Qapaghan Qaghan

Who is Qapaghan Qaghan?

Qapaghan Qaghan or Qapghan Qaghan was the second Khaghan of the Second Turkic Khaganate during Wu Zetian's reign and is brother to Ilteris Sad.

Ashina Mo-ch'o was a member and descendant of the Ashina clan that had ruled over the previous Eastern Turkic Khaganate, which fell in 659. In 681, Mo-ch'o assisted his brother, Kutlugh, in a revolt against Tang dominion, and succeeded in reviving the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

The revived Turkic Khaganate reached its greatest extent during the reign of Qapagan Khaghan. He notably encouraged the Khitan's Li-Sun Rebellion to eventually attack and plunder successful Khitan on their rear, to his full benefit. Qapagan, who was on his way back from suppressing the revolting Tiele tribes of Huihe, Tongluo, Baixi, Bayegu and Pugu, was ambushed killed by a Bayegu tribesman named Xiezhilue on July 22, 716. The name Qapagan comes from the Old Turkic word "kap-" meaning "to conquer", so the derivative Kapgan means "the Conqueror". He was succeeded by his son Inel Qaghan.