Civil war Turkic Khaganate

western , eastern turkic khaganates in 600 ad

the turkic khanate split in 2 after death of fourth ruler, taspar qaghan, ca. 584. had willed title of khagan muqan s son apa qaghan, high council appointed ishbara qaghan in stead. factions formed around both leaders. before long, 4 rivals claimed title. played off against each other sui , tang china.

the serious contender western one, istämi s son tardu, violent , ambitious man had declared himself independent qaghan after father s death. seized title , led army east claim seat of imperial power, otukan.

in order buttress position, ishbara of eastern khaganate applied emperor yang of sui protection. tardu attacked chang an, sui capital, around 600, demanding emperor yangdi end interference in civil war. in retaliation, chinese diplomacy incited revolt of tardu s tiele vassals, led end of tardu s reign in 603. among dissident tribes uyghurs , xueyantuo.

eastern turkic khaganate



eastern turkic khaganates in 700

the civil war left empire divided eastern , western parts. eastern part, still ruled otukan, remained in orbit of sui , retained name göktürk. shibi khan (609–19) , illig qaghan (620–30) attacked china @ weakest moment during transition between sui , tang. on september 11, 615 shibi s army surrounded emperor yang of sui @ yanmen (modern dai county, xinzhou, shanxi).

in 626, illig qaghan took advantage of xuanwu gate incident , drove on chang an. on september 23, 626 illig qaghan , iron cavalry reached bank of wei river north of bian bridge (in present-day xianyang, shaanxi). on september 25, 626 li shimin (later emperor taizong of tang) , illig qaghan formed alliance sacrificing white horse on bian bridge. tang paid compensation , promised further tribute, illig qaghan ordered iron cavalry withdraw. known alliance of wei river (渭水之盟), or alliance of bian qiao (便橋會盟 / 便桥会盟). in all, 67 incursions on chinese territories recorded.

before mid-october 627, heavy snows on mongolian-manchurian grassland covered ground depth of several feet, preventing nomads livestock grazing , causing massive die-off among animals. according new book of tang, in 628, taizong mentioned there has been frost in midsummer. sun had risen same place 5 days. moon had had same light level 3 days. field filled red atmosphere (dust storm).

illig qaghan brought down revolt of tiele vassal tribes (626–630), allied emperor taizong of tang. tribal alliance figures in chinese records huihe (uyghur).

on march 27, 630 tang army under command of li jing defeated eastern turkic khaganate under command of illig qaghan @ battle of yinshan (陰山之戰 / 阴山之战). illig qaghan fled ishbara shad, on may 2, 630 zhang baoxiang s army advanced ishbara shad s headquarters. illig qaghan taken prisoner , sent chang an. eastern turkic khaganate collapsed , incorporated jimi system of tang. emperor taizong said, s enough me compensate dishonor @ wei river.

western turkic khaganate

the western kaghan shegui , tong yabghu qaghan constructed alliance byzantine empire against sasanian empire , succeeded in restoring southern borders along tarim , amu darya rivers. capital suyab in chu river valley, 6 km south east of modern tokmok. in 627 tung yabghu, assisted khazars , emperor heraclius, launched massive invasion of transcaucasia culminated in taking of derbent , tbilisi (see third perso-turkic war details). in april 630 tung s deputy böri shad sent göktürk cavalry invade armenia, general chorpan tarkhan succeeded in routing large persian force. tung yabghu s murder in 630 forced göktürks evacuate transcaucasia.

the western turkic khaganate modernized through administrative reform of ashina helu (reigned 634–639) , came known onoq. name refers ten arrows granted khagan 5 leaders (shads) of 2 constituent tribal confederations, dulo , nushibi, lands divided chui river. division fostered growth of separatist tendencies, , old great bulgaria under dulo chieftain kubrat seceded khaganate. tang campaigns against western turks, against khaganate , vassals, oasis states of tarim basin. tang campaign against karakhoja in 640 led retreat of western turks, defeated during tang campaigns against karasahr in 644 , tang campaign against kucha in 648, leading in 657 conquest of western turks tang general su dingfang.

emperor taizong of tang proclaimed khagan of göktürks.

in 657, emperor of china impose indirect rule in entire silk road far iran. installed 2 khagans rule ten arrows (tribes) of göktürks. 5 arrows of tulu (咄陆) ruled khagan bearing title of xingxiwang (興昔亡可汗) while 5 arrows of nushipi (弩失畢可汗) ruled jiwangjue (繼往絕可汗). 5 tulu corresponded area east of lake balkash while 5 arrows of nushipi corresponded land east of aral sea. göktürks carried chinese titles , fought side in wars. era spanning 657–699 in steppes characterized numerous rulers – weak, divided, , engaged in constant petty wars under anxi protectorate until rise of turgesh.