Ishbara Qaghan

Ishbara Qaghan (Old Turkic: 𐰃𐱁𐰉𐰺𐰀:𐰴𐰍𐰣‎, romanized: Ϊšbara qaγan, 沙缽略可汗/沙钵略可汗, Pinyin: shābōlüè kěhàn, Wade-Giles: sha-po-lüeh k'o-han, personal name: Sogdian: nw’’r; Chinese: 阿史那攝圖/阿史那摄图, pinyin Āshǐnà Shètú/Niètú; Wade-Giles A-shih-na she-t'u/nie-t'u, from Middle Chinese: ńźie-b'i̪uk < Ñebuk/Ñevuk or ńźie-b'uât < Ñebar/Ñevar) (before 540 – 587) was the first son of Issik Qaghan, grandson of Bumin Qaghan, and the sixth khagan of the Turkic Khaganate (581–587).[1] His name is non-Turkic.[2][lower-alpha 1]

Ishbara Qaghan 𐰃𐱁𐰉𐰺𐰀𐰴𐰍𐰣 Nivar Ashina Shetu/Nietu 阿史那摄图
Sixth Qaghan of the First Turkic Khaganate
Reign	581-587
Predecessor	Amrak
Successor	Bagha Qaghan
Died	587
Spouse	Princess Qianjin (大义公主)
Full name Il Kül Shad Bagha Ishbara Qaghan 伊利俱盧設莫何始波羅可汗
House	Ashina
Father	Issik Qaghan

As prince

He was appointed by Taspar khagan as lesser khagan in east.[4]

Reign

He was appointed to the throne after resignation of Amrak, 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 inheritance from oldest brother to youngest brother and oldest son to youngest. Immediately after his appointment, the legal basis of his power was contested by the erstwhile heir Talopien, Jotan, and Tardu. This highly unstable situation quickly became a smoldering civil war, which the Sui Chinese took advantage of in every way possible to weaken the Göktürks.

Khagan married Princess Qianjin of Northern Zhou and accepted refugees from the Chen Dynasty, two moves that were undertaken to legitimize his authority. One of the envoys in his wife's escort was the spy/ambassador Zhangsun Sheng. He managed to become a friend of Ishbara, and spent many years with the Turks. His knowledge about the customs and institutions of the Gokturks was of great importance for the Sui Empire.

In order to end the civil war Ishbara finally acknowledged the Sui Dynasty as his overlord.[5] In the end Ishbara succeeded in saving the khaganate, albeit at the price of losing his sovereignty. In 587, both Ishbara Qaghan and Apa Qaghan died.

Family

He was married to his uncle's widows Princess Qianjin of Northern Zhou. Issue:

• Tulan Qaghan
• Yami Qaghan
• Kuhezhen Tegin (庫合真特勒) - Ambassador to China in 585.[6]
• Rudan Tegin (褥但特勒) - Ambassador to China in 593.[6]

Notes

1. as indicated by the mostly non-native initial n-. According to Clauson (1972:774), "[t]he only basic Turkish words beginning with n- are ne: and ne:ŋ, and even ne:ŋ is ultimate der. fr. ne:"[3]

Sources

• Christoph Baumer, History of Central Asia, v2, p174-206 (full history of the Turkic Khaganate)

References

1. Lovell, Julia (2007). The great wall: China Against the World, 1000 BC - AD 2000. Grove Press. p. 354. ISBN 978-0-8021-4297-9.
2. Golden, P.B. (1992) An Introduction to the History of the Turkic Peoples. Wiesbaden: Otto-Harrassowitz. p. 121-122
3. Clauson, Gerard (1972)An Etymological Dictionary of pre-thirteenth-century Turkish, Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 774
4. Ahmet., Taşağil (1995–2004). Gök-Türkler. Atatürk Kültür, Dil, ve Tarih Yüksek Kurumu (Turkey). Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi. ISBN 975161113X. OCLC 33892575.
5. Nikolayeviç., Gumilev, Lev (2002). Eski Türkler. Batur, Ahsen. İstanbul: Selenge Yay. ISBN 9757856398. OCLC 52822672.
6. Mau-Tsai., Liu (2006). Çin kaynaklarına göre Doğu Türkleri. İstanbul: Selenga yayınları. ISBN 9758839438. OCLC 213301904.

Notations

• The Turks / editors, Hasan Celal Güzel, C. Cem Oğuz, Osman Karatay. Other author Güzel, Hasan Celâl. Oğuz, Cem. Karatay, Osman, 1971- Ocak, Murat. Imprint Ankara : Yeni Türkiye, 2002. ISBN 975-6782-55-2 (set)