagan (587 - 588)
- Tunga Turan Kagan (588 - 600)
- Bilge Tardu Kagan (600 - 603)
- Kimin Ture Kagan (603 - 609)
- Shibi Kagan (609 - 619)
- Chulluk Kagan (619 - 621)
- Kara Kagan (621 - 630)
- Shirbe Kagan (630 - 646)
- Chibi Kagan (646 - 647)
- Ipi Tulu Kagan (647 - 653)
- Chenku-Yabgu (653 - 659)
- Echine Turche Kagan (659 - 679)
- Echine Kur Pur Chur Kagan (679 - 682)
- Ilterish Kutlug Kagan (682 - 693)
- Kapagan Kagan (693 - 716)
- Bilge Kagan (716 - 734)
- Ichen Bilge Kagan (734 - 739)
- Bilge Kutlug Kagan (739 - 741)
- Penge Kagan (741 - 742)
- Suyen Kagan (742)
- Uzmush Kagan (742 - 744)
- Peymen Kagan (744 - 745)
Avar Empire 565 - 835 AD
Avar Imparatorlugu
Founder: BAYAN KAGAN
Territory: Between Volga and Hungary, Southern Russia and Eflak Bogdan area.
Emperors:
- Bayan Kagan (565 - 602)
- Un-identified between 602 - 791
- Tudun I (791 - 803)
- Zodan (803 - 805)
- Thedorus (805 - ?)
- Abraham (? - ?)
- Tudun II (? - 835)
Khazar (Caspian) Empire 651 - 983 AD
Hazar Imparatorlugu
Founder: Unknown, but its greatest ruler was HAKAN YUSUF
Territory: Between Crimea, Caucasia, Dinyeper, Don, Volga areas.
Emperors:
- Unknown
Uygur State 745 - 1368 AD
Uygur Devleti
Founder: KUTLUG BILGE KUL KAGAN
Territory: Central Asia and northern Mongolia.
Emperors:
- Kutlug Bilge Kul-Kagan (745 - 746)
- Il-Etmish Bilge Bayinchur (Moyunchur) Kagan (746 - 759)
- Il-Tutmush Alp Kulug Bilge Kagan (759 - 780)
- Alp-Kutlug Bilge Kagan (780 - 789)
- Taras Kulug Bilge Kagan (789 - 790)
- Ochur Kutlug Bilge Kagan (790 - 795)
- Alp-Ulug Kutlug Bilge Kagan (795 - 805)
- Kut-Bulmush in Ay-Tengri
- Kut Bulmush Kuchlug Bilge Kagan in Tengri
- Alp-Kulug Bilge Kagan
- Uge Kagan (839 - 845)
- Bilge Bayinchur (Moyunchur II) Kadir Han (845 - 885)
- Tafgach Ogulchak Kadir Han (885 - 940)
- Un-identified rulers
Karahanli State 940 - 1040 AD
Karahanlilar
Founder: SATUK BUGRA HAN
Territory: Between Aral lake to Mongolia.
Emperors:
- Satuk Bugra Abdulkerim Han (940 - 955)
- Baytash Musa Han (955 - ?)
- Ali Han (? - 998)
- Ahmed Han I (998 - 1017)
- Mansur Han (1017 - 1024)
- Ahmed Han II (1024 - 1026)
- Yusuf Han (1026 - 1032)
- Suleyman Han (1032 - 1040)
Gazneli Sultanate 962 - 1183 AD
Gazneliler
Founder: ALP TEKIN
Territory: Stretching between Maveraunnehir to Ganja, and from Caspian shores to Pamir highlands. Approximately 4.7 million sq kilometers.
Emperors:
- Alp Tekin (Tigin) (962)
- Ebu - Ishak Ibrahim (963 - 966)
- Bilge Tekin (966 - 972)
- Piri Tekin (972 - 977)
- Sebuk Tekin (977 - 997)
- Ismail (997 - 998)
- Gazneli Mahmud (998 - 1030)
- Celalu'd - Devle & Cemalu'l-Ebu-Ahmed Muhammed (? - 1041)
- Sultan Mes'ud I (1030 - 1040)
- Sultan Mevlud (1040 - 1048)
- Sultan Mes'ud II (1048 - 1049)
- Sultan Ali (1049 - 1051)
- Sultan Abdurreshid (1051 - 1052)
- Sultan Tugrul (Mutegallibe) (1052 - 1053)
- Sultan Ferk-Zad (1053 - 1059)
- Sultan Ibrahim (1059 - 1099)
- Sultan Mes'ud III (1099 - 1115)
- Sultan Shir-Zad (1115 - 1116)
- Sultan Arslan-Shah (1116 - 1117)
- Sultan Behram-Shah (1117 - 1152)
- Sultan Husrev-Shah (1152 - 1160)
- Sultan Husrev-Melik (Melik Shah) (1160 - 1187)
Greater Seljuk Empire 1040 - 1157 AD
Büyük Selcuk Imparatorlugu
Founder: SELCUK BEY
Territory: Balkash to the east, Aegean and Mediterranean shores to the west, Aral Lake, Caspian Sea and Caucasia to the north, Amman Sea to the south including Arabia. Approximately 10 million sq kilometers. Please click on the link for more information on Seljuk Empire.
Emperors:
- Tugrul Bey (1040 - 1063)
- Sultan Alp Arslan (1063 - 1072)
- Sultan Melik Shah I (1072 - 1092)
- Sultan Mahmud (1092 - 1093)
- Sultan Rukneddin Beryaruk (1093 - 1104)
- Sultan Melik Shah II (1104 - 1105)
- Sultan Mehmed Tapar (1105 - 1118)
- Sultan Mu'izzeddin Sancar (1118 - 1157)
Kharzem Shah State 1097 - 1231 AD
Harzemsahlar
Founder: K. MUHAMMED HARZEMSAH
Territory: Area between Iran, southern Caucasia, Dagestan, Amman Sea, Afghanistan, Maveraunnehir, Harzem, Balkash and Aral Lake. Approximately 5 million sq kilometers.
Emperors:
- K. Muhammed Harzemshah (1097 - 1128)
- Un-named Harzemshah (1128 - 1156)
- Il-Arslan Harzemshah (1116 - 1172)
- Alaeddin Tekish Harzemshah (1172 - 1200)
- Aleddin Muhammed Harzemshah (1200 - 1220)
- Celaleddin Harzemshah (1220 - 1231)
The Golden Horde 1236 - 1502 AD
Altinordu Devleti
Founder: BATUR (BATU) HAN
Territory: Eastern Europe, Idyll (Volga) area, and area between western Urals and northern Volga.
Emperors:
- Cuci-Han (1223-1227)
- Batu (Batur) (1227-1256)
- Sartak Han (1256-1257)
- Olakci Han (1257)
- Berke Han (1257-1266)
- Mengu - Timur Han (1266-1280)
- Tuda - Mengu Han (1280 -1287)
- Tula - Buga Han (1287-1290)
- Tokta Han(1290-1312)
- Ozbek Han (1312-1341)
- Tini Bek Han (1341)
- Cani - Bek Han I (1341-1357)
- Berdi - Bek Han (1357- 1360)
- Kulpa Han (1360)
- Nevruz - Bek Han (1360-1361)
- Hizir Han (1361)
- Timur - Hoca Han (1361)
- Avdul Han (1361-1362)
- Kildi - Bek Han (1362)
- Murut Han (1362-1363)
- Aziz Han (1363-1367)
- Cani Bek Han II (1367)
- Pulad - Demir Han (1367)
- Bulak Han (1367-1370)
- Tulun - Bek Hanim (1370-1372)
- Ilban Han (1372-1374)
- Ala Hoca Han (1374)
- Urus Han (1374-1376)
- Timur - Melik Han (1376-1377)
- Toktamish Han (1377-1395)
- Timur- Kutlug Han (1395-1400)
- Sadi - Bek Han (1400-1408)
- Pulad Han (1408-1410)
- Timur Han (1410-1411)
- Celaleddin Han (1411-1412)
- Kerim - Berdi Han (1412-1417)
- Kepek Han (1414-1415)
- Kaadir - Berdi Han (1415-1416)
- Cebbar - Berdi Han (1416-1419)
- Ulug - Muhammed Han (1419-1435)
- Seyid - Ahmed Han I (1435-1465)
- Seyyid - Ahmed Han II (1465 - 1481)
- Seyyid - Ahmed Han III (1481)
- Mutuza Han (1481 - 1499)
- Seyh - Ahmed Han (1499 - 1502)
Greater Timur Empire 1368 - 1501 AD
Büyük Timur Imparatorlugu
Founder: TIMUR GURKAN
Territory: Balkans in the west, Volga shores in the north, Indian Ocean in the south, Central Asia in the east.
Emperors:
- Timur Gurkan (Kuregen) (1368 - 1405)
- Sultan Halil (1405 - 1409)
- Sultan Shahruh (1409 - 1447)
- Sultan Ulug - Beg (1447 - 1449)
- Sultan Abdullatif (1449 - 1450)
- Sultan Abdullah (1450 - 1451)
- Sultan Ebu - Said (1451 - 1469)
- Sultan Ahmed (1469 - 1494)
- Sultan Mahmud (1494 - 1495)
- Sultan Baysungur (1495 - 1497)
- Sultan Babur (1497 - 1498)
- Sultan Ali (1498 - 1500)
Babur Empire 1526 - 1858 AD
Babür Imparatorlugu
Founder: BABUR SAH
Territory: India and Afghanistan. Approximately 2.7 million sq kilometers.
Emperors:
- Babur Shah (1483 - 1530)
- Nasireddin Muhammed Humayun Shah (1530 - 1540)
- Ekber Mirza Shah (1556 - 1605)
- Cihangir Shah (1605 - 1627)
- Shah-i Cihan I (1627 - 1658)
- Alemgir Shah I (1658 - 1707)
- Bahadir Shah I (1707 - 1712)
- Cihahgir Shah (1712 - 1713)
- Ferruh - Siyer Shah (1713 - 1719)
- Refiudderecat Shah (1719)
- Shah-i Cihan II (1719)
- Muhammed Shah (1719 - 1748)
- Ahmet Shah (1748 - 1754)
- Alemgir Shah II (1754 - 1759)
- Shah-I Alem (1759 - 1806)
- Ekber Shah (1806 - 1837)
- Bahadir Shah II (1837 - 1858)
Ottoman Empire 1299 - 1923 AD
Osmanli Imparatorlugu
Founder: OSMAN BEY
Territory: Approximately 20 million sq kilometers. Please click on the link for more information on Ottoman Empire.
Emperors: Please click on the link for more information regarding Ottoman sultans.
Republic of Turkey 1923 - Today
Türkiye Cumhuriyeti
Founder: MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATURK
Territory: 783.562 square kilometers. Please click on the link for more information on the Geography.
Government: Presidential and uni-cameral Government.
Others
In the modern world today, there are other Turkic originated countries apart from Turkey: Azerbaijan, Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan.
Beside these independent countries we can also count autonomous Turkic States: Republic of Nahchevan, Republic of Tuva, Republic of Tataristan, North Osetya (Alanya) Federal Republic, Crimean Autonomous Republic Tatar Autonomous Administration, Adige Federal Republic, Altai Republic, Bashkiria Federal Republic, Saha (Yakutistan) Federal Republic, Karakalpak Turks and Karakalpakistan, Karacay-Circassian Republic, Kabardey-Balkar (Malkar) Republic, Sincan/Uighur Autonomous Region (Eastern Turkistan), Republic of Chechnya, Chuvashistan, Dagestan Republic, Gagavuz (Gokoguz), Hakas People and Hakasia (Hakas Republic), and Hakas Federal Republic.
And finally, as some of the Turkish Communities around the world we can point: Western Thrace Turks, Bulgaria Turks, Kosovo Turks, Macedonian Turks, Afghanistan Turks, Ahiska Turks, Derbent Turkmens, Khazar and Karay people, Turks living in Idyll-Ural Region, Caucasus Turkmens, Kaskay Turks, Sanjak Turks, Kumuk Turks, Meluncan People, Turks in Mongolia, Oryat People (Altai Turks), Nogay Turks, Turks living in Romania, Turks living in Iraq, Iranian Turks, and Turks living in Syria. They all share the same roots of Turks.
Source: Presidency of the Republic of Turkey