Bulanid

The Bulanids were the ruling dynasty of the Khazar Khaganate during the 9th century and 10th century CE.

The dynasty is named after Bulan, who may or may not have been its founder. In other sources (see Schechter Letter), the founder of the dynasty is named Sabriel.

Whether the Bulanid rulers were Beks or Khagans is a matter of some debate. Several kings, such as Bulan, Obadiah, Benjamin, Aaron II, and Joseph are described as leading armies, passing legislation, treating with foreign dignitaries, and exercising other powers normally associated with the Bek. However, the Schechter Letter refers to Sabriel as a Khagan, and to further muddle the issue, no co-ruler is ascribed to any of the rulers of the late 9th century or early 10th century.

Some scholars, such as Omeljan Pritsak and Mikhail Artamonov, have envisioned the rise of the Bulanids as a gradual or sudden coup against the ruling Ashina dynasty by a related, Judaized clan. Others have connected this hypothetical coup with the revolt of the Kabars. Alternatively, it has been suggested that the Khazars abandoned the dual monarchy some time after their conversion to Judaism and that the later kings ruled alone.

The Khazar king Joseph gave the following account of the genealogy of the Bulanids.

The relationship between the Bulanids and earlier Khazar khagans is unknown, as is the issue of whether late Khazar rulers such as David of Taman and Georgius Tzul can be connected with this clan.

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