How Bumin Turned a Subject People Into an Empire

The Challenge

In the mid-sixth century the Türks were subjects of the Rouran Khaganate, valued by their overlords as ironworkers in the Altai mountains. Their leader, Bumin, had grown strong enough to put down a Tiele revolt against the Rouran and absorb more than 50,000 households, but he was still treated as a servant.

When he asked the Rouran khagan Anagui for a princess in marriage, Anagui refused with an insult: "You are my blacksmith slave."

The Approach

• Had already opened relations with the Western Wei in northern China, receiving an envoy in 545 and sending tribute in 546
• Broke with the Rouran after Anagui's insult and secured a marriage alliance with the Western Wei instead, receiving Princess Changle in 551
• Used the strength he had built inside the Rouran system, including the Tiele households, to attack his overlord
• Defeated Anagui's army north of Huaihuang in early 552; Anagui took his own life

The Impact

Bumin proclaimed himself Illig Qaghan, founding the Göktürk Khaganate, the first great Turkic empire. He died within months, but his brother Istämi and his sons extended the khaganate from Manchuria to the Black Sea within a generation.

The Rouran, who had dominated the steppe for a century and a half, never recovered; their last qaghan was handed to the Göktürks in 555.

The Lesson for Leaders

Bumin did not challenge his overlord until he had the capacity, the partner and the moment. He built strength inside the existing system, found an outside ally with its own reasons to want change, and moved when the incumbent's contempt had closed the door to accommodation. Build capability before you need it.