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| Battle of Bolchu | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Second Turkic Khaganate | Türgesh Toquz Oghuz[1] Tang dynasty[2] | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Tonyukuk Kul Tigin Bilge Qaghan[3] | Saqal † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 20,000 | 100,000 20,000+ Tang soldiers. | ||||||
TheBattle of Bolchu was fought in 711 between theSecond Turkic Khaganate and theTürgesh.
In the 7th century, theFirst Turkic Khaganate was divided into two rival states. Both states were subsequently defeated and annexed by theTang dynasty. However, both sections of the empire soon gained their independence. The eastern part was calledSecond Turkic Khaganate and the western partTürgesh (or more looselyOnoq, the ten tribes which were dominated by the Türgesh). According to old Turkic tradition, the eastern sections were considered to be the main khaganate and the western sections were considered to be vassals of the eastern section. Thus Türgesh leaders were apprehensive of the Second Turkic Khaganate and sought alliances (likeYenisei Kirghiz and Tang dynasty) against their growing power.
The Türgesh khaganSaqal had given his brother Zhenuülüş (fief). His brother however asked for more and fled to the Second Turkic Khaganate.[4]Qapaghan Qaghan, the ruler of the Second Turkic Khaganate was fighting in the east against theKhitan people and Saqal saw this as a good time to strike. The army of the Türgesh and their allies was large. According to theTonyukuk inscriptions its manpower was about 100,000.[5] This figure was probably exaggerated, but it was certainly more powerful than the Qapaghan's army of 20,000.[4] Moreover, thekhatun (queen) was dead and Qapaghan was busy with the funeral. He appointedTonyukuk, his chancellor, as the commander. Qapaghan’s sonInel, as well as his nephewsBilge (both future qaghans) andKul Tigin, were with Tonyukuk. According to historianLev Gumilev, Qapaghan was not sure about the victory and Tonyukuk was given orders for attrition warfare.
The vanguard units of the Tonyukuk’s army won a minor victory against Türgesh vanguard units. But this victory demoralized the commanders in the Tonyukuk army who learned about the strength of the Türgesh army. Tonyukuk however was determined and attacked the Türgesh army. The final clash was inDzungaria, close to the Bolchu River (the Bolchu River was probably the former name of theUlungur River,Xinjiang, China). After two days' fighting Tonyukuk defeated the Türgesh army. Both Saqal and Zhenu were executed.[6] The other leaders of Onoq paid obedience and all western Turkestan came under the Second Turkic Khaganate. According to the Tonyukuk inscriptions,Temir Kapig inTransoxiana (now inUzbekistan) was also captured.[7]
Although Qapaghan was able to unite all the territory of the first Turkic Khaganate under his rule, Turkic rule in Transoxania was short. It was soon checked by theArabs who were also conquering Transoxania from the south. Although Kul Tigin was able to save the Turkic army, Turkic hegemony diminished and the Türgesh (now underSuluk) regained strength.[6] In later years it was Suluk who fought against the invading Arabs.