Xueyantuo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Xueyantuo
628–723 (?-723 under Second Turkic Khaganate)
Year 630, the Xueyantuo directly controlled areas.
Capital	Ih Huree
Common languages	Old Turkic
Religion	Shamanism, Tengrism
Government	Tribal confederation
Historical era	Middle age
• Established	628
• Disestablished	723 (?-723 under Second Turkic Khaganate)
Preceded by Succeeded by First Turkic Khaganate Eastern Turkic Khaganate Tang dynasty Second Turkic Khaganate

The Xueyantuo were an ancient Tiele tribe from Northeast Asia. They formed a powerful group called a khaganate. At first, they were under the control of the Göktürks. Later, they joined forces with the Tang dynasty to fight against the Eastern Göktürks.

Who Were the Xueyantuo?

The Xueyantuo were originally two separate tribes: the Xue and the Yantuo. Over time, these two groups joined together. This is how they got the name Xueyantuo. Their leaders were from a family called Yilitu. They were known as a very strong nation for many generations.

How Did the Xue and Yantuo Tribes Join?

The Tongdian, an old Chinese record, tells us about their beginnings. It says the Yantuo tribe might be descendants of a group led by Helatou. This group surrendered to the Former Yan empire. The Yantuo people then lived mixed with the Xue tribe. This mixing led to them being called Xueyantuo.

The Rise and Fall of the Xueyantuo Khaganate

The Xueyantuo created their own short-lived empire, known as a Qaghanate. This happened after a leader named Yishibo. Important leaders included Zhenzhu Khan, his son Duomi Khan, and his nephew Yitewushi Khan. The last of these leaders eventually gave up to the Tang dynasty.

Breaking Away from the Western Turks

Around 605, the Xueyantuo were attacked by the Western Türkic Chuluo Khagan. Because of this, they left the Western Turks. They then started their own Khaganate. A leader named Yağmurčin Bağa-Qağan from the Qibi tribe took charge. They gained control of the Silk Road's Turfan area.

Later, another Xueyantuo leader, Yshbara, became a lesser Kagan. But in 610, a new Western Turkic ruler, Shekui, came to power. Both Xueyantuo leaders then rejoined the Western Türkic Khaganate.

Forming a New Alliance and Empire

By 627, a Xueyantuo leader led his tribes into the Eastern Türkic Khaganate's land. They defeated the main army of the Khaganate. After this big win, they settled near the Tola River in Northern Mongolia.

In 629, the Xueyantuo leader Yinan-erkin declared himself Inčü Bilge-Khagan. This marked the start of the new Xueyantuo Khaganate.

Becoming Friends with the Tang Dynasty

The Tang Empire quickly recognized this new Xueyantuo Khaganate. The Tang saw them as a useful partner against their enemy, the Eastern Türkic Khaganate. The Tang wanted to weaken the Türkic state. The Xueyantuo helped the Tang Empire fight against the Tatars in the 630s. Their large empire stretched from the Altai Mountains to the Gobi desert.

Working with the Tang Against the Eastern Tujue

On March 27, 630, the Xueyantuo teamed up with the Tang. They defeated the Eastern Qaghanate in the Yin Mountains. The Eastern Qaghan, Illig Qaghan, tried to escape. But he was captured and given to the Tang on May 2.

After this defeat, the Xueyantuo took control of the Eastern Göktürks' old lands. Sometimes they were loyal to the Tang. Other times, they fought against the Tang and the new Eastern Göktürk khan, Ashina Simo.

Expanding Their Power

In 632, the Xueyantuo pushed back an army from the Western Qaghanate. They then took control of the Qarluq tribes. These tribes lived near the Ulungur and Irtysh River. They also conquered the Yenisei Kyrgyz tribes. In 634, another rival, Dubu Qaghan, was defeated. He then escaped to the Tang dynasty.

A Change in Friendship with the Tang

The Xueyantuo and Tang stayed friends until 639. That year, a Göktürk noble named Ashina Jiesheshuai planned a raid on the Tang capital. He was unhappy with the Tang emperor. He teamed up with his nephew, Ashina Heluohu, for the raid. They failed, and many rebels were punished.

After this event, the Tang decided to move all Göktürks north of Ordos. They wanted to create a buffer state against the Xueyantuo. Ashina Simo was chosen as the new Göktürk qaghan. But this plan did not work well. Many of his people fled south. The Xueyantuo also kept attacking them.

The End of the Xueyantuo Khaganate

On August 1, 646, the Xueyantuo were defeated. This happened in a battle against the Uyghur and the Tang armies. The Xueyantuo's leader, Duomi Khan, Bazhuo, was killed by the Uyghur. A Tang army then crushed the remaining Xueyantuo forces.

The last Xueyantuo khan, Yitewushi Khan Duomozhi, gave up. The last parts of their empire were destroyed two years later, on September 15. Some of the Sir people, who were part of the Xueyantuo, appeared later. They became subjects of the Latter Turk ruler Bilge Khagan.

What Happened to the Xueyantuo Later?

The connection between the Xueyantuo and the later Shatuo Turks is debated. An old stone carving about a Shatuo leader, Li Keyong, says his family came from "Yidu, Lord of the Xueyantuo country." However, other Chinese records say the Shatuo came from a Tiele chief named Bayar.

Leaders of Xueyantuo

Here are the main leaders, or Khans, of the Xueyantuo:

• Yishibo (also known as Yiedie Khan) (?-628?)
• Yi'nan (also known as Zhenzhupiqie Khan or Zhenzhu Khan) (628–645)
• Bazhuo (also known as Jialijulishixueshaduomi Khan or Duomi Khan) (645–646)
• Duomozhi (also known as Yitewushi Khan) (646)

Leaders Under the Second Turkic Khaganate

• Küli Čur, Ïšbara Bilge Küli Čur (?-c. 723)

Family Names of Xueyantuo Leaders

The exact family name of the Xueyantuo khans is not fully clear. Some historians suggest it was "Yishi." Other old texts mention names like Yilitu, Yiliduo, or Yilidie. These names might be related to a title like elteris.

One Xueyantuo general named Duomo might have used the family name Xue. However, it is not certain if this was the same person as the Yitewushi Khan.

Common Surnames Among Xueyantuo People

Many people connected to the Xueyantuo used these family names:

• Li (李)
• Liu (刘)
• Xie (偰)
• Xue (薛)
• Zhang (張)

Images for kids

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  The epitaph of Pugu Yitu, a Xueyantuo who died in 678

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  Cavalry figurines from the tomb of Pugu Yitu, a Xueyantuo leader

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  Ceramic figures from Shoroon Dov Kurgan, the tomb of Pugu Yitu, a Xueyantuo leader.

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  Painting from the Shoroon Bumbagar tomb