Who were the Avars and what did they do?

The Avars (Pannonian Avars) were an East Asian/Siberian nomadic group. They established the Avar Khaganate, which spanned the Pannonian Basin and considerable areas of Central and Eastern Europe from the late 6th to the early 9th century.

Why did the Avars leave the Volga?

In turn, the Avars had been driven off by people fleeing “man-eating griffins ” coming from “the ocean” ( Priscus Fr 40 ). Whilst Priscus’ accounts provide some information about the ethno-political situation in the Don – Kuban – Volga region after the demise of the Huns, no unequivocal conclusions can be reached.

What is the origin of the Volga Bulgars?

The remaining Pontic Bulgars migrated in the 7th century to the Volga River, where they founded the Volga Bulgaria; they preserved their identity well into the 13th century. The Volga Tatars and Chuvash people claim to have originated from the Volga Bulgars.

How did the Byzantines and the Avars affect the Turks?

The Turks appeared angry at the Byzantines for having made an alliance with the Avars, whom the Turks saw as their subjects and slaves. Turxanthos, a Turk prince, calls the Avars “Varchonites” and “escaped slaves of the Turks”, who numbered “about 20 thousand” ( Menander Fr 43 ).

Who were the Pannonian Avars?

The Pannonian Avars were a semi nomadic people that migrated from somewhere in Central-Asia, Siberia and Northeast-Asia to middle-Europe, especially into the Pannonian basin. The exact ethnic origin is disputed, but it is suggested that they were possibly of Tungusic or possibly Mongolic origin.

What was the ethnic makeup of the Avar Khaganate?

It is estimated that in the year 700, about 30\% of the total population of the Avar Khaganate were purely Mongoloid (East Asian). Human remains in certain regions from Austria and Hungary were found to be predominantly East Asian during the Avar period.

What race is closest to the Avar?

Modern Mongolians, Turkic (Kazakh) and Tungusic (Oroqen) peoples were found to be closest to Avar samples. One member clan, the Ashina clan of the Göktürks, revolted against the ruler clan of the Rouran and replaced them as the dominant clan and took their place. Additionally they allied themselves with the western Wei dynasty of China.