Nezak

Maria Magdolna Tatár compares Nezak to nizāk, a minor royal title, of non-Turkic provenance,[2] borrowed and borne by Turks north of the Oxus, to the Western Turkic title 泥孰 níshú, in reconstructed Middle Chinese *niei-źiuk, and to Manichaean Uighur nïğošak "auditor", Sogdian nwgš’k, and Parthian n(y)gwš’g, nywš’g.[3] According to Gerard Clauson, the Uyghur title nïğošak "auditor" is of Iranian origin and means "hearer."[4] Meanwhile, János Harmatta connected *niźük to unattested Saka *näjsuka- "fighter, warrior" from *näjs- "to fight".[5] Frantz Grenet sees a possible, yet not firmly established connection with Middle Persian nēzag spear.[6]

Nezak Huns ruler, circa 460-560 CE.

The Nezak Huns established their realm in 484, after the defeat and death of the Sasanian King of Kings (shahanshah) Peroz I (r. 459–484) against the Hephthalites. With the weakening of Sasanian authority in the east, the Nezak Huns managed to take control of Zabulistan.[7] There they imitated their coins on the Sasanian imperial coins, while also adopting aspects from the neighbouring Alkhan coins. They portrayed themselves with the winged crown of Peroz.[7] From that point, the Nezaks consolidated their power in Zabulistan and in the 6th century expanded into Kabulistan, deposing the Alchon Huns from Kapisa.

Nezak coins with the bull's crown appear well into the 8th century,[8] at which time it appears that a confederacy emerges between the Nezaks and the Alchons, possibly against Turkic invaders.[9]

Alchon retreat from India

"Alchon-Nezak Crossover" coinage, 580-680. Nezak-style bust on the obverse, and Alchon tamga within double border on the reverse.

Around the middle of the 6th century CE, the Alchons, after having extensively invaded the heartland of India, had withdrawn from Kashmir, Punjab and Gandhara, and going back west across the Khyber pass they resettled in Kabulistan. There, their coinage suggests that they merged with the Nezak Huns.[10]

Eventually, the Nezak-Alchons were replaced by the Turk shahi dynasty,[9] first in Zabulistan and then in Kabulistan. The last Nezak king known by name was Ghar-ilchi, who was confirmed by the Chinese emperor. Between 661 and 665, Chinese and Arab sources indicate that a new Turkic ruler became Shah of Kabul.[11] Having lost Ghazni and Kabul, the Nezak dynasty declined rapidly as indicated by the progressive elimination of Nezak symbols from the historical coin record.

Details of Nezak Hun headdress.

• Napki Malka (Gandhara, c. 475–576).
• Shri Shahi, circa 560-620 CE.
• Ghar-ilchi, 653-665

• 
  Billon drachm of King Napki Malka (Gandhara, c. 475–576).
• 
  Nezak Huns Anonymous ("Nezak Shah") circa 500-560.
• 
  Coin minted in Ghazni
• 
  Billon drachm
• 
  Bronze drachm
• 
  Nezak king Napki Malka
• 
  Nezak Huns ruler Sahi Tigin (?) Early 8th century CE.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nezak Huns.

Part of a series on the
History of Afghanistan
Timeline
Ancient Indus Valley Civilisation 2200–1800 BC Oxus civilization 2100–1800 BC Gandhara Kingdom 1500–535 BC Median Empire 728–550 BC Achaemenid Empire 550–330 BC Seleucid Empire 330–150 BC Maurya Empire 305–180 BC Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 256–125 BC Parthian Empire 247 BC–224 AD Indo-Greek Kingdom 180–130 BC Indo-Scythian Kingdom 155–80? BC Kushan Empire 135 BC – 248 AD Indo-Parthian Kingdom 20 BC – 50? AD Sasanian Empire 230–651 Kidarite Kingdom 320–465 Alchon Huns 380–560 Hephthalite Empire 410–557 Nezak Huns 484–711
Medieval Kabul Shahi 565–879 Principality of Chaghaniyan 7th–8th centuries Rashidun Caliphate 652–661 Umayyads 661–750 Abbasids 750–821 Tahirids 821–873 Saffarids 863–900 Samanids 875–999 Ghaznavids 963–1187 Ghurids before 879–1215 Seljuks 1037–1194 Khwarezmids 1215–1231 Mongol Invasion 1219-1226 Chagatai Khanate 1226–1245 Qarlughids 1224–1266 Ilkhanate 1256–1335 Kartids 1245–1381 Timurids 1370–1507 Arghuns 1520–1591
Modern Mughals 1501–1738 Safavids 1510–1709 Hotak dynasty 1709–1738 Afsharid dynasty 1738–1747 Durrani Empire 1747–1823 Emirate of Afghanistan 1823–1919 Kingdom of Afghanistan 1919–1973 Daoud coup 1973 Republic of Afghanistan 1973–1978 Democratic Republic of Afghanistan 1978–1992 Islamic State of Afghanistan 1992–2001 Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan 1996–2004 Interim/Transitional Administration 2001–2004 Islamic Republic of Afghanistan since 2004
Related historical names of the region
Arachosia Aria Ariana Bactria Gandhara Iran Kabulistan Khorasan Kushanshahr Paropamisadae Sejestan Zabulistan
Book Category  Afghanistan portal

• Xionites
• Kidarites
• Hephthalites
• Alchon Huns
• Iranian Huns

• Alram, Michael (2014). "From the Sasanians to the Huns New Numismatic Evidence from the Hindu Kush". The Numismatic Chronicle. 174: 261–291. JSTOR 44710198. (registration required)
• Grenet, Frantz (2002). "Nēzak". Encyclopædia Iranica, online edition.
• Payne, Richard (2016). "The Making of Turan: The Fall and Transformation of the Iranian East in Late Antiquity". Journal of Late Antiquity. Johns Hopkins University Press. 9: 4–41. doi:10.1353/jla.2016.0011.
• Rezakhani, Khodadad (2017). ReOrienting the Sasanians: East Iran in Late Antiquity. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 1–256. ISBN 9781474400305.