Ishbara Qaghan (Old Turkic: 𐰃𐱁𐰉𐰺𐰀:𐰴𐰍𐰣, romanized: Ïšbara qaɣan; Chinese: 沙缽略可汗; pinyin: Shābōlüè Kèhán; Wade–Giles: Sha-po-lüeh K'o-han; c. 540 – 587), personal name Ashina Shetu (阿史那攝圖), full regnal name Il Kül Shad Bagha Ishbara Qaghan (伊利俱盧設莫何始波羅可汗), was a qaghan of the First Turkic Khaganate. He was the first son of Issik Qaghan and a grandson of Bumin Qaghan.
Contents
Name
His birth name was recorded as either Ashina Shetu or Nietu (Chinese: 阿史那攝圖) in Chinese sources. His name is written in Sogdian: 𐼎𐼇𐼒𐼒𐼘, romanized: nw’’r, lit. 'Neber' in Bugut Inscription. Gerard Clauson and Peter Golden argued that name is non-Turkic.
Ashina Zhong's tomb epitaph portrays him as a son of Yongzhou Qaghan (Chinese: 邕周, romanized: Yōngzhōu) and a grandson of Dayuan (Chinese: 大原, romanized: Dàyuán). Wu Yugui argued that they were Ishbara Qaghan and Issik Qaghan respectively.
Biography
Under Taspar
He was probably born c. 540 to Issik Qaghan. He was made Erfu Khagan (Chinese: 爾伏可汗) in east in 572 by Taspar Qaghan.
Reign
He was raised to the throne after resignation of Ashina Anluo by the high council as the legal resolution to the crisis created by his uncle Taspar Qaghan who had bequeathed the title of khagan to his nephew Talopien (son of Muqan Qaghan). This act violated the traditional system of lateral succession which went from oldest brother to youngest brother and oldest son to youngest. He took the regnal name Illig Kül Shad Bagha Ishbara Khagan (Chinese: 伊利俱盧設莫何始波羅可汗; pinyin: Yīlì Jùlú Shè Mòhé Shǐbōluó Kèhàn) and started to rule from Ötüken. According to the Tongdian, he was also known as the Great Khagan (Chinese: 大可汗; pinyin: Dà Kèhán).
Immediately after his appointment, the legal basis of his power was contested by Talopien. He made his predecessor Anluo Dier Khagan (Chinese: 第二可汗; pinyin: Dìèr Kèhán) and granted him the Tuul River valley (now in Mongolia). Talopien also demanded a title and as a result he was made Apa Khagan (Chinese: 阿波可汗; pinyin: Ābō Kèhán) and was granted the steppe between northern Mongolia and the Altai Mountains. Another relative, Tardu, was continuing as the ruler of the western wing under Ishbara. There was another lesser khagan under Ishbara called Tamgan (Chinese: 貪汗可汗; pinyin: Tānhàn Kèhán) who could have been a younger brother of Talopien. Ishbara made his younger brother Ashina Chuluohou the Töli shad (Chinese: 突利設), thus granting viceroyalty over the eastern wing of the empire. Other relatives were also granted lands and tribes, namely Tigin Shad (Chinese: 地勤察), Liji Shad (Chinese: 利稽察) and Suopi Shad (Chinese: 娑毗設),
He later married Princess Qianjin of Northern Zhou in 581 in a levirate marriage and accepted refugees from the Northern Qi, two moves that were undertaken to legitimize his authority. Meanwhile the Northern Zhou was overpowered by the Sui dynasty and all the Yuwen clan were put to death. Incited by his wife, Ishbara started a campaign against new Sui dynasty. He was allied with Gao Baoning (高寶寧), a former Northern Qi general who was still holding Ying Province (營州, roughly modern Zhaoyang, Liaoning). In response, under advice from the general Zhangsun Sheng (長孫晟), the new emperor Wen of Sui carried out the strategy of placating Ishbara's subordinates Tardu, Apa and Bagha.
In 582, Ishbara marched on the Sui dynasty with support from Apa and Tamgan, while Wen responded by sending his cousin Yang Hong (Chinese: 楊弘), his brother-in-law Dou Rongding (窦荣定), Dou Luji (豆盧勣), Gao Jiong and Yu Qingze (虞庆则). The Göktürks were defeated in a battle near Baidao (白道, north of modern Hohhot). Defeat was followed by hunger and disease. This highly unstable situation quickly became a civil war, which the Sui took advantage of to weaken the Göktürks.
Family
He was married to his uncle's widow Princess Qianjin of Northern Zhou. However, his children aren't confirmed to be with her:
Tulan Qaghan (r. 588–599)
Yami Qaghan (r. 603–609)
Kuhezhen Tegin (庫合真特勒) – Ambassador to China in 585.
Rudan Tegin (褥但特勒) – Ambassador to China in 593.