Ishbara Qaghan
sixth Qaghan of the First Turkic Khaganate
Ishbara Qaghan (Old Turkic: 𐰃𐱁𐰉𐰺𐰀:𐰴𐰍𐰣, romanized: Ïšbara qaɣan, Chinese: 沙缽略可汗; pinyin: Shābōlüè Kèhán; Wade–Giles: Sha-po-lüeh K'o-han) (c. 540 – 587) was the first son of Issik Qaghan, grandson of Bumin Qaghan, and the sixth khagan of the Göktürk First Turkic Khaganate (581–587).
Name
His birth name was recorded as either Ashina Shetu or Nietu (Chinese: 阿史那攝圖) in Chinese sources. His name is written in Sogdian: 𐼎𐼇𐼒𐼒𐼘, romanized: nw’’r, lit. 'Neber' in Bugut Inscription. Gerard Clauson and Peter Golden argued that name is non-Turkic.
Ashina Zhong's tomb epitaph portrays him as a son of Yongzhou Qaghan (Chinese: 邕周, romanized: Yōngzhōu) and a grandson of Dayuan (Chinese: 大原, romanized: Dàyuán). Wu Yugui argued that they were Ishbara Qaghan and Issik Qaghan respectively.
Biography
Under Taspar
He was probably born c. 540 to Issik Qaghan. He was made Erfu Khagan (Chinese: 爾伏可汗) in east in 572 by Taspar Qaghan.
Reign
He was raised to the throne after resignation of Ashina Anluo 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 lateral succession which went from oldest brother to youngest brother and oldest son to youngest.
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