Böri
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| Böri (also Börü) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 6th–8th centuries |
| Country | Göktürk Khaganate; Kipchak confederation |
| Allegiance | Khaganate |
| Branch | Imperial Guard |
| Type | Elite guard unit |
| Role | Political and military protection |
| Garrison/HQ | Orkhon region |
Böri (Old Turkic: wolf; also spelled Börü) was an elite guard unit in early Turkic states, responsible for the close protection of the Khagan (ruler). The term derives from Chinese transcriptions fu-li (拂梨) in Tang‑dynasty records.
History
[edit]In the Göktürk Empire (6th–8th centuries), Chinese sources refer to the Khagan’s personal guard as fu‑li (拂梨), rendered in Turkic as böri/börü (wolf).[1] Selected from the most valiant nobles at the kurultay, they served as the sovereign’s bodyguards during court ceremonies and military campaigns.[2]
Among the Kipchak (Cuman) tribes, a similar concept appeared under the name Bori, often as a title or personal name linked to royal guards.[3]
Roles and Organization
[edit]- Protection of the Khagan: Forming the innermost defensive ring around the ruler.
- Reconnaissance and Intelligence: Mounted scout detachments tasked with infiltration, surveillance, and communication.
- Ceremonial Duties: Serving as symbols of authority during peace‑time rituals and occasionally performing administrative tasks.[4]
Etymology
[edit]The Turkic word böri/börü means “wolf” and reflects the Chinese transcription fu‑li (拂梨).
- **Legendary Origin**: Chinese annals recount that the Ashina clan, founders of the Göktürk Khaganate, descended from a she‑wolf (“gök kurt”), symbolically linking the guard’s name to divine ancestry.[5]
- **Symbolic Meaning**: The wolf represents courage, loyalty, and endurance—virtues embodied by the guard unit.[6]
Symbolic and Mythological Context
[edit]In Turkic mythology, the wolf is revered as a sacred creature.
- Depictions of a wolf’s head on Göktürk standards* evoked both the clan’s divine origin and the guard’s elite status.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Ali Taşağıl, Çin Kaynaklarına Göre Eski Türkler, İstanbul 2019, pp. 215–218.
- ^ Mehmet Mandaloğlu, “Eski Türklerde İstihbarat ve Casusluk Faaliyetleri” [Intelligence and Espionage in Early Turks], ACU Journal of Science and Engineering, 2021, pp. 1049–1055.
- ^ Hakan Koca, Eski Türklerde Askerî Yapı, Çağ University 2010, pp. 1647–1654.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Taşağilwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, entry “Böri.”
- ^ R. Worringer, “Shepherd’s Enemy or Aşina, Böri, Börte Činō, and Bozkurt?”, Society & Animals, 2016.
External links
[edit]- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam – “Böri”
- ACU Journal of Science and Engineering – “Intelligence and Espionage in Early Turks”
- New Book of Tang text – Chinese primary sources (fu‑li)
- T.C. Ministry of Interior – “Böri Guard Organization in the Göktürk Era”
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