Irano-Turcica: The Kazar Sacral Kingship Revisited

Статья // Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. — 2007. — Volume 60 (2) — Pp. 161-194.The ruling house and core tribes of the Khazar empire did not share the same tribal or, in many instances, ethnic origins as those of the Qaganate’s diverse subject population. The Khazar rulers were heirs of the Turk qaganal charisma. Although aspects of sacral rule and dual kingship can be seen in the Turk and other Inner Asian nomad-based empires, it was only in Khazaria that the Qagan became a sacralised, tabuised figure. This transformation occurred in the 9th century and may reflect the influence of the Ors, the Khwarazmian-Iranian guard of the Qagan and the chief minister drawn from their ranks.