White Huns: Difference between revisions
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rv. The redirect article (ephthalites) is totally disputed. On the other hand, the White Huns article is well-sourced. |
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'''White Huns''', people of obscure origins, possibly of [[Tibetan]] or [[Turkic]] stock.<ref>[http://columbia.thefreedictionary.com/White+Huns Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia]</ref> They were called [[Ephthalites]] by the [[Greeks]], and [[Hunas]] by the [[Indian subcontinent|Indians]]. According to [[Chinese]] chronicles they were originally a tribe living to the north of the [[Great Wall]] and were known as '''Hoa''' or '''Hoa-tun'''.<ref name="CE">Columbia Encyclopedia</ref> Elsewhere they were called '''White Huns''' or '''Hunas'''. They had no cities or system of writing, lived in felt tents, and practiced polyandry.<ref name="EB">Encyclopædia Britannica</ref> |
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#REDIRECT[[Hephthalite]] |
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There is no definite evidence that they are related to the [[Huns]].<ref name="CE"/> Furthermore, nothing is known of their language.<ref name="EB"/> |
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The '''White Huns''' were an agricultural people with a developed set of laws. They were first mentioned by the Chinese, who described them (A.D. 125) as living in [[Dzungaria]]. They displaced the [[Scythians]] and conquered [[Sogdiana]] and [[Khorasan]] before 425. They crossed (425) the [[Syr Darya]] ([[Jaxartes]]) River and invaded [[Persia]]. Held off at first by [[Bahram Gur]], they later (483–85) succeeded in making Persia tributary. After a series of wars (503–13) they were driven out of Persia, permanently lost the offensive, and were finally (557) defeated by [[Khosru I]]. The White Huns also invaded [[India]] and succeeded in extending their domain to include the [[Ganges]] valley. They temporarily overthrew the [[Gupta empire]] but were eventually driven out of India in 528 by a [[Hindu]] coalition. Although in Persia they had little effect, in India the White Huns influenced society by altering the caste system and disrupting the hierarchy of the ruling families. Some of the White Huns remained in India as a distinct group.<ref name="CE"/> |
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==References== |
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<references/> |
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==See also== |
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*[[Alchon]] |
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*[[Donghu]] |
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*[[Kidarites]] |
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*[[Uar]] |
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*[[Xionites]] |
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*[[Xiongnu]] |
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[[bg:Бели хуни]] |
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[[de:Weiße Hunnen]] |
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[[it:Unni bianchi]] |
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[[fr:Shvetahûna]] |
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[[tr:Ak Hun İmparatorluğu]] |
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[[pl: Biali Hunowie]] |
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[[zh:嚈噠人]] |
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[[ja:エフタル]] |
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[[Category:Eurasian nomads]] |
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[[Category:Ancient peoples]] |
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[[Category:Turkic peoples]] |
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[[Category:Ancient peoples of China]] |
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[[Category:Huns]] |
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Revision as of 11:30, 4 December 2006
White Huns, people of obscure origins, possibly of Tibetan or Turkic stock.[1] They were called Ephthalites by the Greeks, and Hunas by the Indians. According to Chinese chronicles they were originally a tribe living to the north of the Great Wall and were known as Hoa or Hoa-tun.[2] Elsewhere they were called White Huns or Hunas. They had no cities or system of writing, lived in felt tents, and practiced polyandry.[3] There is no definite evidence that they are related to the Huns.[2] Furthermore, nothing is known of their language.[3]
The White Huns were an agricultural people with a developed set of laws. They were first mentioned by the Chinese, who described them (A.D. 125) as living in Dzungaria. They displaced the Scythians and conquered Sogdiana and Khorasan before 425. They crossed (425) the Syr Darya (Jaxartes) River and invaded Persia. Held off at first by Bahram Gur, they later (483–85) succeeded in making Persia tributary. After a series of wars (503–13) they were driven out of Persia, permanently lost the offensive, and were finally (557) defeated by Khosru I. The White Huns also invaded India and succeeded in extending their domain to include the Ganges valley. They temporarily overthrew the Gupta empire but were eventually driven out of India in 528 by a Hindu coalition. Although in Persia they had little effect, in India the White Huns influenced society by altering the caste system and disrupting the hierarchy of the ruling families. Some of the White Huns remained in India as a distinct group.[2]