The Khalajs in the Tokhāristan Region in the Middle Ages

Turks throughout history have spread to wide geographical areas. Living in the form of tribe and nomadic has provided a possibility for this. Among these tribes, we can show the tribes that have created a substantial effect in the regions where they have dominated such as Oghuz, Toghuz Oghuz, Töles tribes, Kirghizes, Kipchaks, Karluqs. The Khalajs, which is a Turkic community that we will consider in this study, have been more obscure in the historical process compared to the tribes, who were mentioned, due to the scarcity of information. We have information about Khalajs from the texts of the Oghuz Kagan Epics in Uyghur and Persian. In particular, Islamic geographers and scholars among the 10th and 14th centruies gave information about the tribe in question. Besides, the Numismatic finds coins are sources that enlighten us. In the mentioned sources, Khalajs are in the form of "Khalach, Khalaj, Khiljī, Khalajī." Khalajs were among the first Turkic groups living in Tokhāristan region. The word "Khalaj" was first used in the last quarter of the 7th century in the two Bactrian documents in the Samangan province in the the south of Āmu Daryā. The name "Khalaj" is in the form of "Xalaso" in the Bactrian documents. They are identified with the names "Hedaluozhi"-"Gedaluozhi" in Xin Tangshu, the Chinese source. They are called "Hitivira Kharalaca" on the coins in Brahmi. There are various opinions on the origins of the Khalaj. In particular, the information provided on that they are the same as the "Karluq" tribe and that they are the remains of the Ephthalites are of great importance. Apart from these views, there are historians who stated that they belonged to the "Oghuz." There are various opinions on the origins of the Khalaj. In particular, the information provided on that they are the same as the "Karluq" tribe and that they are the remains of the Ephthalites are of great importance. Apart from these views, there are historians who stated that they belonged to the Oghuz. The political history of Karluqs are important to distinguish the Khalaj and Karluq. In the framework of this process, while the name of the "Khalaj" appears in Tokhāristan in the last quarter of the 7th century, Karluqs had not passed to south of Āmu Daryā. Another difference appears in titles; the "Karluq" rulers used the title yabghu while "Khalaj" ones were using title rutbil/ilteber. The reason why the Khalaj is named as Karluqs is the result of a trick of the Arabic letters. The earlier Muslim authors frequently used the forms "Karluq" (قرلوق) and "Khallukh" (خلّخ) of which the latter is very easily confused with Khalaj (خلج). About the origin of Khalajs a thesis that they were the remains of the Ephthalites is noteworthy for the fact that the region of the Khalaj overlaps with region of the Ephthalites. The historians who support this view, apply to Mafātīh al-'Ulūm, the work of Islamic scholar Al-Xwārazmī. According to him, the tribes of "Khalaj" and "Kanğina" were the remnants of the Ephthalites. The Khalajs were among the first Turkic communities to fight against Arabs in Central Asia (7th century). Especially in this process, Khalaj rulers, named "Rutbil", played an active role in Tokhāristan. "Nizek Tarkhan", who was claimed to be the governor of Khalaj, played an active role in this period. The fact that the Khalajs were among the first Turkic tribes to encounter with Islamic conquers allows us to say that they were among the first Muslim Turks. Predictably between the 7th and 10th centuries in the Islamic period, the Khalajs established the "Kābul-Shāhī" state, which will rule throughout the river of Kābul in the south of Hindukush. This state accepted Islam in the 9th century. The Kābul-Shāhī State ruled the first years of the 11th century and had the Gandhara, Gilgit and Uddiyana regions within its borders. Mahmud of Ghazni, put an end to their provision. After the end of Kābul-Shāhī's rule, the Khalajs played an active role in the armies of Ghaznavids, Ghurids and Khwārezmshāhs, the regional powers of the period between the 11th and 13th centuries. Between the 13th and 14th centuries, they followed the policy of conquest in South India on behalf of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, and eventually established the age of Khalajī which lasted from 1290 to 1320. The Khalajs migrated from Tokhāristan to the West and the South. In some parts of North-South Azerbaijan and Anatolia, there are some settlements called Khalaj. In this time they still exist in the Qum state of Iran. Those who immigrated to South India were domestic by the reason of assimilation. In the region of Ghazna in Tokhāristan, the Khalajs changed under the name of "Ghilzay."