The Turk Empire

 

Suleyman the Magnificent, leader of the Turkish Empire. Photo courtesy of Ignatius History.

 

In the late 5th century, the Tuyuhun, a powerful nomadic tribe of East Asia, and the Rouran, a confederation of nomaic tribes on the northern borders, encroached upon the region and asserted their respective powers in southern and northern Xinjiang. As a result, the Chinese protectorate was lost again.

 

Altay Region

 

In the 6th century, the Turks emerged from the Altay region and within a century, the Turks defeated the Rouran and established a vast Turk Empire. The Turk Empire stretched over most of Central Asia. However, in 583 AD, the Turks split into western and eastern halves; Xinjiang fell under the western half. In 609 AD, the Sui Dynasty of China defeated the Tuyuhun and gained control of southeastern Xinjiang.