Vizier Tonyukuk
He is the first known Turkish writer and historian. He worked as a counselor for Kutlug Khan, the founder of Gokturk State as well as Kapagan Khan and Bilge Khan, and conducted the post of their council chairman.
It is understood from the epitaphs he erected in his name, that he was born in times when Gokturks were under captivity by Juan Juan State. He escaped captivity together with Kutlug Khan and took part in establishment of Goktur State.
He not only served as vizier to Bilge Khan but also married his daughter to him and became his father-in-law. Since he was a good strategist and tactician, western Turkologists call him as the "Bismarc of Turks".
Tonyukuk talks about himself as follows in his epitaph:
"Since God vouchsafed, I did not let armed enemy walk around in Turkish Budun. I did not run marked horse. If Ilteriş Khan did not work and I did not work obeying him, this nation was to be eliminated. Since I worked, it became provinces and nations. Now I am old. Now Bilge Khan leads his nation governing Turks well".
Vizier Tonyukuk, who prevented Turks' conversion into Buddhism also prevented Turks' settling down in cities surrounded by ramparts and being enslaved by Chinese again. Tonyukuk who always guided his nation, explains as follows the life of his nation which reached comfort from hunger, and independence from slavery: We were eating rabbits and deers in Karakurum. The nation was full. Our enemies were like furnace nearby. We were fire." Although his date of birth is not known, his death is in 726. His memory was reminded in a place named Bain-Cokto by Bilge Khan.
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2025-08-15 05:22:27