Buri-sad
Encyclopedia
Böri Shad was a title of an appointed head of province-type principality in the most-western N. Caucasus periphery of the Western Turkic Kaganate. Within the lateral succession
order of the kaganate, members of the ruling clan were successively given possessions in accordance with their rank in respect to the ruling Kagan
. Accordingly, a succession of princes, or shads
, occupied that position. The principality of Böri Shad originated in 558 CE, when Kara-Churin, a brother of the ruling kagan, campaigned in Ural and Volga regions, but the lands he captured were given to his junior brother Turxanthos and his cousin Buri-khan. From 576 through 583 CE Tardu
sh, a western yabgu
of the Western Turkic Kaganate fought with Byzantine
, but instead of himself, he appointed a head of the campaign his cousin Böri Shad, whose possessions were in the N. Caucasus.
According to Movses Kagankatvatsi, Böri Shad was a 7th century Göktürk prince and an ishad
or general in the army of the Western Turkic Khaganate
. He was the son of Bagha Shad, who may have been the yabgu
or prince of the Khazars
. Böri Shad's uncle was Tong Yabghu Khagan, the khagan of the Western Göktürks
.
Böri Shad was probably commander of the Khazar forces during the Third Perso-Turkic War
in the Caucasus
in 627-629. Under Böri Shad's command the Khazars sacked many cities in Caucasian Albania
and attempted to establish a firm foothold in Transcaucasia.
Following Tung Yabghu's instructions, Böri Shad suggested to the Persian satrap of Aghvania and to Catholicos
Viro that they should acknowledge the Khagan as their overlord. The governor refused to pay homage to the Turks and fled to Persia. The Catholicos was also hesitant.
After the Turks started to plunder the cities, Viro escaped to the mountainous region of Artsakh
, where the Turks managed to track him down. When asked to capitulate, the Catholicos summoned princes and potentates from across the country and asked them whether the Albanians should resist the invaders. It was decided that resistance was futile.
Viro personally brought the message of obedience and allegiance to Böri Shad, whose army encamped in the vicinity of Partav. The shad reproached Viro for his delays: "Why did you procrastinate with your visit? If only you were more expeditious, your country would have been spared the calamities brought about by my troops".
After paying homage to Böri Shad, the Catholicos asked him to free the Albanian prisoners. Böri Shad dispatched his bailiffs to search the tents. They found many young men hiding among the treasure and cattle and set them free.
In April 630 Böri Shad took advantage of dynastic disorders in the Sassanid Empire
and dispatched Chorpan Tarkhan
to conquer Armenia
. Although the campaign was successful, Böri Shad had to flee to Central Asia after learning about the murder of Tong Yabghu later that year.
Order of succession
An order of succession is a formula or algorithm that determines who inherits an office upon the death, resignation, or removal of its current occupant.-Monarchies and nobility:...
order of the kaganate, members of the ruling clan were successively given possessions in accordance with their rank in respect to the ruling Kagan
Kagan
- People :* Daryn Kagan , former American newscaster* Donald Kagan , Yale historian specializing in ancient Greece* Elena Kagan, dean of Harvard Law School, U.S. Solicitor General , and Associate Justice of the U.S...
. Accordingly, a succession of princes, or shads
Shad (prince)
Shad was a state office in the early Turkic states, roughly equivalent to governor. "Shad" could only be an appointee over a vassal tribe, where he represented interests of the preeminent Kagan. The name of this tribe was included in his title. For example, Tardu-shad could only be a Shad over...
, occupied that position. The principality of Böri Shad originated in 558 CE, when Kara-Churin, a brother of the ruling kagan, campaigned in Ural and Volga regions, but the lands he captured were given to his junior brother Turxanthos and his cousin Buri-khan. From 576 through 583 CE Tardu
Tardu
Tardu was the second yabgu and the first khagan of the Western Turkic Khaganate.- Names :The regnal name in Turkic was Tarduš , 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)...
sh, a western yabgu
Yabgu
Yabgu was a state office in the early Turkic states, roughly equivalent to viceroy...
of the Western Turkic Kaganate fought with Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
, but instead of himself, he appointed a head of the campaign his cousin Böri Shad, whose possessions were in the N. Caucasus.
According to Movses Kagankatvatsi, Böri Shad was a 7th century Göktürk prince and an ishad
Ishad
Ishad was an Old Turkic word used to designate the highest-ranking Göktürk generals . It is also used in some Arabic sources to describe the Khagan Bek of the Khazars.-References:...
or general in the army of the Western Turkic Khaganate
Western Turkic Khaganate
The Western Turkic Khaganate was formed as a result of the internecine wars in the beginning of the 7th century after the Göktürk Khaganate had splintered into two politiesEastern and Western.The Western Turks initially sought friendly relations with the Byzantine Empire in order to expand their...
. He was the son of Bagha Shad, who may have been the yabgu
Yabgu
Yabgu was a state office in the early Turkic states, roughly equivalent to viceroy...
or prince of the Khazars
Khazars
The Khazars were semi-nomadic Turkic people who established one of the largest polities of medieval Eurasia, with the capital of Atil and territory comprising much of modern-day European Russia, western Kazakhstan, eastern Ukraine, Azerbaijan, large portions of the northern Caucasus , parts of...
. Böri Shad's uncle was Tong Yabghu Khagan, the khagan of the Western Göktürks
Göktürks
The Göktürks or Kök Türks, were a nomadic confederation of peoples in medieval Inner Asia. Known in Chinese sources as 突厥 , the Göktürks under the leadership of Bumin Qaghan The Göktürks or Kök Türks, (Old Turkic: Türük or Kök Türük or Türük; Celestial Turks) were a nomadic confederation of...
.
Böri Shad was probably commander of the Khazar forces during the Third Perso-Turkic War
Third Perso-Turkic War
The Third Perso-Turkic War was the third and final conflict between the Sassanian Empire and the Western Turkic Khaganate. Unlike the previous two wars, it was fought, not in Central Asia, but in Transcaucasia. Hostilities were initiated in 627 AD by Khagan Tong Yabghu of the Western Göktürks and...
in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
in 627-629. Under Böri Shad's command the Khazars sacked many cities in Caucasian Albania
Albania (satrapy)
Albania, or Ardhan in Parthian or Arran in Middle Persian as it was known in Persian, was a Caucasian satrapy of the Sassanid Empire.-History:...
and attempted to establish a firm foothold in Transcaucasia.
Following Tung Yabghu's instructions, Böri Shad suggested to the Persian satrap of Aghvania and to Catholicos
Catholicos
Catholicos, plural Catholicoi, is a title used for the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and in some cases is borne by the designated head of an autonomous church, in which case the holder might have other titles such as Patriarch...
Viro that they should acknowledge the Khagan as their overlord. The governor refused to pay homage to the Turks and fled to Persia. The Catholicos was also hesitant.
After the Turks started to plunder the cities, Viro escaped to the mountainous region of Artsakh
Artsakh
Artsakh was the tenth province of the Kingdom of Armenia from 189 BC until 387 AD and afterwards a region of Caucasian Albania from 387 to the 7th century. From the 7th to 9th centuries, it fell under Arab control...
, where the Turks managed to track him down. When asked to capitulate, the Catholicos summoned princes and potentates from across the country and asked them whether the Albanians should resist the invaders. It was decided that resistance was futile.
Viro personally brought the message of obedience and allegiance to Böri Shad, whose army encamped in the vicinity of Partav. The shad reproached Viro for his delays: "Why did you procrastinate with your visit? If only you were more expeditious, your country would have been spared the calamities brought about by my troops".
After paying homage to Böri Shad, the Catholicos asked him to free the Albanian prisoners. Böri Shad dispatched his bailiffs to search the tents. They found many young men hiding among the treasure and cattle and set them free.
In April 630 Böri Shad took advantage of dynastic disorders in the Sassanid Empire
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
and dispatched Chorpan Tarkhan
Chorpan Tarkhan
Chorpan Tarkhan is recorded by Moses of Kalankatuyk as a Khazar general, "bloodthirsty and vile", who invaded and devastated Armenia in April 630 CE. He was most likely an officer in the army of the Western Gokturks led by Böri Shad in the wake of Ziebel's victory in the Third Persian-Turkic War...
to conquer Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. Although the campaign was successful, Böri Shad had to flee to Central Asia after learning about the murder of Tong Yabghu later that year.