The fabled Oghuz Khagan, popularly called Oghuz Khan, is regarded as the founding progenitor of the Oghuz Turks, a significant Turkic ethnic group. Numerous well-known tales about Oghuz Khan have been told throughout Turkish history and culture.
Legend has it that Oghuz Khan disapproved of his father’s views at an early age since he realized that God was One. There was a battle resulting from this dispute, and Oghuz won.
Turkic legend states that Oghuz Khan was unusually precocious from birth, speaking at once and preferring Kymyz to his mother’s milk. (Kymyz, occasionally written as kumiss, is a traditional horse milk-based fermented drink. It has a long history of use among nomadic civilizations and is a staple beverage in Central Asia.)
Over forty days, Oghuz Khan reached young manhood, exhibiting remarkable growth at an unprecedented rate.
The Turkic people were under a cloud at the time of Oghuz Khan’s birth. Kiyant, a vicious dragon, stalked the country.
Having been raised in the shadow of the terrifying Kiyant, Oghuz took up arms. He used ingenuity to entice the dragon with a red sacrifice—a downed deer.
Oghuz faced the beast when it emerged, a tornado of scales and rage.
His bronze lance pierced Kiyant’s hide with a flash of defiance.
The dragon’s terrifying rule ended with a flash of steel, and its head dropped at the hero’s feet. Oghuz became a legendary figure after defeating the dragon Kiyant. With this triumph, he would go on to do several feats that would cement his status as a leader and beloved hero.
With a sharp sense of leadership, Oghuz Khan united the Turkic clans in a strong connection. He united an elite group, the sons of forty Turkic beys (chiefs, lords), establishing himself as a unifying and leadership figure.
There was a divide in the family due to Oghuz's growing authority and acts of bravery. His Chinese stepmother and her son, the crown prince, saw him with mistrust. They added to Qara Khan's fears by depicting Oghuz's acts as a deliberate attempt to take the throne.
The success and renown of Oghuz Khan put his father, Qara Khan, in jeopardy. According to some legends, the dispute was stoked by a jealous stepmother. Because Qara Khan thought Oghuz might take the throne, he decided to kill him.
Oghuz Khan is portrayed in mythology as being astute and resourceful. After learning of his father’s scheme, he took decisive action to defeat Qara Khan and establish himself as the true leader.
Stepmother and half-brother of Oghuz Khan vanished and sought safety in China.
Oghuz felt the weight of the Khanate descend upon him. The immensity of the steppes gave him comfort, and he turned to Tengri in silent prayer.
A bright circle appeared above Oghuz Khan as he knelt in prayer beneath the great sky of the steppe.
Standing in its ethereal glory was a beautiful woman from another world. Oghuz felt a jolt of affection as quick as a desert breeze.
Standing in its ethereal glory was a beautiful woman from another world. Oghuz felt a jolt of affection as quick as a desert breeze.
After destiny worked its power, the Khan soon claimed her as his bride. Three sons were born to their union: Gün (the bright sun), Ay (the pearly moon), and Yıldız (a constellation of sparkling stars). The divine touch that adorned their genealogy was repeated in their names.
Oghuz Khan then set out on a hunting expedition. During this trip, he came into an enticing woman living within a tree.
she was a brave young lady
Three boys, Gök (sky), Dağ (mountain), and Deniz (sea), were born to him after their marriage.
Oghuz Khan called his beggars, the steppe lords, to an epic feast after witnessing the birth of his sons. The Khan stood up as the laughter reverberated and the flames raged.
"I stand before you, your Khan!" he cried, his voice as strong as the wind blowing across the plains. Let us take up our swords and shields as a group, for Kut, the holy power, will lead the way! Our iron lances shall be a storm of unflinching steel and the scream of the grey wolf our battle hymn. Like the majestic Khulan wild horse, we can travel freely over the expansive hunting grounds. We will rule over many more rivers and oceans! The sun will be our symbol, and the limitless sky will be our home.
After establishing his authority as the Khan of the Turks, Oghuz Khan wrote a letter to the emperors of the four cardinal directions. Power reverberated in his voice as he declared, "My name is Khan, and I will rule over all of Earth! Please submit to my authority!"
Word spread over the world of Oghuz Khan’s declaration, which demanded allegiance from the emperors of the Earth’s four corners. The Golden Khan of the East, Altun Khan, promised obedience because he believed surrender was wise. However, the Roman Khan, also known as Urum Khan, the emperor of the West, became enraged at the order. Oghuz Khan’s troops prepared for battle as his eyes fixed westward, his refusal hardening into defiance. The steppes rang with war drums as they marched into a future moulded by opposing wills.
Was it a dream, a ruse by the desert wind, or the sky deity Tengri's harbinger?
Speaking with Tengri's strength in its voice, the heavenly wolf spoke. "Oghuz," it bellowed, "the urge to face Urum burns in your heart." But be aware that I will advance your troops as a symbol of Tengri's favour." And with that, the ghostly wolf stepped from the tent, its shape glowing with strange light. The vision was matched by a gorgeous grey wolf that led the Turkic army the following day. It directed them westward as though by a hand they couldn't see. Their troops engaged in combat near the powerful Til (Volga) River. Oghuz Khan's army triumphed because they had Tengri's blessing, the divine wolf as their leader, and high spirits.
Encouraged by his victory at the til, guided by the gods, Tengri’s favour was forever attached to Oghuz Khan, and he began a massive conquest. The ever-present phantom grey wolf led the way. Accompanied by his six sons, Oghuz Khan paved the way for victory over enormous tracts of territory. Their banners floated on the wind, carrying them from the sun-baked beaches of Egypt, Iraq, and Syria to the heart of Turkistan and the colourful coastlines of India. Oghuz Khan’s reputation expanded with each victory until, at last, he was referred to as the Khan of the Four Corners of the Earth.
A mysterious dream materialized in Oghuz Khan's sleep as the years weighed heavily on him. He called out his six boys, who had puzzled and worried expressions on their faces, and shared his vision with them.
The older sons journeyed east, guided by his mysterious directions, and returned with a gorgeous golden bow.
Three shining silver arrows were found by the younger boys responsible for travelling west.
Oghuz Khan broke the golden bow into three parts with a knowledge sharpened through experience. "My sons, born under the celestial light, take this bow," he said, his voice full of determination, bestowing these upon his oldest sons, Gün, Ay, and Yıldız. Perceive it as pieces of a once-whole. Carve your destinies by aiming your arrows skyward." Presenting the silver arrows to his younger sons Gök, Dağ, and Deniz, he turned to face them. "Though not the bow that launches, you are the arrows that fly true," he said. "Recall that strength comes from unity. You all together represent the steadfast spirit of our people."
Oghuz Khan assembled his sons for a last, great feast, having gained knowledge from a life well lived. His legacy carried a hefty burden in the atmosphere. With symbolic parts of the golden bow, he declared the split of his enormous kingdom, giving the Bozoks, or “Gray Arrows,” his elder sons. With the name Üçoks, which means “Three Arrows,” the younger sons were given the silver arrows. Oghuz Khan’s message reverberated throughout the auditorium despite the differences in their symbols: unity was crucial. Together, they represented the arrows that will continue to light his legacy.
Glittering in the firelight, Oghuz Khan stood before his gathering sons, his body scarred by his leadership experiences and his heart full of memories. "My sons," he whispered, his voice deep and wise from a well-lived life. "I have travelled many paths, always keeping my eyes on the future." I can still hear the echoes of a million fights. I have witnessed lances puncture the enemy's shield, and arrows fly true. I have experienced the wind tearing through my hair while mounted on strong horses. While my charity brought smiles to the cheeks of my allies, my wins caused my opponents to cry. It's time to hand over the torch now that I have done what I owed Tengri, the sky deity."
The precise beginnings of Oghuz Khan are yet lost in time. In some stories, he is positioned millennia before the great prophets, while in others, he is woven into the history of the old civilizations. He might have existed before the legendary rulers, or he might have been one of their contemporaries. Regardless of the exact date, Oghuz Khan is a legendary person in Turkic mythology who represents leadership, conquest, and the establishment of a mighty nation.
