Talk:Battle of Gol-Zarriun

doubts for date and location

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There are doubts about the date and location of this battle. This information was removed from the main article, so it probably belongs on the talk page. Both war and battle were fought some time between 555 and 565. Chevannes' estimate of 567, made in 1903, may be out of date. As for location, Litvinsky has a eight-day battle in the Bukhara area. Kurbanov puts the 8-day battle at Nesef (Karshi), the Hephthalites having moved east to make it more difficult for the Turkish cavalry. Gumilyov has a concentration at Burkhara and then a withdrawal east 'to the mountains' because of the Turk's cavalry advantage and a decision to accept battle at Nesef (Karshi). Christian has 'near Nesef (Karshi).' Qarshi is about 150km southeast of Bukhara.

Dates for the war are: 560-65 (Gumilyov,Ancient Turks, ch iii,1967); 555 (Stark,2008, Altturkenzeit,210, cited by Baumer); ended in 557 (Iranica,Khosrow ii); 558-61 (Iranica,Hephthalites); 557-63 (Baumer, Hist.Cent.Asia,2,174) ; 557-61 (Sinor,1990, Hist Inner Asia,301); 558-? (Kurbanov, Hephthalites, 186); 560-563 (Litvinsky in UNESCO,Hist.civs.central Asia,iii,143, citing 6 other writers); 562-65 (Christian, hist. russia,mongolia,c.a.,252); 567 (Chavannes,1903, Documents, 236+229)

For the battle: 565 (Gumilyov,1967, ch iii, citing Ferdowsi and an 1828 French book on the Roman Empire); 557 (Iranica,Kosrow II, (date of Hephthlite destriction)); 563 (Litvinsky,UNESCO,Hist.civs.c.a.,iii,176); 565 (Christian, hist. russia,mongolia,c.a.,252); circa 565 (Grousset,Empire Steppes, 1970,p82); 567 (Chavannes,1903, Documents, 236+229); 557,558,563,565,or 563-567 (Kurbanov, Hephthalites, 187 citing five sources). The 8-day business may come from Ferdowsi.