Huns
Many historians consider the
Huns (meaning "person" in Mongolian language) the first
Turkic people mentioned in European history. References in Chinese sources to peoples called the Xiong-Nu (Hsiung-nu) go back to 1200 BC. Their Xiong (匈) rulers, first mentioned as a family in 1766 BC in the story of Chunwei and the fall of the
Xia dynasty, may be the ancestors of the later, better-known (to western scholars) Huns, though not all scholars agree. Korean legend takes the stand that an alliance of northern Altaic tribes under a "Huan" ruler from 7193 BC pre-dated the establishment of
China.
European Huns
A group called the European Huns and led by
Attila the Hun is considered, with little certainty, to be the western extension of the royal Xiong family centered around
Karaganda. Establishment of the first Hun state is one of the first well-documented appearances of the culture of horseback migration in history. These tribespeople achieved superiority over their rivals (most of them highly cultured) by their splendid state of readiness, amazing mobility and weapons like the
Hun bow.
Attila's European Huns, like the eastern Xiong's
Nu (奴 i.e. slaves) formed from groups of unrelated tributary peoples. In the European case
Alans, Slavs and especially
Gothic tribes all united under the Hun family military elite. Subsequently the term "Huns" became one of the derogatory terms for
Germans (see, for example, "''
Kraut").
American and
British forces during
World War I and
World War II commonly used the name, but this usage has declined recently.
Xiong-Nu Dynasty
The earliest reference in Chinese sources to a people called the
Xiong-Nu (Hsiung-nu) goes back to early
12th century BC, in writings about the campaign by King Wuding (武丁 wǔdīng) of the
Shang Dynasty against the Gui Fang 鬼方 (guǐfāng) tribe, which is regarded as a name of one of the Huns' vassal
Nu (奴) tribes. Some vague
archaeological sources support this account, but await verification. Bronze inscriptions and oracle turtle-back bones from sacrificial worship prove the historical existence of the campaign but the Gui Fang did not necessarily equate to the core Hun clan
per se.
Many scholars identify the Xiong Nu Xiong with the Huns because of similar descriptions of their appearance and living habits. (more input here....) Other scholars, confusing the Piong with their
Nu serf and vassal tribes, find differences. Still others argue that any common appearance and habits also appear among various other tribes residing on the
Mongolian steppes, rather than identifying characteristics specific to the Xiong and the Huns. Nevertheless, all agree that the two peoples shared aspects that are more than a coincidence.
With the exception of the 43-
118 AD "North-South" feud, the Hun dynasty survived as a fairly tightly-knit political
power until the
4th C. when the
Nu (奴) tribes decisively threw off the yoke of the Xiong dynasty. Whether increasing squabbling amongst the Xiong dynasty caused their subjects to lose faith in them, or some other cause occurred, Hun unity came to an end. The rock was shattered and clans claiming the Hun name (Hunnoi, Chionites, Choni, Xiong, etc.) dispersed as nothing more than piratical raiding bands. They appear south in
Persia (the Xiyon camel tribes – Chionites – in AD 320, also known as Red Huns), while a portion remained east in China (the Xiong deer people), and finally in one last brilliant flare west in
Russia (the Hun horse tribes in AD 360).
The
Hua managed to succeed to the Hun heritage in a campaign which spread from
Bactria to Europe. After the failure of Xiong's Zhou county the influence of the Hua dragon tribe started to expand. The influence of the northern deer-people retreated north up the Yenisei as the Hua chased a western portion of the Hunnoi (Alchon/Alchoni often called "White Huns" and confused with
Hephthalites) into what is present-day
Uzbekistan in the late
4th century, while the easternmost branch would later found the Xiong's last eastern dynasty
Xia (407-431). The colour names of the European Persian, Bactrian and Chinese Hun tribes may have something to do with their flank designations. Though apparently fleeing China from the Hua in the mid-4th century, later the Huns' Alchon component are recorded as in union with them (Varkun) against the western-most branch.
By 460 the Hua had begun to take over Central Eurasia. The
Yuezhis Hephthal family had become their ruling clan in Xinjiang by 507 and sometime during his rule (507-531) the Hua, now a unit with the Choni, left under Sarosioss father to conquer the Hunnic remnants in the West, leaving their Hephthalite brethren to fend off
Juan Juan advances alone and relocate their seat of power with the Indian branch.
After this the Huns as a power unit disappear from history, though certain nations and noble families of Turanian origin continued to carry variations of the name into the present.
For more information on the formation of the eastern Huns'
Nu (奴) empire see also:
Wu Hu
List of Important Hun Rulers (Tengrikut/Tangriqut/Shanyu/TarKhaan)
:''This list is incomplete and needs correction''
1st Dynasty
| c. 1800-1766 BC || Chungvi / Chunwei / Sunni mythology places
| ? - 270? BC
|
Ta
|
| 270 - 240?
|
Tangriqut?
|
| 240 - 209
|
頭曼 (Tumen / Tu-Man Tengriqut)
|
| 209 - 174
|
Mo-Tun / Mao-Tun / Batur Tengriqut / 冒顿
|
| 174 - 161
|
Ki-Ok / Kokkhan / 老上
|
| 161 - 126
|
Chun-Chin / Kunkhan / 車臣
|
| 126 - 114
|
I-Tsin-Xien / El'chishye / 伊稚邪
|
| 114 - 105
|
Wu-Wey / Uvey / 烏維
|
| 105 - 102/1
|
Wu-Shi-Lu-Ir / Uyshilar / 烏師盧
|
| 102/1 - 101/0
|
Zhou-Li-Hu / Kulighu / (口句)黎湖
|
2nd dynasty (Name unknown)
| 101/0 - 96
|
Chu-Di-Hu / Qutighu / 且提侯
| | 96
|
Possible unknown ruler
|
| 96 - 85
|
Hu-Lu-Ku / Hulugu / 狐鹿姑
|
3rd dynasty
| 85 - 68
|
Huandi / Chuangdi / 壺衍提
| | 68 - 60
|
Hsu-Lu and Chuan-Chou / Shuluy Qanghuy / 虛閭權渠
|
| 60 - 58
|
Uyanquti / 握衍(月句)提
|
| 58 - 31
|
Ho-Han-Yeh / Khukhenye I / 呼韓邪, opposed by:
Bosiuytang-Zhuki (West) Huge (Northwest) Cheli (Southwest) Uji (Northwest)
|
58 - 56 58 - 57 58 - 56 58 - 57
|
Zhunzhen (West) Zhizhi-Guduhu (East)
|
56 - 54 55 - 47
|
|
| 31 - 20
|
Fu-Chu-Ley-Ju-Di / Pozhulonuti / 復株累若提
|
| 20 - 12
|
Su-Xie-Ju-Di / Shuzhunoti / 搜諧若提
|
| 12 - 8
|
Che-Ya-Ju-Di/Qiyanoti/車牙若提 opposed by...
:Ulunoti / 烏累若提 11 - 10
|
| 8 BC - AD 13
|
Wu-Zhou-Liu-Ju-Di / Uchilonoti / 烏珠留若提
|
4th (The Split) dynasty
| 13 - 18
|
Wu-Ley-Ju-Di / Ulunoti / 烏累若提 (restored)
| | 18 - 46
|
HuTuIrShiTaoGaoJuDi / GhuduarshiDavganoti / 呼都而尸道皋若提 opposed by...
| Xiuybudan
|
18 - 19
|
| Udatqu
|
21 - 46
|
|
| 46
|
Wu-Ta-Ti-Ho 烏達提侯
|
| 46 - 48
|
Pu-Nu / Panu / 蒲奴
|
North South Feud
From 48, the Hsiung-Nu began a North-South feud which lasted until 98.
Rulers of the Northern (or "Western") Xiong-Nu:
| 48 - 83
|
Pu-Nu / Panu / 蒲奴
| | 83 - 84
|
Sanmolo Otzi / San-Mu-Lu-Tzi
|
| 84 - 89
|
Ulugh / Yu-Liu
|
| 89 - 91/3
|
Yu-Chou-Chien
:''91: The Xionu / Xiuno / Hunnoi first appeared in the west near the Caspian Sea as a result of 班超 PanChao's campaign.''
|
| 91-93
|
El'tekin
|
| 93-98
|
Panghu (?Finghay?)
|
| 98-118
|
Finghay (united North & South) opposed WanSiJuTi
|
Rulers of the Southern (or Eastern) Xiong-Nu:
| 48-56/55
|
Hu-Han-Sie-Di / Khukhenye II / 呼韓邪 (第二)
| | 55/56-56/57
|
Chiu-Fu-Yu-Di / Chupunoti / 丘浮尤提
|
| 56/57-59
|
I-Fa-Yu-Di / Ilgha Uluti / 伊伐於慮提
|
| 59-63
|
XienTungShiChouTi / ShtongsiSuyghuti / 醢僮尸逐侯提
|
| 63
|
Kuchi Qilindi / 丘除車林提
|
| 63-85
|
HuYehShihChouHuTi / GhushiShisu Quti / 湖邪尸逐侯提
|
| 85-88
|
I-Tu-Yi-Lu / Iltu Uluti / 伊屠於閭提
|
| 88-93
|
Xiu-Lan-Shi-Hu-Di / Shulan Shisu Quti / 休蘭尸逐侯提
|
| 93-94
|
An-Gao / Arqu / 安國
|
| 94-98
|
TindushsuQuti / TingTuShiJuHuTi / 亭獨尸逐侯提 deposed by...
|
| 98-118
|
Finghey (Panghu?) opposed by...
:Wanchi Shisu Quti / Wan-Si-Ju-Ti / 萬氏尸逐侯提 from 98CE
|
Hereafter, the Western/Northern tangriquts are no-more & the Eastern Tangriquts take over the whole empire. Wanchi Shisu Quti inherited Finghey's united empire in 118 but it was never what it used to be.
Reunited Xiongnu
| 118-124
|
Wanchi Shisu Quti / Wan-Si-Ju-Ti / 萬氏尸逐侯提
| | 124-127/128
|
Wu-Chi-Hu-Shi-Jo / Uzhqushsu Quti / 烏稽侯尸逐提
|
| 127/128-140/142
|
Chu-Chi-Ju-Shi-Ju-Ju-Chin / Kutino Shisu Quti / 去特若尸逐就
|
| 140 - 143
|
Chu-Xiu
|
Some sources indicate that in 140 AD, after Kutino Shisu Quti committed suicide, Tengriqut was not elected and the Hun throne remained vacant till 143 AD.
5th dynasty (Name missing)
| 143-147
|
Hu-Lan-Ju-Shi-Ju-Ju-Chin / Ghoranno Shisu Quti / 呼蘭若尸逐就
|
6th dynasty (Name missing)
| 147-172/177
|
I-Ling-Shi-Chou-Chin / Illin Shisu Quti / 伊陵若尸逐就
| | 172-177/178
|
Utno Shisu Quti / 屠特若尸逐就
|
7th dynasty (name missing)
| 177/178-179
|
Hu-Ching / Ghuzhin / 呼徵
|
8th dynasty (name missing)
| 179-188
|
Chiang-Chu / Qanquy / 羌渠
| | 188-195
|
Di-Chi-Shi-Chou-Hu / Qizi Shisu Quti / 特至尸逐侯
|
| 195-215/6
|
Hu-Chou-Chuan / Ghochuqan / 呼廚泉
|
| 215-290
|
Xiongnu partitioned into 5 local tribes
|
| 290
|
Xiongnu reunified
|
9th dynasty (Bei Han 北漢)
| 290
|
Liu Yuan-Hai (刘元海) or Liu Yuan (劉淵)
| | 304-309
|
Beihan
|
| 309-310
|
Liu He (刘和)
|
| 310-318
|
Liu Tsung (劉聰)
|
| 318
|
Liu Ts'an (劉粲)
|
10th Dynasty
Bei Han is known from 319 as "Former Zhao". During this dynasty Xiyonites/Chionites or Red Huns start to bother Persia. The sovereignty of
Han and Former Zhao was collectively known as the
Han Zhao.
| 318-329
|
Liu Yao (劉曜) opposed by...
|
| 319-333
|
Gao Zu (高祖)
| | 333-334
|
Hai Yang Wang (海陽王)
|
| 334-349
|
Tai Zu (太祖)
|
| 349
|
Shi Shi (石世)
|
| 349
|
Shi Zun (石遵)
|
| 349-350
|
Shih Jian (石鑒)
|
| 350
|
Shih Zhi (石祗)
|
| 350-352
|
Ran Min (冉閔) or Shi Min (石閔)
|
12th Dynasty (Name ?Kama?)
The Hua & Xiong divided the Huns and drove most of the remaining Huns westwards out of China during their expansion. Kama was a legendary ancestor-King, mentioned in Eastern Hunnic sources, particularly among those who formed the Altyn Oba Horde. There is no one among the Hsiung rulers whose name sounds much like "Kama Tarkhan", but if he existed, he might have been the otherwise unnamed chief who took the Huns westward, into the
Ukrainian steppes. He may have been the ruler of Alchoni who pushed the Kidarite Huns into India. His realm may therefore have spread from Ukraine to Bactria. Any last remnants of the Huns east of the
Hua in China managed to raise their heads again from 407–431 as the Hun Xia dynasty before coming under the
Juan Juan. They (the Deer) later absorbed a Turkic (Blue Wolf) influence and later emerged as the Mongols. Interestingly some Hunnic vocabulary documented by the Chinese still occurs in Japanese while
Hungarian allegedly has some words in common with Xia.
| 352-?
|
Kama Tarkhan
| | fl. ?-370
|
Balamber
|
| fl. 370's-380s
|
Alypbi
|
| c. 390 ?-c. 411
|
Uldin (Khan of the Western Huns)
|
| ? -412
|
Donatus (Khan of the Eastern Black Sea Huns)
|
| c. 411
|
Charaton
|
| ? - ?
|
Octar
|
| fl. 432
|
Ruga
|
| c. 437-c. 444
|
Bleda with...
|
| c. 437-453
|
Attila (Idil)
|
| 453-c. 455
|
Ellac
|
| fl. c. 457
|
Tuldila
|
| ?-469
|
Dengizich with...
|
| ?- < 469
|
Hernach
|
| fl. late 5thC.
|
Tingiz with...
|
| fl. late 5thC.
|
Belkermak
|
| fl. late 490s
|
Djurash
|
| fl. early 500s
|
Tatra
|
| ?
|
Boyan Chelbir
|
| fl. early500s - mid500s
|
Sandilkh (Khan of the Utrigurs).
:''Division into Utrigur, east Don, and Kutrigur, west Don, hordes''
|
| fl. 560s
|
Zabergan (Khan of the Kutrigurs)
|
| c. 565-c. 600
|
Bayan 1 (of the Avars)
|
Onogur Dynasty
Chaotic conditions followed the rise of Avar power in Europe, and the time of the Huns came to a close. Whether the Onoghur were truly a Hun, Bolgar, or proto-Magyar rather than Avar reign remains a matter of debate. However it is from their name that the English name for Magyarország,
Hungary, derives, allowing some space for their inclusion in the list of Hun Dynasties.
See also
Further reading
- J. Otto Mänchen-Helfen (ed. Max Knight): The World of the Huns: Studies in Their History and Culture (Berkeley, University of California Press, 1973)
- J. Otto Mänchen-Helfen: Huns and Hsiung-Nu (published in Byzantion, vol. XVII, 1944-45, pp. 222-243)
- J. Otto Mänchen-Helfen: The Legend of the Origin of the Huns (published in Byzantion, vol. XVII, 1944-45, pp. 244-251)
- E. A. Thompson: A History of Attila and the Huns (London, Oxford University Press, 1948)
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Category:Ancient Peoples
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Category:Ancient peoples of China