The personality of Tonyukuk and the geopolitical position of the Second East Turkish Khaganate

Abstract

A relevant topic of historical science is the study and evaluation of the activities of Tonyukuk, the state councilor of the Second Turkic Kaganate, the chief ideologist responsible for the ideological activities of the Kaganate from 682 to 725. Between 682 and 725 the wise Tonyukuk worked as an adviser to the three ruling Kagans on political and spiritual-cultural issues. The article reveals the essence of the secrets of Tonyukuk's socio-political activities, who was a state councilor of the Khaganate and the chairman of the Supreme Court. In the course of the research work the historical data as well as the works of turkologists and historians dealing with the fundamental problems of the Turkic Khaganate were studied. The article analyzes the ethnic origin, ethnogenesis, tribal composition and state structure of the ancient Turks. At present, there is relatively little research work on the activities of Ashide Tonyukuk as a historical figure who did a tremendous political work to establish the Second East Turkic Khaganate. The article extensively discussed hypotheses and scholarly considerations about the reasons why historical figures as Kutlug Kagan and the wise Tonyukuk, within the ideas of independence of all ethnic Turkic tribes, resumed state building of the Second East Turkic Khaganate in 682.