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Western Turkic Khaganate

The western successor to the First Turkic Khaganate, controlling Central Asian trade routes until Tang dynasty expansion extinguished its independence.

Conquered by the Tang dynasty of China in 657 CE after decades of internal civil wars weakened the khaganate, with its last khagan Ashina Helu captured by Tang general Su Dingfang.

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Further reading

• Empires of the Silk Road: A History of Central Eurasia from the Bronze Age to the Present Christopher I. Beckwith · 2009

  Best English source covering the Turkic khaganates and their Central Asian impact.

• The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia René Grousset · 1939

  Covers the Western Turkic Khaganate and its control of Central Asian trade routes up to its absorption by Tang expansion, within the steppe's long history.

Sources

• Wikipedia, 'Western Turkic Khaganate' (Q874357)