| Tardu Khagan | |
|---|---|
| Yabghu of theFirst Turkic Khaganate | |
| Reign | 575–599 |
| Qaghan of the First Turkic Khaganate | |
| Reign | 599–603 |
| Predecessor | Tulan Qaghan |
| Successor | Yami Qaghan (in East) Niri Qaghan (in West) |
| Died | 603 |
| Issue | Külüg Sibir |
| House | Ashina |
| Father | Istami |
| Religion | Tengrism |
Tardu orTardush Yabghu was the secondyabghu of theWestern Turkic Khaganate (c. 575–603), and ninthKhagan of theFirst Turkic Khaganate (599–603). He was the son ofIstämi.[1]
The regnal name in Turkic was Tarduš (Old Turkic:𐱃𐰺𐰑𐰆𐱁),[2]Medieval Greek:Ταρδου,達頭可汗/达头可汗,Pinyin:dátóu kěhàn,Wade–Giles:ta-t'ou k'o-han, personal name:阿史那玷厥,āshǐnà diànjué,a-shih-na tien-chüeh). According toLev Gumilev his personal name was Kara-Churin-Turk (Кара Чурин Тюрк).[3][4] However, when he subjugated the eastern half after the death of Tulan Qaghan, he assumed the regnal name Bilge (Wise) Khagan.
The Turkic Khaganate was a vast khaganate (empire); fromManchuria and theGreat Wall of China to theBlack Sea.[5] It was impossible to govern the whole khaganate from a certain capital. So while the eastern part was directly ruled by thekhagan (emperor), the western part was governed by theyabghu (vassal) on behalf of thekhagan. The capital of the west wasOrdukent (Suyab) (present-dayKyrgyzstan).Istemi, who was thekhagan's brother, was the first and Tardu (İstemi's son) was the secondyabgu.
Tardu became theyabgu in c. 575. That year, he met theByzantine ambassador Valentinius. Being a very ambitiousyabgu, he was planning to seize power in the entire khaganate. He saw his chance in 581 whenkhaganTaspar died. Taspar had announced his preference forTalopien (son ofMuqan Qaghan) instead of his sonAnluo. But Göktürkkurultai (council of tribal leaders), which was authorized to appoint the newkhagan, refused to follow the formerkhagan's will and appointed the formerkhagan's son, who in turn acknowledgedIshbara Qaghan as the newkhagan.[4] This gave Tardu the necessary cause to interfere. He sent an army to back Talopien. Ishbara applied toSui China for protection and both sides were played off each other by China.
While the east part of the khaganate suffered from civil war, Tardu was waiting for a suitable moment to realize his plans. After theBattle of the Blarathon in 591 inSassanid Persia,Bahram Chobin who was a short-term Sasanid emperor, sought asylum in Western Turks.[6]
In 599 Tardu declared himself to bekhagan of the united khaganate (east and west)[7] But his new status was not recognised widely. Probably to persuade thekurultai, he began a campaign against China. But unlike the Turks of the eastern part, his target of the campaign was too far away and his army suffered intensely from the poisoned water wells during the long expedition through the steppe. Finally, he had to retreat without serious combat, but this defeat was disastrous for him. After a rebellion of his subjects, he disappeared (was likely killed) in 603 or 604.
He was succeeded in the west byNiri Qaghan, a son of Talopien.
He was father to Tulu (都六) andKülüg Sibir.Sheguy andTong Yabghu were his grandsons through Tulu.
Tardu | ||
| Preceded by | Yabgu of the Western Turkic Khaganate 575–599 | Succeeded by Niri Qaghan (as khagan) |
| Preceded by | Khagan of Turkic Khaganate 599–603 | Succeeded by |