Xueyantuo
Encyclopedia
The Xueyantuo (Seyanto, Se-yanto, Se-Yanto) or Syr-Tardush were an ancient Tiele
people and khanate
in central/northern Asia who were at one point vassals of the Gokturks
, later aligning with China's Tang Dynasty
against the Eastern Gokturks.
, his son Duomi Khan
and nephew Yitewushi Khan
, the last of which eventually surrendered to the Chinese.
On March 27, 630, the Xueyantuo allied with the Chinese to defeat the Eastern Qaghanate in the Yin Mountains
.
Illig Qaghan escaped, but was handed over to the Chinese by his subordinate qaghan on May 2.
After Eastern Gokturk Illig Qaghan Ashina Duobi was defeated by Tang in 630, the Xueyantuo effectively took over control of the Eastern Gokturks former territory, at times submissive to Tang and at times warring with Tang
and the subsequent khan of the Eastern Gokturks that Tang supported, the Qilibi Khan
Ashina Simo.
In 632 they repulsed an army of Si Yabgu Qaghan from the Western Qaghanate, then subjugated the Qarluq at the Ulungur
and Irtysh River, and the Yenisei Kyrgyz tribes. In 634 one of their rivals, Dubu Qaghan (Ashina Shier), son of Chuluo Khan
, who ruled much of the eastern half of the Western Qaghanate, was eliminated before escaping to China.
After that they maintained a friendly relationship with the Chinese until 639, when a raid on the Chinese capital was planned by the Gökturks under Ashina Jiedushuai (阿史那结社率), who had been disparaged by the Chinese emperor. He allied with his nephew Ashina Heluohu (阿史那贺逻鹘), choosing him as the leader of the raid on May 19. They were unsuccessful and over 40 rebels were executed. Heluohu was spared and expelled to the far south.
After this incident, an arraignment was made on August 13. A deportation of all Goktürks north of Ordos was carried out, in an attempt to restore the puppet Eastern Qaghanate as a barrier against the Xueyanto, to disperse their attention over the territorial competition in the west.
Among the Göktürk nobles, Ashina Simo was selected as the qaghan (Qilibi Khan
) with his capital at the border. The plot failed, as he was unable to gather his people, many of his tribesmen having escaped to the south by 644 after a series of unsuccessful incursions by the Xueyantuo supported by the Chinese. Those defeats by the advancing Chinese had made their tribal allies lose confidence in them. The crisis deepened the next year when a coup d'état took place within the clan.
On August 1, 646, they were defeated by the Uyghur
(Huihu, 回纥) and the Chinese. The Xueyantuo's Duomi Khan
, Bazhuo, was killed by the Uyghur. A Tang army led by the general Li Daozong
, the Prince of Jiangxia crushed the Xueyantuo forces. The last Xueyantuo khan, the Yitewushi Khan
Duomozhi, surrendered. The Uyghur took over the former Xueyantuo territory. For a (disputed) relationship with the later Shato Turks, see Shato
. Their remnants were destroyed two years later, on September 15.
listed their surname as "Yishi" in his edition (also known as the Bo Yang Edition) of the Zizhi Tongjian
, but Bo cited no source for his use of Yishi as a surname. It is possible that Bo was influenced by the Tongdian
which asserted the Xueyantuo surname as Yilitu (壹利吐, Yiliduo 一利咄 as in Cefu Yuangui and Yilidie 壹利咥 as in New Book of Tang
) or certain studies that was made. According to Cen Zhongmian the forementioned name are related to the variant of elteris. Duan Lianqin asserted that the name Yishibo (Yiedie Khan) can also be read interchangeable as Yedie (也咥). The Zizhi Tongjian, in the original, referred to one ethnic Xueyantuo general named Duomo, possibly the Yitewushi Khan (after he became a Tang general) by the family name of Xue
-- although the Tang Huiyao
indicated that it was not the same person, as it indicated that the Yitewushi Khan died during Emperor Taizong's reign. The Tang Huiyao also asserted that the rulers of Xueyantuo claimed to be originally named Xue, and that the name of the tribe was changed to Xueyantuo after the Xue defeated and merged the Yantuo into their tribe.
Tiele people
The Tiele or Tele , were a confederation of nine Turkic peoples living to the north of China and in Central Asia, emerging after the disintegration of the Xiongnu confederacy...
people and khanate
Khanate
Khanate, or Chanat, is a Turco-Mongol-originated word used to describe a political entity ruled by a Khan. In modern Turkish, the word used is kağanlık, and in modern Azeri of the republic of Azerbaijan, xanlıq. In Mongolian the word khanlig is used, as in "Khereidiin Khanlig" meaning the Khanate...
in central/northern Asia who were at one point vassals of the Gokturks
Göktürks
The Göktürks or Kök Türks, were a nomadic confederation of peoples in medieval Inner Asia. Known in Chinese sources as 突厥 , the Göktürks under the leadership of Bumin Qaghan The Göktürks or Kök Türks, (Old Turkic: Türük or Kök Türük or Türük; Celestial Turks) were a nomadic confederation of...
, later aligning with China's Tang Dynasty
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...
against the Eastern Gokturks.
History
Initially the Xue and the Yantuo were two separate tribes. The Xue appeared earlier as Xinli but were not referred to again until the 7th century. After Yishibo, the Xueyantuo founded a short-lived Qaghanate over the steppe under Zhenzhu KhanZhenzhu Khan
Zhenzhu Khan , personal name Yi'nan , full regal title Zhenzhupiqie Khan , was a khan of Xueyantuo, under whom Xueyantuo rose from being a vassal of Eastern Tujue to a mighty khanate ruling over northern/central Asia...
, his son Duomi Khan
Duomi Khan
Duomi Khan , personal name Bazhuo , full regal name Jialijulixueshaduomi Khan , was a khan of the Xueyantuo...
and nephew Yitewushi Khan
Yitewushi Khan
Yitewushi Khan , personal name Duomozhi , was the last khan of Xueyantuo.Little is known about Duomozhi's background, other than that he was a nephew of Xueyantuo's greatest khan, the Zhenzhu Khan Yi'nan...
, the last of which eventually surrendered to the Chinese.
On March 27, 630, the Xueyantuo allied with the Chinese to defeat the Eastern Qaghanate in the Yin Mountains
Yin Mountains
The Yin Mountains are mountains in the steppe forming the southern border of the eastern Gobi Desert of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, as well as the northern part of Hebei province....
.
Illig Qaghan escaped, but was handed over to the Chinese by his subordinate qaghan on May 2.
After Eastern Gokturk Illig Qaghan Ashina Duobi was defeated by Tang in 630, the Xueyantuo effectively took over control of the Eastern Gokturks former territory, at times submissive to Tang and at times warring with Tang
Emperor Taizong's campaign against Xueyantuo
Emperor Taizong of Tang , the second emperor of Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, early in his reign, had allied with Xueyantuo, a vassal of the powerful Eastern Tujue Khanate, against Eastern Tujue, which Tang successfully defeated in 630...
and the subsequent khan of the Eastern Gokturks that Tang supported, the Qilibi Khan
Qilibi Khan
Qilibi Khan , personal name Ashina Simo , Qilibi Khan (Chinese: 俟力苾可汗, (Pinyin): qílìbié kěhàn, (Wade-Giles): ch'i-li-pi k'o-han, Middle Chinese: (Guangyun) , d. 645?), personal name Ashina Simo (阿史那思摩), Qilibi Khan (Chinese: 俟力苾可汗, (Pinyin): qílìbié kěhàn, (Wade-Giles): ch'i-li-pi k'o-han, Middle...
Ashina Simo.
In 632 they repulsed an army of Si Yabgu Qaghan from the Western Qaghanate, then subjugated the Qarluq at the Ulungur
Ulungur River
The Ulungur River or Urungu , in its upper reaches in Mongolia known as the Bulgan River , is a river of China and Mongolia. It rises in the Altai Mountains in western Mongolia, flows south into China then turns northwest to empty into the Ulungur Lake in Xinjiang. It is about 700km long....
and Irtysh River, and the Yenisei Kyrgyz tribes. In 634 one of their rivals, Dubu Qaghan (Ashina Shier), son of Chuluo Khan
Chuluo Khan
Chulo Khagan was the khagan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, and second son of Qimin, former title: Ilteber Shad . He succeeded his elder brother Shibi and ruled for 18 months...
, who ruled much of the eastern half of the Western Qaghanate, was eliminated before escaping to China.
After that they maintained a friendly relationship with the Chinese until 639, when a raid on the Chinese capital was planned by the Gökturks under Ashina Jiedushuai (阿史那结社率), who had been disparaged by the Chinese emperor. He allied with his nephew Ashina Heluohu (阿史那贺逻鹘), choosing him as the leader of the raid on May 19. They were unsuccessful and over 40 rebels were executed. Heluohu was spared and expelled to the far south.
After this incident, an arraignment was made on August 13. A deportation of all Goktürks north of Ordos was carried out, in an attempt to restore the puppet Eastern Qaghanate as a barrier against the Xueyanto, to disperse their attention over the territorial competition in the west.
Among the Göktürk nobles, Ashina Simo was selected as the qaghan (Qilibi Khan
Qilibi Khan
Qilibi Khan , personal name Ashina Simo , Qilibi Khan (Chinese: 俟力苾可汗, (Pinyin): qílìbié kěhàn, (Wade-Giles): ch'i-li-pi k'o-han, Middle Chinese: (Guangyun) , d. 645?), personal name Ashina Simo (阿史那思摩), Qilibi Khan (Chinese: 俟力苾可汗, (Pinyin): qílìbié kěhàn, (Wade-Giles): ch'i-li-pi k'o-han, Middle...
) with his capital at the border. The plot failed, as he was unable to gather his people, many of his tribesmen having escaped to the south by 644 after a series of unsuccessful incursions by the Xueyantuo supported by the Chinese. Those defeats by the advancing Chinese had made their tribal allies lose confidence in them. The crisis deepened the next year when a coup d'état took place within the clan.
On August 1, 646, they were defeated by the Uyghur
Uyghur people
The Uyghur are a Turkic ethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia. Today, Uyghurs live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China...
(Huihu, 回纥) and the Chinese. The Xueyantuo's Duomi Khan
Duomi Khan
Duomi Khan , personal name Bazhuo , full regal name Jialijulixueshaduomi Khan , was a khan of the Xueyantuo...
, Bazhuo, was killed by the Uyghur. A Tang army led by the general Li Daozong
Li Daozong
Li Daozong , courtesy name Chengfan , was an imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was a cousin of Emperor Taizong, and in Emperor Taizong's reign commanded forces in campaigns against Eastern Tujue, Tuyuhun, Goguryeo, and Xueyantuo...
, the Prince of Jiangxia crushed the Xueyantuo forces. The last Xueyantuo khan, the Yitewushi Khan
Yitewushi Khan
Yitewushi Khan , personal name Duomozhi , was the last khan of Xueyantuo.Little is known about Duomozhi's background, other than that he was a nephew of Xueyantuo's greatest khan, the Zhenzhu Khan Yi'nan...
Duomozhi, surrendered. The Uyghur took over the former Xueyantuo territory. For a (disputed) relationship with the later Shato Turks, see Shato
Shatuo
The Shatuo were a Turkic tribe that heavily influenced northern Chinese politics from the late ninth century through the tenth century. They are noted for founding 3 of the 5 dynasties and 1 of the kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period....
. Their remnants were destroyed two years later, on September 15.
Khans of Xueyantuo
- YishiboYiedie KhanYiedie Khan , personal name Yishibo , was a seventh-century Asian political leader of the Xueyantuo, the first to have taken the title of khan....
(乙失缽), the Yiedie Khan (也咥可汗) (?-628?) - Yi'nanZhenzhu KhanZhenzhu Khan , personal name Yi'nan , full regal title Zhenzhupiqie Khan , was a khan of Xueyantuo, under whom Xueyantuo rose from being a vassal of Eastern Tujue to a mighty khanate ruling over northern/central Asia...
(夷男), the Zhenzhupiqie Khan (真珠毗伽可汗) or, in short, Zhenzhu Khan (真珠可汗) (628-645) - BazhuoDuomi KhanDuomi Khan , personal name Bazhuo , full regal name Jialijulixueshaduomi Khan , was a khan of the Xueyantuo...
(拔灼), the Jialijulishixueshaduomi Khan (頡利俱力失薛沙多彌可汗) or, in short, Duomi Khan (多彌可汗) (645-646) - DuomozhiYitewushi KhanYitewushi Khan , personal name Duomozhi , was the last khan of Xueyantuo.Little is known about Duomozhi's background, other than that he was a nephew of Xueyantuo's greatest khan, the Zhenzhu Khan Yi'nan...
(咄摩支), the Yitewushi Khan (伊特勿失可汗) (646)
Surname of Khans
The surname of Xueyantuo's khans are uncertain, although modern Chinese historian Bo YangBo Yang
This article is about the Chinese writer. His name in Western languages is homonymic with Bó Yáng .Boyang , also sometimes called Baiyang, was a Chinese language writer based in Taiwan...
listed their surname as "Yishi" in his edition (also known as the Bo Yang Edition) of the Zizhi Tongjian
Zizhi Tongjian
The Zizhi Tongjian was a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084, under the form of a chronicles. In 1065 CE, Emperor Yingzong of Song ordered the great historian Sima Guang to lead with other scholars such as his chief assistants Liu Shu, Liu Ban and Fan Zuyu, the...
, but Bo cited no source for his use of Yishi as a surname. It is possible that Bo was influenced by the Tongdian
Tongdian
The Tongdian is a Chinese institutional history and encyclopedia text. It covers a panoply of topics from high antiquity through the year 756, whereas a quarter of the book focuses on the Tang Dynasty. The book was written by Du You from 766 to 801...
which asserted the Xueyantuo surname as Yilitu (壹利吐, Yiliduo 一利咄 as in Cefu Yuangui and Yilidie 壹利咥 as in New Book of Tang
New Book of Tang
The New Book of Tang , is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty edited by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi and other official scholars of the Song Dynasty. The emperor called for a revision of the former Book of Tang in 1044. The New Book was presented to the throne in 1060. It was given its...
) or certain studies that was made. According to Cen Zhongmian the forementioned name are related to the variant of elteris. Duan Lianqin asserted that the name Yishibo (Yiedie Khan) can also be read interchangeable as Yedie (也咥). The Zizhi Tongjian, in the original, referred to one ethnic Xueyantuo general named Duomo, possibly the Yitewushi Khan (after he became a Tang general) by the family name of Xue
Xue
Xue is the pinyin romanization of the Chinese surname 薛 , Hsueh in the Wade-Giles system, and Sit in the Cantonese system. In Korean, the hanja corresponds to Seol and in Japanese the kanji corresponds to Setsu. According to a study published in 2006, it is the 76th most common Chinese surname...
-- although the Tang Huiyao
Tang Huiyao
The Tang Huiyao is an institutional history of Tang Dynasty compiled by Wang Pu and presented it to Emperor Taizu of Song in 961. The book contains 100 volumes and 514 sections, it has an abundant content for the period before 846, and scarce material unobtainable from the Tongdian, Book of Tang,...
indicated that it was not the same person, as it indicated that the Yitewushi Khan died during Emperor Taizong's reign. The Tang Huiyao also asserted that the rulers of Xueyantuo claimed to be originally named Xue, and that the name of the tribe was changed to Xueyantuo after the Xue defeated and merged the Yantuo into their tribe.