Ashina Funian (Chinese:阿史那伏念; r. 680–681) was aGöktürk leader and member of theAshina tribe who was the leader of a Göktürk revolt in the 7th century that tried to restore theEastern Turkic Khaganate and break fromTang domination. His rebellion was unsuccessful and he was executed by Tang authorities in 681.
Towards the end of the sixth century, theTurkic Khaganate, which had recently succeeded theRouran Khaganate as the hegemonic power of theMongolian Plateau was involved ina civil war and by 603 it had separated into two independent states; theEastern Turkic Khaganate and theWestern Turkic Khaganate. The Eastern Khaganate wasconquered by the Chinese Tang dynasty in 630, and the Western Khaganate wasconquered by the Tang dynasty in 657. After their conquest, the Eastern Turks were forced to accept a protectorate status on China's outskirts. They were confined to live in theOrdos Loop and in 639, afteran Ashina attempted to assassinateEmperor Taizong of Tang, they were forced to live between theYellow River andGobi Desert, as a buffer state between China and theXueyantuo.[1][2][3]
A rebellion attempt was started byChebi Khan in 646, who tried to reestablish the Khaganate before being captured by Tang general Gao Kan in 650.[4] A second attempt took place between 679 and 680, whenAshina Nishufu, a descendant of the leadingAshina tribe, led a series of successful campaigns against China, now ruled byEmpress Wu, before being defeated by a large Chinese army under the command of generalPei Xingjian. Nishufu was later killed by his own men.[5][6]
Following Nishufu's death, Ashina Funian, another member of the royal clan and a son ofIllig Qaghan's paternal cousin,[7] was madeqaghan and the Eastern Turks once again rebelled against the Tang.[8]
The early stages of the rebellion brought about some victories for Funian. In one of the first battles, Funian defeated the Tang general Cao Huaishun and showed mercy towards him and his army, granting them free passage in exchange for valuables, with the two leaders even sacrificing an ox in order to seal a peace pact. These impromptu diplomatic efforts on behalf of Cao were not well received by the Tang authorities, who refused to honour his agreement and punished Cao with exile.[9]
In 681, the Eastern Turks were once again defeated by Pei Xiangjin, who convinced the defeated leader to surrender, with the promise that he would not suffer consequences for his rebellion. Once in captivity, however, Funian became the center of court intrigue, with the powerful Chief MinisterPei Yan, a political adversary of Pei Xianjing, calling for the execution of Funian and other leaders of the Turkic rebellion.[8]
On 5 December 681, Ashina Funian and 53 other Göktürks were publicly executed inChang'an.[10][11] This execution, as well as the fact that it came about as a result of court politics, further fueled anti-Chinese sentiments among Eastern Turks.[8]
Funian's death proved to be only a temporary respite for the rebelling Göktürk who, in 682, elected the chieftain Ashina Qutlugh as their next qaghan, under the nameIlterish Qaghan. Ilterish gathered Funian's troops, united the tribes, defeated Tang China and gained independence, founding theSecond Turkic Khaganate.[1][12]
Eastern Turkic Khaganate.
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