Mete Han is the son of Teoman, the founder of the Great Hun Empire. Although there is no precise information about his birth, it is estimated that he ascended to the throne in 209 BC and ruled for 35 years, passing away around 174 BC.
Mete Han, a commander and statesman who unified Turkic tribes under one roof and transformed the Hun Empire into a great state with his masterful maneuvers, battle tactics, and statecraft, has left his mark in history. He shares lineage with the Ottomans, descending from the Oghuz people. According to most historians, the legends of Oghuz Khan were written for him.
The Ascension of Mete Han
Mete Han's accession to the throne was quite interesting. According to Turkic state traditions, the person ascending to the throne had to be born of Turkic parents. However, Teoman wanted to put his other son, born of a Chinese wife, on the throne instead of Metehan. Metehan and the prominent figures of the state were angered by this situation and were in open rebellion. Additionally, at that time, there was a tradition of sending one's own children as hostages to guarantee non-aggression agreements between states and tribes. In accordance with this tradition, Teoman sent his son Metehan as a hostage to the Yuezhi. However, immediately after, fearing that the Yuezhi would kill Mete Han, he declared war against this tribe. Mete Han managed to escape from the Yuezhi without any problems before his father arrived.
Having emerged successfully from this challenging process, Metehan was rewarded by his father Teoman with a cavalry of ten thousand.
Çavuş Oku and Metehan
It is said that the important role of the Çavuş Oku game in Turkish history was discovered by Mete Han. The game developed as follows: Mete Han aimed his arrow at a target, and his accompanying soldiers also shot arrows at the same target to destroy it. One day, Mete Han aimed his arrow at his favorite horse. Some of the soldiers hesitated to aim their arrows at Metehan's horse because they knew how much Mete Han loved it. Seeing the hesitant soldiers, Mete Han turned his arrow towards them, and the other soldiers killed the hesitant ones with their arrows. This event demonstrated the impulse in Mete Han's army to move towards the same target with the same determination, and the concept of unity and common goal in battles played a crucial role in Metehan's victories. Mete Han's strategy was based on unity and a common goal.
Mete Han, along with his army, which had become quite loyal to him, killed his stepmother and father during a hunting expedition and took control himself.
Rise of Mete Han
After assuming power, Mete Han proceeded to organize the state. He first eliminated dissenting opinions within the organization and put an end to conflicts. Then he began to act with the idea of unifying Turkic tribes. In the east, the Tungus engaged in warlike activities. Initially, the Tungus demanded one of Mete Han's wives. Metehan consulted the council, and the council did not approve. However, Mete Han sent his wife, saying it was not appropriate to fight for his own interests. Then, the Tungus demanded Metehan's favorite horse. Metehan consulted the council. The council did not approve, but Metehan accepted to prevent war and sent his horse. Then, the Tungus demanded a barren state land. Metehan consulted the council. The council stated that there was no need to debate over a barren desert land and to give it away. Upon this, Mete Han said, 'Land cannot be without an owner, my horse and wife are my personal property, but the land belongs to the state and cannot be given to the enemy.' With this, he set out and launched a campaign against the Tungus in the east, defeating them decisively. In addition, he killed the statesmen who had approved the land being given away in the council.
Subsequently, he launched a campaign against the Yuezhi tribe and defeated them as well. The surrounding Mongol and Turkic tribes gradually began to join Metehan's empire, either by their own will or as a result of struggles, and the Turkic Union was slowly established. When the army of Mete Han strengthened and stability was achieved in the state, he decided to launch expeditions to develop trade and seize new trade routes in China. Of course, China had previously built the Great Wall of China due to fear of the Turks and had great confidence in this wall. However, Metehan and his army were the first Turkish army to overcome the Great Wall of China. After crossing the Great Wall of China, Mete Han besieged the Pateng Fortress, where a Chinese army of 320,000 was stationed. The Chinese army could not break this siege, and the siege continued for a long time. In the end, the Chinese, unable to endure, made a Peace Agreement with the Turks, agreeing to pay tribute and give the north of China to the Turks. Then the siege was lifted, and the Chinese army left the region.
Nevertheless, Mete Han continued his campaigns around the Yellow River and captured various Chinese forts, expanding his sphere of influence. Mete Han is the Turkish ruler who conducted the most campaigns in China in history.
Mete Han expanded his population in the conquered lands, emphasizing trade and agriculture. He particularly carried out significant works in the field of agriculture.
Mete Han's army consisted of highly professional, well-trained, and continuously military-experienced elite soldiers. He kept his strengthened army sustainable and able to go on expeditions by utilizing the extensive grain fields in the conquered lands.
Especially through his conquests in China and the organization within the state, Mete Han has become one of the greatest Turkish rulers in history.
Mete Han was the first to establish a regular army in history. Additionally, Metehan is the ruler who introduced the decimal military system to the Turkish military system for the first time. Therefore, the year 209, when the first regular army was established, is considered the founding year of the Turkish Land Forces (thanks to the efforts of Nihat Atsız). Through his developed military strategies and discipline, Mete Han managed to defeat his enemies, especially the Chinese. During Metehan's era, the Asian Hun Empire expanded to an area of approximately 18 million square kilometers, stretching from Japan to Tibet, from Kashmir to Siberia.
Where Shall I Bury So Many Chinese?
According to a popular legend, Mete Han is once again at war with the Chinese, and he and his vizier climb a high hill to observe the Chinese army. Metehan looks at the army and sees that the Chinese army is many times larger than the Turkish army. This makes him contemplative. The vizier, thinking that Metehan will retreat, asks, "Are you thinking about how to deal with so many soldiers, Your Excellency?"
Metehan says the words that will go down in history: "No, I am thinking about where to bury so many Chinese."
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