Political Aims and Methods in Relations between Türk and Sui Empires

Abstract

The Türk Khaganate, which was founded in 552 and became a vast empire; strenghened in 30 years by taking advantage of the divided situation of Northern Wei Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty, founded by a coup d'état, was shaped with the absolute power of the emperor. Both formed by universal empire visions, they immediately became rivals. This rivalry turned into a complex process which includes war, marriage diplomacy, alliances, fully symbolic diplomatic fashion, titles of envoys and collaborating elites. Gaining a temporary victory in 584 by using the enemy's inner weaknesses, the Sui Dynasty imposed a combination of settling, assimilation and appeasing the vassal policies in order to harden the victory. In spite of becoming successful more or less, it fell in 618 because of its own weaknesses. By the time revolts against the Sui spread in China, Eastern Türks -after 30 years of servitude- rose to power as an outer center for Chinese rebels. This study interests in Sui Dynasty's policies and their outcome.

Keywords

• Gök Türkler
• Sui Hanedanı
• Diplomasi