turks military military dynasty staffed large population soldiers referred chinese sources northern china familiar culture factor contributed acceptance recruits emperor adopted title heavenly promoted cosmopolitan empire regularly recruited promoted military officers ancestry experience contributed western northern expansion empire general participated capture kingdoms half general started revolt led decline dynasty inscriptions critical turks served dynasty condemned helping chinese emperor expand burgeoning empire soldiers stationed chinese garrisons settled region spreading languages area predominantly background empire dynasty cosmopolitan diverse earlier han dynasty dynasty northern china interest culture people setting poem describes performance actress hosted emperor palace following dynasty defeat eastern government authorized settlement turks borders empire officers recruited generals military experience warfare contributed military successes expanded westward emperor emperor known personal familiar culture employed military strategies tactics prince skilled horsemen celebration victory ascension throne sacrificed horse ritual derived religious practice able heavy cavalry dynasty light cavalry characteristic warfare shared personal relationships allies prince reinforced sworn blood brothers later successes emperor armies diplomacy divide rule result early experiences culture adoption title role khan solely chinese emperor title son heaven valued title sincere role leader sought claim organizing gathering leaders fortress years reign title symbolic title shows open attitudes existence diverse empire proud policies promoting ethnic equality reported said emperors ancient times appreciated chinese view equal look parent attitude subjects believed duty treat chinese foreign ethnic groups equals ruler views grew state policy government recruited non han chinese soldiers military soldiers later promoted higher ranks commanders generals surname belonging royal family awarded han non han officers service relationship turks deepened crown prince successor enthusiastically embraced customs chinese historian recorded emulate turkish speech manner dress chose turkish features grouped bands hair wear herd sheep wolf head banners tents set crown prince took residence gathered sheep cooked drawing waist knife meat let eat deposed crown prince plans throne revealed exiled died generals military campaigns generals led dynasty military campaigns expanded dynasty territorial reach total turks able reach highest military position general ruler member clan recruited general fought commander successful campaign chosen general military expedition loyalist installed ruler invasion chinese general deposed cousin revolt executed rebellion suppressed governance returned oasis state continued onward nearby kingdom state supported war emperor tended injuries generals wounded campaign brother served general dynasty participant military performance hosted member clan briefly served commander army rise western reign tribes unified single leader emperor successor dispatched military expedition raiding settlements campaign led general commanders opposed defeated captured forces territories annexed placed governance awarded military service commanders appointing rulers western tribes tribes split cousins western half given controlled eastern tribes sons sent capital resided succeed fathers west lasted long rulers overthrown tribal subjects deposed second invasion general mixed ancestry revolt devastated dynasty unlike majority military officers served official closely involved politics imperial court general garrison frontier dynasty collapsed alliance rebellion diminished enthusiasm characteristic dynasty earlier years inscriptions memorial erected turks lamented influence turks adoption chinese titles turkish people let state ruin sons worthy lords slaves daughters worthy ladies servants chinese people turkish lords abandoned turkish titles lords china held chinese titles chinese emperor gave service years benefit chinese went campaigns land east sun rises far iron gate west benefit chinese emperor conquered countries inscriptions commemorate second empire stress importance loyalty ruler subjects turks sided condemned tribes blamed lack respect authority historical significance soldiers generals worked chinese garrisons spurred migration area language culture soldiers gradually displaced indigenous languages native languages disappeared languages spread dynasty declined dynasty eventually fell kingdoms period era following dynasty collapse kingdoms china ruled families ancestry founded later later later han
Turks in the Tang military