Materials on the History of the Uyghurs in the 9th—12th Centuries

A. G. Malyavkin. Materials on the History of the Uyghurs in the IX—XII Centuries. Vol. 2. Novosibirsk. 1974

In this book, A. G. Malyavkin translated and published with comprehensive comments all the information on the history of the Uyghurs in the IX—XII centuries from various sources written in Chinese. It contains very valuable information about the Yenisei Kyrgyz in connection with their defeat of the Uyghur Khaganate. Below are these excerpts with the corresponding comments.

Text: "C,zyu tanshu" ("Old Chronicle of the Tang Dynasty," completed in 945 AD).

The military leader Ju-lu mo-he hated Jue-lo-u(1); he attracted the Kyrgyz(2) and, leading 100,000 cavalry, defeated the Uyghur city(3), killed Lu-ji, beheaded Jue-lo-u; burned and destroyed everything without exception.

The Uyghurs scattered among various peoples. The Uyghur minister Sa-zhi, together with Pantigin(4), the nephew (of the Chinese emperor)(5), and five (of his) brothers — Nan-lu, Efen, and others, fled west to the Karluks (ge-lo-lu). One part submitted to the Tibetans, another went to Anxi6. In addition, 13 clans close to the khan's aymak appointed the tegina Wu-jie as khan, came south, and joined the Han state(7).

At first, when the Kyrgyz defeated the Uyghurs, they captured Princess Tai-he(8). The Kyrgyz called themselves descendants of Li Ling and had the same surname as the Tang house(9). Therefore, they ordered 10 tarhans(10) to escort the princess to the border fortifications: Wu-jie on the way met the Kyrgyz envoys, the tarhans were killed, and the princess was returned. Wu-jie, having the princess as a hostage, went south, crossed the Gobi Desert, and reached the borders (of the province) Tian-de. (Wu-jie) submitted a report (to the highest authority) requesting permission to reside with Princess Tai-he in the fortress of Jian-de.

In the second month (of the 3rd year of the reign of Hui-chan) (5/Ш—3/1V 843 AD), the Kyrgyz envoy Zhu-u He-su (S. 33) arrived at the court and presented two famous horses as a gift. He also reported that the khan had already defeated the Uyghurs and accepted Princess Tai-he to return her to her homeland.

Unfortunately, the remnants of the Uyghurs intercepted her on the way. In this regard, the emperor dispatched a palace legate to escort Zhu-u He-su to Taiyuan to meet the princess.

At this time, Khan Wu-jie was wounded by an arrow, fled, and submitted to the heichezi. The Kyrgyz were instructed to mobilize troops and attack them.