The northern steppe has been the stage of nomads since ancient times, and after thousands of years, it has witnessed the rise and fall of countless nomads, from the Xiongnu to the Turks, from the Khitan to the Mongolians, this land will always belong to those who can prove their strength. Among the many nomadic peoples, the history of Rouran is perhaps the most tragic.
Rouran, this name may not be familiar to many people, unless it is known indirectly through the story of Mulan. However, the existence of the Rouran people in the northern steppes is more than two hundred years, but their history is almost a continuous tragedy. Their fate was full of twists and turns, not only to face military suppression by the Northern Wei and Northern Qi dynasties, but also to deal with the rise and incursion of the Turks.
The origins of Rouran can be traced back to the Xianbei tribe, who were initially only a part of the Xianbei people, until Mu Gulu led more than a hundred people to defect and gradually grew into an independent tribe. The name Rouran symbolized what they considered to be "smart and virtuous", but this small tribal confederation could only be attached to a larger nomadic regime in the early days.
With the temporary subsidence of the war in the Central Plains, Rouran began to compete with the Gaoche people of Mobei for living space, and finally gradually annexed the surrounding tribes under the leadership of Shelun and established the Rouran Khanate. But the newly established regime had no fixed cities, not even basic writing, and was completely dependent on a nomadic way of life.
Rouran experienced countless wars and tribulations in the confrontation with the Northern Wei Dynasty, and even at the peak, she could not really get rid of the fate of being passively beaten. The successive attacks of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty Tuobatao greatly damaged Rouran's vitality, and even if they tried to find a way out through the expansion of the Western Regions, they could not change the decline after all.
The tragedy of Rouran is that although they are not lacking in bravery, they always encounter stronger opponents. When strong enemies such as the Northern Wei, Northern Qi, and Turkic appeared one after another, Rouran was always at a disadvantage. In particular, the rise of the Turks directly led to the demise of the Rouran Khanate, and their continuous efforts and struggles ultimately only led to the disintegration of the ethnic groups and the loss of territory.
Although there are rumors that some of the Rouran fled to the West, possibly founding the Alva Empire in Europe, there is no conclusive evidence for this claim. If this legend does not hold, then the tragedy of the Rouran people will be even more serious, and they have left almost no outstanding achievements in the long history of nomads, only endless frustration and suffering.
Overall, the history of Rouran is an epic full of challenges and tragedies. In the northern grasslands, the world of the strong, they have experienced countless trials and tribulations, although they have not left a glorious chapter, but their tenacity and unyielding have also left a deep mark on future generations.