Page "Göktürks" Paragraph 9

The Göktürks rise to power began in 546 when Bumin Qaghan made a pre-emptive strike against the Uyghur and Tiele tribes who were planning a revolt against their overlords, the Rouran.

For this service he expected to be rewarded with a Rouran princess, i. e. marry into the royal family.

However Rouran kaghan Anagui sent an emissary to Bumin to rebuke him, saying, " You are my blacksmith slave.

How dare you utter these words ?".

As Anagui's " blacksmith slave " ( 鍛奴 / 锻奴, Pinyin: duànnú, Wade-Giles: tuan-nu ) comment was recorded in Chinese chronicles, some claim that the Göktürks were indeed blacksmith servants for the Rouran elite, and that " blacksmith slavery " may indicate a kind of vassalage system prevailed in Rouran society.

According to Denis Sinor, this reference indicates that the Göktürks were specialized in metallurgy, though it is unclear if they were miners or, indeed, blacksmiths.