Bayan I

Bayan I reigned as the first khagan of the Avar Khaganate between 562 and 602.

As the Göktürk Empire expanded westwards on the Eurasian Steppe during the 6th century, peoples such as the Avars (also known as the Pseudo-Avars, Obri, Abaroi and Varchonites) and the Bulgars migrated into Central and the Southeast Europe. Bayan I led the Avars (along with many Proto-Bulgarians) into Pannonia, where they established their khaganate from 568.