Kutluk Yabgu Khagan Explained

Kutluk Yabgu Khagan
骨咄葉護
Claimant to be Khagan of the Second Turkic Khaganate
Birth Name:Kutluk Yabgu
骨咄葉護
Death Date:742
Reign:741 – 742
Reign-Type:As regent, then khagan
Predecessor:Tengri Qaghan
Successor:Ashina Shi (Basmyl chief)
Özmiş Khagan (claimant)
Religion:Tengrism

Kutluk Yabgu Khagan was one of the last yabghus (rulers) of the Second Turkic Khaganate.

Background

He was not a descendant of the former khagan. He was a yabgu (high officer) in the Khaganate. Tengri Qaghan was killed by Pan Kül Tigin, one of his shads (governors). However, Pan Kül Tigin was defeated by Basmyls, a Turkic tribe.

Reign and downfall

During the interregnum after Pan Kül Tigin's death, Kutluk Yabgu, enthroned a son of Bilge Khagan as the new Khagan, but soon he changed sides and declared himself as the Khagan in 741.[1]

In 742, the Tang emperor Xuanzong organized a secret alliance within the Turkic Khaganate. Basmyls, Uighurs and Karluks, the three Turkic tribes attacked capital. Kutluk Yabgu was killed. He was succeeded by Özmiş Khagan by some Turkic nobles. Meanwhile, Basmyl chief Ashina Shi also declared himself as khagan.[2]

References

  1. Ahmet Taşağıl:Göktürkler, AKDTYK yayınları,, p. 357
  2. Book: Wise., Bauer, Susan. The history of the medieval world : from the conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade. 2010. W.W. Norton. 9780393059755. 1st. New York. 317919815.