Fueled by a burning resentment against the Tang, the Second Khanate is born in the East.  Aiming to restore the glory of the First Göktürk Khanate, the Second Khanate launches a restorationist project to reconquer the whole steppe - before running up against the armies of conquest of a brand new religion.   But before its fall, the Second Khanate under the great Bilge Khan carves its story into stone, to be discovered and embraced by the Turks centuries later.  

The Tang armies march west to take on the Western Khanate after defeating the Eastern Khanate, just after the assassination of Tong Yabgu Khan.   The Western Khanate faces this mighty new dynasty and is wracked by internal chaos and division.  And we finally close out the story of the Göktürk Khanate - the first Turkish state in history. 

In the East, the Sui Dynasty collapses and the Eastern Göktürk Khanate regains the top spot as the premier power in East Asia.  But out of the ashes of the Sui, a new dynasty arises - a powerful dynasty founded by Sinicized Turks.  And a dynamic Emperor of this new dynasty comes into conflict with a reforming Khan on the steppe to determine who will be the master of the East. 

In the aftermath of Tardu's death, the Göktürk Khanate is broken in two.  The Western half comes under the control of ten powerful tribes - the On Ok, meaning the Ten Arrows.  The Western Khanate invades Iran in alliance with Byzantium, bringing the Sassanid Dynasty to its knees.

Tardu succeeds his father Istami in the West as Taspar Khan dies in the East.  Tardu launches an invasion of Iran - and sparks a succession crisis which permanently breaks the Göktürk Khanate in two. 

Muqan Khan and Taspar Khan conquer in the East, and the Göktürk Khanate reaches the zenith of its power.  A powerful state of unseen sophistication for the steppe world is established.  Surely it's only onwards and upwards from here...

The new Göktürk Khanate rides West, inaugurating a series of stunning conquests, and bringing the Turks into contact and conflict with the Byzantine and Sassanid Empires.  

The origins of the Turks and the world from which they emerged, ending with the revolt of the Turks and the establishment of the Göktürk Khanate - the first Turkish state. 

Welcome to the Turkish History Podcast.