Western Turkic Khaganate

The Western Turkic Khaganate was a Central Asian Turkic state that emerged from the First Turkic Khaganate’s division and lasted until Tang forces defeated it in 657.

First Turkic Khaganate: The first major Turkic imperial state, founded in the sixth century and later divided into eastern and western realms. The Western khaganate emerged when this empire’s ruling house split its authority.
On Ok Budun: The confederation of ten western Turkic tribes, organized into the Nushibi and Dulu divisions. Its tribal structure formed the khaganate’s core political and military constituency.
Tong Yabghu Qaghan: A Western Turkic ruler who presided over the khaganate at the height of its power in the early seventh century. His reign strengthened western influence and brought the state into closer contact with Byzantium.
Battle of Irtysh River: A 657 Tang campaign in which forces led by Su Dingfang defeated Ashina Helu’s western Turkic army. This decisive defeat ended the khaganate’s ability to resist Tang intervention.
Eastern Turkic Khaganate: The eastern successor state of the First Turkic Khaganate, centered in Mongolia and northern China. It was the other major realm created by the division that produced the Western khaganate.
Istami: A sixth-century Göktürk ruler who led westward expansion and established Turkic power in Central Asia. His western campaigns laid foundations for the khaganate’s Central Asian sphere.
Nushibi: A western Turkic tribal division, traditionally composed of five tribes and opposed to the Dulu. Nushibi–Dulu rivalry repeatedly destabilized the khaganate’s succession and government.
Ashina Helu: A Turkic prince who challenged Tang authority in Central Asia and was defeated in 657. His defeat marked the end of the khaganate’s independence.
Tang dynasty: A Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 618 to 907 and projected power across East and Central Asia. After the khaganate’s fall, Tang authorities established control over much of its former territory.
Second Turkic Khaganate: A Turkic empire centered in Mongolia that arose in the late seventh century after Tang dominance weakened. Its later revival of Turkic rule contrasts with the Western khaganate’s defeat and fragmentation.

Linked from 9 pages