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Tang campaign against the Eastern Turks

Tang's campaign against Eastern Turks in 629 - 630

Date

629-630

Location

Dingxiang, Gobi Desert and Hetao Plain

Result

Tang victory

Fall of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate
Establishment of Anbei Protectorate

Belligerents

Tang dynasty

Eastern Turkic Khaganate

Commanders and leaders

Tang Taizong
Li Jing
Li Shiji
Xue Wanche
Chai Shao
Wei Xiaojie
Li Daozong
Su Dingfang

Jieli Khan (Ashina Duobi) (POW)

The Tang campaign against the Eastern Turks was a big war from 629 to 630. It ended with the powerful Tang dynasty defeating the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. A Khaganate was a large empire ruled by a leader called a Khan. After this war, the Tang dynasty took over the Turkic lands.

The Eastern Turkic Khaganate, led by Illig Qaghan, was a threat to the Tang dynasty. This was early in the rule of Emperor Taizong (who ruled from 626 to 649). The Tang leaders waited for several years. They prepared for war by trying to keep the Khaganate happy. The Tang also made friends with the Xueyantuo people. The Xueyantuo were groups who wanted to be free from the Khaganate.

The Tang army started its attack in the winter of 629. General Li Jing led the main forces. The Khaganate was completely defeated when Illig Qaghan was captured in 630.

At first, the Tang tried to let the Eastern Turks live within their own borders. They left the land north of the empire to the Xueyantuo. But things changed when Ashina Jiesheshuai, a member of the Turkic royal family, tried to kill Emperor Taizong.

After this, the Eastern Turkic Khaganate was brought back. It was led by Qilibi Khan and became a loyal group to the Tang. The Eastern Turks were settled again between the Great Wall and the Gobi Desert. This new Khaganate was meant to be a protective area against the Xueyantuo. But Qilibi Khan's rule ended around 645. This happened because of problems within his own group and pressure from the Xueyantuo.

The Tang dynasty did not try to create another Eastern Turkic group after that. Later, a new and unfriendly group called the Second Turkic Khaganate was formed. This happened during the time of Taizong's son, Gaozong.

How the Conflict Started
A Time of Peace with the Turks
Defeating the Eastern Turks
What Happened After the War
See also

How the Conflict Started

The Eastern Turkic Khaganate used to be a loyal group to the Sui Empire. The Sui was the empire before the Tang. But the Khaganate rebelled during the rule of Emperor Yang of Sui (604–618).

During the time when the Sui Empire was falling apart, the Khaganate helped different people who wanted to become emperor. They did this to cause problems and make these people loyal to the Khaganate. Many leaders got help from the Khaganate. These included Emperor Gaozu (who started the Tang dynasty).

The Tang dynasty became the strongest power in China by 623. After the Tang won, the Khaganate started to raid Tang lands often. This happened even though Gaozu was still their friend and paid them tribute. Tribute means giving gifts or money to a stronger power to show respect.

The Khaganate also kept supporting Liang Shidu, who was still fighting the Tang. They also gave a home to Prince Yang Zhengdao and his grandmother Empress Xiao of Sui. The Turkic raids were so bad that Gaozu thought about moving the Tang capital from Chang'an to a safer place.

Li Shimin, who was a prince and would later become Emperor Taizong, convinced Gaozu not to move. He promised to defeat the Eastern Turks eventually.

In 626, Li Shimin became Emperor Taizong. He did this by making Gaozu name him crown prince and then step down. Less than a month after Taizong became emperor, the Khaganate attacked again. This raid, led by Illig Qaghan, reached Chang'an. The Eastern Turks left after Taizong himself offered tribute outside the city. He also promised more tribute in the future.

A Time of Peace with the Turks

Official and soldier, Tang dynasty tomb figurines

Things were quite peaceful between the Tang and the Eastern Turkic Khaganate for a few years. During this time, the Tang heard that the Khaganate was having problems. There were reports of bad leadership and disagreements within the Khaganate.

A Chinese official named Zhao Deyan was in charge of the Khaganate's government. He was corrupt and made rules that made people unhappy. Also, Illig Qaghan liked people from the Xiongnu group more than his own Eastern Turks. This caused rebellions, which he put down.

By 627, Emperor Taizong thought about attacking the Khaganate. But his brother-in-law, Zhangsun Wuji, said there was no good reason to attack. The Khaganate had not broken the peace.

At the same time, the Xueyantuo and Uyghurs were getting stronger. These groups were loyal to the Khaganate but were becoming hard to control. Illig Qaghan's relationship with Ashina Shibobi was also getting worse. Ashina Shibobi was in charge of the eastern part of the Khaganate. He was blamed for the Khitan and Xi tribes becoming independent.

Ashina Shibobi's fight against the Xueyantuo and Uyghurs failed. Illig Qaghan arrested him for a few days. After being released, Ashina Shibobi rebelled and fought Illig Qaghan in 628.

Emperor Taizong and Ashina Shibobi were like brothers. Taizong agreed to help Ashina Shibobi. He used this chance to attack Liang Shidu while Illig Qaghan was busy. In 628, Liang Shidu's claim to power was ended. Liang Shidu was killed by his cousin.

Around the same time, the Xueyantuo were united by Yi'nan. Taizong sent a general to offer Yi'nan a special title. Yi'nan accepted the title and became friends with the Tang. Illig Qaghan tried to make a marriage alliance with the Tang to balance this. But Taizong ignored his request and got ready for an attack.

Another reason for Illig Qaghan's problems was two very cold winters. These winters caused many animals to die and led to a famine. Illig Qaghan made things worse by raising taxes instead of lowering them. This made people even more angry.

Defeating the Eastern Turks

Mural of Tang soldiers

The Tang attack was led by General Li Jing. He was helped by General Zhang Gongjin. Li Jing was in charge of the whole army. Other generals like Li Shiji, Xue Wanche, Wei Xiaojie, Li Daozong, and Chai Shao led other parts of the army. This was a huge attack with six separate groups of cavalry.

In spring 630, the Tang army surprised the Khaganate. They captured the Wuyang Range and got close to the Khaganate's main camp. Li Jing sent spies into Illig Qaghan's camp. These spies convinced some of Illig Qaghan's close friends to surrender. Illig Qaghan moved back to the Yin Mountains. There, he talked with Taizong's messenger. Illig Qaghan offered to surrender, but he was also thinking about escaping north of the Gobi Desert.

Li Jing and Li Shiji believed Illig Qaghan was just trying to buy time. They, along with Su Dingfang's advance group, attacked Illig Qaghan's tent. Illig Qaghan ran away to a loyal leader. His wife, Princess Yicheng of Sui, was killed.

Illig Qaghan was soon captured by the Tang generals Li Daozong and Zhang Baoxiang. He was taken to Chang'an. Most of the Turkic nobles surrendered to the Tang. The rest of the people either surrendered to the Tang or the Xueyantuo, or they fled west.

What Happened After the War

Tang honour guard

Settling the Eastern Turkic People

Emperor Taizong thought about what to do with the Khaganate's people. Most people thought they should be spread out in Tang areas. But some officials had different ideas.

Two main ideas came from important officials:

Wen Yanbo suggested settling them in empty lands in the northern Tang areas. They would stay in their tribes.
Wei Zheng suggested settling them outside Tang borders, on their own lands.

Wen Yanbo's idea was chosen. Two new areas were created for the Turkic people. Ashina Simo was made a prince and given the Tang family name Li. Many other Turkic leaders were given general ranks. These new nobles settled near Chang'an. Taizong also bought back Chinese slaves from Turkic owners. After this, Turkic cavalry (soldiers on horseback) often helped the Tang army in different fights.

Meanwhile, the Xueyantuo took over most of the Khaganate's old land. Yi'nan, their leader, stayed loyal to the Tang. But he also tried to make sure the Xueyantuo controlled the region. Other tribes that used to be loyal to the Khaganate, like the Khitan and Xi, became loyal to the Tang directly.

Trying to Bring Back the Eastern Turkic Khaganate

Tang honour guard

In 639, Ashina Jiesheshuai, a brother of Ashina Shibobi, tried to kill Emperor Taizong. Ashina Jiesheshuai was known for bad behavior. He was angry because he was not promoted. He planned with about 40 people to kill Taizong. They hid outside Taizong's palace. But the plan failed, and Ashina Jiesheshuai ran away. The people who helped him were caught and punished.

This attempt to kill the emperor changed how the Tang treated the Turkic people. On August 13, 639, Taizong ordered the Eastern Turks and Xiongnu to move north of the Yellow River. This was between the Great Wall and the Gobi Desert. Ashina Simo was made the new leader (Qilibi Khan) to rule them.

The Eastern Turks were afraid of the Xueyantuo and didn't want to move at first. Taizong then sent a message to Yi'nan, the Xueyantuo leader. He told Yi'nan that the Eastern Turkic Khaganate was being brought back. He said that Yi'nan's Khaganate was older and bigger. He warned both groups not to fight each other.

Yi'nan was not happy about the Eastern Turkic Khaganate coming back, but he said he would obey. The Eastern Turks agreed to follow Ashina Simo north. The Khaganate was brought back as a loyal group to the Tang. Taizong also made other Turkic leaders princes to help Ashina Simo.

In spring 641, Ashina Simo's people finally crossed the Yellow River. He set up his main camp. He had many households, soldiers, and horses. Ashina Simo asked Taizong for permission to move back behind the Great Wall if the Xueyantuo attacked.

In winter 641, Yi'nan thought it was a good time to attack the Khaganate. The Tang army was busy with a trip. An Xueyantuo army attacked the Khaganate. Ashina Simo had to move back behind the Great Wall and ask for help. The Tang sent an army led by General Li Shiji. The Xueyantuo suffered a big defeat in 642 and retreated.

The Xueyantuo kept bothering the Khaganate. Yi'nan even tried to marry Taizong's daughter, Princess Xinxing. But Taizong canceled the marriage. More Tang messengers were sent to tell the Xueyantuo to stop attacking the Khaganate. Yi'nan replied that he wanted to kill the Turks for China because they were "treacherous."

Around 645, the Khaganate fell apart. It seems the Xueyantuo pressured its people to leave Ashina Simo. At this time, the Tang were getting ready to attack Goguryeo and might not have been able to help. The Eastern Turks moved south of the Yellow River. Ashina Simo became a general when he returned to China. The Tang did not try to create another Eastern Turkic group after this.

Later Campaigns Against Ashina Tuobo

Yi'nan, the Xueyantuo leader, died in 645. His son, Bazhuo, became the new leader and was unfriendly to the Tang. The Xueyantuo Khaganate was destroyed in 646 by the Tang and the Uyghurs.

After the first Eastern Turkic Khaganate fell, a Turkic prince named Ashina Hubo refused to surrender to the Xueyantuo. He settled north of them. By the end of the Xueyantuo Khaganate, Ashina Hubo called himself Chebi Khan. He wanted to bring back the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

In winter 647, Ashina Hubo sent his son to the Tang to offer tribute. He also offered to visit Taizong himself. But he had no plans to do so. In spring 649, Taizong sent an army against Ashina Hubo. Taizong died in summer 649. The general, Gao Kan, returned to Chang'an in fall 650. He had defeated and captured Ashina Hubo. Taizong's son, Emperor Gaozong, released Ashina Hubo and made him a general. For a while, this stopped any more attempts to rebuild the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.