Great Hun Empire

The Huns lived in the region north of China with Ötüken as their central point in Central Asia. Teoman is the known first ruler of the Asian Hun State. Teoman united the Turkic tribes living separately in the northwest of China and established the Asian Hun State, the first known Turkic state in history. In 209 BC, Metehan, the son of Teoman, succeeded him as the leader of the Asian Hun State. After Metehan's campaign against the Tungus, he also conducted an expedition against the Yuezhi, who were negatively impacting and even obstructing Silk Road trade. His goal was to ensure the security of the Silk Road, and he succeeded. In 201 BC, Metehan organized a significant campaign in China, besieging not only the Chinese army but also the emperor. Realizing that the Chinese ruler could not escape this situation, he conceded the Northern Chinese steppes to the Asian Hun State.


After Metehan's death, his son Ki-ok succeeded him and continued his father's policy of exerting pressure on China. He advanced into the heart of China. However, during the reign of Ki-ok's son, Kün-çin, the Chinese managed to take over the territories of the Asian Hun State, advancing as far as the Silk Road.


During this period, the Asian Huns split into the Southern Huns and Western Huns in 58 BC. The Southern Huns later allied with China under the leadership of Hohanyeh. The Western Huns, on the other hand, became aligned with China after the death of their leader, Çi-çi. While the Huns living under Chinese rule regained their independence for a while, internal disputes among the Southern Huns led to their division into Northern and Southern Huns after gaining independence. The Northern Hun state was later destroyed by the attacks of the Chinese and Xiongnu in 156 AD, followed by the collapse of the Southern Hun state in 216 AD.