Yukuk Shad
Encyclopedia
Yukuk Shad was a Turkic ruler reigned in the final days of the Western Turkic Khanate
. His name Yukuk means Snow Leopard
(Panthera Uncia) and title Shad means prince.
. He was Illig Qaghan's son and spent his early years in the Eastern Khanate where his father was reigning. In 627, he was tasked with suppressing a rebellion around Tien shan. However he was defeated. Three years later, his father was also defeated and the Eastern Turkic Khanate was dissolved.
of the Western Turkic Khanate in 628 (?), the central authority of the khagan
s among the West Turks was challenged by the leaders of the ten tribes collectively known as Onok. However there was also a competition between the two wings of Onok; i.e., the Tulo
and the Nushibi
. Ishbara Terish Khagan who became the khagan in 634 tried to increase his authority by the support of Nushibi. But his camp was raided and he had to escape to Fergana
(in modern Uzbekistan
). But even after his escape, the leaders of the ten tribes preferred a khagan from the Ashina house to maintain the delicate balance between the two wings. Yukuk’s name was proposed by a certain Tun Tudun. Yukuk whose father’s territory had long been lost readily accepted the invitation. But it soon turned out that although he was wellcome by Tulo, Nushibi tribes opposed him.
became the border line between the Nushibi (the south of he river) and the Tulo (north of the river ) by the Ili river treaty
in 638. Yukuk assumed the title Ilig Beg Tughluk Khagan and became the khagan of the north side. By 641, Yukuk consolidated most tribes (including those which were not a part of Onok group) under his rule between Ili River and Siberia
. In 642 he raided Samarkand
(in modern Uzbekistan
) one of the wealtiest cities of the silk road
. But the distribution of loot between the tribes caused problems and he lost the support of Tulo tribes. Nushibi tribes which were supported by Tang China, saw this as a chance to overthrow Yukuk. They elected Illig Beg Shekuei Qaghan as they khagan. This election meant the end of Onok union. Initially they attacked Yukuk and forced him to escape to Isfijab (Sayram in modern Kazakhstan
). They further laid a siege on Istijab . But although Yukuk got no help from Tulo tribes he managed to defeat them. After this victory, Yukuk tried to regain Tulo support. But Tulo leaders rejected his proposal. Yukuk, feeling unsecure without tribal support , escaped to Kunduz
(in modern Afghanistan
) in 642
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...
. His name Yukuk means Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
(Panthera Uncia) and title Shad means prince.
Early days
He was a member of Ashina royal clan of the Turkic khanateGöktürks
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...
. He was Illig Qaghan's son and spent his early years in the Eastern Khanate where his father was reigning. In 627, he was tasked with suppressing a rebellion around Tien shan. However he was defeated. Three years later, his father was also defeated and the Eastern Turkic Khanate was dissolved.
Invitation from the West
After the death of TongTong Yabghu
Tong Yabghu Qaghan was khagan of the Western Turkic Khaganate from 618 to 628 AD...
of the Western Turkic Khanate in 628 (?), the central authority of the khagan
Khagan
Khagan or qagan , alternatively spelled kagan, khaghan, qaghan, or chagan, is a title of imperial rank in the Mongolian and Turkic languages equal to the status of emperor and someone who rules a khaganate...
s among the West Turks was challenged by the leaders of the ten tribes collectively known as Onok. However there was also a competition between the two wings of Onok; i.e., the Tulo
Dulo clan
The Dulo Clan or the House of Dulo was the name of the ruling dynasty of the early Bulgars.This was the clan of Kubrat who founded Old Great Bulgaria, and his sons Batbayan, Kuber and Asparuh, the latter of which founded Danube Bulgaria....
and the Nushibi
Nushibi
Nushibi was a Chinese collective name for five tribes of the right wing in the Western Turkic Kaganate, and members of On oq confederation found in the literature about the Western Turkic Kaganate as Ten arrows Türks...
. Ishbara Terish Khagan who became the khagan in 634 tried to increase his authority by the support of Nushibi. But his camp was raided and he had to escape to Fergana
Fergana
Fergana is a city , the capital of Fergana Province in eastern Uzbekistan, at the southern edge of the Fergana Valley in southern Central Asia, cutting across the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan...
(in modern Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
). But even after his escape, the leaders of the ten tribes preferred a khagan from the Ashina house to maintain the delicate balance between the two wings. Yukuk’s name was proposed by a certain Tun Tudun. Yukuk whose father’s territory had long been lost readily accepted the invitation. But it soon turned out that although he was wellcome by Tulo, Nushibi tribes opposed him.
Yukuk as a khagan
After a civil war between the two wings of the Onok, Ili RiverIli River
thumb|right|300px|Map of the Lake Balkhash drainage basin showing the Ili River and its tributariesThe Ili River is a river in northwestern China and southeastern Kazakhstan .It is long, of which is in Kazakhstan...
became the border line between the Nushibi (the south of he river) and the Tulo (north of the river ) by the Ili river treaty
Ili river treaty
The Ili River Treaty was a treaty between the warring eastern and western parts of the Western Turkic Kaganate that concluded the civil war between warring parties...
in 638. Yukuk assumed the title Ilig Beg Tughluk Khagan and became the khagan of the north side. By 641, Yukuk consolidated most tribes (including those which were not a part of Onok group) under his rule between Ili River and Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. In 642 he raided Samarkand
Samarkand
Although a Persian-speaking region, it was not united politically with Iran most of the times between the disintegration of the Seleucid Empire and the Arab conquest . In the 6th century it was within the domain of the Turkic kingdom of the Göktürks.At the start of the 8th century Samarkand came...
(in modern Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
) one of the wealtiest cities of the silk road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
. But the distribution of loot between the tribes caused problems and he lost the support of Tulo tribes. Nushibi tribes which were supported by Tang China, saw this as a chance to overthrow Yukuk. They elected Illig Beg Shekuei Qaghan as they khagan. This election meant the end of Onok union. Initially they attacked Yukuk and forced him to escape to Isfijab (Sayram in modern Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
). They further laid a siege on Istijab . But although Yukuk got no help from Tulo tribes he managed to defeat them. After this victory, Yukuk tried to regain Tulo support. But Tulo leaders rejected his proposal. Yukuk, feeling unsecure without tribal support , escaped to Kunduz
Kunduz
Kunduz also known as Kundûz, Qonduz, Qondûz, Konduz, Kondûz, Kondoz, or Qhunduz is a city in northern Afghanistan, the capital of Kunduz Province. It is linked by highways with Mazari Sharif to the west, Kabul to the south and Tajikistan's border to the north...
(in modern Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
) in 642