Qutluğ Säbäg Qatun | |
|---|---|
| Khatun ofSecond Turkic Khaganate | |
| Born | Ashide Suofu 阿史德娑匐 |
| Noble family | Ashide |
| Spouse | Bilge Khagan |
| Issue | Yollıg Khagan Tengri Qaghan |
| Father | Tonyukuk |
Qutluğ Säbig Qatun[1] (title -Chinese:骨咄禄娑匐可敦;pinyin:Gǔduōlùsuōfúkědūn; personal name -Chinese:阿史德婆匐;pinyin:Āshǐdé Suōfú, also known asPo Beg[2]) was thekhatun (queen) and thenhansha (queen mother) of theSecond Turkic Khaganate. She served as regent during the minority ofTengri Qaghan, from 734 to 741.
Qutluğ Säbäg Qatun's father wasTonyukuk, anapa tarkan, a title equivalent to prime minister. She marriedBilge Qaghan before 717, while he was still ategin (prince).[3]
In 734, Bilge was killed by poison.[4] Säbäg's sons succeeded him. After the death of her first sonYollıg Khagan in 739, her other sonTengri Qaghan (?–741) was enthroned.
Tengri was young and Säbäg acted as a queen regent. However, the real power was in the hands of twoshads (local governors), one in the west and the other in the east. Säbäg tried to centralize power and planned to execute the two governors. She had the governor in the west executed but Pan Kül Tigin, the governor in the east, became suspicious and revolted, killing Tengri Qaghan 742.[5] Two years later, the empire was dissolved following a joint rebellion ofUyghurs,Karluks andBasmyls.
During the last days of the khaganate, Säbäg, together with her clan, took refuge inTang China.Emperor Xuanzong of Tang greeted her and threw a banquet for her. She was given the title of princess, and was appointed the ruler of her people. According to theNew Book of Tang, Xuanzong sent flour to her clan during the harvest season.[6] According to Russian historianLev Gumilev, she saved her people but not her nation.[7][vague]