Map of the chain of expulsions around 463: the Abares pressing the Sabirs, the Sabirs pressing the Saragurs, Ogurs and Onogurs west, the defeat of the Akatziri, the embassy of the Saragurs to Constantinople and their later raid through the Caucasus, with an inset of the Rouran
c. 463: The Abares drive out the Sabirs, and the Sabirs drive the Saragurs, Ogurs and Onogurs west. The Saragurs defeat the Akatziri and send an embassy to Constantinople. Later they raid through the Caucasus. Modern map. The arrows are a reconstruction.
Plate XIV in the Atlas → © Emre-E Yavuz 2026

Who ruled

And beyond the steppe

  • China Northern Wei Emperor Wencheng 452–465
  • Iran Sasanian Peroz I 459–484
  • Korea Goguryeo Jangsu 413–491
  • Byzantium Leonid Leo I 457–474

Western steppe

  • Driven west by the Sabirs, the Saragurs, Urogi and Onogurs send envoys to Constantinople; the Saragurs defeat the Akatziri

    Saragurs · Akatziri · Onogurs · Sabirs

  • Culture · Sogdian colonists found the first towns of Semirech'e, Suyab and Navaket among them, as estates of nobles (450–600)

    Suyab · Sogdians

Tarim and Sogdiana

  • Culture · Towns founded and walls built in Sogdiana under the Kidarites: Panjikent, Paikent, Bukhara; the citadel of Samarkand raised (440–470)

    Sogdiana · Samarkand · Paikent · Bukhara