Who Are the Khazars?

Below is a historical timeline article on the Khazars, a semi-nomadic Turkic people who established a significant medieval empire in the Eurasian steppe. This overview traces their origins, rise, cultural developments, and eventual decline.

The Khazars: A Historical Timeline

The Khazars were a Turkic people who played a pivotal role in the history of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus between the 7th and 10th centuries. Their empire, known as the Khazar Khaganate, was a melting pot of cultures, religions, and trade networks, leaving a lasting legacy in the medieval world. Below is a timeline of their history.

c. 6th Century: Origins of the Khazars

• The Khazars emerge as a distinct group among the Western Turkic Khaganate, a vast confederation of Turkic tribes spanning Central Asia and the Pontic-Caspian steppe.(Includes parts of Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan)
• Initially nomadic, they inhabit the region north of the Caspian Sea, engaging in herding, trade, and occasional raids alongside other steppe peoples like the Bulgars and Sabirs.

Early 7th Century: Rise to Prominence

• c. 630: Following the collapse of the Western Turkic Khaganate, the Khazars assert greater independence under the leadership of their tribal elites.
• They establish a foothold in the North Caucasus and the lower Volga River region, capitalizing on their strategic position between the Byzantine Empire and the expanding Umayyad Caliphate.

650–670: Formation of the Khazar Khaganate

• The Khazars consolidate power under a khagan (supreme ruler), forming a centralized state known as the Khazar Khaganate.
• They ally with the Byzantine Empire against mutual threats, such as the Sassanid Persians and later the Arab Caliphates, marking the beginning of their role as a buffer state.

Late 7th Century: Expansion and Trade

• The Khazars extend their influence over the steppe, subjugating neighboring tribes like the Alans, Bulgars, and Magyars.
• They control key trade routes along the Silk Road, linking China, the Middle East, and Europe, with their capital, Atil (near the Volga Delta), emerging as a commercial hub.

c. 740: Conversion to Judaism

• In a remarkable and much-debated event, the Khazar elite, led by the khagan and his court, adopt Judaism as the state religion.
• This conversion, possibly influenced by interactions with Jewish merchants and refugees from Byzantine persecution, distinguishes the Khazars from their Christian and Muslim neighbors.
• The extent of Judaism’s spread among the broader population remains unclear, with many subjects retaining shamanistic, Christian, or Islamic beliefs.

8th Century: Golden Age

• The Khazar Khaganate reaches its zenith, controlling territory from the Dnieper River in the west to the Aral Sea in the east, and from the Caucasus Mountains to the southern borders of the Rus.
• Atil becomes a cosmopolitan center, hosting Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and pagan communities, with a dual government system: a khagan (ceremonial ruler) and a beg (military and administrative leader).
• The Khazars repel Arab invasions during the Arab-Khazar Wars (c. 642–737), securing their dominance in the region.

9th Century: Challenges and Resilience

• c. 830–860: The Khazars face pressure from the growing power of the Kievan Rus in the north and the Pechenegs in the east.
• They maintain diplomatic ties with the Byzantine Empire, including aiding in the construction of the Sarkel fortress on the Don River to defend against nomadic incursions.
• Trade continues to flourish, with Khazar merchants exporting furs, honey, and slaves while importing silk, spices, and luxury goods.

Early 10th Century: Decline Begins

• 965–969: The Khazar Khaganate suffers a devastating blow when Sviatoslav I of Kievan Rus sacks Atil and destroys key Khazar strongholds.
• This military campaign, supported by Byzantine interests, weakens the Khazar state, disrupting its political and economic cohesion.
• The rise of the Pechenegs and Cumans further erodes Khazar control over the steppe.

Late 10th–11th Century: Dissolution

• After the fall of Atil, the Khazar Khaganate fragments into smaller entities, losing its status as a unified empire.
• Surviving Khazar communities assimilate into neighboring cultures, including the Rus, Cumans, and later the Mongols.
• By the 11th century, the Khazars fade from historical records as a distinct political entity, though their descendants may have influenced groups like the Karaites and other Jewish communities in Eastern Europe and beyond.

Legacy

• The Khazars leave an enduring mark as a rare example of a Jewish-led state in the medieval world, sparking scholarly debate about their influence on Jewish history and the development of Ashkenazi Jewry.
• Their role as a trade and cultural crossroads highlights the complexity of steppe empires, bridging East and West during a formative period.

Conclusion

The Khazar Khaganate’s history is a testament to the fluidity of identity and power in the medieval steppe. From their nomadic origins to their adoption of Judaism and eventual decline under external pressures, the Khazars shaped the geopolitical landscape of their time. Though their empire vanished, their story continues to intrigue historians and inspire speculation about their broader impact.

Read more here- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3595026/