Yujiulü Tuhezhen Explained

Yujiulü Tuhezhen
Succession:Khagan of Rouran
Reign:444–464
Predecessor:Yujiulü Wuti
Successor:Yujiulü Yucheng
Issue:Yujiulü Yucheng
Yujiulü Nagai
House:Yujiulü clan
Father:Yujiulü Wuti
Death Date:464
Religion:Tengriism
Regnal Name:Chù Kèhán (处可汗)
Respectfully Assenting Khagan

Yujiulü Tuhezhen (; pinyin: Yùjiǔlǘ Tǔhèzhēn) was the ruler of the Rouran from September 444 to 464 with the title of Chu Khagan (處可汗).[1] He was the son of Yujiulü Wuti.

Reign

He inherited a war with Northern Wei from his father but 5 years of his reign went relatively calm. In the winter of 448 and spring 449, Emperor Taiwu and Crown Prince Huang attacked Rouran together, but Tuhezhen eluded them and did not engage them. In the fall of 449, however, Tuoba Na, Wei general was able to inflict heavy losses on Rouran, and for several years, Rouran did not attack.

In the winter of 458, Emperor Wencheng launched a major attack against Rouran, but considered abandoning it when his troops encountered a snowstorm. At Yuchi Juan's urging (arguing that a withdrawal would unduly signal weakness to Rouran), however, Emperor Wencheng continued, and while he was not able to deal a major defeat to Tuhezhen, a number of Rouran tribesmen surrendered.

During his reign, the last remnant of Northern Liang was invaded and Juqu Anzhou deposed in 460. Tuhezhen made Kan Bozhou (闞伯周) the King of Gaochang instead.

He was succeeded by Yujiulü Yucheng in 464.

Sources

References

  1. Kradin. Nikolay N.. From Tribal Confederation to Empire: The Evolution of the Rouran Society. 2005. Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. 58. 2. 149–169. 10.1556/AOrient.58.2005.2.3. 23658732. 0001-6446.