Laws of Turkic Khaganate

Monarchy and Qaghan laws

The laws known in the historical sources prepared about the monarchy and qaghan in the state.

The Khagan who will lead the people on behalf of Tengri will be elected by the Turkic Congress.

Khagan exercises legislative and executive power on behalf of the Turkic Congress, which is the representative of the Turkic people. The authority to appoint high-ranking bureaucrats such as aygucı, ilteber, bitigci, tamgacı, ılımgacı, agıcı uluğ, yabgu, shad and apa belongs to the Khagan. However, tribes can elect their own leaders at their own congresses.

Khagan is the commander-in-chief. He is responsible for ensuring the unity of the country, economic prosperity, territorial integrity, justice and security of the people.

The new Khagan is not determined by the will of the deceased Khagan. There is no heirloom system. The Turkic Congress has the authority to appoint one of the Tigins (princes), who are the Khagan candidates, as Khagan.

Khagan cannot be one of the princesses. Khagan cannot be a woman, a woman cannot rule the country.

The Turkic Congress has the authority to dismiss Khagan. The Turkic Congress is over the Khagan in terms of authority.

Noble women, princesses can only marry noble people. Noble men, princes can marry any woman they want.

Khagan cannot change the law. The power to determine the law belongs only to the Turkic Congress. Khagan is responsible for enforcing the law.

Khagan cannot make war or peace decisions alone. Agreements made with foreign countries should also be approved by the Turkic Congress.

Statesman laws

The laws known in the historical sources prepared about the statesmen in the state.

The first condition for service to the state is merit. Anyone who is loyal to the Turkic state can take office in the state bureaucracy. Being of Turkic origin is not a requirement.

Aygucı is the chief vizier, the most authoritative statesman of the state after Khagan, and the general secretary of the Turkish Congress.

İlteber is the foreign minister, a statesman who deals with the relations of the state with foreign states.

Bitigci is the person who writes what was spoken in the congress.

Tamgacı is responsible for sending ambassadors both inside and outside the state, and takes part in written communications within the state.

Ilımgacı is working with tamgacı and bitigci, he is the person who directs the foreign policy of the state.

Agıcı Ulugı manages the state treasury, finance and state economy as economy minister.

Tribal leaders have the authority to decide on internal matters related to their tribe. However, these gentlemen are responsible for joining the army Turkic Khaganate with their soldiers, participating in the meetings of the Turkic Congress, and implementing the decisions taken here. Tribal leaders cannot communicate with foreign states or sign agreements with foreign states. Communicating and making agreements with foreign countries without the knowledge of the central government is considered treason. Punishment is death penalty.

All tribes are part of the Turkic Khaganate, any action independent of the central government is considered treason. The penalty for this is death.

If statesmen, generals in the army or noble persons act in a way that harms the unity of the state, raise a rebellion or incite someone to rebellion, this is considered treason. The penalty for this is death.

If statesman or nobleman does not recognize the decisions of the Turkish Congress, if they communicate with foreign states without the knowledge of the Khagan, this is considered treason. The penalty for this is death.

Espionage, slander against the state, and involvement in palace intrigue are punishable by direct execution. Those who commit these crimes can be executed in public places only in city centres.

Crime and punishment laws

The laws known in the historical sources prepared about crimes and their punishment in the state.

Very serious shameful crimes can be punishable by death after torture. The judge will decide that.

Death penalties are applied by methods such as cutting the head with a sword, drowning in water, burying alive, killing by boiling in a cauldron, being ripped apart by wolves and getting trampled by horses. The judge decides which method will be used.

No citizen can act with a sense of revenge. The power to enforce and punish laws rests solely with the state.

The crime may not always be individual, and the family of the perpetrator can sometimes be held responsible.

If the crime is committed by a statesman, noble, or a general, soldier in the army, the criminal is tried in a military court, not in a people's court.

The penalty for treason is always death. It cannot be discussed. It is unforgivable. No one in the state has the authority to forgive the crime of treason.

There is no life sentence, instead the death penalty should be preferred.

Murder people for any reason other than war or without the authorization of the state, and plotting an assassination is punishable by death. Murder suspects may be detained for a period of time.

The person who rapes a woman or makes any sexual assault will be first punished by cutting off his genitals and then directly with death.

If a married woman has sexual relations with another man, both the woman and the man are executed. There is no forgiveness for cheating or having sex with a married woman. Sexual relation by unmarried persons is also punishable by death. However, if people decide to marry after this relationship, this penalty is not applied.

Stealing an animal that have a owner is punishable by direct execution.

A person who steals for the first time is obliged to pay compensation up to 10 times the value of the stolen property. If the person cannot pay, person will be punished with imprisonment. Stealing second time is considered 'immoral'. The penalty for this is death.

Slandering a person is punishable by imprisonment for a certain period of time, depending on the gravity of the crime.

Assault or injury is punishable by either compensation or imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the crime.

Seriously injuring a person or causing permanent damage to persons body is punished with very heavy compensation.

Homosexuality is strictly illegal and the penalty is death.

Breach of legal treaties, bribery, escape from military service, failure due to negligence in military duty, insulting state officials are punished with whipping or death penalty, depending on the gravity of the crime.

Trespassing, using a job given by state for bad purposes, avoiding the state-given duty, committing sexual acts contrary to Turkic traditions (eg showing off their decency) can be punished by whipping.

Those who damage or disrespect the burial places are punished with compensation.

Kidnapping a girl is considered a crime as the girl's father does not consent to the marriage. If the kidnapper pays compensation, it is allowed for him to marry the girl and the girl don't have to go back to her father if she wants to marry.

The penalty for murder is death, but if the perpetrator's family and the victim's family make a peace treaty through compensation or giving a girl for marriage, the murderer is forgiven and not executed.

If a minor commits a crime punishable by death, minor person can avoid execution if persons family pays compensation.

Peeing in a tent and physically hurting a horse are also crimes and the penalty is compensation.

Polluting natural waters such as lake and river is punished with compensation.

When a loan is taken from a person, if this debt is not paid at the agreed time, it doubles with the loan interest.

Those who deliberately persecute or bully a human or humans are punished by torture according to the gravity of the crime.

Cheating in trade is punishable by fines, imprisonment or whipping, depending on the gravity of the crime.

Slavery laws

The laws known in the historical sources prepared about the slavery in the state.

A person of Turkic origin or a citizen of the Turkic Khaganate can never be a slave. Anyone who uses such a person as a slave is punished by death. If such a person is used as a slave in any foreign state, war is declared directly on that state.

The captives taken in the war uses as slaves and be divided among those who participated in the war as booty.

Men captured in war cannot be killed if they not commit a crime that punished by death and they can be used as slaves working in different jobs.

Women captured in war cannot be killed if they not commit a crime that punished by death and they can be used as concubine.

Other laws

The other laws known in the historical sources in the state.

People can own land and have property rights. The tangible properties or lands of a person are divided among his sons as an inheritance when person dies.

Apart from all written crimes, some other minor crimes can be punished with exile instead of death penalty, imprisonment and compensation.