Naimans

The Naimans were a Turkic people who inhabited parts of Central Asia in the 12th and 13th centuries. They were one of the major confederations that emerged from the breakup of the Uyghur Khaganate. The Naimans were known for their military prowess and their organized societal structure. They were a nomadic people who practiced a form of Tengrism, an ancient animistic religion.

Historically, the Naimans played a significant role in the events leading up to the rise of the Mongol Empire. They were often in conflict with their neighbors, including the Kereyids and the Merkits. In the late 12th century, the Naiman Khanate was led by Tayang Khan, who became a formidable rival to Temüjin, the future Genghis Khan.

In 1203, Temüjin defeated Tayang Khan at the Battle of the Thirteen Sides. This decisive victory weakened the Naimans considerably. A few years later, in 1204, the Naimans were finally conquered by Temüjin, and their people were largely absorbed into the nascent Mongol Empire. Some Naiman groups, however, managed to escape and migrate westward, influencing the development of other Turkic and Mongol groups in regions like modern-day Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Their legacy is sometimes seen in the cultural and linguistic traces they left behind in these areas.