The Avars are a group of professional equestrian nomads who establish an empire spanning considerable areas of Central and Eastern Europe from the late 6th to the early 9th century.

They are ruled by a khagan, who leads a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors.

Although the name Avar first appears in the mid-fifth century, the Avars of Europe enter the historical scene in the mid-sixth century CE, having formed as a mixed band of warriors in the Pontic-Caspian steppe wishing to escape Göktürk rule.

Their linguistic affiliation may be tentatively deduced from a variety of sources, betraying a variety of languages spoken by ruling and subject clans.

Oghur, a distinct branch of the Turkic languages, figures prominently for the original Avar language.

In any event, Slavic ultimately becomes the lingua franca in the Avar Khaganate.