khanate · China, Tibet and Mongolia

Naiman Khanate

1100 CE – 1204 CE (approx.) · capital Altai

The most westerly and literate of the Mongolian steppe powers before Genghis Khan, whose Uyghur scribes gave the Mongols their script.

Origins

The Naimans were a large tribal people in western Mongolia, between the Altai mountains and the upper Irtysh, of Turkic or mixed Turkic and Mongolic origin; their name means 'the Eight' in Mongolian. By the 12th century they formed a khanate under a ruling family that bore Turkic titles.

Rule and society

The Naimans were pastoral nomads in close contact with the Uyghurs of the Kingdom of Qocho and the Qara Khitai. Their court used Uyghur script and seals, and Christianity of the Church of the East and Buddhism had followers among them. After the death of Inanch Bilge Khan in the 1190s the khanate split between his sons Tayang Khan and Buyruk Khan.

Decline and legacy

In 1204 Temüjin defeated Tayang Khan at Chakirmaut, where Tayang died; Buyruk was killed in 1206. Tayang's son Küchlüg fled to the Qara Khitai and seized its throne. The captured Uyghur scribe Tata-tonga taught the Mongols to write their language in Uyghur letters.

Connections (1)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Naiman Khanate. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/naiman-khanate
MLA
“Naiman Khanate.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/naiman-khanate. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Naiman Khanate.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/naiman-khanate.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Naiman Khanate’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/naiman-khanate (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻