North Caucasian Huns
Encyclopedia
The North Caucasian Huns were a branch of the Huns
that established a polity
in Daghestan in the 6th century and 7th century CE. The North Caucasian Huns probably incorporated numerous indigenous Caucasian
tribes following their settlement in the area.
In 535 or 537, an Armenia
n missionary team headed by the bishop Kardost baptized many among the North Caucasian Huns. The Syriac source reporting this event also indicates that a writing system for Hunnic was developed.
In 682 Bishop Israel
of Caucasian Albania
led an unsuccessful delegation to convert Alp Iluetuer
, the ruler of the Caucasian Huns, to Christianity
. It has been suggested that "Iluetuer" is actually a corruption of the Khazar title "elteber", or client-ruler, suggesting that this people was subordinate to the Khazars from at least the mid to late 7th century. They are frequently described as being allied with the Khazars in their various wars of the period, particularly against the Caliphate.
Little is known about their fate after the early 8th century. It is likely that they became incorporated into the Khazar Khaganate. However, it is likely that they survived in some form or another for several centuries, possibly even until the 11th century.
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
that established a polity
Polity
Polity is a form of government Aristotle developed in his search for a government that could be most easily incorporated and used by the largest amount of people groups, or states...
in Daghestan in the 6th century and 7th century CE. The North Caucasian Huns probably incorporated numerous indigenous Caucasian
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
tribes following their settlement in the area.
In 535 or 537, an Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n missionary team headed by the bishop Kardost baptized many among the North Caucasian Huns. The Syriac source reporting this event also indicates that a writing system for Hunnic was developed.
In 682 Bishop Israel
Israel (Bishop of Caucasian Albania)
Israel was the bishop of Caucasian Albania in the latter part of the seventh century. In 682 he led an unsuccessful delegation to convert Alp Iluetuer, the ruler of the North Caucasian Huns, to Christianity. Israel wrote about the customs of the Huns, including the local cult of Tengri....
of Caucasian Albania
Caucasian Albania
Albania is a name for the historical region of the eastern Caucasus, that existed on the territory of present-day republic of...
led an unsuccessful delegation to convert Alp Iluetuer
Alp Iluetuer
Alp Ilutuer was the Ilutuer of the North Caucasian Huns during the 680's CE.He is mentioned in the account of Bishop Israel of Caucasian Albania, who travelled to Alp Ilutuer's court in an unsuccessful attempt to convert him and his people to Christianity.Alp is an Old Turkic word meaning "hero",...
, the ruler of the Caucasian Huns, to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. It has been suggested that "Iluetuer" is actually a corruption of the Khazar title "elteber", or client-ruler, suggesting that this people was subordinate to the Khazars from at least the mid to late 7th century. They are frequently described as being allied with the Khazars in their various wars of the period, particularly against the Caliphate.
Little is known about their fate after the early 8th century. It is likely that they became incorporated into the Khazar Khaganate. However, it is likely that they survived in some form or another for several centuries, possibly even until the 11th century.