1. Overview
Oghuz Khagan, often known as Oghuz Khan (Oğuz KağanOguz KaganTurkish or Oğuz HanOguz HanTurkish; Oğuz XanOguz KhanAzerbaijani or Oğuz XaqanOguz KhaganAzerbaijani; Oguz HanOguz HanTurkmen or Oguz KaganOguz KaganTurkmen), is a pivotal legendary and semi-mythical figure in Turkic mythology and serves as the eponymous ancestor of the Oghuz Turks. His legend, primarily recounted in various narratives known collectively as the Oghuzname, details his extraordinary birth, heroic exploits, rise to power, and extensive conquests, which led to the establishment of a vast dominion and the organization of Turkic tribes. These narratives, preserved in numerous manuscripts across different languages, have profoundly shaped the ethnic and tribal origins of various Turkic peoples, including the Turkmens, Seljuks, and Ottomans, who often utilized the Oghuz narrative to legitimize their own dynastic claims and assert historical precedence. The evolution of the Oghuzname over centuries reflects a dynamic cultural adaptation, incorporating Islamic and Mongolic influences, and its enduring impact underscores its significance in defining Turkic identity and sovereignty.
2. Oghuzname Narratives
The Oghuzname narratives comprehensively detail the legendary life and extensive exploits of Oghuz Khagan, outlining his supernatural origins, military campaigns, and the subsequent organization of Turkic peoples.
2.1. Sources and Evolution of the Narrative
The legend of Oghuz Khagan is one of several origin stories circulated among the Turkic peoples of Central Asia, with its earliest known recordings dating back to the 13th century. Over time, these narratives evolved, reflecting cultural and historical shifts.
One significant early manuscript, an anonymous 14th-century Uyghur vertical script document preserved in Paris, demonstrates an adaptation of the legend to align with the narratives of Mongol conquests. However, this version does not elaborate on Oghuz Khan's significance in the Islamization of the Turks or his supposed ancestral links to the Mongols.
The 17th-century version by Abul Ghazi Bahadur further illustrates this evolution, largely drawing from the 14th-century version by Rashid ad-Din, which itself had already integrated Islamic and Mongolic influences. Abul Ghazi's account more fully incorporates these traditions into the history of Oghuz Khan. According to Abul Ghazi, the narrative traces Oghuz Khan's lineage back to Noah and his son Japheth. After the Great Flood, Noah sent his three sons to populate the Earth: Ham to Hindustan, Shem to Iran, and Japheth to the banks of the Itil and Yaik rivers. Japheth had eight sons, including Turk, Khazar, Saklab, Rus, Ming, Chin, Kemeri, and Tarikh, with Turk designated as his successor upon his death.
Turk settled near Issyk-Kul, and his eldest son Tutek succeeded him. Four generations later, two sons, Tatar and Mogul, were born, and their kingdom was divided between them. Mogul Khan then fathered Qara Khan, who in turn was the father of Oghuz Khan. Abul Ghazi's version describes a period where Japheth's Turkic descendants, including Qara Khan, had become nominal Muslims but had lost their true faith. It was Oghuz Khan who, upon his birth, refused his mother's milk for three days and appeared in her dream, demanding that she convert to Islam. After her conversion, he nursed, thus symbolizing his role in restoring Islamic faith among his people.
2.2. Birth and Early Exploits
According to Turkic legend, Oghuz was born in Central Asia as the son of Qara Khan, the leader of the Turkic people. His birth was marked by extraordinary events: he began speaking immediately after his birth, refused his mother's milk, and instead demanded `kymyzkumysTurkmen` (an alcoholic beverage made from fermented mare's milk) and meat. He grew at a supernatural pace, reaching young adulthood in just forty days. During his early life, the lands of the Turkic people were terrorized by a fearsome dragon named Kiyant. Oghuz, demonstrating his innate heroism, armed himself with a bronze lance and a steel sword. He devised a trap, hanging a freshly killed deer in a tree to lure the dragon, and successfully killed Kiyant by severing its head.
2.3. Ascension to Khanate
Oghuz's defeat of Kiyant solidified his reputation as a hero among his people. He organized a special warrior band composed of the forty sons of forty Turkic `begbeyTurkmens` (lords or chiefs), effectively uniting the various clans. However, his growing power intimidated his Chinese stepmother and his half-brother, who was the heir to the throne. They conspired against him, convincing Qara Khan that Oghuz intended to usurp his rule. Qara Khan, influenced by their machinations, planned to assassinate Oghuz during a hunting party. Learning of this plot, Oghuz preempted his father, killing Qara Khan and subsequently ascending to the position of khan. His stepmother and half-brother fled to Chinese territories.
2.4. Formation of Family and Tribal Organization
After becoming khan, Oghuz journeyed alone to the steppes to pray and give praise to Tengri, the supreme deity. During his prayers, a circle of light descended from the sky, within which stood a girl of supernatural beauty. Oghuz was captivated by her and married her. From this union, he had three sons, whom he named Gün (Sun), Ay (Moon), and Yıldız (Star). Later, while hunting, Oghuz encountered another enchanting maiden within a tree. He married her as well, and she bore him three more sons: Gök (Sky), Dağ (Mountain), and Deniz (Sea). These names, all in Turkic, reflect a deep connection to nature and the cosmos.
Upon the birth of his six sons, Oghuz Khan hosted a grand `toyfeastTurkish` (feast), inviting all his `begbeyTurkmens`. At this gathering, he issued a decree to his lords, articulating his vision for his dominion:
- "I have become your Khan;"
- "Let's all take swords and shields;"
- "Kut (divine power) will be our sign;"
- "Grey wolf will be our uran (battle cry);"
- "Our iron lances will be a forest;"
- "Khulan will walk on the hunting ground;"
- "More seas and more rivers;"
- "Sun is our flag and sky is our tent."
In his later years, after a prophetic dream, Oghuz Khan symbolically divided his lands among his six sons. He sent his elder sons to the east, where they discovered a golden bow. His younger sons were sent to the west, where they found three silver arrows. Oghuz Khan then broke the golden bow into three pieces, giving one piece to each of his three elder sons: Gün, Ay, and Yıldız. He instructed them, "My older sons, take this bow and shoot your arrows to the sky like this bow." To his three younger sons, Gök, Dağ, and Deniz, he gave the three silver arrows, stating, "My younger sons, take these silver arrows. A bow shoots arrows and you are to be like the arrow." This act symbolically established the two main branches of the Oghuz Turks: the Bozoks (Grey Arrows), representing the elder sons, and the Üçoks (Three Arrows), representing the younger sons. Abul Ghazi's account further specifies the lineage symbols (`tamga` seals), `ongon` spirit guiding birds, and even the political hierarchy and seating order at banquets for these sons and their 24 grandsons, providing a detailed framework for Oghuz tribal organization.
2.5. Conquests and Territorial Expansion
After solidifying his rule, Oghuz Khan embarked on a series of military campaigns aimed at expanding his dominion. He dispatched letters to the "Kings of the Four Directions," declaring, "I am the Khan of the Turks. And I will be Khan of the Four Corners of the Earth. I want your obedience."
The Altun Khan (Golden Khan) from the eastern corner of the Earth submitted to Oghuz's authority. However, Urum Khan (identified with Romans), ruling the western corner, refused to submit. In response, Oghuz declared war on Urum Khan and marched his army westward. During this campaign, a pivotal event occurred: one night, a large male wolf with grey fur, understood as an avatar of Tengri, appeared in Oghuz's tent surrounded by an aura of light. The wolf declared, "Oghuz, you want to march against Urum, I want to march before your army." From that point onward, the grey sky-wolf guided the Turkic army, leading them into battle. The two armies clashed near the river İtil, where Oghuz Khan emerged victorious. Following this triumph, Oghuz and his six sons, with the continued guidance of the grey wolf, conducted extensive campaigns across vast regions, including Turkistan, India, Iran, Egypt, Iraq, and Syria. These successful conquests cemented Oghuz Khan's status as the "Khan of the Four Corners of the Earth."
2.6. Later Years and Division of Legacy
In his old age, Oghuz Khan experienced a significant dream that prompted him to call his six sons and send them on a journey to the east and west. His elder sons traveled eastward and discovered a golden bow. His younger sons journeyed westward and found three silver arrows. Upon their return, Oghuz Khan symbolically divided his legacy. He broke the golden bow into three pieces, giving one to each of his three older sons: Gün, Ay, and Yıldız, instructing them to "take this bow and shoot your arrows to the sky like this bow." To his three younger sons-Gök, Dağ, and Deniz-he gave the three silver arrows, saying, "take these silver arrows. A bow shoots arrows and you are to be like the arrow." This act formalized the division of his lands and authority among his sons, establishing the two major tribal confederations: the Bozoks (Grey Arrows), comprising the descendants of the elder sons, and the Üçoks (Three Arrows), descendants of the younger sons.
At a final banquet, Oghuz Khan delivered his testament to his sons:
- "My sons, I walked a lot;"
- "I saw many battles;"
- "I threw so many arrows and lances;"
- "I rode many horses;"
- "I made my enemies cry;"
- "I made my friends smile;"
- "I paid my debt to Tengri;"
- "Now I am giving my land to you."
This speech encapsulates his life's achievements and the transfer of his vast dominion to his heirs, solidifying his role as the ultimate patriarch and founder figure.
3. Historical Associations and Dynastic Claims
Scholarly research has explored connections between Oghuz Khagan and historical figures, while numerous Turkic dynasties have strategically claimed descent from him to bolster their legitimacy and prominence.
3.1. Association with Modu Chanyu
A remarkable similarity exists between the legendary biography of Oghuz Khagan in Turkic and Persian manuscripts (such as those by Rashid al-Din, Hondemir, and Abul Ghazi) and the historical accounts of Modu Chanyu (also known as Mete Khan) found in Chinese historiography. This striking parallel was first noted by the Russo-Chuvash sinologist N.Ya. Bichurin. The similarities include a feud between father and son, the son's killing of the father, and consistent patterns in the direction and sequence of their conquests. These parallels have led scholars to frequently associate Oghuz Khagan with Modu Chanyu as his historical precursor, suggesting that the legend may have absorbed or been influenced by the historical narrative of the early Xiongnu leader.
3.2. Dating and Historical Interpretations of the Legend
Various academics and historians have attempted to assign a historical period to Oghuz Khagan's legendary life. Abul Ghazi suggested that Oghuz Khan could have lived four thousand years before Muhammad, during the time of the legendary ancient Persian king Kayumars. The 18th-century French academician Jean Sylvain Bailly placed Oghuz Khan's life in the 29th century BCE. The 18th-century Russian geographer and historian P. Rychkov, along with the Soviet historian O. Tumanovich, proposed a 7th-century BCE timeframe. The French Encyclopédie of Diderot and d'Alembert also noted that Oghuz Khan lived long before the Persian king Cyrus II.
The 17th-18th century Swedish geographer and cartographer Philip Johan von Strahlenberg, drawing upon the ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus and other historical sources, concluded that Oghuz Khan was a leader of ancient Scythian peoples. Under Oghuz Khan's leadership, these Scythian groups reportedly conquered vast territories across the Middle East, Southeast Europe, and Egypt in ancient times. Strahlenberg further observed that among Central Asian peoples, Oghuz Khan's fame is comparable to that of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar among Europeans, highlighting his enduring cultural significance.
3.3. Lineage Claims of Turkic Dynasties
Numerous prominent Turkic dynasties asserted their legitimacy and historical precedence by tracing their ancestry directly back to Oghuz Khagan and specific Oghuz tribes. This genealogical link was a powerful tool for establishing their right to rule and defining their identity within the broader Turkic world.
3.3.1. Seljuk Dynasty
The Seljuk Dynasty, which emerged from the Kinik branch of the Oghuz Turks, strongly emphasized their descent from Oghuz Khagan. The Kinik tribe resided on the periphery of the Muslim world, north of the Caspian Sea and Aral Sea, as part of the Oghuz confederacy's Yabghu Khaganate in the 9th century. During the 11th century, under the leadership of chieftains Toghrul Beg and Chaghri Beg, they established the Great Seljuk Empire. Their claims of Oghuz ancestry provided a foundational narrative that legitimized their extensive conquests and their rule across vast territories.
3.3.2. Anushtegin Dynasty
Historical sources indicate that the Anushteginids, who ruled significant parts of Central Asia as Khwarazmshahs from 1077 to 1231, claimed descent from the Begdili tribe of the Oghuz Turks. The dynasty was founded by commander Anush Tigin Gharchai, a former Turkic slave of the Seljuq sultans, who was appointed governor of Khwarezm. His son, Qutb ad-Din Muhammad I, became the first hereditary Shah of Khwarezm. Their asserted lineage from an Oghuz tribe played a role in legitimizing their independent rule after breaking away from Seljuk suzerainty.
3.3.3. Qara Qoyunlu and Aq Qoyunlu
The Qara Qoyunlu (Black Sheep Turkmen) and Aq Qoyunlu (White Sheep Turkmen) were powerful Turkic tribal confederations that dominated Western Asia in the 14th and 15th centuries, encompassing modern-day Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iraq, northwestern Iran, and eastern Turkey. The Qara Qoyunlu, originating from the Yiva branch of the Oghuz Turks, and the Aq Qoyunlu, whose sultans claimed descent from Bayindir Khan (a grandson of Oghuz Khagan), utilized these lineage claims to assert their authority and precedence within the complex political landscape of the region.
3.3.4. Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire strategically employed genealogical claims to link their founding figures, Ertuğrul and Osman I, directly to Oghuz Khagan, thereby establishing their primacy among Turkic monarchs and legitimizing their vast and expanding rule.
Ottoman historian and ambassador to the Qara Qoyunlu, Şükrullah, stated that Ertuğrul's lineage traced back to Gökalp, a son of Oghuz Khagan. Şükrullah asserted that this information was presented at the court of Jahan Shah, derived from a book written in Mongolian script. In the early 15th century, Yazıcıoğlu Ali further cemented this claim by tracing Osman's genealogy to Oghuz Khagan through his senior grandson of his senior son, establishing the Ottoman sultans' supreme position among Turkish monarchs. Yazıcıoğlu quotes an assembly where Ertuğrul, from the KayıKayiTurkish tribe, and his son Osman Bey, along with other frontier beys, consulted each other and understood the custom of Oghuz Khan, subsequently appointing Osman as khan.
Bayezid I used this claim to counter Timur, who had denigrated the Ottoman lineage during their conflicts. According to the Ottoman historian Neşri, Osman had a royal ancestor and descended from the senior branch of the Oghuz family. Neşri states: "The experts in the knowledge of the foundation of the prophets and those who know the secrets of the meanings (human) works narrate that this great lineage (of the house of Osman) comes from Oghuz son of Kara Han, who was one of the children of Bulcas, son of Yafes, son of Noah, peace be upon him! As follows: Ertugrul son of Suleyman Shah son of Kaya Alp son of Kızıl Buğa ... son of Bulcas son of Yafes son of Noah."
Cem Sultan, the brother of Bayezid II, also linked their genealogy to Oghuz Khagan, a claim that became a prevailing tool of legitimization from the sixteenth century onwards. Cem Sultan's narrative recounts: "Oghuz Khan, he has given the name, which means 'saint', in his childhood because he was seen on the right path (i.e. God's). Because he recognized the Oneness of God, he fought with his father, and Oghuz's army killed the latter. This happened during Prophet Abraham's times." This narrative not only reinforced the Ottomans' noble lineage but also intertwined it with foundational Islamic history, further sanctifying their rule.
4. Legacy and Modern Commemoration
Oghuz Khagan's legend continues to exert a profound influence on Turkic identity and culture, and he is recognized in various forms in contemporary society.
4.1. Impact on Turkic Ethnic Identity
Oghuz Khan is widely regarded as the mythical founder of many Turkic peoples and the ancestral figure of the Oghuz sub-branches. Even in modern times, the classification of Oghuz sub-branches is often based on the legendary order of his six sons and 24 grandsons. Historically, Turkic dynasties frequently leveraged this tribal classification to assert their sovereignty or justify rebellions, claiming a higher rank than existing dynasties based on their supposed lineage from Oghuz Khagan. This enduring role as a foundational ancestor highlights the legend's significant cultural and historical impact on shaping Turkic ethnic identity and historical claims of sovereignty.
4.2. Modern Commemorations and Naming
Oghuz Khagan is honored in various contemporary forms, particularly in Turkmenistan. He is depicted on the `100 TMT` banknote of Turkmenistan, underscoring his national significance. The names Oğuz and Oğuzhan are common masculine given names in Turkish and other Turkic languages, directly derived from Oghuz Khan's name. Furthermore, geographical locations and infrastructure bear his name, such as the Oguzhan District in Mary Province, Turkmenistan. The Ashgabat International Airport, the primary international airport serving the capital city of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, is also named after Oghuz Khan, serving as a prominent modern tribute to the legendary figure.