Middle Ages

Göktürk Khaganate

Period
AD 555 – AD 586
Duration
approx. 31 years
Greatest extent
around AD 577
Area (max.)
approx. 6.4 million km²
Göktürk Khaganate at its greatest extent (around AD 577) · Borders: Cliopatria
▶ View on the interactive map

Profile

Strength

Mounted nomad warriors; the first state to call itself 'Türk'.

Famous figures

  • Bumin Qaghan
  • Istämi Qaghan
  • Muqan Qaghan
  • Tonyukuk

Wars & battles won

  • Defeat of the Rouran (552)
  • Alliance with the Sasanians against the Hephthalites (c. 560)

Wars & battles lost

  • Split into East and West (581–603)
  • Conquest by the Tang (630)

Languages

  • Old Turkic
  • Sogdian

Period and duration

Göktürk Khaganate — according to the map data from AD 555 to AD 586, roughly 31 years. The dates refer to the time the empire is drawn as its own territory on the world map; historians sometimes date its founding and end differently.

Greatest extent

Göktürk Khaganate — greatest extent around AD 577: the mapped borders then cover about 6.4 million km², roughly 4.3% of Earth's land area. The area is calculated from the border lines of the map and is therefore an approximation.

AD 555Area according to the map data (max. 6.4 million km²)AD 586

Predecessors and successors

States that ruled the same territory directly before and after:

Before (AD 554)

After

Neighbours around AD 577

The largest states in the region at the same time:

Learn more

Borders and dates: Cliopatria / Seshat Global History Databank (CC BY 4.0). Coastlines: Natural Earth. Text: Centaurian.