Ergenekon (legendary place)
Encyclopedia
Ergenekon is the name of the place where Nekuz and Qiyan and their wives escaped to, and who were the original Mongols
in Jāmiʿ al-tawārīkh written by Rashid-al-Din Hamadani at the beginning of the 14th century. In the 17th century, Abulghazi Bahadur
, who was a descendant of Shiban
and the khan
of the Khanate of Khiva
from 1643–63, mentioned Ergenekon as the Mongolian creation myth in his work named Shajara-i turk (Genealogy of the Turk).
Some Turkish
researchers claim its Turkic
origins with similarities between the creation myths of Göktürks
(Bozkurt Destanı: Chinese texts and Turkish translations) and the Ergenkon epic. The first individual to compare Abulghazi Bahadur's Ergenekon epic with the creation myth of the Göktürks was Joseph de Guignes
, however, the respective creation myths of the Göktürks and Mongols are completely different from one another.
era, Ergenkon epic was used in Turkish literature
, especially by the Turkish nationalist
movement for describing a mythical place located in the inaccessible valleys of the Altay Mountains
.
In 1864 Ahmed Vefik Pasha
translated Shajara-i turk into the Ottoman language under the title Şecere-i Evşâl-i Türkiyye and it was published in Tasvir-i Efkâr newspaper. Ziya Gökalp
wrote the poem concerned with Ergenekon epic in the context of Turkic
history (Turkish text of Ergenekon poem of Ziya Gökalp). It was published under the title of "Türk An'anesi: Ergenekon" in Türk Duygusu magazine (May 8, 1913 - June, 5 1913) dated May 8, 1913, Altın Armağan in September 1913 and under the title of "Ergenekon" in Kızılelma in 1914. Ömer Seyfettin
also wrote a poem concerning the Ergenekon epic. It was published in Halka Doğru magazine dated April 9, 1914. Rıza Nur
translated Shajara-i turk into modern Turkish
in 1925 and mentioned Ergenekon in Oğuznâme published in Alexandria
in 1928.
held its sway in Turkey, Bozkurt, Asena
and Ergenekon were selected deliberately and under the influence of the theory of Turkish ethnocentrism
named Turkish History Thesis, Ergenekon was described as the creation myth of Göktürks in the textbooks of history.
In 1933, Şevket Süreyya Aydemir
, a Turkish intellectual and one of the founders and a key theorist of Kadro
movement, used Ergenekon epic to consubstantiate with the Turkish revolution.
Moreover, in the new Turkish version of Egenekon Legend (Turkish
: Ergenekon Destanı), the motif of Gray Wolf
(Turkish: Bozkurt) was added (Turkish text, the version of Ministry of National Education
of Turkey
).
. He was also angered by the notions that Huns
and Mongols
are Turkic peoples
, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
According to Prof. Dr. Mümtaz’er Türköne, a Turkish political scientist and a columnist, Ergenekon is not a myth that is genuinely long-standing and rooted in the collective memory, but an elaborate hoax. He argues that the Ergenekon was created as a Turkish national myth by Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu
, a prominent man of letters and friend to Atatürk during the Turkish War of Independence
. and that no trace of the story of the Ergenekon Legend has been found in the Ottoman
and Seljuk
periods. He insisted that the Ministry of National Education
should immediately mop up the falsity in these textbooks.
of Turkey
)
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
in Jāmiʿ al-tawārīkh written by Rashid-al-Din Hamadani at the beginning of the 14th century. In the 17th century, Abulghazi Bahadur
Abulghazi Bahadur
Abulghazi Bahadur was khan of the Khanate of Khiva from 1643-1663. Having spent ten years in Persia before becoming khan, he was very well educated. Under his rule Khiva experienced a golden age. He had successfully repelled the Kalmyk raiders...
, who was a descendant of Shiban
Shiban
Shiban or Shayban was one of the Left Wing princes. He was Jöchi's fifth son and a grandson of Genghis Khan. Because he was too young when his father died in 1227, he did not receive any lands at that time....
and the khan
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
of the Khanate of Khiva
Khanate of Khiva
The Khanate of Khiva was the name of a Uzbek state that existed in the historical region of Khwarezm from 1511 to 1920, except for a period of Persian occupation by Nadir Shah between 1740–1746. It was the patrilineal descendants of Shayban , the fifth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
from 1643–63, mentioned Ergenekon as the Mongolian creation myth in his work named Shajara-i turk (Genealogy of the Turk).
Some Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
researchers claim its Turkic
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
origins with similarities between the creation myths of Göktürks
Göktürks
The Göktürks or Kök Türks, were a nomadic confederation of peoples in medieval Inner Asia. Known in Chinese sources as 突厥 , the Göktürks under the leadership of Bumin Qaghan The Göktürks or Kök Türks, (Old Turkic: Türük or Kök Türük or Türük; Celestial Turks) were a nomadic confederation of...
(Bozkurt Destanı: Chinese texts and Turkish translations) and the Ergenkon epic. The first individual to compare Abulghazi Bahadur's Ergenekon epic with the creation myth of the Göktürks was Joseph de Guignes
Joseph de Guignes
Joseph de Guignes , French orientalist and sinologist, was born at Pontoise, the son of Jean Louis de Guignes and Françoise Vaillant. He died in Paris....
, however, the respective creation myths of the Göktürks and Mongols are completely different from one another.
Translations and poems
In the late OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
era, Ergenkon epic was used in Turkish literature
Turkish literature
Turkish literature comprises both oral compositions and written texts in the Turkish language, either in its Ottoman form or in less exclusively literary forms, such as that spoken in the Republic of Turkey today...
, especially by the Turkish nationalist
Turkish nationalism
Turkish nationalism is a political ideology that promotes and glorifies the Turkish people, as either a national, ethnic or linguistic group and puts the interests of the state over other influences, including religious ones.-Pan-Turkism:...
movement for describing a mythical place located in the inaccessible valleys of the Altay Mountains
Altay Mountains
The Altai Mountains are a mountain range in East-Central Asia, where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together, and where the rivers Irtysh and Ob have their sources. The Altai Mountains are known as the original locus of the speakers of Turkic as well as other members of the proposed...
.
In 1864 Ahmed Vefik Pasha
Ahmed Vefik Pasha
Ahmet Vefik Pasha , was a famous Ottoman statesman, diplomat, playwright and translator of the Tanzimat period. He was commissioned with top-rank governmental duties, including presiding over the first Ottoman parliament. He also became a grand vizier for two brief periods...
translated Shajara-i turk into the Ottoman language under the title Şecere-i Evşâl-i Türkiyye and it was published in Tasvir-i Efkâr newspaper. Ziya Gökalp
Ziya Gökalp
Ziya Gökalp was a Turkish sociologist, writer, poet, and political activist. In 1908, after the Young Turk revolution, he adopted the pen name Gökalp , which he retained for the rest of his life...
wrote the poem concerned with Ergenekon epic in the context of Turkic
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
history (Turkish text of Ergenekon poem of Ziya Gökalp). It was published under the title of "Türk An'anesi: Ergenekon" in Türk Duygusu magazine (May 8, 1913 - June, 5 1913) dated May 8, 1913, Altın Armağan in September 1913 and under the title of "Ergenekon" in Kızılelma in 1914. Ömer Seyfettin
Ömer Seyfettin
Ömer Seyfettin, also Omer Seyfeddin, was a Turkish nationalist writer from late 19th to early 20th century, considered to be one of the greatest modern Turkish authors...
also wrote a poem concerning the Ergenekon epic. It was published in Halka Doğru magazine dated April 9, 1914. Rıza Nur
Riza Nur
Riza Nur was a Turkish surgeon, politician and writer.-Early years:After graduating from the Military Medical School in 1901 Riza Nur went on to work as a surgeon at Gülhane Military Hospital before returning to the Military Medical School as an academic in 1907...
translated Shajara-i turk into modern Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
in 1925 and mentioned Ergenekon in Oğuznâme published in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
in 1928.
Turkish History Thesis and
Ergenekon Legend In early republican era of Turkey, especially in 1930s, when ethnic nationalismEthnic nationalism
Ethnic nationalism is a form of nationalism wherein the "nation" is defined in terms of ethnicity. Whatever specific ethnicity is involved, ethnic nationalism always includes some element of descent from previous generations and the implied claim of ethnic essentialism, i.e...
held its sway in Turkey, Bozkurt, Asena
Asena
Asena is the name of one of the ten sons, whom mythical female wolf gave birth to, in old Turkic mythology. It is associated with a Göktürk ethnogenic myth "full of shamanic symbolism"...
and Ergenekon were selected deliberately and under the influence of the theory of Turkish ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is the tendency to believe that one's ethnic or cultural group is centrally important, and that all other groups are measured in relation to one's own. The ethnocentric individual will judge other groups relative to his or her own particular ethnic group or culture, especially with...
named Turkish History Thesis, Ergenekon was described as the creation myth of Göktürks in the textbooks of history.
In 1933, Şevket Süreyya Aydemir
Sevket Süreyya Aydemir
Sevket Surreya Aydemir was a Turkish intellectual, and was one of the founders and a key theorist of Kadro, an influential policy journal published in Turkey from 1932-1934. He was educated and became familiar with Marxism at Moscow University where he studied economics, and worked as a teacher...
, a Turkish intellectual and one of the founders and a key theorist of Kadro
Kadro
Kadro was a leftist journal published in Turkey between 1932 and 1934.The journal believed that the Turkish revolution would occur in two stages: the battle to achieve political sovereignty, achieved in the Turkish War of Independence, and an ongoing battle to liberate the economy from imperialist...
movement, used Ergenekon epic to consubstantiate with the Turkish revolution.
Moreover, in the new Turkish version of Egenekon Legend (Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
: Ergenekon Destanı), the motif of Gray Wolf
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
(Turkish: Bozkurt) was added (Turkish text, the version of Ministry of National Education
Ministry of National Education (Turkey)
The Ministry of National Education is a government ministry of the Republic of Turkey, responsible for the supervision of public and private educational system, agreements and authorizations under a national curriculum....
of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
).
Criticisms about falsity
According to Prof. Dr. Ahmed Yüksel Özemre, a Turkish scientist and former chairman of Turkish Atomic Energy Authority, Râşid Erer (d. 1952), once-Ottoman minister of Education, criticized this falsity and argues that Ergenekon Legend might be written by a JewJews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
. He was also angered by the notions that Huns
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
and Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
are Turkic peoples
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
According to Prof. Dr. Mümtaz’er Türköne, a Turkish political scientist and a columnist, Ergenekon is not a myth that is genuinely long-standing and rooted in the collective memory, but an elaborate hoax. He argues that the Ergenekon was created as a Turkish national myth by Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu
Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoglu
Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu was a Turkish novelist, journalist, diplomat, and senator.-Early life:...
, a prominent man of letters and friend to Atatürk during the Turkish War of Independence
Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence was a war of independence waged by Turkish nationalists against the Allies, after the country was partitioned by the Allies following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I...
. and that no trace of the story of the Ergenekon Legend has been found in the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and Seljuk
Sultanate of Rûm
The Sultanate of Rum , also known as the Anatolian Seljuk State , was a Turkic state centered in in Anatolia, with capitals first at İznik and then at Konya. Since the court of the sultanate was highly mobile, cities like Kayseri and Sivas also functioned at times as capitals...
periods. He insisted that the Ministry of National Education
Ministry of National Education (Turkey)
The Ministry of National Education is a government ministry of the Republic of Turkey, responsible for the supervision of public and private educational system, agreements and authorizations under a national curriculum....
should immediately mop up the falsity in these textbooks.
External Sources
- Ergenekon
Ministry of National Education (Turkey)
The Ministry of National Education is a government ministry of the Republic of Turkey, responsible for the supervision of public and private educational system, agreements and authorizations under a national curriculum....
of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
)