Futu Khan

Futu was the khan whom the Tiele killed. He is known as Tahan Khan, after his title. The successful Tölös rising is dated to his death in 508.^[1] He defeated the Tölös once. In a second battle, their leader Mi’etu defeated and killed him. For a decade, the Tölös were free.^[1] The Wei Shu reports this death in two places: in the Rouran chapter and, with details, in the chapter on the Gaoche.^[2]

Embassies to the Wei (506–508)

Futu succeeded his father Nagai. He took the title Tahan Khan, “succession”, and proclaimed the reign era Shiping.^[2] In 506, he sent the envoy Hexi Wuliuba to the Wei court with gifts and a request for peace.^[2] Emperor Xuanwu did not receive the envoy. Instead, he had the ministries answer him.^[2] The answer recalled that Shelun, the distant ancestor of the Rouran, had been a rebel subject of the great Wei. The Wei had tolerated him for a time so that envoys could pass.^[2] The Rouran were now in decline and had lost what they had been. By contrast, the Wei’s virtue rivalled the Zhou and the Han, and its rule stretched over the central plain.^[2] The south was not yet pacified, and only for that reason did the Wei let the northern raiding go for the moment. Peace therefore could not be granted.^[2] If the Rouran observed the rites of a vassal with evident sincerity, they would not go unrewarded.^[2] In 508, Futu sent Wuliuba again, with a sealed letter and sable furs. Xuanwu would not accept them. He sent the envoy home with the same answer.^[2]

Death north of Barkol (508)

Futu marched west against the Gaoche. Their king Mi’etu killed him, and his son Chounu succeeded him.^[2] The chapter on the Gaoche gives the circumstances. The Hephthalites had restored Mi’etu to his people. Mi’etu fought Futu north of Lake Puli and was beaten. He fled west three hundred li. Futu halted at the northern mountains of Yiwu.^[2] At that moment, Qu Jia, the king of Gaochang, had asked to move his people inside the Wei frontier. The Wei sent the general Meng Wei to fetch him.^[2] When Meng Wei’s column reached Yiwu, the Rouran saw it and took fright. They fled.^[2] Mi’etu heard that they had scattered and pursued them. He routed them and killed Futu north of Lake Puli. Then he cut off Futu’s hair and sent it to Meng Wei.^[2]

Family

According to the Rouran chapter, Futu took Tulun’s widow, of the Houlüling clan, as his wife after Tulun’s death and Nagai’s accession. She bore him Chounu, Anagui and four other sons. The last two khans of the house were therefore his sons.^[2]