Sayfayı Yazdır

Chinese Slavery and Attempts for Independence: the Great Hero Kurshat (630-680)


        The year of 630 in which Tai-tsung announced himself as "the Gök (Sky)-Khan of the Turks" is accepted as the end of the Eastern Kök Turks' independence. The tribes linked to the kingdom and foreign communities were disintegrating and since there was nobody around the Kök Turks' princes to offer help everybody was looking for his own solution, the Turks were taking refuge in China. Although the khans from the Aşına Family followed each others, they were like puppets at the service of the Chinese Palace, they were going to visits of fidelity, giving presents and having different titles from the emperor. The tragic condition of the Kök Turks can be understood from the arguments done in the Chinese Palace in front of the emperor about what can be done against the Turks. Finally, "6 providences" in Northern China, along the Great Wall were determined for the settlement of the Turks.

        In this manner, it was hoped that the Turks could become Chinese. In the 50 years until 680, the Turkish people did not forget its identity, it protected its language, habits and traditions, and lived in the spirit the glorious memories of history. Meanwhile, there were minor rebellions. For example, the attempt of a prince from the Aşina family to restore the Turkish Kingdom in the Altays (646-649), Tu-çi, from the family of Kök Turks' khans and the commander of On-Oks, was announced to be the "khan" (676-678) and he made agreement with the people of Tibet against China… The most surprising actions among the ones that were severely suppressed by the Chinese was Kür-şad's attempt for rebellion in 639.

 

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