Oghuz Turks

The Oghuz Turks (also with various alternate spellings, including Oguz, Ouz, Okuz, Oufoi, Guozz and Ghuzz) are regarded as one of the major branches of Turkic peoples.

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The Oghuz Turks are the ancestors of today's Southwestern Turks whose numbers are more than 100 million and inhabit areas of western Asia and eastern Europe. These include Azerbaijanis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Iranian Azarbaijan, Turks (properly so-called) of Turkey and Cyprus, the Balkan Turks of the Balkan peninsula (Greece, Bulgaria and the former Yugoslavia), the Turkmens of Turkmenistan and northeastern Iran, the Qashqai and Khorasani Turks of Iran, as well as the Gagauz (Gokoguz) Turks of Moldova.

Related Topics:
Southwestern Turks - Western Asia - Eastern Europe - Azerbaijanis - Republic of Azerbaijan - Iranian Azarbaijan - Turks - Turkey - Cyprus - Balkan Turks - Balkan peninsula - Greece - Bulgaria - Yugoslavia - Turkmens - Turkmenistan - Iran - Qashqai - Khorasani - Gagauz - Moldova

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During Turkic mass-migrations in the 9th through 12th centuries, the Oghuz were among the indigenous Turks of Central Asia who migrated towards western Asia and eastern Europe via Transoxiana. From the 5th century onward, the Oghuz were the founders and rulers of several important Turkic kingdoms and empires, the most notable of them being the Gokturks, Seljuks, Safavids and the Ottomans.

Related Topics:
9th - 12th - Central Asia - Western Asia - Eastern Europe - Transoxiana - 5th century - Gokturks - Seljuks - Safavids - Ottomans

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Although also settled and urbanized, the nomadic way of life bred in them a combative spirit, sense in leadership, the habit of mobility, elegant equestrian skill, and an unusual dexterity as archers on horseback. Since early times in their history, they were noted for such moral virtues as endurance, loyalty, self-discipline and foresight.

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In the later centuries, they adapted and applied their own traditions and institutions to the ends of the Islamic world and emerged as empire-builders with a constructive sense of statecraft, making a positive contribution to history as the vast regions in which they ruled evolved into new phases of social, economic, religious and intellectual advancement.

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