Map of Asia in 553: the Göktürk Khaganate with the Tiele as subjects, the battle at Mount Mulai against the last Rouran, the march of the Qi to Shuozhou, and Istemi's first advances west from the Altai, with the Western Wei, the Northern Qi, the Hephthalites and Sasanian Persia
553: Issik breaks the Rouran of Dengshuzi at Mount Mulai; at the end of the year the Northern Qi pursue the Göktürks to Shuozhou. In the west Istemi sets out from the Altai: the start of his great campaign. Modern map; the roads are drawn, and the site of Mount Mulai is disputed.
Plate XXV in the Atlas → © Emre-E Yavuz 2026

Who ruled

And beyond the steppe

  • China Northern Qi Emperor Wenxuan 550–559 · Western Wei Emperor Fei 551–554
  • Iran Sasanian Khosrow I 531–579
  • Korea Goguryeo Yangwon 545–559
  • Byzantium Justinian Justinian I 527–565

Eastern steppe

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

  • spring · Istemi leads an army west from the Altai

    Istemi

    Dating discussed (the older literature, with a hundred thousand men; a newer estimate gives thirty to fifty thousand): Size of the army, not the date.

  • summer · Istemi reaches the Seven Rivers

    Istemi

China