Usun State

In the 2nd century BC, the Tian Shan Sakas were defeated by another powerful nomadic alliance — the Yuezhi (Tocharian), who were driven out of Eastern Turkestan by the warlike Huns. Subsequently, the Yuezhi subjugated part of the Tian Shan Sakas. Initially, the Usuns roamed near the Huns and Yuezhi at the western part of the Great Wall of China. Around 160 BC, part of the Usuns, having defeated the Sakas and Yuezhi, settled in Tian Shan and Semirechye. Occupying Semirechye, Dzhungaria, and Central Tian Shan, the Usuns established one of the oldest states here, referred to in sources as "Usun-go" ("Usun State"), "Sin-go" ("Nomadic State"), and "Bu-tszu" ("Tribal Union"). Science has yet to determine their origin and what the name of this people means. Their distinctive appearance noticeably set them apart from the inhabitants of Central Asia and Turkestan: the Usuns had red hair and blue eyes.

Reports about the Usun state have been found by scholars in Chinese written sources. The capital of the Usun state was the city of Chi-Gu, located on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. At the beginning of our era, due to geological processes occurring beneath the earth, the waters of the lake rose and flooded the city. Archaeologists discovered the ruins of this ancient city at the bottom of Lake Issyk-Kul. Furthermore, they established that fragments of ceramic dishes, stone grinders, bronze sickles, daggers, cauldrons, and other utensils found underwater or washed ashore near the modern city of Karakol also date back to the period of the Usun state.

Recent archaeological work both on the shores of Issyk-Kul and at the bottom of the lake has allowed scholars to hypothesize that the city of Chigu was located on the southern shore of the Tyup Bay and is still partially submerged beneath the waters of Issyk-Kul. The Usuns primarily engaged in animal husbandry but did not shy away from agriculture and had settled communities. According to Chinese sources, the Usun state had about 630,000 inhabitants. If necessary, the kunbag could field over 180,000 warriors (which is hardly credible; a more realistic figure cited by sources is about 100,000).

The Usun state represented an early class formation with strong remnants of tribal organization. The power of the kunbag was hereditary, and the supreme ruler relied on a council of elders. The state apparatus included at least 16 officials. The Usun army at that time was a formidable force. Both China and the Huns, who dominated Central Asia, had to reckon with the kunbag.

The Usuns had a strong army and experienced military leaders. Therefore, even a powerful state like China sought to establish and maintain friendly relations with the Usuns. Moreover, the Great Silk Road, which was of great importance to the economy of China, passed through Usun territory. With the help of brave Usun warriors, Chinese rulers intended to deal with their eternal enemy — the Huns.

The Usuns established allied relations with other states through marriage alliances. To achieve this goal, the Chinese Emperor Wu-di married one of his princesses to the kunbag. The ruler of the Huns also gave his daughter in marriage to the kunbag. The kunbag married both: according to Usun customs, men could have multiple wives. Thus, two branches of the kunbag's descendants emerged — the Han and the Hun.

Starting from the second half of the 2nd century BC, the Usuns were drawn into the sphere of the imperial politics of the Han dynasty, which faced two crucial tasks: to deal with their eternal enemy — the Huns, who had created a powerful state in the steppes of Central Asia, and to establish control over the Great Silk Road up to the Greco-Bactrian territories. The key to solving both tasks lay in the hands of the Usuns. Therefore, in 109 BC, Emperor Wu-di sent an embassy to the Usuns with rich gifts and married one of his princesses to the kunbag. The city of Chigu was also visited by the Chinese diplomat Zhan Qian, who left a description of the life and customs of the Usuns and was at the origins of the Great Silk Road through Tian Shan.

In the early 1st century BC, the kunbag Unguymi, who took the throne name Feiwan, became the head of the Usun state, which transformed into a strong power. Feiwan concluded a treaty with the Han dynasty for joint actions against the Huns, and in 71 BC, the Usuns, acting in coordination with a 150,000-strong Chinese army, inflicted a crushing defeat on the Huns, capturing 40,000 prisoners and up to 700,000 heads of livestock. After this defeat, the Huns could not recover; the once-mighty state perished.

However, the Usuns, in the face of China, acquired not so much an ally as a rival who did not want a strong neighbor. Seeing the growing power of the Usuns, neighboring nomadic tribes sought to establish close relations with them and secure their patronage. The strengthening of the Usuns caused serious concern among their allies — the Chinese rulers. They began to interfere in the internal affairs and politics of the kunbags, using intrigues, internal discord, and inter-tribal conflicts.

The Han court inflamed dynastic disputes in the Usun state and then intervened, supporting one or another claimant to the throne, ultimately appropriating the right to appoint and remove kunbags, granting titles and powers to Usun nobility, and distributing state seals to them.



... In the midst of the feast in the palace of the widow of the Usun kunbag Unguymi - the Chinese princess Gyai Yu. In the large hall with two columns, the leaders of the Usun tribes enjoy Ferghana wine, specially brought for the celebration, kumys, and eat fatty meat with appetite. The table is laid with all sorts of dishes, fruits, and sweets.

In the most honorable place sits the ruler of the Usuns - kunbiy Nimi-Kuanwan (Chinese title). By his command, the princess herself serves the guests. For a princess of the Han lineage, this is an unprecedented insult. Smiling, Gyai Yu fills a cup with sweet wine, but her eyes are full of indignation and hatred. Kuanwan sees this and smirks discreetly. What can this woman do! A year ago, he took her as his wife, and she bore him a son. Now the young ruler has become related to the Chinese emperor himself. Let her try to bite, if she can!

- Wine! - shouted the kunbiy.

The princess went out to the courtyard. On three sides were residential and utility buildings, and on the fourth - the main gates and stables. The princess surveyed the courtyard. This "palace," resembling a rural estate, was built forty years ago by the elderly ruler for his young wife, a Chinese princess. At that time, the Usun rulers first became related to the Han dynasty. Great China and the Usun state formed a military alliance against the powerful state of the Huns. For forty years, the marriage of Usun rulers with beauties from distant Han lands had supported and strengthened this alliance. And now, look how it has turned.

She clenched her fists tightly, to the point of pain. How she hated this young arrogant and self-satisfied dzhigit - her current master! The people, as well as those close to the court, did not like him for his laziness and arrogance. It was evident that both his appearance and mannerisms came from his Hun mother. Who is he — Nimi-Kuanwan! What kind of ruler is he! What kind of husband is he! For her, Gyai Yu, he is the worst of men, her fiercest enemy! The heir to the Usun throne was Yuan-guymi, her son from her former husband, the great Feiwan. But this half-Hun, with his henchmen, forcibly removed the rightful heir from power. And yesterday he struck her, the princess, with a whip for disobedience.

- Li Tai! - the princess quietly called. A tall warrior separated from a group of guards near the stables and approached her:

- What do you command, my lady?

- The time has come! - said the princess.

Li Tai looked her in the eyes.

- You will take him this wineskin. When he reaches for the wine, you will strike him with a dagger. There, they will help you.

Li Tai took the wineskin with a bow.

... The guests were noticeably drunk. They were talking loudly, shouting, and interrupting each other. Li Tai approached the ruler. No one paid attention to the dagger hanging at his side: nomads hardly ever parted with their weapons. Even now, each one held a long dagger in hand: they were all cutting meat with them.

The warrior leaned down, poured wine, and handed the cup to the kunbiy. The unsuspecting Kuanwan reached for the cup — and at that moment, Li Tai swiftly drew the dagger from its sheath and struck him in the chest. The blade, sliding across the chest and cutting through the clothing, buried itself in the left side. The blow was deflected by the iron armor that Kuanwan always wore under his clothes.

- Treachery! - shouted the ruler and received a second dagger blow.

What a commotion began! The guests instantly sobered up. Jumping from their seats, some rushed to the exit. Many grabbed each other: among the guests were not only supporters of the ruler but also his enemies.

The princess, having previously climbed to the tower, watched the unfolding events from there. She saw people running out of the palace, fighting each other, how the hated Nimi broke away from the crowd, how he jumped across the courtyard, reached the stables, and, with a sabre strike freeing the reins, tried to mount a horse. His left arm, which hung limply, and his left side, soaked in blood, hindered him. Finally, he managed to mount a horse. Others rushed to the horses too: it was hard to tell who were enemies and who were friends. Before her eyes, two guards at the gates were killed, then the gates swung wide open, and the descendant of the Huns, with a wild cry, galloped away. His henchmen followed him.

- Oh, great Shandi, why did you not help me?.. He did not die, did not die, - the princess repeated bitterly...


Inter-tribal strife, skillfully incited by the Chinese, led to the fall of the Usun state. The last mention of the Usuns in the sources dates to 437 AD, when they sent another embassy to China. In the mid-6th century, the Usuns became part of the Turkic Khaganate.