Shad (prince)
Encyclopedia
Shad was a state office in the early Turkic
states, roughly equivalent to governor
. "Shad" could only be an appointee over a vassal tribe, where he represented interests of the preeminent Kagan
. The name of this tribe was included in his title. For example, Tardu-shad could only be a Shad over Tardu tribe. The title carried autonomy in different degrees, and its links with the central authority of kagan varied from economical and political subordination to superficial political deference.
The position of Shad was traditionally given to the member of a ruling (Ashina
) clan. Frequently, Shad was a blood prince, a representative of the next generation. Mahmud Kashgari defined the title Shad as an heir apparent a step above Yabgu
.. In the early Turkic Turgesh
Kaganate, Shad was a ruler of the east wing, and
Yabgu was a ruler of the west wing of the state, both directly subordinated to the Kagan. According to Movses Kagankatvatsi, Böri Shad was a 7th century Western Turkic Khaganate
prince and an ishad
, or a ruler of a principality, a nephew of Tong Yabgu Kagan, and a son of Moho shad
, who may have been a Yabgu of the Khazars
. Later, after a split of Western Turkic Kaganate, the splinter western part was headed by Yukuk-shad of the royal Ashina clan, who became a Kagan of the "western surnames", with a throne name Yelbi-Turuk-Kagan.
With weakening of centralized states, the Shads were gaining more sovereignty, and historical accounts record independent states with "Shad" as a supreme ruler. The title "Shad" left prominent marks in the Asian toponymy, and on many mints of Middle Asia Late Antique and Early Middle Age coins, like Shad Bagh
in northern Lahore
in Punjab
, Pakistan
, and early Bukhara
coins.
A name of one Shad in the waning days of the Eastern Turkic Kaganate is interpreted as an evidence of an early penetration of the Sunni branch of Islam
to the Central Asian people. When the last Kagan Kat Il-khan suffered a defeat from the Tang
(Toba
, Tabgach
) empire in 630 CE, and was eventually executed, the Chinese annals recorded that after that surrendered his last loyal prince, Yshbara Shunishi-Shad, and the Eastern Türkic Kaganate ceased to exist. Yshbara Shunishi-Shad was a head of the Basmyl
tribe, and as indicated by his name, he was a Sunni.
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
states, roughly equivalent to governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
. "Shad" could only be an appointee over a vassal tribe, where he represented interests of the preeminent Kagan
Kagan
- People :* Daryn Kagan , former American newscaster* Donald Kagan , Yale historian specializing in ancient Greece* Elena Kagan, dean of Harvard Law School, U.S. Solicitor General , and Associate Justice of the U.S...
. The name of this tribe was included in his title. For example, Tardu-shad could only be a Shad over Tardu tribe. The title carried autonomy in different degrees, and its links with the central authority of kagan varied from economical and political subordination to superficial political deference.
The position of Shad was traditionally given to the member of a ruling (Ashina
Ashina
Ashina was a tribe and the ruling dynasty of the ancient Turks who rose to prominence in the mid-6th century when their leader, Bumin Khan, revolted against the Rouran...
) clan. Frequently, Shad was a blood prince, a representative of the next generation. Mahmud Kashgari defined the title Shad as an heir apparent a step above Yabgu
Yabgu
Yabgu was a state office in the early Turkic states, roughly equivalent to viceroy...
.. In the early Turkic Turgesh
Turgesh
The Türgesh, Turgish or Türgish were a Turkic tribal confederation who emerged from the ruins of the Western Turkic Kaganate...
Kaganate, Shad was a ruler of the east wing, and
Yabgu was a ruler of the west wing of the state, both directly subordinated to the Kagan. According to Movses Kagankatvatsi, Böri Shad was a 7th century Western Turkic Khaganate
Western Turkic Khaganate
The Western Turkic Khaganate was formed as a result of the internecine wars in the beginning of the 7th century after the Göktürk Khaganate had splintered into two politiesEastern and Western.The Western Turks initially sought friendly relations with the Byzantine Empire in order to expand their...
prince and an ishad
Ishad
Ishad was an Old Turkic word used to designate the highest-ranking Göktürk generals . It is also used in some Arabic sources to describe the Khagan Bek of the Khazars.-References:...
, or a ruler of a principality, a nephew of Tong Yabgu Kagan, and a son of Moho shad
Mo-ho sad
Bagha Shad was a Göktürk shad or general of the early 7th century CE. He was a close kinsman and subject of the Western Göktürk khagan, Tong Yabghu...
, who may have been a Yabgu of the Khazars
Khazars
The Khazars were semi-nomadic Turkic people who established one of the largest polities of medieval Eurasia, with the capital of Atil and territory comprising much of modern-day European Russia, western Kazakhstan, eastern Ukraine, Azerbaijan, large portions of the northern Caucasus , parts of...
. Later, after a split of Western Turkic Kaganate, the splinter western part was headed by Yukuk-shad of the royal Ashina clan, who became a Kagan of the "western surnames", with a throne name Yelbi-Turuk-Kagan.
With weakening of centralized states, the Shads were gaining more sovereignty, and historical accounts record independent states with "Shad" as a supreme ruler. The title "Shad" left prominent marks in the Asian toponymy, and on many mints of Middle Asia Late Antique and Early Middle Age coins, like Shad Bagh
Shad Bagh
-External links:*...
in northern Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
in Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, and early Bukhara
Bukhara
Bukhara , from the Soghdian βuxārak , is the capital of the Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 263,400 . The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time...
coins.
A name of one Shad in the waning days of the Eastern Turkic Kaganate is interpreted as an evidence of an early penetration of the Sunni branch of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
to the Central Asian people. When the last Kagan Kat Il-khan suffered a defeat from the Tang
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
(Toba
Toba
Toba may refer to:In Geography:* Lake Toba, a lake in northern Sumatra, Indonesia, and site of the volcanic Toba eruption 75,000 years ago** Toba catastrophe theory, according to which modern human evolution was affected by the Toba eruption...
, Tabgach
Tabgach
Tabgach was a Turkic title for the tribe called in Chinese Tuoba that headed a powerful Xianbei tribe. It is also the Turkic name for the Tang Dynasty in Tangri Bilge's Orkhon inscriptions...
) empire in 630 CE, and was eventually executed, the Chinese annals recorded that after that surrendered his last loyal prince, Yshbara Shunishi-Shad, and the Eastern Türkic Kaganate ceased to exist. Yshbara Shunishi-Shad was a head of the Basmyl
Basmyl
The Basmyls were a 7–8th century Türkic nomadic tribe who mostly inhabited the Dzungaria region in the northwest of the modern day People's Republic of China. According to literary sources, the terms Basmyls and Basmals are readily interchangeable...
tribe, and as indicated by his name, he was a Sunni.