Barsils

Article summary

Barsils ~ Barsilts (Greek: Βαρσὴλτ Barsilt; Old Turkic 𐰋𐰼𐰾𐰠 *Bersel or Bärsil/Barsïl; Old Tibetan: Par-sil), were an Oghur Turkic semi-nomadic Eurasian tribe. Barsils might be identified with Bagrasik. Barsils are included in the list of steppe people living north of Derbend in the Late Antique Syrian compilation of Zacharias Rhetor, and are also mentioned in documents from the second half of the 6th century in connection with the westward migration of the Eurasian Avars. When the Avars arrived, according to Theophylact Simocatta, "the Barsilt (Barsilians), Onogurs, and Sabirs were struck with horror (...) and honoured the newcomers with brilliant gifts." In 2017, Singaporean scholar Yang Shao-yun also identified Barsils with the Tiele tribe 白霫 Báixí ( Mand. Basaigan), led by Tun-ashpa-[ra]-erkin, a member of five leaders of the "Nushibi" (弩失畢 < OT *Oŋ-Şadapït) right-wing tribes. In an Armenian geography of the 7th century, the Barsils are described as living on an island, distinct from the Bulgars and Khazars and at odds with both nations. In addition, it describes them as possessing large flocks of sheep, supporting the notion that they were at least partly nomadic.…

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