Issik Qaghan
| Issik Qaghan | |
|---|---|
| Qaghan of the First Turkic Khaganate | |
| Reign | 552 – 553 |
| Predecessor | Bumin Qaghan |
| Successor | Muqan Qaghan |
| Born | Ashina Kolo (阿史那科羅) or Dayuan (大原) |
| Died | 553 |
| Issue | Ishbara Qaghan Bagha Qaghan |
| House | Ashina |
| Father | Bumin Qaghan |
Issik Qaghan (Chinese: 乙息記可汗, romanized: Yǐxījì kěhàn) was the second ruler of the Turkic Khaganate.
Name
[edit | edit source]His personal name recorded in Chinese sources was Ashina Kolo (Chinese: 阿史那科羅) which is reconstructible in Middle Chinese as *kʰuâ-lâ according to Peter Golden. According to him, this was a transliteration of the Old Turkic: 𐰴𐰺𐰀, romanized: Qara, lit. 'Black'.[1] His regnal name Yixiji was reconstructed by Ahmet Taşağıl as Ilji.[2] He is also referred to as Ayi Qaghan (Chinese: 阿逸可汗, romanized: Āyì Kèhán) in Cefu Yuangui.[3]
Zhu Zhenghong, who analyzed his great-grandson Shi Shanying's epitaph, argued that in Turkic cosmology, colors correspond to cardinal directions, with "black" representing north. He proposed that "Kolo" was not his personal name, but a political title he held before becoming qaghan. As Bumin's eldest son, he was stationed in the north to govern the Tiele tribes, hence the title "Black" (Qara).[4] Epitaph referred to Issik as Xiejiesuona Qaghan (Chinese: 纈傑娑那可汗, romanized: Xiéjié Suōnà Kèhán). Zhenghong believes this was a regnal title that could be reconstructed as Old Turkic: 𐰃𐰠:𐱃𐰆𐰣𐰍𐰀:𐰴𐰍𐰣, romanized: *İl Tunga Qağan, lit. 'State Hero Qaghan'.[4] Moreover, according to Zhu Zhenghong, Issik Qaghan's personal name was Dayuan (Chinese: 大原, romanized: Dàyuán), based on his analysis of Ashina Zhong's tomb.
Rule
[edit | edit source]In 552, he defeated the Rouran khagan Yujiulü Dengzhu near Mulai Mountain to north of Woye Town (modern Wuyuan County, Inner Mongolia). Between March and April 553, Issik Qaghan sent envoys to present 50,000 horses to Western Wei. Before dying of illness later that year, he passed the throne to his younger brother who became Muqan Qaghan.[5] All Eastern Turkic Qaghanate rulers were descended from him through his sons Ishbara Qaghan and Bagha Qaghan.[6]
References
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