Echoes from the Steppe: Tracing the Ancient Origins of the Turks According to the Akbarnama

The Akbarnama, Abu'l Fazl's monumental history of Emperor Akbar, is far more than a simple chronicle of battles and decrees. It's a vast tapestry weaving together philosophy, administration, and deep historical narratives, including the origins of the Mughal dynasty's Turkic ancestors. Volume One, in particular, dedicates significant space to tracing this lineage, offering a glimpse into the historical understanding and traditions cherished at the Mughal court.

Abu'l Fazl presents a lineage that stretches back through time, connecting the Turkic peoples to the earliest figures of human history as understood in the Abrahamic tradition.

From Noah to Turk: A Patriarchal Line

According to the Akbarnama, the Turks trace their ancestry back to Japheth (Yāfis), one of the sons of Noah. After the Great Flood, Japheth was assigned the eastern and northern countries, including China, Sclavonia (Saqlāb), and Turkistan. He is revered as the "Father of Turk" (Abā-l-turk).

A fascinating detail from this narrative is the story of the yedatash (sang-i-yada in Persian, hajaru-l-matar in Arabic), a stone Japheth received from Noah. This stone was said to possess the property of bringing rain, a vital gift for a people settling in arid regions. This tradition highlights the deep connection between the early Turks and the natural world, as well as a spiritual link to their patriarchal ancestor.

Japheth had eleven sons, with Turk being the eldest and most prominent. Turk is credited with excelling in wisdom and governance, establishing his people in a place called Sil-ūk or Salīkāi (possibly Issyk-Kul), known for its springs and meadows. He is seen as the first sultan of Turkistan, much like Kayūmars is considered the first king of Persia. Turk's reign saw the discovery of salt and the establishment of unique laws, such as the inheritance of only a sword by the son, while daughters received other necessities.

The Branches: Mughul and Tatar

Turk's lineage continued through his son Alinja Khan. After a period of rule, Alinja Khan had twin sons, Mughul and Tatar. He divided his kingdom between them, establishing the two major branches of this Turkic lineage. Abu'l Fazl focuses on the Mughul line, as it leads directly to the dynasty he serves.

The Mughul line, beginning with Mughul Khan, is said to comprise nine generations leading up to Il Khan. This number nine, Tuqa, held special significance for the Mughals and was considered excellent in many matters. Mughul Khan himself was a wise ruler, and his son, Qara Khan, succeeded him.

The Legend of Aghuz Khan

Qara Khan's son, Aghuz Khan (Aghur), is presented as a particularly enlightened, pious, and just ruler. He is likened to Jamshid among Persian kings and is credited with conquering vast territories, including Persia (Īrān), Turkistan (Tūrān), Asia Minor (Rūm), Egypt, Syria, and even parts of Europe (Afranj). He established various Turkic tribal names still known today, such as Aighūr, Qanighlī, Qibcāq, Qārligh, and Khalaj. Aghuz Khan had six sons, whose descendants formed the twenty-four branches of the Turks.

The Trial of Irganaqun

The narrative takes a dramatic turn with Il Khan, a descendant of Aghuz Khan. During his reign, the Mughuls faced a terrible calamity. Tūr, the son of Faridun (a figure from Persian mythology, here seemingly representing an enemy force), allied with Tatar and Aighur kings, attacked Il Khan. Despite initial resistance, the Mughuls were ambushed and suffered a massacre. Only Il Khan's son, Qiyān, his cousin Takiz, and their wives survived by hiding among the dead.

These four survivors retreated to a secluded meadow in the mountains, a place the Turks called Irganaqun. They settled there, and over approximately two thousand years, their descendants grew into tribes, the Qiyāt (from Qiyān) and the Daralgīnīn (from Takiz). This period in Irganaqun is presented as a time of isolation, where reading and writing were not practiced, yet the lineage was preserved.

The time in Irganaqun is framed by Abu'l Fazl as a period of preparation, a "status of sacrifice," where the lineage underwent hardship and seclusion. This, he suggests, was part of a divine plan to bring forth the "unique pearl," Emperor Akbar, who would embody all stages of existence and achieve both spiritual and temporal success.

The Exodus and Re-emergence

After two thousand years, Irganaqun became too small. The Qiyāt and Daralgīnīn decided to leave, but an iron mountain blocked their way. Through ingenuity and collective effort, they devised deer-skin bellows and melted the mountain, creating a path to freedom. They then re-emerged, reclaiming their lands from the Tatars and others, establishing themselves once again as powerful rulers.

This re-emergence marks a new era, leading eventually to the lineage of Timur and, ultimately, the Mughal emperors.

Preserving the Past

Abu'l Fazl's detailed account, drawing on Turkic and Persian historical traditions, provides a fascinating look at how the Mughals understood their own deep roots. While modern historical and archaeological perspectives differ significantly on the origins and migrations of Turkic peoples, this narrative from the Akbarnama is invaluable for understanding the cultural identity and historical consciousness of the Mughal court. It's a testament to the Akbarnama's ambition to be a comprehensive record, not just of Akbar's reign, but of the broader historical and cosmological context in which it was placed.

This history, preserved in Abu'l Fazl's work, reminds us that historical understanding is often a blend of recorded events, oral traditions, and cultural narratives, all woven together to create a sense of identity and continuity across generations.