Issik Qaghan | |
Succession: | Qaghan of the First Turkic Khaganate |
Reign: | 552 – 553 |
Predecessor: | Bumin Qaghan |
Successor: | Muqan Qaghan |
Issue: | Ishbara Qaghan Bagha Qaghan |
Royal House: | Ashina |
Father: | Bumin Qaghan |
Birth Name: | Ashina Keluo (阿史那科罗) |
Death Date: | 553 |
Issik Qaghan was the second ruler of the Turkic Khaganate.
His personal name was Ashina Keluo which is reconstructible in Middle Chinese as *kʰuâ-lâ, which is transliterated as either non-Turkic *Kvara or Old Turkic Qara.[1] His regnal name Yixiji was reconstructed by Ahmet Taşağıl as Ilji.[2] He is also referred to as Ayi Qaghan (阿逸可汗) in Cefu Yuangui.[3]
During his brief rule, he defeated the Rouran khagan Yujiulü Dengzhu near Mulai Mountain to north of Woye Town (modern Wuyuan County, Inner Mongolia). He is recorded to have sent a tribute of 50,000 horses to Western Wei in May 553. He died the same year after an illness and was succeeded by his younger brother Yandou.[4]