Bilge Qaghan vs Qansuh al-Ghawri

After the Eastern Turkic Khaganate was destroyed by the Tang dynasty in 630, Bilge Qaghan, with the help of his brother Kul Tigin and vizier Tonyukuk, revived the khaganate. He defeated the Tang and their allies, re-establishing Turkic independence.

Bilge Qaghan led a campaign against the Tang and their Turkic allies, defeating them at the Irtysh River. This victory secured the khaganate's western borders and demonstrated the military prowess of the revived Turkic state.

Bilge Qaghan negotiated a peace treaty with the Tang dynasty, ending decades of conflict. The treaty established the borders between the two empires and allowed for trade and diplomatic exchanges, bringing stability to the region.

Bilge Qaghan commissioned the Orkhon inscriptions, monumental stelae inscribed with runic Turkic script. These inscriptions, written by Tonyukuk and later by Bilge's son, recorded the history and achievements of the Turkic Khaganate, providing a key source for Turkic history.

Bilge Qaghan was poisoned by a minister, possibly on the orders of the Tang court. His death led to a period of instability and decline for the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, which eventually fell to the Uyghurs in 744.

Qansuh al-Ghawri attempted to modernize the Mamluk army by introducing firearms and training infantry in their use. These reforms faced resistance from traditional Mamluk cavalry elites and were only partially implemented, leaving the army unprepared for the Ottoman threat.

Qansuh al-Ghawri executed the Emir of Dulkadir, a vassal state, for conspiring with the Ottoman Empire. This act alienated other Mamluk vassals and weakened the sultanate's alliances on the eve of the Ottoman invasion.

Qansuh al-Ghawri led the Mamluk army against the Ottoman forces of Selim I at Marj Dabiq near Aleppo. The Mamluks were decisively defeated due to Ottoman artillery and superior tactics. Al-Ghawri was killed during the battle, leading to the collapse of Mamluk control over Syria.