Hephtalite Campaign of the Mid 6th C.

[Lannes]

I've come across a few references to this campaign which effectively destroyed the Hephtalite Empire of SW Asia, but for the most part they are quite vague, only mentioning that the Tujue received Sassanid help and that it was carried out under the leadership of either Buqan Qaghan of the Yabghu in the west (a brother?).

If anyone could provide whatever details they know of this campaign, I would appreciate it.

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

I shall check a few books when I return home a few days later (I'm in Ýstanbul right now).

I looked at Ahmet Taþaðýl's "Gök-Türkler" but all I found was the same thing you know. There isn't much details about the war and there isn't any knowledge about the campaign itself.

[tengrikut]

Hephtalites are Ak-Huns. they had a great state in today's afgansitan, pakistan, uzbekistan and turmenistan. they had wars with sasanids. destroyed all persia. but for the silk road, they had arguments with kok-turks. so kokturks had an allience with sasanids and destoyed ak-huns. akhuns joint to kok-turk federation.

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

Of course the Hephtalites (White Huns) didn't destroy all of Persia.

[tengrikut]

admin said:

Of course the Hephtalites (White Huns) didn't destroy all of Persia.

of course. but they defeat persian armies again and again. persians couldn'y stand to the Ak-hun attacks.

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

According to S. Gömeç, the White Huns made their final stand outside the city of Nakhshab. The last ruler of the White Huns died in the battle and the Gök Türks became victorious.

The only details I found are in Gumiliov's book. According to him, Gök Türk raiders captured Shâsh (Tashkend) first and massacred the population. Then they met with the main body of the army at Mâymurgh. The main body of the White Hun army was at Bukhârâ but under the leadership of their ruler Ghatfar, they withdrew to Nasaf (Qarshi) but they were finally defeated following a one-day-lasting battle.

[Lannes]

admin said:

According to S. Gömeç, the White Huns made their final stand outside the city of Nakhshab. The last ruler of the White Huns died in the battle and the Gök Türks became victorious.

The only details I found are in Gumiliov's book. According to him, Gök Türk raiders captured Shâsh (Tashkend) first and massacred the population. Then they met with the main body of the army at Mâymurgh. The main body of the White Hun army was at Bukhârâ but under the leadership of their ruler Ghatfar, they withdrew to Nasaf (Qarshi) but they were finally defeated following a one-day-lasting battle.

Hmm, thanks for the info.

Would you know whether the Hephtalite army fought as a traditional steppe army even during their reign in SW Asia?

[tengrikut]

i know their one war againist persians: persians were attackers and huns were defenders. huns digged zigzag holes on the battlefield and then they hided the holes. all soldiers knew where were holes, and where weren't... after some skirmishes, ak-hun army acted as they were fleeing. and they rode their horses to holes. and when persians came there, they fell down to holes and hun soldiers came back and wrapped persian army. and persian king get there and begged for his and his soldiers' lifes.

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

lannes said:

Would you know whether the Hephtalite army fought as a traditional steppe army even during their reign in SW Asia?

It would be hard for me to find any info on this subject but I shall look for them. I suppose they still relied mostly on their cavalry even in their campaigns into Irân and India.