Khagan of the Göktürks Muqan Qaghan 木桿可汗 Ashina Yandou 阿史那俟斤 Third Qaghan of the First Turkic Khaganate Reign| 553 – 572 Predecessor| Issik Qaghan Successor| Taspar Qaghan Died| 572 Issue| Apa Qaghan Empress Ashina Yangsu Tegin House| Ashina Father| Bumin Qaghan Religion| Tengrism Muqan Qaghan[1] (Old Turkic: 𐰢𐰆𐰴𐰣𐰴𐰍𐰣 Muqan qaγan,[2] Chinese:木桿可汗/木杆可汗, Pinyin: mùgǎn kěhàn, Wade-Giles: mu-kan k'o-han or 木汗可汗, mùhàn kěhàn, mu-han k'o-han, personal name: 阿史那燕都, āshǐnà yàndōu, a-shih-na yen-to, Sogdian: mwx’n x’γ’n, Ruanruan: Muɣan Qaɣan) was the second son of Bumin Qaghan and the third khagan of the Göktürks who expanded their khaganate and secured the borders against the Hephthalites. ## Reign[edit] His accession to power was followed by finishing off remnants of Rouran. Around the new year 554, after defeat of Yujiulü Kangdi at the hands of Göktürks, the remnants of Rouran, which by that point was near its end, surrendered to Northern Qi to seek protection from Gökturks attacks. Emperor Wenxuan personally attacked Muqan Qaghan, fighting his army off and then created Yujiulü Anluochen as the new khagan of Rouran, settling the Rouran people within Northern Qi territory, at Mayi (馬邑, in modern Shuozhou, Shanxi). Eventually last khagan of Rouran Yujiulü Dengshuzi was executed by Emperor Gong because of Gökturks' pressure. In fall 563, Northern Zhou entered into an alliance treaty with Göktürks against Northern Qi, part of which involved a promise that Emperor Wu would marry the daughter of Muqan Qaghan. In winter 563, the joint forces of Northern Zhou and Gökturks launched a two-prong attack on Northern Qi, with the northern prong attacking Northern Qi's secondary capital Jinyang (晉陽, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) and the southern prong attacking Pingyang (平陽, in modern Linfen, Shanxi). In spring 565, Emperor Wu sent his brother Yuwen Chun (宇文純), Yuwen Gui (宇文貴), Dou Yi (竇毅) and Yang Jian (楊薦) to lead a ceremonial guard corps to Tujue to welcome back Muqan's daughter for marriage to him. However, when they arrived at Qaghan's headquarters, he turned against the treaty and detained Yuwen Chun and his attendants. In spring 568, a major storm at Göktürks' headquarters inflicted substantial damage, and Muqan Qaghan took it as a sign of divine displeasure at his rescission of the marriage agreement with Northern Zhou. He therefore returned Yuwen Chun, along with the daughter he promised Emperor Wu, back to Northern Zhou. Emperor Wu personally welcomed her and created her empress. ## Campaigns in West[edit] His uncle Istemi autonomously ruled the far-west region in his name. Göktürk army destroyed Hephtalite power in 557 near Bukhara.[3] The northern part of the Oxus river was annexed to the Göktürks and southern part to Sassanid Persia. ## Legacy[edit] Map of the Göktürk Qaghanate at its greatest extent in 570, which is during Muqan Qaghan's reign. This expansion also pushed against the Avars who were driven toward the Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Empire and eventually toward the Danube. Other tribes of the Central Asia, such as the eastern Bulgars were also displaced.[4] Muqan's reign marked the pinnacle of Sogdian cultural influence in the Göktürk Empire. Sogdian culture was transmitted by merchants from Turpan who worked as ambassadors and advisers. The Sogdian language and script were used to govern the empire.[5] The importance of Sogdians cannot be understated in keeping the early Turks safely outside of the Chinese cultural sphere. The Sogdian language and script were used to administer the empire, because it was the only written language in the cities under his control. Muqan Qaghan was friendly to Buddhist people, and is credited with being the first to introduce Buddhism to the Türks.[6][7] He promoted the construction of a Türkic Buddhist temple in the Chinese capital city of Chang'an. Despite his promotion of Buddhism in China, it is not known if he himself converted to Buddhism, and it is also uncertain whether or not a substantial number of Türks were Buddhists during his reign.[8] He expanded the Göktürk Qaghanate and secured the borders against the last of the Rouran people. He conquered the Töles tribes in the west, the Kitans in the east and the Kyrgyz in the north. Thus, he expanded his state to all the former Xiongnu territory. After Muqan's death in 572 the title of Qaghan passed to his younger brother Taspar. ## Physical appearance[edit] According to Chinese sources, Muqan Qaghan's appearance was strange: his face was over one chi wide, his complexion was completely red, and his eyes were lapis blue.[9][10][11] He was characterized as being "tough and fierce", and he was regarded as brave and knowledgeable by the historians. ## Family[edit] His daughter Empress Ashina was the wife of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. His son Apa Qaghan claimed the throne after death of his uncle Taspar unsuccessfully while his other son Yangsu Tegin was ancestor of later Western Turkic Qaghans. ## References[edit] 1. ^ Gary Seaman, Daniel Marksm, Rulers from the steppe: state formation on the Eurasian periphery, Ethnographics Press, Center for Visual Anthropology, University of Southern California, 1991, ISBN 978-1-878986-01-6, pp. 96–97. 2. ^ Ethno Cultural Dictionary, TÜRIK BITIG 3. ^ "ḴOSROW II – Encyclopaedia Iranica". www.iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 2018-07-26. 4. ^ Bauer, Susan Wise (2010). The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade. W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 238–241. ISBN 978-0-393-05975-5. 5. ^ Roux 2000, p. 79. 6. ^ Durand-Guedy, David (2013). Turko-Mongol rulers, cities and city life. Leiden. p. 41\. ISBN 978-9004257009. 7. ^ Kwanten, Luc (1979). Imperial nomads: a history of central Asia, 500-1500. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 45\. ISBN 0812277503. 8. ^ Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. Magyar Tudományos Akadémia. 1972. p. 78. "During the reign of Muqan, the Türks were receptive toward Buddhism, but whether or not it was actually adopted by a substantial number of Türks or by Muqan himself is not known." 9. ^ Zhoushu, vol. 50 "狀貌多奇異，面廣尺餘，其色甚赤，眼若瑠璃。" 10. ^ Beishi vol. 99 "狀貌奇異，面廣尺餘，其色赤甚，眼若琉璃。" 11. ^ Balogh, Daniel (2020). Hunnic peoples in Central and South Asia sources for their origin and history. Groningen: Barkhuis. p. 83\. ISBN 978-9493194052. "Sijin (Irkin) was also called Yandu. He had many extraordinary features. His face was more than a foot wide, his complexion was completely red, his eyes were like lapis lazuli [liuli]. By nature he was tough and fierce and regarded as brave and knowledgeable, and regarded military expeditions as his primary task." ## Sources[edit] * Roux, Jean-Paul (2000). Histoire des Turcs (in French). Fayard. Muqan Qaghan Ashina Clan Preceded by Issik Qaghan | Khagan of the Turkic Khaganate 554–572 | Succeeded by Taspar Qaghan * v * t * e Göktürks First Turkic Khaganate (552–581)| * (Ashina Tuwu) * Bumin Qaghan * Issik Qaghan * Muqan Qaghan * Taspar Qaghan * Ashina Anluo * Ishbara Qaghan * Bagha Qaghan * Tulan Qaghan * (Istämi) * (Empress Ashina) * (Apa Qaghan) * (Yangsu Tegin) * (Tamgan) Eastern Turkic Khaganate (581–630)| * Yami Qaghan * Shibi Qaghan * Chulo Qaghan * Illig Qaghan * Qilibi Qaghan * Chebi Qaghan * (Ashina Jiesheshuai) * (Ashina Funian) * (Ashina She'er) * (Ashina Nishufu) * (Ashide Wenfu) * (Ashide Fengji) * (Ashina Shibobi) Western Turkic Khaganate (581–657)| * Tardu * Niri Qaghan * Heshana Qaghan * Sheguy * Tong Yabghu Qaghan * Külüg Sibir * Sy Yabghu Khagan * Duolu Qaghan * Ishbara Tolis * (El Kulug Shad) * (Irbis Ishbara Yabgu Qaghan) * Yukuk Shad * Irbis Seguy * Hallig * (Bagha Shad) * (Böri Shad) * (Ashina Duzhi) * (Tardush Shad) * (Ashina Tuizi) Second Turkic Khaganate (682–744)| * Ilterish Qaghan * Qapaghan Qaghan * Inel Qaghan * Bilgä Qaǧan * Yollıg Khagan * Tengri Qaghan * Kutluk Yabgu Khagan * Özmiş Khagan * Ashina Shi * (Ashina Duoxifu) * (Kulun Beg) * (Kul Tigin) * (Tonyukuk) * (Qutluğ Säbäg Qatun) * (El Bilga Khatun) Western Turks under Jimi system| Kunling Protectorate * Ashina Mishe * Ashina Yuanqing * Ashina Xian * Ashina Zhen Mengchi Protectorate * Ashina Buzhen * Ashina Huseluo * Ashina Huaidao * Ashina Xin Anxi Protectorate * Tokhara Yabghus (625-758) * Turk Shahis (665–870) Göktürk culture| * Tengrism * Asena * Otuken * Suyab * Kurultai * Old Turkic language * Old Turkic script * Orkhon inscriptions * Orkhon Valley * Shoroon Bumbagar tomb * Turks in the Tang military * Ülüş system * Bain Tsokto inscriptions * Ongin inscription * Altyn Tamgan Tarhan inscription * Qara bodun Göktürk wars and battles| * Battle of Gol-Zarriun/Bukhara * Göktürk–Persian wars * First * Second * Third * Goguryeo–Tang War * Göktürk civil war * Tang Eastern Turk campaign * Xueyantuo * Tang Western Turk campaigns * Conquest * Li-Sun rebellion * Battle of Bolchu Titles| * Khagan * Shad * Tegin * Yabghu * Bagha * Boyla * Tudun * Beg * Khatun * Tarkhan * Ishad * Elteber Family| * Göktürk family tree * Ashina tribe * Ashide * v * t * e The Yujiulü clan of Rouran tribe Khagans of Rouran (includes chieftains, members, noblemen, consorts and descendants) Pre-khaganate| | Unified rule| Mugulü→Cheluhui→Tunugui→Bati→Disuyuan | Divided rule| | Eastern area| Pihouba | Western area| Wenheti→Heduohan&Shelun Re-unified rule| Heduohan&Shelun Former Khaganate| | Unified rule (fanli)| Shelun→Hulü→Buluzhen→Datan→Wuti→Tuhezhen→Yucheng→Doulun→Nagai | Middle Khaganate| | Unified rule| Futu→Chounu→Anagui→Poluomen | Divided rule| | Xihai rule| Poluomen | Huaishuo rule| Anagui Re-unified rule| Anagui Later Khaganate| | Divided rule| | Eastern area| Tiefa→Dengzhu→Kangti→Anluochen | Western area| Dengshuzi Members, Noblemen, consorts and descendants of the Yujiulü clan| * Puhun * Zhaoyi * Zuo Zhaoyi * Gong * Tuoba Yu * Pi * Ruowen * Ruru * Chidilian * Dao * Furen * Ru Zhijuan * Wang Anyi related people| * Afuzhiluo * Ashina Natalu * Ashina Tumen * Ashina Yandou * Tuoba Ke * Tuoba Xu * Tuoba Baoju * Puliuru Jian * Family tree * Surname list * Category *[v]: View this template *[t]: Discuss this template *[e]: Edit this template