Karluk People             

         Karluk people were firstly cired within the Chinese almanac titled as T'ang-shu (7th century) under the name of (Ko-lo-lu) and with the meaning of Karlık (snow piles). In the same Chinese resource, it was stated that Karluk people were of Turkish origin and they constituted one of the branches of the Gok-Turk State. The regions in which they resided had been determined as the environs of Black-Irtish and Tarbagatay in the west of the Altay Mountains. Karluk people that was composed of some of On-ok (ten-arrow) people survived in the form of a union that was composed of three tribes (Three-Karluk). It is beyond doubt that they had played an important role in the expansion of the Turkish domination towards the north of the Caspian Sea and towards the region of Transoxania in the very early period of Istemi. The situations of Karluk people in both Gok-Turk Khanates were stated above. Just like the other Turkish tribes, it has been observed that they frequently rebelled against China.

 

       Karluk people that had extended towards the north of Turfan in the years of 640 were defeated by the Chinese people (in 650) and they were subdued to the province of P'ei-ting (the region in the north of the Tien Shan Mountains). However, each branch that was connected to this tribe was governed by its own chief. The Chinese resources that indicated this news stated also that the Karluk people had survived without dependence to either the Western or the Eastern Gok-Turk wings under the Chinese influence towards the year of 665. This information provided is of significance. The Three-Karluk bey that bore the title of Kül-Erkin in the past was entitled with the title of "Yangu" (prince) in this period and he had a powerful army under his possession.

 

        We have observed that the Karluk people were subdued to the domination of the 2nd Gok-Turk Khanate by the Ruler Kapagan Kagan. Karluk people had rebelled against the Gok-Turk people upon the encouragement and provocation of China and they were involved in severe struggles. Pursuant to the death of the Ruler Bilge Kagan, they set in motion again and they were effective in the abolition of the Gok-Turk Khanate together with the Uighur and Basmil peoples. When the Basmil people had established superior domination (742), the Karluk leader was entitled with the title of "Sağ Yangu" (Right Prince). In the period of Kutlug Kül Bilge that was the founder of the Uighur Khanate, he was promoted to the title of "Sol Yabgu" (Left Prince) that was a higher rank.

 

        However, this prince did not represent all of the Karluk people. The Karluk people that dwelled within the environs of Beş-balik had a separate yabgu that they elected: Ton-Bilge. However, the Uighur Khanate that was newly founded in Ötüken was considered as a superior dominion by all of the Karluk people and the yabgu princes were connected to the ruler.