The Establishment of the Gok-Turk Second State By Khan Ilteriş Kutlug: 682

        Kutklug and Tonyukuk firstly attacked the providence Yün-çu in the north China in 681 and captured about 30 thousand of horses, sheep and camels and withdrew to the region between the Desert Gobi and River Orkhun, strengthened with the new ones who joined them. They finished their preparations determining Çugay Kuzi (Çung-tsai in Chinese, in the south of Ötüken) as their summer center and Kara-kurum at the more southern place as their winter center. Their first target was Ötüken. The Ötüken Plateau was at the south-west of Lake Baikal, surrounded by the high mountains, protected and easy to defence but at the same time located in a strategic place suitable for the attacks to the places around, with a moderate climate and abundant grasslands.

 

        It was the government capital during Asia Huns and Gok-Turks Kingdom I. And it was a sacred place of the Turks. It was possible to collect and to control the Turkish people spread out, only near Ötüken, "the place where the spirit of the Turkish statesmen settled down". It was necessary a Gok-Turks' attack since near the River of Selenga, the Oguzs, getting anxious for the development of the Kutlug's movement, attempted to make an agreement with K'itans and China as a precaution. The Oguzs' danger disappeared in 682 after the war realized in the edge of the Lake Inekler (on the branches of Orkhun) as an unexpected attack done with the recommendation of Tonyukuk.

 

        This war that had historical importance resulted in the control of Otuken by the Gok-Turks. Kutlug was announced as being the "khan" and obtained the name of Ilteris (Il= the one who gathers the state) and he organized the second kingdom: he appointed his brother Kapagan (or Kapgan) as "şad" and the other brother To-si-fu as "yabgu". He made Tonyuku, who had a primary role in the regaining of the independency and the reestablishment of the state, as the councillor of the state (Ayguçi) and he gave him the arrangements of the preparation of the army, administration and the diplomatic works.