Onogur
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Onogur or Onoghur (alternative name: Great Bulgaria) was the name of the European state of Avars and Bulgars under the rule of the Bulgar house of Dulo (also Dub or Dubo, of the Unogundur tribe of Bolgars). The Onogur state became an Avar-Bulgar federation and spanned large areas of eastern Europe, extending from Pannonia to the Kuban in the 7th century.
The state of Onoguria was founded between ca. 585 and 587 by Kubrat (also Kurt or Kuvrat, explained as meaning "Wolf") who was of Bulgar maternal and Avar paternal lineage. His maternal uncle Organa was regent over his tribe while he grew up as a hostage in the Byzantine Empire.
Between 630 and 635, Kubrat united the Avars with the Bulgars (who had been controlled by the Turkic khanate). This powerful Khaganate spread on the territories of what is now Ukraine, and is most frequently referred to as Great Bulgaria. Its capital was in the city of Phanagoria.
After Kubrat's death around 665, his son Batbayan was left in charge of the Khaganate, but it soon splintered. First, the Kotrags left to the Middle Volga (Volga Bulgaria), then rebel (Kouber) tribes seceded in Pannonia, while other Bulgars in that region sought refuge with the Lombards. Out of the turmoil, Asparukh (apparently the brother of the Khagan) emerged as the most prominent figure, leading his Bulgars out of the federation and south across the Danube to establish his state of Bulgaria there.
Little is known of what happened within Avar Onoguri between 685 and 791, but it is certain that reference to the area as Onoguria or Hungary continued among their western neighbours until the name stuck.
Etymology
Variations of the name include: Onoghuria, Onoguri, Onoghuri, Onghur, Ongur, Onghuri, Onguri, Onghuria, Onguria, Onogundur, Unogundur, Unokundur, etc.There are varying speculations as to the origin of the Onogur name.
- Some derive it from Turkic words meaning "Ten Arrows" meaning a federation of ten tribes. In Turkic languages the sound "z" turns out to the sound "r" when you go westwards. Ogur/Oghur in the west means Oguz/Oghuz in the east. On is the number ten in Turkish. Onogur means "ten clans of Oguz/Oghuz".
- Others claim that it is from Unok-vndur, a people mentioned in Armenian sources.