Böri Shad

Böri Shad (fl. c. 627) (, böri šad, , "Wolf governor") was a Turkic prince or general who fought the Persians south of the Caucasus during the Perso-Turkic war of 627–629. In this war the Western Turkic Khaganate was allied with the Byzantine Empire against Persia during the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628.

Biography Böri Shad was an appointed head of a provincial principality in the far western North Caucasus periphery of the Western Turkic Khaganate. A succession of princes, or shads, occupied that position. The principality of Böri Shad originated in 558, when Kara-Churin (later named Tardu), a brother of the ruling khagan, campaigned in Ural and Volga regions, but the lands he captured were given to his younger brother Tamgan and his cousin Buri-khan. From 576 through 583, Tardu fought with the Byzantine Empire, but, instead of himself, he appointed as head of the campaign his cousin Böri Shad, whose possessions were in the North Caucasus.

According to Movses Kagankatvatsi, Böri Shad was a 7th-century Göktürk prince and an ishad or general in the army of the Western Turkic Khaganate. He was the son of Bagha Shad, who may have been the yabgu or prince of the Khazars. (anachronistic since the Khazars were not yet a separate polity.) Böri Shad's uncle was Tong Yabghu Khagan, the khagan of the Western Göktürks.

Böri Shad was probably commander of the Khazar forces during the Perso-Turkic war of 627–629, which was fought in the Caucasus. Under Böri Shad's command the Khazars sacked many cities in Caucasian Albania and attempted to establish a firm foothold in the South Caucasus. Although the campaign was successful, Böri Shad had to flee to Central Asia after learning about the murder of Tong Yabghu later that year.

The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja'far Tarikh (a work of disputed authenticity) represents Börishad being elected as the second Khagan of the Khazars after Tong Yabghu's death, defeating Bulan-shad and Alp-shad (i.e Alp Ilutuer), sons of Tong Yabghu. Alp then founded Kingdom of North Caucasia Huns, though he submitted to Börishad shortly after, who was succeeded by his son Irbis.