The Khazars according to Byzantine sources

The Khazars emerged as a powerful state in the 7th century on the historical stage of the North Caucasus and the Eastern European steppes. Even in their formative stages, they played a significant role in shaping the political structure of the region through their relationship with the Byzantine Empire. The Khazar-Byzantine relations, which lasted from the 7th century to the 11th century, followed a fluctuating course, particularly due to Byzantium's inability to secure the military support it expected from the Khazars in the post-Heraclius period. If we consider the period after Justinian II and Constantine VII as an exception, we see that the relations between the two states were generally positive. Byzantine sources provide important insights into the political, military, and religious structures of the Khazars, helping us understand the depth of these relations. This thesis aims to examine the information presented in Byzantine sources about the Khazars, exploring their religious, military, and political history, as well as various cultural details attributed to them. The study focuses on the historical trajectory of Khazar-Byzantine relations from the perspective of Byzantine authors. It seeks to analyze the interactions of the Khazar Khaganate with various nations, primarily the Byzantine Empire, and to construct a history of the Khazars based on the information provided by Byzantine writers. This thesis is divided into two sections. The first section provides information about the Byzantine sources that discuss the Khazars and their authors. It examines key writers and works that form the cornerstone of this thesis, such as Theophanes Confessor, Ioannes Skylitzes, and Nikephoros. Additionally, other works and their authors are analyzed according to their types. The second section delves into the detailed information about the Khazars as mentioned in Byzantine sources. In this context, the name "Khazar" and its variations, as found in Byzantine sources, are compared with variations in sources from other communities, particularly Islamic ones. Moreover, the naming of the Khazar territory, Khazar titles, and personal names are analyzed. Following this, the Khazars' interactions with various religions and Byzantium's efforts to spread Christianity are examined, followed by a detailed discussion of the mission of Saint Constantine. The Khazar-Byzantine political interactions are analyzed under three distinct periods as described in Byzantine sources. In addressing these topics, the interactions of the Khazars with other communities have also been examined where relevant, in the context of Khazar-Byzantine political relations. Lastly, under the heading of Sarkel Fortress, the construction process of the fortress and some associated debates are discussed in light of the information provided by Byzantine sources. Using a qualitative analysis method, the study meticulously examines the information obtained from Byzantine sources. Despite the limited information available in the sources, new findings have been reached to better understand Khazar history. This thesis aims to present a new Byzantine-centered perspective on the religious and political history of the Khazars.