List of khagans of the Göktürks explained

Khagan (Qaghan) was a title used by the Turkic people of the Medieval Ages. The First and Second Turkic Khaganate were empires ruled by the Ashina tribe of the Göktürks that controlled much of Central Asia and the Mongolian Plateau between 552 and 745 and composed of confederated Turkic tribes. Their history is turbulent. In the 6th century, they challenged the power of numerous dynasties in the Central Plains. At the end of the century following a civil war, the khaganate was divided into eastern and western wings. In the second half of the 7th century, both wings were defeated by the Tang dynasty. However, in 682 they regained their independence.

Khagans of the Turkic Khaganate

TitlePersonal name and other title.QatunThroneNote
Bumin Qaghan / Illig Qaghan (Yii)
伊利可汗
"Tumen"
"土門" / "土门"
Princess Changle
長樂公主 / 长乐公主
From Western Wei
552
Issik Qaghan
乙息記可汗 / 乙息记可汗
Keluo / K'o-lo
科羅 / 科罗
552–553Son of Bumin Qaghan
Muqan Qaghan
木桿可汗 / 木杆可汗
Yandou / Yen-to
燕都, "俟斤"
553–572Son of Bumin Qaghan
Taspar Qaghan (Tuobo)
佗缽可汗 / 佗钵可汗
572–581Son of Bumin Qaghan[1]
Unknown title Anluo / An-lo
庵邏 / 庵逻
581Son of Tapir Qaghan
Ishbara Qaghan (Shabolue)
沙缽略可汗 / 沙钵略可汗
Shetu / She-t'u
攝圖 / 摄图
Il Kul Shad Bagha Ishbara Qaghan
伊利俱盧設莫何始波羅可汗 / 伊利俱卢设莫何始波罗可汗
Princess Qianjin of Northern Zhou
千金公主
After the fall of Northern Zhou, she was given surname Yang and became Princess Dayi of Sui
大義公主 / 大义公主
581–587Son of Issik Qaghan[2]
Bagha Qaghan / Yabgu Qaghan
Mohe Kehan 莫何可汗 / Yehe Kehan 葉護可汗
Chuluohou / Ch'u-lo-hou
處羅侯 / 处罗侯
587–588Son of Issik Qaghan
Tulan Qaghan
Dulan Kehan 都藍可汗
Yongyulü / Yung-yü-lü
雍虞閭 / 雍虞闾
588–599Son of Ishbara Qaghan

Khagans of the western side of the Turkic Khaganate

TitlePersonal name and other titleQatunThroneNote
Yabghu Qaghan
葉護可汗 / 叶护可汗
Istemi
Shidianmi / Shih-tien-mi
室點密 / 室点密
552–575Younger brother of Bumin Qaghan
Tardu (Datou)
達頭可汗 / 达头可汗
Dianjue / Tien-chüeh
玷厥
575–602Son of Istemi

Khagans of Apa line

TitlePersonal name and other titleQatunThroneNote
Apa Qaghan (Abo)
阿波可汗
Daluobian / Ta-lo-pien
大邏便 / 大逻便
581–587Son of Muqan Qaghan
Niri Qaghan (Nili)
泥利可汗
587–601Son of Yangsu Tigin
Grandson of Tardush Qaghan

Khagans of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate

TitlePersonal name and other titleQatunThroneNote
Yami Qaghan (Qimin)
啟民可汗 / 启民可汗
Rangan / Jan-kan
染干
Tölis Qaghan
突利可汗 / 突利可汗
Princess Anyi
安義公主 / 安义公主 (597–599)
From Sui
Princess Yicheng
義成公主 / 义成公主 (599–)
From Sui
599–609Son of Ishbara Qaghan
Shibi Qaghan
始畢可汗 / 始毕可汗
Duojishi / To-chi-shih
咄吉世
Princess Yicheng
義成公主 / 义成公主
609–619Son of Yami Qaghan[3]
Chuluo Khan
處羅可汗 / 处罗可汗
"Ilteber Shad"
"俟利弗設" / "俟利弗设"
Princess Yicheng
義成公主 / 义成公主
619–620Son of Yami Qaghan
Illig Qaghan (Xieli)
頡利可汗 / 颉利可汗
Duobi / To-pi
咄苾
"Baghatur Shad"
"莫賀咄設" / "莫贺咄设"
Princess Yicheng
義成公主 / 义成公主
620–630Son of Yami Qaghan

Khagans under the Jimi system of Tang dynasty

TitlePersonal name and other titleQatunThroneNote
Qilibi Khan
俟力苾可汗
Simo / Ssu-mo
思摩
639–644Son of Tughruq Shad
Chebi Khan
車鼻可汗 / 车鼻可汗
Hubo / Hu-po
斛勃
646–649
Ashina NishufuNizük Beg
Nishoufu / Ni-shou-fu
泥熟匐
679–680
Funian / Fu-nien
伏念
680–681Relative of Illig Qaghan

Khagans of the Western Turkic Khaganate

TitlePersonal name and other titleQatunThroneNote
Heshana Khagan
曷娑那可汗, 曷薩那可汗

Daman 達曼 / 达曼
Nijue Chuluo Kehan 泥厥處羅可汗
Princess Xinyi
信義公主 / 信义公主
From Sui
604–611Son of Niri Qaghan
Sheguy (Shegui)
射匱可汗 / 射匮可汗
610–617Son of Tughluq Yabghu
Grandson of Tardush Qaghan
Tong Yabghu Qaghan (Tongyehu)
統葉護可汗 / 统叶护可汗
617–630Son of Tughluq Yabghu
Grandson of Tardush Qaghan
Baghatur Qaghan
莫賀咄可汗 / 莫贺咄可汗
630Son of Tughluq Yabghu
Grandson of Tardush Qaghan
Si Yabghu Qaghan
肆葉護可汗 / 肆叶护可汗
Dieli Tegin
咥力特勒
630–632Son of Tuluq Yabghu Qaghan
Tughluq Qaghan
咄陸可汗 / 咄陆可汗
Nizük
泥孰

吞阿婁拔奚利咄陸可汗 / 吞阿娄拔奚利咄陆可汗
632–634Son of Baghatur Qaghan
Ishbara Tolis
沙缽羅咥利失可汗 / 沙钵罗咥利失可汗
Tonga / Tongra
同俄
634–639Son of Baghatur Qaghan
Illig Beg Tughluq Qaghan
乙毗咄陸可汗 / 乙毗咄陆可汗
Yukuk Shad
欲谷設 / 欲谷设
638–642Grandson of Tughluq Yabghu
Illig Qutlugh Illig Beg Qaghan
rival?
乙屈利失乙毘可汗 / 乙屈利失乙毗可汗
639–640Son of Ishbara Tolis Qaghan
Illig Beg Ishbara Yabghu Qaghan
(rival)
乙毗沙缽羅葉護可汗 / 乙毗沙钵罗叶护可汗
Tigin
薄布特勒
639–641Son of Genna Shad
Illig Beg Shekuei Qaghan
乙毗射匱可汗 / 乙毗射匮可汗
642–653Son of Illig Kul Bilge Qaghan
Grandson of Apa Qaghan
Ishbara Qaghan
沙缽羅可汗 / 沙钵罗可汗
Helu
賀魯 / 贺鲁
650–658Son of Böri Shad
Grandson of Tughluq Yabghu

Xingxiwang khagans

TitlePersonal name and other title.QatunThroneNote
Ashina Mishe

阿史那弥射
莫贺咄叶护
奚利邲咄陆可汗
657–662
Ashina Duzhī
Onoq Qaghan
阿史那都支
十姓可汗
671–679
Ashina Yuanqing阿史那元庆685–692Son of Ashina Mishe
Ashina Tuizi阿史那俀子693–694Son of Ashina Yuanqing
Ashina Xian阿史那献708–717Son of Ashina Yuanqing
Ashia Zhèn阿史那震735–736Son of Ashina Xian

Jiwangjue khagans

TitlePersonal name and other title.QatunThroneNote
Ashina Buzhen阿史那步真657–667
Ashina Huseluo
Jiezhong Shizhu Qaghan
阿史那斛瑟罗
竭忠事主可汗
685–703Son of Ashina Buzhen
Ashina Huaidao阿史那怀道704–708Son of Ashina Huseluo
Ashina Xin阿史那昕740–742Son of Ashina Huaidao

Khagans of the Second Eastern Turkic Khaganate

TitlePersonal name and other titleQatunThroneNote
Ilterish Qaghan
頡跌利可汗 / 颉跌利可汗
Qutlugh
那骨咄祿 / 骨咄禄
El Bilge Khatun682–694Relative of Illig Qaghan
Qapaghan Qaghan
遷善可汗 / 迁善可汗
Mòchuò
默啜
694–716Younger brother of Ilterish Qaghan
Inel Qaghan
拓西可汗

匐俱
716–717Son of Qapaghan Qaghan
Bilge Qaghan
毗伽可汗
Bögü
默棘連 / 默棘连
Po Beg717–734Son of Ilterish Qaghan
Yiran Qaghan
伊然可汗
-734-739Son of Bilge Khagan
Tengri Qaghan
登利可汗
-739–741Son of Bilge Khagan
Kutluk Yabgu Qhagan
骨咄
741–742
Ashina Shi
頡跌伊施可汗 / 颉跌伊施可汗
742–744Uti Beg
Özmiş Khagan
烏蘇米施可汗 / 乌苏米施可汗
742–744Son of Pan Kul Tigin
White Eyebrow Qaghan
白眉可汗
Kulun Beg
鶻隴匐 / 鹘陇匐
744-745Son of Pan Kul Tigin
El Etmish Kagan[4] 747–759Son of Bilge Khagan[5]
Bügü Qaghan759–779

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jean Deny . Louis Bazin . Hans Robert Roemer . György Hazai . Wolfgang-Ekkehard Scharlipp . History of the Turkic Peoples in the Pre-Islamic Period . Schwarz . 2000 . 108 . 9783879972838 . Jean Deny . Louis Bazin .
  2. Book: Lovell , Julia . The great wall: China Against the World, 1000 BC - AD 2000 . Grove Press . 2007 . 354 . 978-0-8021-4297-9 .
  3. Book: Xiong , Victor Cunrui . Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty: His Life, Times, and Legacy . . 2006 . 213 . 0-7914-6587-X .
  4. Yu. Zuev (I︠U︡. A. Zuev) (2002), Early Türks: Essays on history and ideology (Rannie ti︠u︡rki: ocherki istorii i ideologii), Almaty, Daik-Press, p. 233, .
  5. Web site: Memorial Complex El etmish Bilge kagan (Moyn-Čor) . bitig.kz . 22 April 2023.