Khan's Den: Turkic and Steppe History

Episode 3: The Göktürk Chronicles: Defining the Türk Identity


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In the spring of 523 AD, the steppes ignite with rebellion as Börü Khan of the Tölös federation raises the wolf banner, challenging Rouran dominance. The call for freedom resonates across the grasslands, urging clans to reclaim their heritage as wolves, not dogs.

However, seventeen-year-old Bumin Ashina finds himself marching east with Rouran armies, poised to combat his own people. His journey is a harsh lesson in imperial power, revealing how empires manipulate conquered peoples to enforce their rule.

In the shadow of Anagui Khan's banners, Bumin witnesses Türk warriors both defending and betraying their kin, learning that the essence of being Türk is complex and fraught with moral dilemmas.

This narrative explores the stark choice between nurturing dreams of resistance and confronting the harsh truths of survival under imperial authority, as Bumin grapples with his identity and the heavy burden of his heritage.


#Göktürk #BuminAshina #Rouran #rebellion #identity #imperialpower #heritage #wolfbanner #Tölösfederation



See show notes: https://inlet.fm/khans-den/episodes/68505c5541b5ab51ed2863a8

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Khan's Den: Turkic and Steppe HistoryBy Emre-E. Yavuz