Modern Altaians were formed on the basis of ancient Scythian tribes Pazyryktsy Indo-European origin, as well as ancient Turkic tribes Tele and Tugyu, the main population of the Turkic (522-745), Uigur (745-840) and Kyrgyz (8-early 13 c) Kaganates, mixed with the incoming Mongol tribes.
In this article we will consider the history of the origin of the Turks and why the Turkic languages belong to the Altaic language family.
Juan-Juan
According to many researchers, it was Altai that became the place of formation and emergence of the Turkic ethnos on the basis of the Ashina tribe resettled here by the rulers of the Juan-Juan power.
Ruan-Juan Power
The Zhuan-Juan Power dominated the territory of modern Mongolia and emerged after a slave revolt against the Chinese emperor Mo-di (345-361). These slaves joined with the surrounding tribes and formed the backbone around which the Zhuang-zhuang Empire emerged. This era is known in Chinese history as the period of 16 barbarian states. The state grew rapidly and became a threat to China. However, the Chinese at the end of the 4th century inflicted several defeats on the Juan-Juan, despite the fact that they had formed an alliance with the Tanguts (the Tibetan population of Northeastern Tibet and the Chinese province of Gansu).
This forced the Juan-Juans to retreat northward; they conquered the Uighur tribes and moved toward Semirechye, drove the Usuns from the plains of Semirechye into the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains, and subdued the Eftalites.
As a result, the Zhuan-Juan ruled over a vast territory stretching from Semirechye to Korea and from Baikal to Gobi.
At the beginning of the V century they conquered the tribes living in the Altai and Sayan regions. The Altai Turks were also subordinated to the Zhuang-Juans and mined iron for them.
Where did the Ashina tribe appear in the Altai?
Most researchers hypothesized the Sako-Usun (Sogdian) origin of Ashina: in their opinion, the roots of the ethnonym “Ashina” should be sought in the Sako-Usun clan anthroponymy. Research in the early history of the ruling house of the Turkic Kaganate, the Ashina clan, to an important conclusion about the close and long Turkic-Iranian ties. That is, the migration of the Ashina tribe was most likely not from the Mongol steppes, but from the steppes of Central Asia, which had close ties with Persia.
Kul-tegin (684-731) — an outstanding commander of the ancient Turkic state and statesman, the younger son of Kutlug (Ilterish)-Kagan. He headed the Turkic army after the death of Kapagan-Kagan.
Although there is also a Mongolian version of the origin of the Ashina tribe. In the 1960s, the Mongolian version was expressed in the works of L. N. Gumilev, as well as by M. I. Artamonov. Later this version was supported by some other authors.
Most likely, both theories are right and the Turks appeared as a result of intertribal marriages of Indo-Europeans and Mongoloids.
Turkic Khaganate
In the Altai in the second half of the V century around the Ashin tribe, a kind of noble wolves, formed an alliance of 12 local tribes that took the name “Turk”, over time gained power so much that they dared to challenge their former rulers.
Numerous tribes of the people Tele, settled in northeastern Semirechye, the Irtysh valley and Dzungaria, rebelled against the Zhuzhans and in 482 created their own state, the first Turkic Kaganate, the eternal El.
Within a few decades, the First Turkic Kaganate, formed after the victory, quickly extended its power not only to neighboring regions, but also seized lands on a vast territory from the Volga to Khingan.
Turkic warriors
The Turkic Kaganate had a Horde structure, which was later borrowed by the Mongols. In Turkic Khaganate, rubbed from China to Sassanids and Byzantium the silk way that at the first stage allowed to be enriched all tribes which were a part of it acted.
But the political longevity of the new state formation turned out to be very doubtful because of the ladder structure of succession, which led to feuds in the Ashin clan. It did not last long, and in 516 the Tele again fell into dependence on the Zhuzhans. Already in 603 the Kaganate has broken up on Western and Eastern. Altai was included in the structure of the latter. In 630 the same year the East Turkic Khaganate has been destroyed by Chinese governors of empire Tang.
Turkic Khaganates (522-745)
The Second Turkic Khaganate
However, in half a century the Turks again managed to achieve independence and recreate their state, which was called the Second Turkic Kaganate, the existence of which dates back to 682-744. According to archaeological data, it was during the revival of Turkic statehood and culture that the Yaloman settlement was founded, where the author visited in 2023.
Photo by the author, Yaloman settlement
The city was erected on a small plateau of 300 by 400 meters, located on a promontory at the confluence of the Bolshoi Yaloman and Katun rivers. This location of the settlement was quite in the traditions of the Turks, who preferred to settle in an area either adapted by nature for defense, or giving the opportunity in case of danger to migrate to safer areas.
Photo by the author, Yaloman site
To replace the Eastern Turkic Kaganate in the VIII-IX centuries AD, came the Uigur Kaganate, which included the Altai tribes of Telengits and Teleuts.
In the period of VI-X centuries Altaians were part of the state of Yenisei Kyrgyz, founded by Barsbek Kagan. In 840 this state destroyed the Uigur Kaganate and extended its power to Tuva and Mongolia.
Kyrgyz Kaganate 8-13 cc.