Ras- Tarhan - Khazar commander. He headed the Khazar army during the invasion of Transcaucasia in 764 [1] . Acting on the orders of the kagan , he attacked the regions of Albania and Eastern Georgia . The Khazars defeated one Arab army, and the other took flight. They managed to escape with impunity before the arrival of a fresh Arab army, capturing a huge number of prisoners, livestock and horses.
The name of the commander is given in the sources in several versions: As-Tarkhan ( at-Tabari ), Rash-Tarkhan ( Ghevond ) and Ras-Tarkhan ( Al-Yakubi ). It is known about his personality that he was a Khorezmian and belonged to the genus Hatirlitber . This name hides the Turkic title of Elteber , which in Khazaria was worn by vassal princes. There are various theories (which are not supported by evidence) linking Ras Tarkhan with the Don Alans - Yasas ( V.F. Minorsky ), Rus ( G.V. Vernadsky ) or with the Khorezm guard known in Khazaria at a later time.
Notes
- ↑ Artamonov M.I. History of the Khazars. - SPb., 2001. - P.285; [one]