Transoxiana Campaign

Transoxiana Campaign was a successful campaign by the Göktürks led by Turkic prince Kul Tegin against the Umayyad Caliphate, involving Sogdia and Türgesh Khanate.

Transoxiana Campaign
Date712-713
Location
Transoxiana
Result

Göktürk victory

  • Transoxiana fell into the hands of the Göktürks again
Belligerents
Second Turkic Khaganate Umayyad Caliphate
Sogdia
Türgesh Khaganate
Commanders and leaders
Kul Tigin Qutayba ibn Muslim
Local Kings
Strength
Very small[1][2] Much larger than Göktürks
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Campaign

In 712, the Göktürks sent insignificant troops under command of Inel Khagan for the Sogdian ruler Gurek, who had asked for help from Göktürks in his struggle against invading Arab forces. Qutayba ibn Muslim got wind of this, and with his 25.000 men immediately attacked the Turks at night and defeated them.[3] At the same time, the Turgesh and some local Sogdian kings revolted, and the defeated Göktürk Army (before the revolt) felt into a difficult position. After that Kul Tigin was send to the south with a very small army[4] to “put the Sogd land in order”[5] and, by making a Great War, he brought a large amount of booty by defeating these forces.[6] This operation of Kul Tigin not only saved the central army from completely destruction, but the successful counter-attack and his person became famous as far as Tibet.[7] Then, Kul Tigin entered Transoxiana with his troops[8] and took almost all the lands that Qutayba ibn Muslim had conquered in 7 years within just a few months,[9] and Transoxiana passed into the hands of Turks once again. It is noteworthy that Qutayba ibn Muslim did nothing during the conquests of Kul Tegin. It is seen that Qutayba ibn Muslim was afraid of Kul Tegin because Qutayba ibn Muslim attacked and defeated the army led by inel without delay. He seems to know very well who not to attack.

While trying to continue his campaign (of Kul Tegin), Qarluqs rebelled[10] And after completing the campaign and organizing the Sogdians, he left Transoxiana, thus the Göktürk Campaign came to an end. Klystorny and Barthold also confirms this situation. Barthold's statement, “Qutayba ibn Muslim took advantage of the difficult situation of the Turks in 713 and forced them to leave Transoxiana,[11] which shows that it was because of the Qarluqs who rebelled in 713. After the Göktürk armies left, Qutayba ibn Muslim would be able to suppress these rebellions, and he would attack Sas and Fergana and take them under his sovereignty. Qutayba ibn Muslim would go further, but would be repelled and defeated by Kul Tegin in Tashkent.[12][13]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Ahmet Bircan Ercilasun, Turkish Khanate and Bengü Stones, p.283
  2. ^ Orkhon Inscriptions, Kül Tigin Inscription, D.39, K.1
  3. ^ At-Tabari,cilt II, p. 1242
  4. ^ Orkhon Inscriptions, Kül Tigin Inscription, D.39, K.1
  5. ^ JMNP on Orkhon and Yenisey inscriptions, 1898 p.271
  6. ^ The monument of Kul Tigin, East 39. North 1
  7. ^ Nikoloyaevich Gumilev, Ancient Turks p.372
  8. ^ Klyashtorny, On the struggle of the Central Asian nations against the Arabs, p.773
  9. ^ Barthold, Turkestan until the Mongol Invasion p.210
  10. ^ Ahmet Tasagil,Kök Tengri's children p.165
  11. ^ Barthold, Turkestan until the Mongol Invasion p.210
  12. ^ Nikoloayevich Gumilev, Ancient Turks, p.374
  13. ^ Rıza Nur, Turkish History, p.68
  • Kök Tengrinin Cocuklari(in turkish). Bilge Kültür Sanat. 2020. ISBN 9786055261658 – via Google Books.
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