| Shikui Kaghan | |
|---|---|
| Qaghan of theWestern Turkic Khaganate | |
| Reign | 611–618 |
| Predecessor | Heshana Khagan |
| Successor | Tong Yabghu Khagan |
| Died | 618 Suyab |
| House | Ashina |
| Father | Tulu Tegin (都六) |
| Religion | Tengrism |
Shikui Khagan, alsoZik Khagan (r. 611–619 or possibly 610–617;[1]Middle Chinese: *ʑia-gwi;Middle PersianZyk,Žeg[2]) was the thirdkhagan of theWestern Turkic Khaganate. He was the grandson ofTardu (575–603) through his son Tulu (都六).
TheWestern Turkic Khaganate in present-dayTurkestan was founded as the result of the partition of theFirst Turkic Khaganate after the death ofTardu in 603. It was also calledOn Ok ("Ten arrows") referring to ten powerful tribes in the khaganate. Five tribes (calledDuolu) to the northeast and five tribes to the southwest (calledNushibi) formed the two rival factions, the border line being theIli River.
Shikui Khagan was Tardu's grandson and governor of Chach (Tashkent)[3] He was expected to be enthroned after the death of Tardu. But theDulu faction enthroned Ashina Daman (later known asHeshana Qaghan) who was a generation younger than Shekui. But Daman was a very inexperienced ruler and was a puppet of the Dulu clan. The Nushibi clan as well asSilk Road merchants who suffered from the increasing anarchy supported Shikuito throne in 611. When Daman affiliated partisans arrested a Chinese ambassador to Shekui, Shikuirevolted and Daman had to flee toSui China where he was killed.[4]
Shikuimaintained order in the khaganate and provided security on the Silk Road. His reign marks the beginning of Nushibi supremacy. In 618, he was succeeded by his brotherTong during whose reign Western Turkic Khaganate reached to apogee.
Shikui Khagan (as "Zik Khagan") is known from numismatics, especially a silver medallion issued in 616–617 in Isfahan after his victory over theSasanids and the Hephthalites.[5] His campaign led him deep into Iran, in the areas of Ray and Isfahan.[5] The obverse of the coin portrays the ruler and bears the Pahlavi inscriptionsGDH 'pzwn zyk ("the Victory, increase, Zik"), andMLK"n MLK' ("king of kings"). The reverse displays an altar with fire, with attendants left and right.[5][6][7] The iconography of the portrait is similar to that of the coinage of the Western Turk rulerTong Yabghu Qaghan.[5]
A seal is also known in his name, for the administration of the conquered territory. It is kept in the private collection of Forughi in Iran.[8] It contains a Middle Persian inscription readingzyk hhn GDH ("Zik Khagan, victory") and the a runic inscriptionb(a)q(e)šeb qiy(ū)g(0)ŋkӣ ("Take care of your companions, home, village, gain a good name for yourself").[7]
The coinage of Zik is considered as highly similar to that of the earlySamanid rulerMansur I, suggesting some kind of continuity.[7][5]
Shikui Khagan | ||
| Preceded by | Khagan of the Western Turkic Khaganate 611–618 | Succeeded by |
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