Yujiulü Hulü Explained

Yujiulü Hulü
Succession:Khagan of Rouran
Reign:410–414
Predecessor:Yujiulü Shelun
Successor:Yujiulü Buluzhen
Spouses:Princess Lelang (樂浪公主) of Northern Yan
House:Yujiulü clan
Father:Yujiulü Mangeti
Death Date:May 414
Religion:Tengriism
Regnal Name:Aykugai Khagan (藹苦蓋可汗)
Khagan with fine qualities

Yujiulü Hulü (; pinyin: Yùjiǔlǘ Húlǜ) (died 414) was an early 5th century ruler of the Rouran, a confederation of nomadic tribes in Mongolia with the title Aikugai Khagan .[1]

Marriage to Northern Yan princess

There is historical indication that Yujiulü Hulü (郁久閭斛律) began his rule in May 410 and, the following year, offered a tribute of three thousand horses to the Northern Yan ruler Feng Ba,[2] with a request to marry Feng Ba's daughter, Princess Lelang (樂浪公主), who was probably the daughter of Feng Ba's wife, Princess Sun. Feng Ba's brother, Feng Sufu, suggested refusing the request and sending the daughter of one of Feng Ba's concubines instead, but Feng Ba was apparently convinced that an alliance with Rouran would be beneficial to his state, and agreed to give Princess Lelang in marriage to Yujiulü Hulü in 411.

Deposition and exile

In 414, the fourth year of his rule, as he was, in turn, about to oversee the marriage of one of his own daughters to Feng Ba, he was confronted by his nephew Yujiulü Buluzhen (郁久閭步鹿真) who told him that his daughter was still small and was about travel far away; as she may get sick with longing, it would be necessary to send the daughters of the nobleman, such as Shuli (樹黎) and Wudeyan (勿地延) with her. Hulü not agreeing with him, Buluzhen told Shuli and others that Hulü was thinking of giving their daughters as a dowry for his daughter to a distant, alien state. In the wake of news Shuli, among other noblemen, entered into a conspiracy with Buluzhen. Some warriors were set up behind the Hulü's yurts at night and arrested him with his daughter. As result, Yujiulü Buluzhen was set up as khagan, with Shuli (树黎) as chancellor.[3]

Meanwhile Buluzhen sent Yujiulü Hulü and his daughter to Northern Yan. Feng Ba treated him as an honored guest and, as originally planned, took Yujiulü's daughter, Zhaoyi (昭仪), as a concubine. Yujiulü Hulü requested that Feng Ba send an army to escort him home and, in May 414, Feng Ba, with some reluctance, gave him an escort commanded by general Wan Ling (萬陵) who, according to the account, returned after having killed Yujiulü Hulü along the way.

Notes and References

  1. Kradin. Nikolay N.. 2005. Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. 58. 2. 149–169. 0001-6446. 23658732. From Tribal Confederation to Empire: The Evolution of the Rouran Society. 10.1556/AOrient.58.2005.2.3.
  2. Book: Asia major . Princeton University Press . 105 . 1997 . 19 September 2011. Original from the University of California
  3. [Book of Wei]