Eurasian steppeAsiaEurope

First Turkic Khaganate

Also known as Göktürk Khaganate

552 CE – 603 CE · about 51 years

The First Turkic Khaganate, founded by the Ashina clan under Bumin Qaghan, controlled a vast steppe empire from Manchuria to the Black Sea. It split into eastern and western khaganates around 603.

Key facts

Dates	552 CE – 603 CE
Region	Eurasian steppe
Continent	Asia, Europe
Capital	Ötüken
Founder	Bumin Qaghan
Religion(s)	Tengrism
Peak extent	≈ 6 million km² (c. 557 CE) – source

Before & after

Preceded by

Rouran Khaganate Hephthalite Empire

Followed by

Second Turkic Khaganate Khazar Khaganate Eastern Turkic Khaganate Western Turkic Khaganate

Sources

Wikipedia – First Turkic Khaganate
Wikipedia – List of largest empires

Dates follow widely used reference works; many ancient dates are approximate or debated. Neutral summary for general reference.