Etymology

Oğuz derives from Turkic *ok "arrow" and *ga[d] "tribe."

History

Classical Antiquity

→ Halayuntlığ

→ Xuŋa

Late Antiquity

→ Bayarqu

→ Duqa

→ Halat

→ Xalaç

→ Xunı

→ Yedivar

→ Varxun

→ Avar

→ Nezük Xunı

→ Tabğaç

→ Ürpän

→ Oğuz İli

Medieval

Bozok Wing

Gün Division

→ Qayığ

→ Devlet-i Aliye-i Osmaniye

→ Bayat

→ Qacar

→ Alqabölük

→ Qarabölük

Ay Division

→ Yazğır

→ Tügär

→ Artuqlu

→ Tutırka

→ Yaparlı

Yıldız Division

→ Afşar

→ Qızıq

→ Bägtili

→ Qarqın

Üçoq Wing

Gök Division

→ Bayandur

→ Aq Qoyunlu

→ Dudmane Safavi

→ Bäçänäk

→ Çuvaldar

→ Çäpni

Dağ Division

→ Salğur

→ Äymür

→ Ulayundluğ

→ Yürägir

Deŋiz Division

→ İgdir

→ Bügdüz

→ Yıwa

→ Qara Qoyunlu

→ Qınıq

→ Sälçük

Modern

→ Azärbaycanlı

→ Gagauz

→ Qaşqay

→ Salar

→ Türkmen

→ Türk

→ Abdal

→ Yörüks

Late Antique & Medieval Culture

Habitation

The Oğuz as a whole were both semi-nomadic and sedentary. Those who lived in central Turän were more likely to be sedentary, while those who inhabited the regions near Xwäräzm were semi-nomadic. However, even those who lived in central Turän could be semi-nomadic. For instance, the Yedivar army was said to reside outside a city's walls, living in felt yurts. These yurts, such as those belonging to the Xaqan, could be very extravagant. The Luoyang Qielan Ji notes that the Yedivar Xaqan would pitch "a large felt yurt that [was] forty paces square. Kilims made of wool [were] hung all around the walls."

Migration was typical for semi-nomadic Oğuz tribes. The Luoyang Qielan Ji notes that the tribes of the Yedivar "migrate[d in search] of water and grass. In the summer, they [sought] cool [lands]. In the winter, they [sought] warm [lands]."

Soceity

As with all pre-modern Turkic people, sex and gender were one and the same within Oğuz soceity. Men and women were said to have distinct roles; however, there were also many roles that overlapped. For instance, both Oğuz men and women were capable warriors and expert archers, horseriders, and athletes.

Traditionally, women were monogamous while men could be polygamous. However, this did not necessarily apply to royalty. It is noted that Yedivar queens were known to have several husbands. In fact, in their case, it was the man who was monogamous. The Weishu records this practice as such:

"(Now) it is their custom that all the brothers share one wife. If the husband does not have any brothers, then the wife wears a horned cap. If the husband does have brothers, then the wife wears a cap with as many horns as there are brothers."