The Ülüş system was the administrative system of the historical Turkic and Mongolic states. The noun Üleş in Turkish means "share" and the verb "üleş-mek" means to share.[1][2]

The system

According to historian Halil İnalcık, the sovereignty didn't belong solely to the khagan (emperor), but to the members of the khagan's family.[3] Thus the khagan allocated each member of the family a share of the country. This share was called ülüş. According to Kürşat Kocak however, the ülüş practice included also high level state officials. [4] This resembles the fief system in Medieval Europe. It is stressed by Lev Gumilyov that it was not a European type feudalism.[5] According to Lev Gümiloy the system was developed by the Southern Xiongnu during the second century AD.[5] It was used by the First Turkic Khaganate, Uyghur Khaganate, Mongol Empire and other political powers of Central Asia.

Example

In the First Turkic Khaganate (551-581) during the reign of Taspar Qaghan in 576, there were 8 üleşes (see Göktürk family tree).[5]

1.Taspar: in the Altai Mountain area
2.She tu (Taspar’s nephew; later renemed Ishbara as the khagan): east part of the khaganette
3. Böri (Taspar's nephew): west part of the Eastern territory
4.Töremen (Taspar's nephew, later renemed Apa as the khagan): north territories
5.Kara Çürün (Taspar's cousin later renamed Tardu as the khagan of the Western Territory): in Yedisu area
6.Tamgan (Taspar's cousin): in Volga River area
7.Amrak (Taspar's son): (unidentified)
8. Tegin shad (Taspar’s son): unidentified

References

  1. ↑ Dictionary of Turkish language Association
  2. ↑ Dictionary
  3. ↑ İnalcık page p.218 (in Turkish)
  4. ↑ Academia periodical (in Turkish)
  5. 1 2 3 L.N.Gümilev, Eski Türkler, translation by Ahsen Batur, ISBN 975-7856-39-8 p.80-81
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