Tardu

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This article is about yabgu of Western Turkic Khaganate. For the given name, see Tardu (given name).

Tardu (died 603) was the second yabgu and the first khagan of the Western Turkic Khaganate.

Names

The regnal name in Turkic was Tarduš (Old Turkic: ),^[1] Medieval Greek: Ταρδου, 達頭可汗/达头可汗, Pinyin: dátóu kěhàn, Wade-Giles: ta-t'ou k'o-han, personal name: 阿史那玷厥, āshǐnà diànjué, a-shih-na tien-chüeh). According to Lev Gumilev his personal name was Kara-Churin-Turk (Кара Чурин Тюрк).^[2]^[3]

Background

Turkic Khaganate was a vast khaganate (empire); from Manchuria and Chinese wall to Black sea.^[4] It was impossible to govern the whole khaganate from a certain capital. So while the eastern part was directly ruled by the khagan (empreror), the western part was governed by yabgu (vassal) in behalf of the khagan. The capital of the west was Ordukent (Suyab) (present day Kyrgyzistan). Istemi who was the khagan's brother was the first and Tardu (İstemi's son) was the second yabgu.

Years of civil war

Tardu became the yabgu in 575. Being a very ambitious yabgu he was planning to seize power in whole khaganate. He saw his chance in 581 when khagan Taspar died. Taspar had announced his preference for Talopien instead of his son Anluo. But Göktürk kurultay (council of tribal leaders) which was authorized to appoint the new khagan refused the former kagan's will and appointed the former khagan's son who in turn acknowledged Ishbara as the new khagan.^[3] This gave Tardu the necessary cause to interfere. He sent an army to back Talopien. Ishbara applied Sui China for protection and both contestants were played off against each other by China.

Later years

While the east part of the khaganate suffered from civil war, Tardu was waiting for a suitable moment to realize his plans. He establisahed hegemony on Caucasus (future Khazar Khanette). After the Battle of Blarathon in 591 in Sassanid Persia, Bahram Chobin who was a short term Sasanid empreror, sought asylum in Western Turks.^[5]

In 599 Tardu declared himself to be khagan of the united khaganate (east and west)^[6] But his new status was not recognised widely. Probably to persuade the kurultay, he began a campaign against China. But unlike Turks of eastern part his target of campaign was too far away and his army suffered intensely from the poisoned waterwells during the long expedition through the steps. Finally, he had to retreat without serious combats. But this defeat was disastrous for him. After a rebellion of his subjects, he disappeared from the scene (probably was killed) in 603 or 604.

References

↑ Kultegin’s Memorial Complex, TÜRIK BITIG
↑ Bobodzhan Gafurovich Gafurov, Central Asia: Pre-historic to Pre-modern Times, Volume 1, Shipra Publications, 2005, ISBN 978-81-7541-244-6, p. 328.
↑ 3.0 3.1 Lev Nikolayrviç Gumilev: Eski Türkler (trans. D.Ahsen Batur) Selenge yayınları, İstanbul, 2002 ISBN 975-7856-39-8 p. 140, 550
↑ Jean Paul Roux: Türklerin Tarihi (Historie des Turcs), tr:Prof Dr Aykut Kazancıgil, Lale Arslan Özcan, Kabalcı yayınevi, İstanbul, 2007, p 101.
↑ A page about Hormozd IV
↑ Melek Tekin:Türk tarihi, p. 87, Milliyet yayınları, 1991

Tardu Ashina Clan
Preceded by Istami	Yabgu of the Western Turkic Khaganate 575–581	Succeeded by none
Preceded by none	Khagan of the Western Turkic Khaganate 581–603	Succeeded by Heshana Qaghan

v t e Göktürks

Turkic Khaganate	Bumin Qaghan Issik Qaghan Muqan Qaghan Taspar Qaghan Ashina Anluo Ishbara Qaghan Bagha Qaghan Tulan Qaghan (Istämi) (Empress Ashina) (Apa Qaghan) (Tamgan) Tardu

Western Turkic Khaganate	Niri Qaghan Heshana Khan Sheguy Tong Yabghu Qaghan Külüg Sibir Irbis Bolun Cabgu Dulu Khan Ishbara Qaghan Yukuk Shad Irbis Seguy Hallig (Bagha Shad) (Böri Shad)

Eastern Turkic Khaganate	Yami Qaghan Shibi Qaghan Chulo Qaghan Illig Qaghan Qilibi Qaghan Chebi Qaghan Ashina Nishufu Ashina Funian (Ashina Jiesheshuai)

Second Turkic Khaganate	Kutluk Khagan Kapaghan Khagan Inel Khagan Bilge Khagan Yollıg Khagan Tengli Khagan Kutluk Yabgu Khagan Irterish Qaghan Özmiş Khagan (Kul Tigin) (Tonyukuk)

Göktürk culture	Ashina clan Tengriism Asena Ötüken Suyab Khagan Kurultai Yabgu Ishad Elteber Old Turkic language Old Turkic script Orkhon inscriptions Orkhon Valley Tang Dynasty Göktürks

Göktürk wars and treaties	Göktürk civil war Göktürk–Persian Wars(First, Second, Third) Taizong's Eastern Tujue campaign Xueyantuo Tang Western Tujue campaigns (Western Regions Karasahr Kucha Conquest) Ili River Treaty

Persondata
Name	Tardu
Alternative names
Short description	Gokturk Kagan
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death	603
Place of death

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