Eurasian Nomads:
Part 2

Kirghiz or Kyrgyz

by Terry Gore


They were also known as Kirgiz or Xiajias or Xiajiaz. This northern people appeared on the world stage in the 6th Century AD becoming the dominant group of the Minusin Basin (in Siberia), and quickly became vassals of the Turk Kaganate. The Kirghiz were famous throughout the holdings of the Turk Kaganate for the "sharp blades" they gave in tribute. Other tribute seems to have included fur and " Kirghiz Maidens". The Kirghiz repeatedly gained independence and were reconquered by a succession of Blue Turks and then Uighurs. In the 9th Century, the Kirghiz conquered the lands of the Uighur. The Kirghiz Kaganate thrived and expanded until the second half of the 10th Century at which point the Kirghiz fought several civil wars and, in the 12th Century, their lands were conquered the Khitan or Kidan (a Mongolian-speaking people).

According to New History Of Five Dynasties, Kirghiz belonged to the ancient ‘Jiankun’ that was located to the western-most of the Hsiung-nu. New History Of Five Dynasties said that Kirghiz possessed lighter skin, red hair, green eyes and taller height, and that those Kirghiz with black hair must be the descendants of Li Ling. The Kirghiz spoke a Turkish dialect. They are also identified as the ancestors of the modern Kazakh.

Eurasian Nomads: Part 2

Eurasian Nomads: Part 1

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© Copyright 2004 by Terry Gore
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