ROOTSHUNT

NEZAK

The Nezak kingdom in 565 CE

Nezak Huns

Nezak šah

484 - 665

Capital : Ghazna, Kapisa

Common languages : Pahlavi script (written), Middle Persian (common)

Religion : Buddhism, Zoroastrianism

Government : Nomadic empire

Nezak Shah

• 6-7th century CE : Napki Malka

• 653 - 665 : Ghar-ilchi

Historical era : Late Antiquity

• Established : 484

• Disestablished : 665

Currency : Hunnic Drachm

Preceded by

Sasanian Empire

Alchon Huns

Succeeded by

Sasanian Empire

Turk Shahi

Today part of : Afghanistan

The Nezak Huns (Middle Persian: Nezak šah) were one of the four groups of Hun people in the area of the Hindu Kush. The Nezak kings, with their characteristic gold bull's-head crown, ruled from Ghazni and Kapisa. While their history is obscured, the Nezak's left significant coinage documenting their polity's prosperity. They are called Nezak because of the inscriptions on their coins, which often bear the mention "Nezak Shah". They were the last of the four major "Hunic" states known collectively as Xionites or "Huns", their predecessors being, in chronological order, the Kidarites, the Hephthalites, and the Alchon.

The term 'Hun' may cause confusion. The word has three basic meanings: 1) the Huns proper, that is, Attila's people; 2) groups associated with the Hun people who invaded northern India; 3) a vague term for Hun-like people. Here the word has the second meaning with elements of the third.

Etymology :

Maria Magdolna Tatár compares Nezak to nizak, a minor royal title, of non-Turkic provenance, borrowed and borne by Turks north of the Oxus, to the Western Turkic title níshú, in reconstructed Middle Chinese *niei-ziuk, and to Manichaean Uighur nïgošak "auditor", Sogdian nwgš’k, and Parthian n(y)gwš’g, nywš’g. According to Gerard Clauson, the Uyghur title nïgošak "auditor" is of Iranian origin and means "hearer." Meanwhile, János Harmatta connected *nizük to unattested Saka *näjsuka- "fighter, warrior" from *näjs- "to fight". Frantz Grenet sees a possible, yet not firmly established connection with Middle Persian nezag spear.

History :

Nezak Huns ruler, circa 460 - 560 CE

The Nezak Huns established their realm in 484, after the defeat and death of the Sasanian King of Kings (shahanshah) Peroz I (r. 459–484) against the Hephthalites. With the weakening of Sasanian authority in the east, the Nezak Huns managed to take control of Zabulistan. There they imitated their coins on the Sasanian imperial coins, while also adopting aspects from the neighbouring Alkhan coins. They portrayed themselves with the winged crown of Peroz. From that point, the Nezaks consolidated their power in Zabulistan and in the 6th century expanded into Kabulistan, deposing the Alchon Huns from Kapisa.

Nezak coins with the bull's crown appear well into the 8th century, at which time it appears that a confederacy emerges between the Nezaks and the Alchons, possibly against Turkic invaders.

Alchon retreat from India :

"Alchon-Nezak Crossover" coinage, 580 - 680. Nezak-style bust on the obverse, and Alchon tamga within double border on the reverse

Around the middle of the 6th century CE, the Alchons, after having extensively invaded the heartland of India, had withdrawn from Kashmir, Punjab and Gandhar, and going back west across the Khyber pass they resettled in Kabulistan. There, their coinage suggests that they merged with the Nezak Huns.

Eventually, the Nezak-Alchons were replaced by the Turk shahi dynasty, first in Zabulistan and then in Kabulistan. The last Nezak king known by name was Ghar-ilchi, who was confirmed by the Chinese emperor. Between 661 and 665, Chinese and Arab sources indicate that a new Turkic ruler became Shah of Kabul. Having lost Ghazni and Kabul, the Nezak dynasty declined rapidly as indicated by the progressive elimination of Nezak symbols from the historical coin record.

Main rulers :