The title translates to: "The Period of 'Kyrgyz Great Power'"

The Aspiration of Eastern Turks to Conquer the Kyrgyz in the Territory of the Yenisei River Basin.

Before Soviet researchers arises the question of how to assess the wars of those whom we consider possible to name as Yaglakap? Are they ordinary conquests or is there a hidden meaning in their historically justified actions? What determined the external friendly policy of China?

This period, called by academician V. Barthold the period of "Kyrgyz Great Power," was a time of formation of the first Kyrgyz state, emerging from the depths of military democracy.

This period is marked by two stages. The first stage is characterized by the struggle with varying success of the Kyrgyz against the expansionist tendencies of Central Asian nomadic states, initially of Eastern Turkic, later (from 745 AD) of the Uyghur khaganate (empire).

This struggle was clearly driven by the aspiration to maintain independence by the Kyrgyz, while the campaigns against them by the Eastern Turks were justified by accusations against the Kyrgyz that they "became enemies." Thus, for example, the text of Tonuykuka (beginning of the 8th century) narrates that "the strong khagan of the Kyrgyz was our enemy." In the text of Kültigin (large inscription) it is stated: "... there was also a barc-beg; at that time we granted him the title of khagan and gave him my younger sister - the princess.

But he himself was guilty (and therefore) was punished with death (i.e., was killed), and his people fell into slavery. Saying: "Let... the land of Koglen be without a master," we established order in the small (i.e., previously disorganized) people of the Kyrgyz.

The victory, in part, over the Kyrgyz is explained by the author of the text of Kültigin by the fact that "at that time (our) slaves became slave owners, and (our) slave women became slave owners.

The Eastern Turks aspired to conquer and destroy the Kyrgyz in their own territory, i.e., in the basin of the Yenisei River. A large section of the monument Tonuykuka is dedicated to this, concluding with the assertion that the Kyrgyz were subdued in the snow and allegedly, having killed the khagan of the Kyrgyz, they made the Kyrgyz people "bow down."

The events date back to 710-711 AD.

The same policy continues with the ancient Uyghur khaganate, which in 758 AD first conquered the lands of the Kyrgyz, as stated in the Chinese chronicle.

This was the beginning of a prolonged struggle. In the Chinese inscription from 808-820 AD on the Uyghur monument in Mongolia, it was even indicated that "initially there was the Gyangun (Kyrgyz) state, consisting of more than 400 thousand bowmen (i.e., carrying weapons). It (rose), but (the Uyghur khagan) was wise, manly, wonderfully military; it cost him (only) once to shoot, and he got it. The Gunkun (Kyrgyz) khagan fell under the blow of an arrow; cows, horses, bread, and weapons were piled up in heaps, state affairs (of the Kyrgyz authority) ceased, and on the land (there) were no (living) people." Let it be with exaggeration, but the text states another strong defeat of the Kyrgyz on their own territory, and not as a result of raids or predatory wars.

And in this situation of defeat, the Kyrgyz people find strength, and a person emerges who becomes the head of the people, organizing the struggle for the overthrow of foreign oppression and the revival of political independence. This leader, unnamed in Chinese sources by name, organizes the struggle against the oppressors, leads this struggle for 20 years, completing it with a complete defeat of the opponent, leading the Kyrgyz to the Central Asian arena, establishing connections with Central Asia; this twenty-year period is practically the second stage in the history of the Kyrgyz of this period. If the first was associated with a failed defense in the end, the second stage is marked by a developed and successful mobilization, during which the remnants of the previously defeated Kyrgyz people were once again united.

This period is vividly outlined in the epic "Manas," especially in the section "The Great Campaign," which has already been noted in literature.

The situation in which this rise occurs testifies to the noble goals of the Great Campaign of the ancient Kyrgyz, to the progressive nature of this movement.

What caused the "position" of China at that time towards the Kyrgyz? Only the old policy of China regarding the northern nomadic peoples based on the principle of "divide and rule."

Kyrgyz Leader Yaglakap