Tardu

Medieval ruler in Turkic Khaganate

This article is about a yabgu of Western Turkic Khaganate. For the given name, see Tardu (given name).

Tardu Khagan

Yabghu of the First 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 or Tardush Yabghu was the second yabghu of the Western Turkic Khaganate (c. 575–603), and ninth Khagan of the First Turkic Khaganate (599–603). He was the son of Istämi.[1]

## Names

[edit]

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 to Lev 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.

## Background

[edit]

The Turkic Khaganate was a vast khaganate (empire); from Manchuria and the Great Wall of China to the Black Sea.[5] It was impossible to govern the whole khaganate from a certain capital. So while the eastern part was directly ruled by the khagan (emperor), the western part was governed by the yabghu (vassal) on behalf of the khagan. The capital of the west was Ordukent (Suyab) (present-day Kyrgyzstan). Istemi, who was the khagan's brother, was the first and Tardu (İstemi's son) was the second yabgu.

## Years of civil war

[edit]

Tardu became the yabgu in c. 575. That year, he met the Byzantine ambassador Valentinius. Being a very ambitious yabgu, he was planning to seize power in the entire khaganate. He saw his chance in 581 when khagan Taspar died. Taspar had announced his preference for Talopien (son of Muqan Qaghan) instead of his son Anluo. But Göktürk kurultai (council of tribal leaders), which was authorized to appoint the new khagan, refused to follow the former khagan's will and appointed the former khagan's son, who in turn acknowledged Ishbara Qaghan as the new khagan.[4] This gave Tardu the necessary cause to interfere. He sent an army to back Talopien. Ishbara applied to Sui China for protection and both sides were played off each other by China.

## Later years

[edit]

While the east part of the khaganate suffered from civil war, Tardu was waiting for a suitable moment to realize his plans. After the Battle of the Blarathon in 591 in Sassanid Persia, Bahram Chobin who was a short-term Sasanid emperor, sought asylum in Western Turks.[6]

In 599 Tardu declared himself to be khagan of the united khaganate (east and west)[7] But his new status was not recognised widely. Probably to persuade the kurultai, 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 by Niri Qaghan, a son of Talopien.

## Family

[edit]

He was father to Tulu (都六) and Külüg Sibir. Sheguy and Tong Yabghu were his grandsons through Tulu.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ D. Sinor; S. G. Klyashtorny. The Türk Empire. p. 333.
2. ^ Kultegin’s Memorial Complex, TÜRIK BITIG
3. ^ Bobodzhan Gafurovich Gafurov, Central Asia: Pre-historic to Pre-modern Times, Volume 1, Shipra Publications, 2005, ISBN 978-81-7541-244-6, p. 328.
4. ^ a b Lev Nikolayrviç Gumilev: Eski Türkler (trans. D.Ahsen Batur) Selenge yayınları, İstanbul, 2002 ISBN 975-7856-39-8 p. 140, 550
5. ^ Jean Paul Roux: Türklerin Tarihi (Historie des Turcs), tr:Prof Dr Aykut Kazancıgil, Lale Arslan Özcan, Kabalcı yayınevi, İstanbul, 2007, p 101.
6. ^ A page about Hormozd IV
7. ^ Melek Tekin: Türk tarihi, p. 87, Milliyet yayınları, 1991

Tardu

Ashina Clan

Preceded by

Istämi

|  Yabgu of the Western Turkic Khaganate
575–599  | Succeeded by

Niri Qaghan (as khagan)

Preceded by

Tulan Qaghan

|  Khagan of Turkic Khaganate
599–603  | Succeeded by

Yami Qaghan

* v
* t
* e

Göktürks

First Turkic Khaganate
(552–581)|

* (Ashina Tuwu)
* Bumin Qaghan
* Issik Qaghan
* Muqan Qaghan
* Taspar Qaghan
* Ashina Anluo
* Ishbara Qaghan
* Bagha Qaghan
* Tulan Qaghan
* (Istämi)
* (Empress Ashina)
* (Apa Qaghan)

* (Yangsu Tegin)
* (Tamgan)

Eastern Turkic Khaganate
(581–630)|

* Yami Qaghan
* Shibi Qaghan
* Chulo Qaghan
* Illig Qaghan
* Qilibi Qaghan
* Chebi Qaghan

* (Ashina Jiesheshuai)
* (Ashina Funian)
* (Ashina She'er)
* (Ashina Nishufu)
* (Ashide Wenfu)
* (Ashide Fengji)
* (Ashina Shibobi)

Western Turkic Khaganate
(581–657)|

* Tardu
* Niri Qaghan
* Heshana Qaghan
* Sheguy
* Tong Yabghu Qaghan
* Külüg Sibir
* Sy Yabghu Khagan
* Duolu Qaghan
* Ishbara Tolis

* (El Kulug Shad)
* (Irbis Ishbara Yabgu Qaghan)

* Yukuk Shad
* Irbis Seguy
* Hallig
* (Bagha Shad)
* (Böri Shad)
* (Ashina Duzhi)
* (Tardush Shad)
* (Ashina Tuizi)

Second Turkic Khaganate
(682–744)|

* Ilterish Qaghan
* Qapaghan Qaghan
* Inel Qaghan
* Bilgä Qaǧan
* Yollıg Khagan
* Tengri Qaghan
* Kutluk Yabgu Khagan
* Özmiş Khagan
* Ashina Shi

* (Ashina Duoxifu)
* (Kulun Beg)
* (Kul Tigin)
* (Tonyukuk)
* (Qutluğ Säbäg Qatun)
* (El Bilga Khatun)

Western Turks
under Jimi system|

Kunling Protectorate

* Ashina Mishe
* Ashina Yuanqing
* Ashina Xian
* Ashina Zhen

Mengchi Protectorate

* Ashina Buzhen
* Ashina Huseluo
* Ashina Huaidao
* Ashina Xin

Anxi Protectorate

* Tokhara Yabghus (625-758)
* Turk Shahis (665–870)

Göktürk culture|

* Tengrism
* Asena
* Otuken
* Suyab
* Kurultai
* Old Turkic language
* Old Turkic script
* Orkhon inscriptions
* Orkhon Valley
* Shoroon Bumbagar tomb
* Turks in the Tang military
* Ülüş system
* Tonyukuk inscriptions
* Ongin inscription
* Altyn Tamgan Tarhan inscription
* Qara bodun

Göktürk wars
and battles|

* Battle of Gol-Zarriun/Bukhara
* Göktürk–Persian wars
* First
* Second
* Third
* Goguryeo–Tang War
* Göktürk civil war
* Tang Eastern Turk campaign
* Xueyantuo
* Tang Western Turk campaigns
* Conquest
* Li-Sun rebellion
* Battle of Bolchu

Titles|

* Khagan
* Shad
* Tegin
* Yabghu
* Bagha
* Boyla
* Tudun
* Beg
* Khatun
* Tarkhan
* Ishad
* Elteber

Family|

* Göktürk family tree
* Ashina tribe
* Ashide

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