Illig Qaghan

Illig Qaghan (Old Turkic: ; ; died 13 February 634), born Ashina Duobi , posthumous name Prince Huang of Guiyi (歸義荒王), was the last qaghan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

Background Illig Qaghan was a son of Yami Qaghan and his Tuyuhun wife Poshi (婆施). He was raised by the Tuyuhun general Külüg Tarkhan (胡祿達官). After coming of age, he was given the title Baghatur Shad (莫賀咄設) and was assigned to rule the eastern parts of the empire.

Reign He declared himself Illig Qaghan, ruler of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, after the death of his older brother Chuluo and married his brother's widow. He gave his nephew Ashina Shibobi the title of Tolis Qaghan afterwards and assigned him to his own former tribes. He continued his predecessors' pro-Sui politics, supporting puppet emperors.

Raids into Tang China His first contacts with the Tang were very hostile. In 621, Turkic forces attacked Fenyin and Xi territories, reaching as far south as Yanmen in April. In response, Turkic ambassadors were arrested in China and vice versa. In May, Illig's forces crushed Tang forces commanded by Li Shuliang (李叔良), Emperor Gaozu's cousin who died from arrow wounds after a month.

In 625, Illig Qaghan attacked Ling Prefecture (靈州, roughly modern Yinchuan, Ningxia). Emperor Gaozu sent the general Zhang Jin (張瑾) to fight the Turks with Wen Yanbo serving as Zhang's secretary general. When Zhang engaged Illig, however, he suffered a major defeat, and Wen was captured. As Wen was an important official, Illig interrogated him and asked about the strengths and weaknesses of the Tang state. Wen refused to answer and Illig moved him to the Yin Mountains.

In 626, just 19 days after Emperor Taizong took the throne, Shibobi and Illig were just across the Wei River from Chang'an. Emperor Taizong, accompanied by Gao Shilian and Fang Xuanling, met the Turks across the river and personally negotiated peace terms, which included giving tribute to Eastern Turks, before Illig withdrew.

Civil war In 627 he attempted to levy horses from the vassal Tiele tribes after all his livestock died from a snowstorm. The Tiele revolted under a Xueyantuo coalition. Emperor Taizong of Tang wasted no time in allying with these Tiele and the Khitans in a joint attack. Illig was already facing internal dissent from the Göktürk generals jealous of the influence of Illig's Sogdian viziers.

In response, Illig gave 100,000 cavalry to Yukuk Shad to suppress the revolts. However Yukuk was defeated by Huige forces commanded by Pusa (菩薩) near Malie (near modern Gansu). Later, more Turkic generals were defeated by the Xueyantuo.

In 628 Kumo Xi tribes also rose in rebellion against the Eastern Turks. Eastern governor Ashina Shibobi was unsuccessful in defeating rebels, which made Illig angry and ordered him to be flogged and imprisoned for 10 days. His teacher Kulug Tarkhan was also reported to have taken his own life in sadness. He died single. Etmish Beg - Ilterish Qaghan, founder of Second Turkic Kaghanate was a descendant of Illig Some scholars such as Vladimir Sychev suggest he was same person as Ashina Nishufu.