Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate


The Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate was a Turkic empire that existed for about a century between the early 9th and 10th centuries, around the start of the Mongol Empire. It ruled over the Yenisei Kyrgyz people, who had been located in southern Siberia and Central Asia since the 6th century. By the 9th century, the Kyrgyz had asserted dominance over the Uyghurs who had previously ruled. The empire was established as a khaganate from 840–1207. The khaganate's territory is now part of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, China and Mongolia.

History

The earliest records of Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate were written during the Tang dynasty. The Kyrgyz did not keep reliable written records during this period.
In 50 BC, Xiongnu leader Zhizhi Chanyu defeated the Dinglings in the north of China. He also conquered the Gyangun country located 7,000 li west of Ordos – the center of his country. During those times, Kyrgyz people lived in the Borohoro Mountains and the Manas River valley on east Tengir-Too. As a result, in Chinese historiography, Kyrgyz Khaganate is assigned the misnomer "Gyegyesy".
They were largely subordinate to the Göktürks from 560s to 700s. Kyrgyz khagan Bars Bek was a brother-in-law to Bilge Khagan. His son ruled Kyrgyzs after Bars Bek's defeated in hands of Qapaghan in 710. After Turkic downfall, they submitted to Uyghurs. Their leader Bayanchur killed the Kyrgyz leader and appointed a new Kyrgyz khagan named Bilge Tong Erkin.

Relations with China

First embassy to Yenisei Kyrgyz was sent during reign of the Emperor Taizong of Tang, in 632. He received Kyrgyz ambassador named Shiboqu Azhan who was later appointed to the Yanran Commandery.
The Kyrgyz khagans claimed descent from the Chinese general Li Ling, grandson of the famous Han dynasty general Li Guang. Li Ling was captured by the Xiongnu and defected in the first century BCE. And since the Tang royal Li family also claimed descent from Li Guang, the Kirghiz Khagan was therefore recognized as a member of the Tang Imperial family. This relationship soothed the relationship when Kyrgyz khagan Are invaded Uyghur Khaganate and put Qasar Qaghan to the sword. The news brought to Chang'an by Kyrgyz ambassador Zhuwu Hesu.
In 845, Are khagan was created Zong Yingxiong Wu Chengming Khagan by Emperor Wuzong. But Wuzong died before his ambassadors departing Chang'an. The new emperor Xuanzong did not rush to create him khagan. At a general council of senior officials, they decided that the titles were given to the Uyghurs when they were strong, and if the Yenisei Kyrgyz were awarded as well, they would become proud and become dangerous. The emperor revoked the letter.
After Are's murder by one of his officials in 847, new Kyrgyz khagan was created Yingwu Chengming Khagan by Xuanzong, who sent Li Ye to award him the title.

Downfall

Not much is known on downfall of Yenisei Kyrgyz, but according to Drompp, they were certainly not invaded by Liao dynasty, because the Kyrgyz did not occupy the Mongolian Plateau in the first place. They had conflicts with Qara Khitai and probably submitted to Genghis Khan by 1207/8.