As it was stated clearly in the resources, the
Kimek nation was composed of a tribal union. This union was certainly consisted of several
tribes and branches. However, we cannot find any information about the tribal order, the
names and classifications of all the groups and branches within the Kimek nation.
According to Hudud (982), the Kimek country was composed of eleven (twelve including the
region of Ruler, if any) regions (Province). In case that each of these regions pertained
to the tribes that formed the nation, it must have been accurate that the number of the
regions was equal to the number of the big tribes in the union. However, Gerdizi (1050)
had given the names of seven tribes in the beginning of Kimek epic that he must have
quoted from an ancient resource. Uniting both of these records, we can consider that the
Kimek tribal union was composed of seven tribes in the beginning; and this number
increased to twelve with the annexations in the further periods. According to the epic quoted by
Gerdizî, the tribal names that were derived from the roots of personal names were as
follows: İmi-Eymi-İmey, İmek-Emek (Yimek), Tatar, Balandur (Bayandur), Khıfçak
(Kipchak), Lankaz-Lanıkaz, Aclad (?), In this epic, Kimek people are shown as a branch
that got separated from the Tatar people. On the other hand, this second tribe is
considered within the Kimek tribal order (3.). Maybe a family from Tatar people had gone
to the fore and established this tribal union that was composed of various tribes.
Kipchak people
who remained within this union for a long time established dominion in the vast steppe
lands that extended from the Western Siberia towards the Central Europe in the further
periods. We know that Kipchak people had established another state composed of tribal
union with Kuman people. This tribe had an important place within the ethnical
organisations before and after the Golden Horde State. Kasgarli Mahmud Bey was familiar
with Yimek people about which we have only little information. Pursuant to the dissolution
of the union, they had come down to the banks of Seyhun River and they were seen among the
Kipchak people within the Golden Horde State.
We cannot
exactly know the tribes that may have joined to the Kimek tribal union in the further
periods. However, one of the three regions within Kimek country was named as
"Kirgizkhan". Considering this name, it has been understood that a Khirghiz
tribe had joined to this union. The Kangli tribe that lived in the region neighbouring
Oguz people and that were observed with Kipchak people in the further periods may have
also joined to this union. As a matter of fact, their homeland was so close to the lands
of Kipchak people.
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