User:HistoryofMongolia/The Khorasan Campaign of Istemi Yabgu

The Khorasan Campaign of Istemi Yabgu Kagan was a war between the Göktürks and the Sassanids between the years 569-571. The war resulted in the decisive victory of the Göktürks against the Sassanid Empire.

Before the war
Before this war, the Göktürks made an alliance with the Sassanids in 555 and defeated the hephthalites. However, after that, Istemi Yabgu assumed the legacy of hephthalites and demanded that the tax paid by the Sassanids to the hephthalites be paid to him as well. He probably knew that this request would not be granted, but he was determined.

The envoys that Istemi Kagan sent to ask for taxes were killed in Iran, and after that, the Iranians spread the news that the envoys died because they could not stand Iran's weather. The remaining Turkish ambassadors told Istemi Khan the same thing, even though they suspected a situation. However, Istemi Yabgu, a cunning and intelligent man, understood the situation and went on a campaign against the Sassanids in 568-569.

Result
The Turks had occupied a large part of the Sassanid lands and had emerged victorious from the war. This war was the first step taken for the increase of Turkish influence in Tocharistan and the Caucasus. As a matter of fact, after this war, the Turks settled in Sogdian and expanded their dominance in the region. Likewise, Theophanes of Byzantium records that the Turks captured the big cities and trade centers, which were under the domination of the Persians after the war of hephthalites, in 569. Therefore, the Turks emerged victorious from this war and had their wishes accepted.