Ishbara Qaghan

Ishbara Qaghan (Old Turkic: , Ϊšbara qaγan, 沙缽略可汗/沙钵略可汗, Pinyin: shābōlüè kěhàn, Wade-Giles: sha-po-lüeh, alternative names: Shapolo, full name: Il Kül Shad Bagha Ishbara Qaghan 伊利俱盧設莫何始波羅可汗/伊利俱卢设莫何始波罗可汗, personal name: 阿史那攝圖/阿史那摄图, āshǐnà shètú, a-shih-na she-t'u) (before 540—587) was the first son of Issik Qaghan, grandson of Bumin Qaghan, and the fifth khagan of the first Eastern Turkic Khaganate (581 - 587)

The first son of Kelo, grandson of Bumin Khagan, fifth khagan of the Göktürk Empire, he was appointed to the throne by the high council as the legal resolution to the crisis created by his uncle Taspar Qaghan who had bequeathed the title of khagan to his nephew Talopien (son of Muqan Qaghan). This act violated the traditional system of inheritance from oldest brother to youngest brother and oldest son to youngest. Immediately after his appointment, the legal basis of his power was contested by the erstwhile heir Talopien, Jotan, and Tardu. This highly unstable situation quickly became a smoldering civil war, which the Sui Chinese took advantage of in every way possible to weaken the Göktürks.

Ashina Helu

Ishbara Qaghan (Old Turkic: , Ϊšbara qaγan, 沙缽略可汗/沙钵略可汗, Pinyin: shābōlüè kěhàn, Wade-Giles: sha-po-lüeh k'o-han, personal name Ashina Helu (阿史那賀魯/阿史那贺鲁, āshǐnà hèlǔ, a-shih-na ho-lu) (before 620—658) was a khan of the Western Turkic Khaganate. Before being a khagan, he was nicknamed Hallıg ("elevated"). He had served the interests of China's Tang Dynasty as a general prior to 651, but broke away from Tang in 651 and declared himself khan. Emperor Gaozong of Tang sent the general Su Dingfang, who commanded a campaign against him in 657, and Su defeated and captured him at the Battle of Irtysh River. Emperor Gaozong spared him, and he lived out his days at the Tang capital Chang'an.

See also