The Strategic Importance of Toles Tribe (VI. and VII. centuries)

Abstract

Tribes living in the steppes of Kazakhstan during the early ages of the Gok-Turk state, in general, were called as Toles. There is more information about the geographic distribution of Toles in the Chinese sources such as Suei Shu (section 85) and Pei Shih (section 99). According to this information, the location of the tribes and the numbers of the soldiers perfectly trained were shown.Toles tribe known as Ting-ling during the ages of the Huns, then the Kao-ch’e (Kangli) connected to Bumin Kagan before the establishment of the Gok-Turk State.Tribal riots in 603, deeply influenced the fate of the West Gok-Turk State. During this period, Töles tribe played very important roles until 627.After this, instead of the name Töles tribe, new tribal names such as Karluk, Turgis, Kipchak, Oghuz and Pechenek took place in history. In this paper we will focus on the geographical distribution and historical roles of the Toles tribe on the steppes of Kazakhstan until the beginning of the VIIth century.