Map of East Asia in 516: the Rouran under Chounu, his campaign west against the Gaoche, the Ashina in the Altai as subjects of the Rouran, the Northern Wei and the Liang in China, the Tuyuhun, the Tarim oasis states and the Hephthalites
516: The Rouran khan Chounu marches west, defeats the Gaoche and takes and kills their king Mi'etu. The Ashina in the Altai are subject to the Rouran. Modern map; the road is drawn, the site of the battle is not recorded, and the borders in the steppe are approximate.
Plate XVI in the Atlas → © Emre-E Yavuz 2026

Who ruled

And beyond the steppe

  • China Northern Wei Emperor Xiaoming 515–528
  • Iran Sasanian Kavad I 498–531
  • Korea Goguryeo Munja 491–519
  • Byzantium Leonid Anastasius I 491–518

Eastern steppe

  • Chounu marches west, crushes the Gaoche, captures and kills their king Mi'etu and makes his skull a drinking cup

    Chounu Khan · Tiele

Western steppe

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

    Suyab · Sogdians