Bilge Khan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bilge Khan (Arslan Bilgä Khağan; 683 or 684 - 734) was one of the most influential emperors of the Gokturk Empire.
His name literally means "wise chieftain". In 716, he assumed the leadership together with his brother Kul Tigin after a coup against the previous ruler, his cousin Inal Khan who was a weak leader. Bilge Khan and Kul Tigin took their place in history as the wisest and most heroic figures among Turkish statesmen. They asserted that the state could not be ruled only by fighting and bravery and the Khanate should also require wisdom.
His empire spanned from the Caspian Sea to Manchuria and he invaded the western sections of the Chinese territories. After he was killed by being poisoned, an inscription was erected near the Orhon River on a monumental area, which is known today as Orkhon inscriptions.Orkhon Inscriptions immortalized Bilge Khan's accomplishments. These inscriptions are the first written texts of the Turkish language.
