Shibi Khan

Who is Shibi Khan?

Shibi Khagan, 611 - 619 AD, succeeded Qimin Khan as the ninth khagan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. He was the first to rebel against Chinese sovereignty since his great-granduncle Ishbara submitted to Emperor Sui Yangdi. He married his father's wife princess Sui Yicheng. He enlisted the support of Sogdian viziers to help him outwit the Chinese. They were all invited to a peace negotiation in the town of Mai in China where they were killed in 615. He succeeded Zhangar as the ninth qaghan. During the turmoil of the later years of Yangdi's reign, he supported various local warlords in northwestern China, who claimed the title of emperor, including Li Yuan, who would go on to found the Tang Dynasty. The khagan supplied Li with 2,000 horses and 500 cavalry, who played a crucial role in the early victories of the Tang such as the Battle of Huo-i. He had intended to counterbalance Tang power when he died leaving their rise unchecked. His brother Ilteber succeeded him. Shibi Khagan was the father of Ashina Jiesheshuai.