Hierarchy and Status in “The Book of Dede Gorgud”
(55th Meeting, 2012)
Turkish military-the depository system phrase exists not only on the historical based documents, on the government documents, in almanacs, but also in the literary sources and the most serious example of that is the epos of ‘The Book of Dede Gorgud’.
‘The Book of Dede Gorgud’ Oghuznames are the ethnic saga. Written at 16th century, as the old legend of Oghuz Turks which its origin comes from 7-8th centuries, the Oguhuznames are the important historical Turkish sources that reflect “city system” which states the hierarchy of society and the status of the community.
In this epos meaning to the sacral of state and the concept of management found its expression in the context of the epic epos.
Kengesh (majlis) in provincial system is a form of higher education. The supreme Turk attends on the head of Oğuz custom.
İn the almanacs, the function of Kangesh chieftain called as Irkil (Arkil) Hodja in ‘The Book of Dede Gorgud’ is Khan Bayandur, the Khan of Khans. İnner Oguz Khan is Kazan Khan, the head of advisory boardis Aruz Kodja. He is also a higher commander in the army.
Bayandur khan is the head of İnternal and external Oğuz governance running the military – democratic state function in the final stage in ‘The Book of Dede Gorgud’. His as non active and vibrant apperance in the oguznames reflects his archaic – symbolic function. In the epos , Kazan Khan carries out this function on the real way.
The family and millitary hierarchy and status attach importance to ‘The Book of Dede Gorgud’.