Sydykov A.J.

PhD Student, department of the World History,

Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi

Ethno genesis and social relationships of the Avar tribes

As a result of the Great Transmigration of Peoples the Avars settled in the Carpathian surroundings (modern Middle Hungary and Transylvania) and for about two hundred and fifty years had maintained a solid political power. However, the Avars can be classified as disappeared nations [1, 98-101 p.].

The name “Avars”, and in general origin of the Avars has not been explored in full and therefore there are different data in various written sources. For example, according to the Byzantine historian Prix the Avars’ history originates from 461 AD. [2, p.102]. According to Western and Armenian data in the late 5^th century that was the Huns that came back to the East under another name. Procopius Caesarea and Moses Khorenaci probably called them “the White Huns”. Commanded by “Kushanavar” they ruined the Pero country. The name of this commander consist of two words: “Kushan” – this term in the Armenian history associated with Nomadic concept and also the name “Kushan” has existed in the Central Asia from the ancient times. And “Avaz-avar” is the name of the Eastern European Avars. According to these data, after the Hepthalite people were defeated by the Turks in 567, the White Huns living in a territory between Byzantium and Central Asia had been exposed to assimilation with remained Hun tribes leaded a nomadic life. In other words this is confirmed by the name “Kushanavar” mentioned above. Probably, this name resulted from combination of two tribes (Kushan+Avar).

A.N. Bernshtam featuring the Hepthalite origin, says: “Hepthalites – is a part of the Kushan tribe (Ueczhi)”. As indicated by S. P. Tolstov, they started relationships with the Central Asian Hun tribes and with the union of Massagets and Alans. Likewise, the Caspian Hun tribes had a huge impact on the Hepthalite political development. Joining of remained Rouran (Zhuzhan) tribes to the Hun Union has produced a new ethnical name – “Avars”. The Hun-Avar tribal union having united with the debris of the Kushan Union formed a new political coalition of nomads in the Central Asia. That coalition, in turn, had made multiple changes to the social and economical life. First, it replaced an ancient nomadic life with a sedentary life. Tolstov’s conclusion on this matter has brought its productive results; “wattle-and-daub settlements” in surroundings of Syrdarya and Aral that is settlements, cities and villages of the White Huns. While researching the materials of archeological digs, S.P. Tolstov didn’t excluded a possibility of Eastern elements integrated therein including Mongolian language resources [3, p.81]. Later in 50s of the 6^th century the Rourans defeated by the Turks moved to the West and created the Avar Union and they differed from the quasi-Avars by the name “Kermihion”. The term “Kerm” means “towns” and “settlements”. Judging from this and looking at Huns’ settlements one may draw a conclusion that “Avarhuni” and “Kermihion” were sedentary peoples. Markvart while researching the name “Kermihion” with respect to the Avars in his works guesses that Kermihion consists of two words: “Kerm” – worm and “Hion” – the name of Eastern Rourans in 5-6^th centuries. In other words, Zhuan-Zhuan - the name of insects that Chinese gave to the Mokul tribes hating, detesting them and comparing them with this kind of insects. In the West this name remained in the Iranian form “Kerm+Hion” [4, p.71-74].

As A.N. Bernshtam concluded, transformation of the name Rouran (Zhuzhan) to the name Avar and modification of their older name “Verhuni” probably took place in the valleys in the region of Syrdarya and Aral.

In that place the Eastern Rourans obtained ethnical elements from their improper name as “Huns’ Settlements” or “Sedentary Huns”. After all, summarizing arguments mentioned above one may deduce a conclusion that the Avar Kaganat without doubt appeared as result of mixed ethnical groups of the Central Asia and Eastern Europe. This is proved by a complex structure of the Avar Union. For instance, considering one of multiple battles occurred between the Avar Kaganat and the Byzantine Empire near the Tis river one may suppose a sort of relationships existed between the population dependant on the Kagan and the main ethnical community: the Roman’s victory resulted in killing of many Slavs and the number of killed and captivated Avars amounted about 3000 thousand, and 6200 were representatives of other ethnic groups (Protobulgars, Hepids, Huns) and 8000 warriors were the Slavs. That is 17.5 % of those captivated were Avars, 46.5 % - Slavs, and other tribes were approximately 36 % [5, p. 171].

If analyze the data, Jordan in his works devoted to the Avars called Dnepr as Hunnivar. In other words, there are two names combined: Hun+Avar. Perhaps, the term “Var” according to the Avesta-Hepthalite term “Var” discloses the meaning of a town or settlement. Following this way an etymology of “Avarhunni” as “Huns’ settlements” or “Sedimentary Huns” appeared. Abbreviated names of Avars and Huns remained in the tribal name “Varhonite” that is a modified word of “Uar+Hunni”. This name started appearing in written sources in the second half of 6^th century (approximately 557 AD). In Jordan’s works one can find the name “Hunnuguri”. In general, the Byzantine historians divided the Avars into two groups: 1) European Avars or “Quasi-Avars”, and 2) Central Asian Avars. Menander Protector named the European Avars as “Varhonites” but not “Avars” [6, ch.4]. In Section 8, Book VII, Theophylactus Simmokatta mentioned this slightly modified name “Obar nai Xouvvi” of the European Avars as “Quasi-Avars”. The Arab author Ibn Hordabek represented Abars or Avars together with Khazars [7, p.108].

In survived written and archeological sources of the first half of 6^th century one can note the impact made by the Avar Union on many nomadic tribes. In many cases, the Avars came to Europe is a group detached from the collapsed Rouran (Zhuan-Zhuan) Kaganat. The Avars migrated to the valleys of Eastern Europe would face resistance of Hun-allied Sevirs, Utighurs and Kutrighurs earlier settled in those areas.

There are different data on arrival of the first Avars in the valleys of Eastern Europe. According to one of them, Justinian when creating his kingdom dispersed “Uar” and “Hunni” tribes that were flied in terror and named them “Avars”. The ambassador visited Uar Hunnis called them Avars. Thus, these tribes called “Avars” and their leaders were honored as “Kagans” [8, Book 6, 8]. Acording to Theophylactus Simmokatta the Istemi’s Turkish Kaganat subjected other tribes including natives of the Oghor tribe. The Oghors were the most powerful, solid tribe and from the military standpoint they were well armed. They were living East to the Til river. The Turks called that river”Black”. One of their leaders had the name “Uar and Hun”. Therefore some of their tribes called “Uar and Hunni”.

Chronicler Theophylactus Simmokatta in his writings cited Istemi Kagan’s words being furious at “fled Avars”: “Those Avars imagined as it they are able to escape from the Turkish sword, but they are not birds flying in air nor fishes swimming in water, anyway they will be roaming on this earth!” [8, ch.10, p.328].

Based on the data, we know that Avars were more smart, craft and powerfull than other “Scythian nations”.

In the literature one may find opinions stating that the Aver-Varhonites are newcomers from the Central Asia and Mongols. According to some data, the Avars were called as “Hionits” or “Varhionites” and they said that in the Huns’ Era blue-eyed white people were living downstream to the Seihun (Syrdarya) river. According to T. Simmokatta, the Avars were known as fearless warriors with a heavy build [8, book 4].

In 540 AD, one part of Rourans suffered a defeat from the Turkish Kaganat had mixed with the Turks, Mongols and Manchu and afterwards headed the West. That branch of the Rouran (Zhuzhan) tribe was known in the West as the Avars. In the midst of 6^th century after being subjected to the Turkish Kaganat the Avars, according to Menander, or part of them consisting approximately of 20 thousand persons had fled to the West, to the Caucasian frontier areas, whereupon they started building relationships with Byzantium. According to the chronicler, after long fighting the Avars sent the first messenger to the Byzantine Empire though an Alan tribe [6, p.321-322].

Till the end of 8^th century the Avar Kaganat existed in valleys of the Central and Eastern Europe. The Turkish tribes played a prevailing role in the Avars’ tribal union. After the Hun Power collapsed in the West, the Avar Kaganat had been created resulting from joining of several Turkish tribes that were Rourans (Zhuzhans) came from the East in 60s of 6^th century. Bayan was the Kagan of that tribal union. While in the era of the Great Transmigration of Peoples the Hun Power had a great impact on the Europe and Eurasia fate in transmission to the new medieval civilization, the Avars were successors of the Hun Epoch, specifically its Eastern tradition. In the midst of 6^th century the Avars having passed a long distance came to Carpathians and brought together other ethnical groups. For example, they had bought the Herans from the Volga region and Kutrighurs from Southern Russian steppe etc. Thereafter, the Avars showed that originally they were not pure Avars in ethnical regard.

The data on the system of power in the Avar Kaganat say that only Longobards and Turks possessed monarchy power as well as Avars. In other words, this clearly indicates that the Avar Kaganat possessed the monarchy as well.

According to the historic data, the tribe “Varhonite” played a central executive role in the Avar tribal union [6, ch.45]. That is to say that the aristocrats originated mainly from the Varhonite tribe. Several subjected tribes gathered a half of provision, agricultural products as a tribute. Whatever newcomers joined the Avar Kaganat, they contributed to a new era of that semi-barbarian state following tradition of the local tribal union.

When considering the Avars’ social relationships we should mention clan-and-tribal traditions. We can refer to the following valuable written data including those from “Strategicon” by Pseudo Mauritius. The Avars’ huge tribal union of consisted of numerous clans. The same as Huns, in art of war the Avars paid special homage to bow and arrows. Like the Turks, the Avars used largely cavalry. They were shooters able to hit the target at full tilt. Their arms consisted of a saber, bow, arrows and gave locks. Therefore, it was said that in order to face off the Avars one should use cavalry against. Despite their small number the Avars were strong in comparison with others. They differed by a cavalry using iron stirrups.

Great news from the Avar epoch were horse harnesses including iron stirrups found in their tombs. Covered with silver those stirrups were decorated in Turkish-like animal style. The Avar Kaganat ruled by Bayan was a well-organized military union. Summarizing the history of the Avar Kaganat, we should not consider it just as a branch of Eastern Turkish tribes, rather, we should weight their specific contribution to the history of European nations.

References

1. Erdeli A. Avars // Disappeared Nations. Cuman, Pechenegs, Khazars, Scythians, Ants, Burtases, Avers, Sunnu, Tayrona, Mochika, Maya / Under edition of P.I. Puchkova. – Moscow: Science, 1988. – p. 98-110.

2. Priscus Panites. Historia Byzantina fragmenta, 15. Ed. C. Mullerus. – Paris: Didot, 1851. – Vol. IV. – 258 p.

3. Tolstov S.P. Oguzs’ Cities // Soviet ethnography. – 1947. – 3^rd Issue. – p. 81, 276.

4. Marquart J. Uber das Volkstum der Komanen. Ostturkische Dialektstudien. Abhandlungen d. Wiss. Zu Gottingen., Phil Hist. Class. VII-XIII. – Berlin, 1914. – 295 p.

5. Bernshtam А.N. Outline of Huns’ history. – Leningrad: Science, 1951, - 255 p.

6. Menander Protector. History // Byzantine historians: Dexippus, Eunapius, Olympiodorus, Malchus, Petri Patricii, Menander, Candid, Nonnus and Pheophan the Byzantine/ Translated by S. Destunis – Saint-Petersburg: Demis’s Publishing House, 1860. – p.313-470.

7. Ibn Hordabeh. The Book on journeys and countries. – Baku: 1986.-108-110.

8. Theophylactus Simmokatta. The History (Memorials of the Medieval History of Central and Eastern Europe’s nations) / Translated by S.P. Kondrateva – Moscow: the USSR Academy of Science, 1957.-223 p.