Killing of Heshana Khan (619)

In 619 Göktürk envoys killed Heshana, who as Chuluo had been khan of the western Göktürks, at the Tang capital Chang’an.^[1] A Göktürk khan had demanded his death.^[2] The emperor Gaozu refused at first. Then he gave way to his ministers.^[2] He feasted Heshana in the inner palace. Then he handed him over to the envoys.^[2] The histories agree on the killing. They disagree on the khan who asked for it.^[3]

Heshana at the Tang court

After his fall Heshana had lived at the Sui court and followed the emperor on his journeys.^[4] When revolt broke out at Jiangdu, he went north with Yuwen Huaji.^[2] When Yuwen Huaji’s cause failed, Heshana fled to Chang’an.^[5] According to the Zizhi tongjian, he came over to the Tang on the day guiyou of the twelfth month of 618.^[6]

Gaozu stepped down from his couch to receive him and seated him at his side.^[2] He made him prince Guiyi, the prince who has returned to righteousness.^[2] Heshana presented a great pearl. “Pearls are truly treasures,” the emperor said, “but what I value is your loyal heart. The pearl is of no use to me.” He would not take it.^[2]

The demand

The Jiu Tang Shu and the Tongdian say that Heshana had quarrelled with Shibi, the khan of the eastern Göktürks.^[7] When Heshana was in the capital, Shibi sent envoys to ask for his death.^[7] The Xin Tang Shu gives the demand to Shegui, the western khan who had driven Heshana out. According to it, Shegui sent envoys and asked for Heshana’s death because of the old feud between them.^[8] The Zizhi tongjian says only that Heshana had a feud with the northern Göktürks and that the northern Göktürks asked for his death.^[1] Some scholars follow the first account: Gaozu yielded to the pressure of Shibi, who was still reigning.^[9] However, the Jiu Tang Shu’s chapter on the eastern Göktürks has Shibi die in the second month of 619.^[2]

The killing

Gaozu refused the demand.^[2] His ministers warned him that keeping one man meant losing a state. It would bring trouble later.^[2] Li Shimin, the emperor’s son and the later Taizong, argued against them.^[2] “A man in distress has come to us; to kill him would not be right.”^[2] He pleaded with his father again and again. The emperor hesitated for a long time.^[2]

In the end Gaozu gave way.^[2] He invited Heshana into the inner palace and drank with him.^[2] Then he had him taken to the Zhongshu secretariat and let the envoys of the northern Göktürks kill him there.^[2] The Xin Tang Shu adds that the wine was flowing at the banquet. The killing was not made known.^[8] The Zizhi tongjian gives the day bingxu of the ninth month of 619.^[1]

Afterwards

When Taizong came to the throne, he had Heshana reburied with the proper rites.^[2] The Xin Tang Shu says that Taizong pitied him for a death he had not deserved. Taizong gave him the posthumous rank of zhuguo and buried him with full honour.^[8] Some scholars add that two of his sons survived and later entered the service of the Tang.^[9] They can find no reason for the killing, since the eastern Göktürks had fought no war with him.^[9]